| RANK | TEAM | THE RUNDOWN | LAST |
| 1 | HEAT (3-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Mon. at Houston. LeBron in Harden’s jock Bad news, Heat-haters: With Allen, team that averaged 5.6 threes last two seasons is at 10.0, with Ray-Ray making 3.0 of them. |
1 |
| 2 | SPURS (4-0) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Four road games before Knicks pay a visit Parker shot 44% before Feb. 1 last season, starts this one looking like Tony Parker at 17 a game, shooting 60% with two game-winners. |
4 |
| 3 | KNICKS (3-0) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Mark Cuban comes to town Friday. Usually, he is chatty at MSG Forget comeback, this is reincarnation: Kidd shot 35% last two seasons, now at 57% which, I’m guessing, is record pace for one-season jumps by player taking five shots a game. |
13 |
| 4 | BUCKS (2-0) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Rondo vs. Jennings on Friday night in the MKE Jennings-Ellis backcourt averaging 35, with Brandon, career 39% shooter, at 47%. |
12 |
| 5 | PACERS (2-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Strong chance for a 4-0 week if open w/wins at Atl. and Minn. David West averaged 13 last season after knee surgery, back to 19 in nick of time with Granger out for 3 months. |
7 |
| 6 | MAVERICKS (3-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Mon. vs. Minn. A reminder of who started for them in 2011 Finals (Berea) Weren’t supposed to be any good with Dirk, much less without, but new Mayo-Collison backcourt averaging 22-17, shooting 51% and 61%, respectively. BTW, that Rick Carlisle is something. |
21 |
| 7 | HORNETS (2-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Only 2 games, both at home. Excellent culinary opportunity for AD. A real playoff contender? Long on grit, short on everything else last season, won in Chicago without Davis, Gordon. |
16 |
| 8 | BULLS (3-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Three games, all at home. Big Pek only guy who can slow Noah? Good thing they finally deigned to extend Thibodeau. Who did they think was responsible for defense so good, they could go 20-10 without Rose this season and last? |
15 |
| 9 | MAGIC (2-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Back-to-back against Brooklyn, aka Brook Lopez assertiveness stretch Vaughn locks up Coach of Year, hitting Magic’s predicted pre-Christmas win total. On the other hand, anybody who wants to see Big Baby averaging 27 better look quick. |
30 |
| 10 | GRIZZLIES (2-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Tony Allen gets Harden and LeBron back-to-back Game’s best front line even more desperate for outside shooters with Mayo gone: No. 27 in threes last season, No. 29 now. |
8 |
| 11 | ROCKETS (2-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: As mentioned above, let’s see what Harden does vs. Heat/LeBron With owner Alexander demanding instant turnaround, GM Morey’s desperate moves made him laughingstock—until now with Harden-Lin backcourt averaging 35-15. |
28 |
| 12 | CLIPPERS (2-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Thurs. at Port.: CP3 vs. ROY? So much for Sixth Man race. Kobe awards it to Jamal Crawford, averaging 26 in his debut coming off bench for Lakers’ new archrivals. |
5 |
| 13 | WOLVES (2-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Sat. at Chi: Rose v. Rubio doesn’t happen Even without Love and Rubio, due back next month, Adelman and savvy Euros Pekovic and Kirilenko have turned clueless kids into NBA team. |
26 |
| 14 | THUNDER (2-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Westbrook vs. Uncle Drew, Sunday at sundown I built a dynamic young contender but do they call me Sam, the dynamic young contender builder? But trade one lousy 35-point-a-game future 10-time All-Star…. |
1 |
| 15 | CAVALIERS (2-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: See above, which also features Ibaka v. Varejao They’re b-a-c-k. Kyrie and rookie Dion Waiters give everyone a glimpse of future, going for 24-28 in upset of Clips in L.A. |
23 |
