Andrew Bynum and some draft picks are headed to the Bulls for Luol Deng. The Cavs will try to save their season for a playoff run while the Bulls appear ready to tank the season. Carlos Boozer could be next to go.
The new year has been good to the Nets and Knicks who are both starting to get some wins. The same cannot be said for the Lakers who continue to struggle without Kobe Bryant despite the amazing games from Kendall Marshall.
Hero team of the week: The Warriors have won 9 straight and their #fullsquad is a hot 17-2
Sucky team of the week: The Magic managed to lose a game where they were up 7 with 20 seconds left.
The standings are current up to January 7, 2014 and the rankings from Last Week refer to Week 9.
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| Stephen Curry and the Warriors have done lot of celebrating lately with their winning streak |
The Pacers are 7-1 in their last 8 games with the lone loss coming from the surging Raptors who are visiting again on Wednesday. Indy had troubles with Toronto even last year. Danny Granger is playing better with his last 4 games scoring all in double figures.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder | 27-7 | Last Week: 2 | Same
Kevin Durant upped his scoring to 33 ppg in the 5 games that Westbrook has missed (OKC 3-2). This includes a 23-point explosion in the 4th quarter vs the Twolves where KD finished with a season-high 48 points.
3. Golden State Warriors | 23-13 | Last Week: 8 | +5
The Dubs have won 9 straight and are 5-0 in a 7-game Eastern road trip. They have a great chance to finish perfect with the last 2 games vs the Bucks and Nets. Steph Curry burned the Heat with 36 points, 12 assists and 8 threes.
4. Miami Heat | 26-8 | Last Week: 3 | -1
Dwyane Wade played his first set of back-to-back games since mid-November and Miami won both games vs the Magic and Raptors. They are 4-4 without Wade but an above average team when others get hurt. Chris Bosh is rebounding at a career-low 6.5 per game.
5. San Antonio Spurs | 26-8 | Last Week: 4 | -1
The Spurs blasted the Clippers by 24 points and Tiago Splitter had a season-best 22 points but he injured his shoulder. Tiago is expected to be out 3-5 weeks with a sprained shoulder and his 21 minutes/game will be given to Matt Bonner and Jeff Ayres.
6. Portland Trailblazers | 26-8 | Last Week: 5 | -1
The Blazers are in a small slump, 2-3 in the last 5 games with all 3 losses within 2 points or less. Nic Batum suffered a finger injury that will not require surgery. He opted to wear a protective cast and play through it.
7. Houston Rockets | 22-13 | Last Week: 7 | Same
The Rockets escaped the Knicks due to a brutal play by JR Smith. They almost lost 2 straight after blowing the game vs the Kings on New Year's Eve. James Harden picked up his scoring (37 ppg in last 2) after having a measly 8 points vs OKC.
8. Phoenix Suns | 20-12 | Last Week: 7 | -1
Eric Bledsoe is hurt again and will miss at least a week. He was struggling offensively in his previous 3 games (11 ppg) before he got injured. Gerald Green has been more than suitable in replacing Bledsoe's production with 18 ppg in his last 3.
9. Los Angeles Clippers | 24-13 | Last Week: 9 | Same
The Clippers wont have Chris Paul for around 6 weeks with an injured shoulder. Blake Griffin is playing amazing (22 & 11) and even with trade rumors, his production has not been affected. Blake is also shooting a career-high 70% from the foul-line.
10. Dallas Mavericks | 19-15 | Last Week: 10 | Same
The Mavs lost 2 straight to beatable teams due in part to poor scoring games from Monta Ellis (13 ppg) and getting out-rebounded. Vince Carter has been productive off the bench but his numbers are down from last season.
11. Toronto Raptors | 16-16 | Last Week: 15 | +4
The Raptors are playing team ball and winning. They won 5 of 6 and almost beat the Heat in Miami. They have a better road record than home record. DeMar DeRozan is playing like an All-Star with career-highs in points, rebounds and assists.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves | 17-17 | Last Week: 13 | +1
Nic Pekovic would be an All-Star if he played in the East. He is averaging career-highs in points and rebounds (18 & 9). Ricky Rubio is 5th in assists and 1st in steals but he is last in shooting among PGs (way below 24th).
13. Atlanta Hawks | 18-17 | Last Week: 11 | -2
The Hawks are starting to lose games without Horford (2-4) and they have struggled finding scoring from elsewhere. Pero Antic has been okay with his extra minutes. Kyle Korver has made a three in 103 consecutive games.
14. Denver Nuggets | 16-17 | Last Week: 16 | +2
The Nuggets won 2 straight after dropping 9 straight. Their team drama included a suspension to Andre Miller after having a bench dispute with rookie coach Brian Shaw. Miller was upset after receiving a DNP-CD which was a first in his career.
