Orlando Sentinel - NBA Power Poll: The… JOBS CARS REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS & RENTALS FORECLOSURES MARKETPLACE MORE
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11/25/2009 Orlando Sentinel - NBA power poll: The… JOBS CARS REAL ESTATE APARTMENTS & RENTALS FORECLOSURES MARKETPLACE MORE HOME | NEWS | WEATHER | SPORTS | MONEY | ENTERTAINMENT | TRAVEL | LIFE & FAMILY | HEALTH | BLOGS Search Go! « Magic Morning Buzz: Monday, November 23 | Main | Mid-morning buzz: Tuesday, November 24 » NBA power poll: The Atlanta Hawks move into the top spot, while the Orlando Magic ascend to No. 4 posted by Josh Robbins on Nov 23, 2009 11:00:00 AM Discuss This: Comments (14) | TrackBack (0) | Linking Blogs | Add to del.icio.us | Digg it This was the toughest week yet to sort out the top of the weekly NBA power poll. Each of previous week's top three teams -- Cleveland, Atlanta and Phoenix -- lost one game since Nov. 16. The About Washington Wizards routed the Cavaliers in Washington 108-91. The Hawks and the Suns both lost on the road to Sentinel reporters bring you the latest Orlando Magic new s and insider information, both at home and on the the New Orleans Hornets. road. The Denver Nuggets lost their chance to reach the No. 1 spot because they fell to the Los Angeles Clippers. Follow Magic BasketBlog So, what to do? Ultimately, I decided to move Atlanta up into the top spot because the Hawks had the most impressive wins among the top teams last week, beating Portland, Miami and Houston. The Orlando Magic were candidates to move into the top three, but I couldn't justify them moving ahead of the Cavaliers given the Cavs' convincing victory at Amway Arena on Nov. 11. Still, the Magic are trending upward, no doubt about it. Current rank Team RecordThe buzz (last week) Point guard Mike Bibby sprained his left ankle in Saturday's loss at New Orleans. Atlanta 1. (2) 11-3 He has time to rest, though: The Hawks don't play again till they host Orlando on Hawks Thanksgiving night. The Suns are much better team with Channing Frye as their starting center rather 2. (3) Phoenix Suns 11-3 than Shaquille O'Neal. Cleveland The Cavs have won seven of their last eight games. But Shaquille O'Neal has 3. (1) 10-4 About the bloggers | Send e-mail Cavaliers missed five games in a row with a strained shoulder. The Magic, who have gotten a boost defensively from Rashard Lewis' return, have Orlando 4. (6) 11-3 won five straight. Jason Williams has been solid filling in for injured starting point Subscribe to this blog's feed Magic guard Jameer Nelson. Subscribe to our blog via email Denver Enter your email address 5. (4) 9-4 Chris "Birdman" Andersen is playing through a bout of tendinitis in his right knee. Nuggets Pau Gasol's return Thursday gave the Lakers an immediate boost. Luke Walton, Subscribe Los Angeles 6. (9) 10-3 however, is expected to miss about six weeks after surgury to treat a pinched Delivered by FeedBurner Lakers nerve in his back. Magic Photos The Mavericks have survived the absences of Shawn Marion, Josh Howard and …orlandosentinel.com/…/nba-power-po… 1/5 11/25/2009 Orlando Sentinel - NBA power poll: The… The Mavericks have survived the absences of Shawn Marion, Josh Howard and Dallas 7. (8) 10-3 Erick Dampier because to Dirk Nowitzki, of course, and free-agent signee Drew Mavericks Gooden. The Celtics have lost three of their last five games. Rasheed Wallace is shooting Boston 8. (5) 10-4 just 27.2 percent from beyond the arc, while Rajon Rondo has made just 8-of-24 Celtics free throws. The NBA Finals The Blazers lost some frontcourt depth when Travis Outlaw suffered a stress Portland Trail 9. (10) 10-5 fracture in his left foot. Outlaw had surgery Wednesday and will miss three to five Blazers months. Milwaukee's start is its best since it went 9-1 to begin the 2001-02 season. And Milwaukee Magic Dancers 10. (13) 8-3 Bucks have done it even though Michael Redd has played in just two games so Bucks far. Dwyane Wade can't do it all by himself over an entire season, and maybe he'd 11. (7) Miami Heat 8-5 benefit from having Allen Iverson as a teammate. The Heat have lost four of their Latest from OrlandoSentinel.com blogs last six. SPORTS You w ant a playoff? That's a problem, BCS says [On Campus w ith Sentinel Sports] PF Carlos Boozer has nine double-doubles so far this season. He's also scored 12. (20) Utah Jazz 7-6 Holiday Hundred (or 25, or 65) [The Chain Gang] at least 20 points in four of Utah's last five games. Artist makes Magic C Dw ight How ard come alive w ith a pencil, paper and YouTube [Brian Schmitz's Magic BasketBlog] Check out the transcript of our w eekly UCF live chat ... [Knights Notepad] Houston Tracy McGrady says he's ready to play after microfracture surgery last February. 