| 16 | WARRIORS (2-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Who goes down first: Curry or Bogut? Bogut makes it back for opener. Just think how great it will be if he lasts long enough to get in shape and bump up current averages, 8-4 in 18 minutes. |
25 |
| 17 | BLAZERS (2-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Jamal Crawford returns to Rose Garden on TNT. Over/under is 26.5 pts Rookie of Year race is over but without AD, fave would be Damian Lillard, averaging 19, stolen at No. 6 by GM Neil Olshey in his Blazer debut. |
22 |
| 18 | RAPTORS (2-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Which Kyle Lowry will we get? And will he crack MVP Top 10 list? With Lowry averaging 19-5-6, looks like his days as NBA’s most underrated player are ending. |
18 |
| 19 | CELTICS (1-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Always a tough choice for NBA teams: Fly or drive from Milw. to Chi.? No wonder KG’s upset at Ray: Team that went an amazing 104-14 pre-Christmas in last four full seasons, loses first two, getting mopped up at home by Bucks. |
3 |
| 20 | JAZZ (1-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Twitterverse desperately awaits next Kanterism Not as bad as it looks with losses on road in San Antonio, Memphis and New Orleans. Of course, Jazz used to be better than Hornets. |
10 |
| 21 | NETS (1-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: In calls to Russia, Billy King has to explain Shved non-signing 10 times Da Bums are back in town: Nets establish their own Dodger-like tradition in second game, blowing 22-point lead in home loss to Timberwolves. |
17 |
| 22 | SIXERS (1-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Andrew Bynum begins appearing on milk cartons Did overwrought agent David Lee, who took hometown guy Trevor Ariza to Houston for same money Lakers offered, tell Bynum it was OK to have surgery in August? |
11 |
| 23 | LAKERS (1-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Sloan? D’Antoni? Phil 3.0? Anyone else? Like last season’s Celtics, will be at best in playoffs… assuming Brown keeps panic at bay and makes changes they need… assuming he knows changes they need. Will he last? |
6 |
| 24 | NUGGETS (1-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Iguodala checks Harden tonight. (League Pass is still free) All losses were on road, but if they thought they got a star as opposed to do-everything-but-score guy, Iguodala averaging 15. |
9 |
| 25 | HAWKS (1-1) |
Two toughies at home, then four-game West swing begins After years of speculation about which high-priced player had to go, the managerially challenged, financially pressed Hawks donated Joe Johnson to the Nets. Now instead of Iso-Joe offense, it’s Iso-Nobody. |
14 |
| 26 | SUNS (1-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Did you hear (read) the one about Seinfeld without Jerry? Time to tank. Actually, past time but owner Sarver, who let Bryan Colangelo, Mike D’Antoni, Amare, Joe Johnson walk, spent last two seasons trying to show he didn’t really wreck franchise. |
27 |
| 27 | KINGS (1-3) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Three home games. What falls from rafters of Arco next? Somebody Up There doesn’t like them, whether it’s NBA office or higher: Cast of “Lord of the Flies” plays first three on road, makes it home, wins one! |
20 |
| 28 | PISTONS (0-4) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Lawrence Frank calms team: “I’ve been through worse.” No reason to panic, knowing three were on road and it was just a matter of time before Stuckey, 1-23 in first three, made another shot. |
19 |
| 29 | WIZARDS (0-2) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Kevin Seraphin to continue his MIP push? Bradley Beal looked like one of the rookies who’d blast off pad but someone has held countdown: Scored 10 points in first two, shooting 2-13. |
24 |
| 30 | BOBCATS (1-1) |
THE WEEK AHEAD: Nothing the rest of the season will match euphoria of win over Pacers Walker, No. 9 pick who shot 37% as rookie, busts out for 30 in upset of Pacers. Kidd-Gilchrist, this season’s rookie they took at No. 3, shooting 33%. |
29 |
Where are the actual rankings? I don’t see them here.
Hawks lose to #11 but beat #14 on the road without Josh Smith… And they drop 11 spots to #25. What?
Toronto is 1-3.