NBA Rankings: San Antonio Spurs still on top amidst major ups and downs
Its Monday again and the NBA weekly rankings are here. With major ups and downs in the rankings, one thing for certain this week is the continuous reign of San Antonio Spurs as they remain at the top of the list for the second
week in a row.
Spurs continued their reign at the top even though their 12 match-winning streak was broken on Friday by the Dallas Mavericks. Even though Mavericks were playing an away match, they managed a 103-97 win over the Spurs. Having played
four matches last week, Mavericks was the only team they lost to last week. Having won against Orlando Magic (106-97) and Minnesota Timberwolves (113-109) earlier in the week, and then defeating New Orleans Hornet (109-95) in the Hornet’s home court on Saturday,
Spurs finished the week with a 3-1 record making their season record 14-2 so far.
Moving up three spaces, the Boston Celtics jumped up to number two this week. They played two home matches and one away match this week, winning all three of them. Defeating the Atlanta Hawks (99-76) on Monday, the New Jersey Nets
(89-83) on Wednesday and then Toronto Raptors (110-101) on Friday, the Celtics finished the week with a perfect 3-0 record improving to a 12-4 for the season. Basketball giant, Shaquille O’Neal returned to his lost form this week as he dominated the match
against the Nets making 20 of his 23 shots. Although Rajon Rondo returned to the team after recovering from a hamstring injury, teammate Jermaine O’Neal is still out of play due to his knee problem. Celtics lost another player on Wednesday, as Delonte West
broke his wrist and is out of play indefinitely.
Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers switched positions, as Magic moved to number three with Lakers dropping down to number four. With a 2-2 record this week, Magic improved to a 12-4 record for the season. However, playing three
away matches this week Magic did scrape a win against the Miami Heat, awarding them a 104-95 defeat. Playing Cleveland Cavaliers at home, Magic enjoyed a 111-100 win.
Lakers, on the other hand finished the week with a 1-2 record losing their matches to Utah Jazz (96-102) on Friday and to Indiana Pacers (92-95) on Sunday. The only match they won was against the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday. The match
score was 98-91.
Owing to their wins against Sacramento Kings (94-83) on Monday, the Hornets (105-87) on Wednesday, the Lakers (102-96) on Friday and the Los Angeles Clippers (109-97) on Sunday; the Utah Jazz moved up three places to take the sixth
position this week. They finished the week with a perfect 4-0 record improving to an impressive 13-5 for the season.
The Hornets had a terrible week losing three of their four matches. Given their defeat to the Clippers (95-99), the Jazz (87-105) and the Spurs (95-109), the Hornets dropped to a 12-4 record for the season. The only win they managed
last week was on Friday when they defeated the Portland Blazers (97-78).
The biggest upset of the week came in the form of Miami’s fall to position twelve. The Heat moved out of the top 10 after they lost three of the four matches last week. Losing to the Pacers (77-93), the Magic (95-104) and the Mavericks
(95-106) last week, the Heat dropped down to 9-8 record for the season. The only win they managed in the week was against Philadelphia 76ers.
Although these rankings are on a weekly basis, given the Spurs’ recent pace they can be expected to top the rankings next week as well.
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