13. (12) 8-6 Adonal Foyle is progressing in his rehabilitation from knee surgery [Brian Schmitz's Magic BasketBlog] Rockets The team disagrees. Prediction: This will get messier. San Antonio This is the first season the Spurs have had a losing record after 10 games since 14. (11) 5-6 Read other Orlando Sentinel blogs Spurs the 1996-97 season. Tim Duncan was drafted in 1997. Animal Crazy Knights Notepad - UCF Arts & Letters Last Call New Orleans Just when the Hornets looked like their season was going down the drain, they 15. (23) 6-9 Attention Must Be Paid Lauren on Lake Hornets defeated the Suns and the Hawks last week. Beach Beat Magic BasketBlog The Big O Mike Thomas Blog Oklahoma Blog-o-nomics Moms at Work 16. (19) 7-7 The Thunder didn't win their seventh game last season until Jan. 14. City Thunder The Bottom Line Mr. Lucky Central Florida Varsity NASCAR Nuts & Bolts Change the World Open Mike The Chicago Bulls are out West because the United Center is hosting the The Chain Gang Orlando Homicide Report Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. So far, the Bulls are 1-2 and have Chopping Block - FSU Orlando Opinionators 17. (16) Chicago Bulls 6-6 games at Portland and Utah before returning to the Midwest to play at Milwaukee College Gridiron 365 The Other Football Consumer File Political Pulse on Nov. 30. Control Freak Sentinel School Zone The Dish - Food Soundboard Toronto The Raptors just don't play defense, simple as that. They've lost four of their last 18. (14) 6-8 En Fuego Swamp Things - UF Raptors five games and have given up 110.4 points per game during that span. Etan on Tech Taking Names Fashion Focus Theme Park Rangers Has anyone ever been as happy to return to Detroit in late November as the The Fifth Turn Tom's Digs Detroit Fighting Words Tourism Central Florida 19. (15) 5-9 Pistons must be? The team lost all four games on its West Coast road trip, which Pistons Fitness Center The TV Guy ended with Sunday's 117-91 loss in Phoenix. The Flying Elbow Virtual Cheap Seats Frugal Force What the Blog?! Coach Mike Dunleavy wants his players healthy before any judgments are made Frankly My Dear Word Count - Books Los Angeles about the Clippers. "Give a coach a chance to coach Eric Gordon and Blake Hispanosphere The Write Stuff 20. (24) 5-9 Holiday Wrap Up Clippers Griffin," he told the Los Angeles Times. "After that, fine. Let the chips fall where they may." This team sounds like it's in total disarray. Gilbert Arenas recently said that, with Washington 21. (25) 3-9 eight players set to become free agents after the season, the Wizards have too Wizards many "hidden agendas." Philadelphia This team just hasn't gotten the hang of Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense yet. The 22. (21) 5-8 76ers 76ers have scored 91 points or less in five of their last six games. Sacramento Back to reality for the Kings. They've followed up a four-game winning streak with …orlandosentinel.com/…/nba-power-po… 2/5 11/25/2009 Orlando Sentinel - NBA power poll: The… Sacramento Back to reality for the Kings. They've followed up a four-game winning streak with 23. (18) 5-7 Kings a three-game losing streak. With last week's trade for Stephen Jackson, the offensively challenged Bobcats Charlotte 24. (22) 4-9 finally have someone who can create his own shot. But how long until Captain Bobcats Jack decides he wants out of Charlotte? Indiana SG Dahntay Jones has been a bright spot for the Pacers, who have lost three 25. (17) 5-6 Pacers straight. Jones is averaging 17.5 points per game. The Grizzlies drew an announced crowd of 11,209 in their 103-98 loss at home Memphis 26. (27) 4-9 Saturday night. They saw the Bucks snap the Grizzlies' three-game winning Grizzlies streak. Golden State Monta Ellis had 34 points, eight assists and six steals in the Warriors' 108-94 win 27. (26) 4-8 Warriors over the Trail Blazers on Friday. New York The Knicks have decided not to sign Allen Iverson, presumably to preserve their 28. (28) 3-10 Knicks young guards' playing time. Minnesota Kevin Love might be three weeks away from playing his first game this season for 29. (29) 1-12 Timberwolves the Timberwolves, who have lost 12 straight games. The Nets are four more defeats away from tying the NBA record of 17 straight New Jersey losses to start a season, held by the Heat and the Clippers.