15. New Orleans Pelicans | 15-17 | Last Week: 14 | -1
Major concern for Ryan Anderson who suffered a possible neck injury vs the Celtics. Anderson has missed 10 games already to start the season and it appears that he could miss a lot more. It will be up to Tyreke Evans to increase his production.
16. Memphis Grizzlies | 15-18 | Last Week: 18 | +2
The Grizzlies traded Jerryd Bayless for Courtney Lee in hopes of getting additional help for their anemic perimeter shooting. Lee is a better shooter this season and for his career than Bayless. The Grizzlies are barely holding the fort until Marc Gasol comes back.
17. Washington Wizards | 14-17 | Last Week: 12 | -5
The Wizards still have a playoff spot but they have lost 3 straight by an average of 13 points. Bradley Beal is not getting a lot of minutes lately and his production has lessened (26 mpg, 12 ppg). John Wall is making more threes this year (35 makes, career-high).
18. Charlotte Bobcats | 15-20 | Last Week: 17 | -1
The Bobcats snapped a 5-game losing streak by beating the lowly Kings after scoring over a 100 points for just the 5th time excluding OT games. MKG is expected to be back from his hand injury by this week. He has already missed 17 games this season.
19. Chicago Bulls | 14-18 | Last Week: 21 | +2
The Bulls traded for the "contract of Andrew Bynum" and gave away Luol Deng who they believed wont re-sign with them in the summer. The Bulls have won 5 of 7 but losing Deng could mean that they are willing to tank the season.
20. Detroit Pistons | 14-20 | Last Week: 20 | Same
The Pistons have lost 4 straight while averaging just 89 points then giving up 108. Josh Smith has been bad on those losses with games of 4 and 5 points. Meanwhile, Andre Drummond continues his double-double run (4th in NBA).
21. Los Angeles Lakers | 14-20 | Last Week: 22 | +1
Pau Gasol almost got traded again but he stays a Laker for now. Meanwhile, recent acquisition Kendall Marshall started the last 2 games and promptly recorded a career-high in assists for 2 straight games (15 then 17).
22. Brooklyn Nets | 13-21 | Last Week: 26 | +4
The Nets are building some momentum with 3 straight wins, 2 against quality teams. Joe Johnson hit his 2nd buzzer-beater of the season vs the Thunder. AK47 has played 4 games since coming back from injury and the Nets are 3-1 in that span.
23. New York Knicks | 11-22 | Last Week: 27 | +4
The Knicks almost got out of Texas with 3 straight wins but winning two (Spurs, Mavs) and losing narrowly to the Rockets is a great consolation prize. Raymond Felton is still out with a groin injury but luckily, Beno Udrih has played well as replacement (9 ppg, 7 apg).
24. Boston Celtics | 13-21 | Last Week: 19 | -5
The Celtics have lost 4 straight and the arrival of Jerryd Bayless in lieu of Courtney Lee will probably not help them win a lot. Rajon Rondo is expected to be back at the end of the month which marks a year since he suffered his ACL injury.
25. Philadelphia 76ers | 12-22 | Last Week: 28 | +3
The Sixers won 4 straight on the road before losing in a rout to the T'wolves on their 1st game back in Philly. Thad Young and Evan Turner are taking turns in leading them in scoring. MCW has played 8 straight games without getting hurt (season-high).
26. Cleveland Cavaliers | 11-23 | Last Week: 29 | +3
The Cavs got Luol Deng for Bynum. They really needed a SF who can shoot and defend especially since Earl Clark has been a disappointment. It remains to be seen if this trade will translate into wins. Kyrie Irving has missed 3 straight games with a knee injury.
27. Sacramento Kings | 10-22 | Last Week: 25 | -2
In 12 games with Rudy Gay, the Kings are 4-8 with nice wins vs the Heat and Rockets. Isaiah Thomas has played slightly better as a starter; 21 points and 8 assists over the last 10 games. DMC is tied for 7th with 20 double-doubles.
28. Utah Jazz | 11-25 | Last Week: 24 | -4
The Jazz is 5-5 in their last 10 games with wins over the sub-500 teams and expected losses to the elite teams. Trey Burke was thoroughly outplayed by Kendall Marshall in a loss vs the Lakers. Utah is 10-14 in games that Burke has played.
29. Orlando Magic | 10-24 | Last Week: 23 | -6
They lost 4 straight games and 3 came from blowouts. They were up 7 to the Cavs with less than 20 seconds left but they ended up losing by 6 in OT. They officially waived Hedo Turkoglu who has not played in any games this season.
30. Milwaukee Bucks | 7-26 | Last Week: 30 | Same
The Bucks have the worst home record at 3-12. Ersan Ilyasova is struggling mightily (8 ppg, 5 rpg) after having a career year last season. Larry Sanders is off to a slow start after getting a contract extension last summer and returning from injury.
Biggest Jump of the Week: Warriors +5
Biggest Drop of the Week: Magic -6
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