2-0: UNC Game 2, Hofstra

Hofstra came into the game at 1-0, but it was clear from the start they were outmatched against a much bigger UNC team.  Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins was great and will almost certainly play at the next level, but he didn't get much help as this one was over after the first few minutes.  It was an incredibly good shooting day for the Heels, especially in the first half, as they shot 56% from the field for the game and 70% from 3-point range.  While I was very encouraged to see everyone shooting so well from the outside, I certainly don't expect that kind of performance regularly.

The much-heralded Freshman Harrison Barnes came out on fire with 19 first half points, and seemingly took the 2nd half off with the game clearly in hand.  John Henson had another double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, and Tyler Zeller also pitched in 11 points and 8 rebounds down low.

Leslie McDonald and Justin Watts had monster games off the bench.  McDonald scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers that touched nothing but net.  While I don't expect the team to shoot 70% from three all season, McDonald is proving that he has drastically improved his long range shooting and may be able to knock down open shots all year long.  Justin Watts scored 13 points on 6-6 shooting, and was flying around the court during his 15 minutes of game action.  I believe Watts' performance was more a result of the lack of size for Hofstra than anything else, but he does play hard and is very athletic.  He definitely got better in the offseason, but he still seems a little out of control to me despite the great game and I'm not sure he can play this way consistently against higher level competition.

Justin Knox was very effective in the low post once again with 8 points and 8 rebounds, and he's looking like a great last-second find for Roy Williams and the Tar Heels.  Kendall Marshall showed great leadership and tremendous passing skills for the 2nd straight game in a 9-assist performance, but his unwillingness to even consider a look at the basket for a shot concerns me just a little bit.  He doesn't need to be a big time scorer, but when he has an open look from 7 feet I would like to see him knock that down.

Dexter Strickland had one of his best games as a Tar Heel, with 11 points on 4 of 5 shooting and 4 assists.  This was a great performance for Dex, but I still think Reggie Bullock is a better player, and it concerns me that Reggie only played 13 minutes in the game.  Given UNC was up by a large margin from the beginning, but Bullock scored 6 points right away, and I really believe he's one of the top 2 or 3 players on this team.  Roy Williams has made critical mistakes with the lineup in the past, and I just hope he isn't doing it again with Reggie Bullock.  We're going to need him against higher level teams, and I'm not sure Roy understands just how good this kid is yet.  Hopefully it won't take him all season to give him some minutes like he did with John Henson last year.

Game 3 is tonight against Minnesota, who played very well in a 95-77 victory against Western Kentucky.  All 5 starters for the Gophers scored in double figures, led by 6'11" center Ralph Sampson III (yeah that Ralph Sampson), who had 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 blocks.  This team coached by Tubby Smith should provide a much stiffer test for the Heels, and we will get a chance to see how the UNC front line does against people its own size.  Junior Trevor Mbakwe has been a double-double machine inside as well for Minnesota, so the big guys for the Heels will definitely have their hands full in this one.

NBA Power Rankings

The NBA season is only 3 weeks in, but the top teams are already beginning to separate themselves.  The East appears to be a little more set, as it looks like the top 6 are near locks to make the playoffs, with only 3 or 4 teams fighting for the other 2 spots.  The West is much more complicated.  It seems clear that the Lakers are the team to beat, but the surprising New Orleans Hornets are still undefeated as well, with a host of other teams lurking right behind them.  There are 11 teams in the West with a shot at the playoffs, and I would include the Houston Rockets and say 12 but it looks like injuries have already started to decimate this team. All the spots behind the Lakers are up for grabs, and health could play the biggest role in who finishes where in the West.

East

1. Boston Celtics 9-2
This team is just tougher than the other top teams in the East, and they proved it by beating the Heat twice already this season.

2. Miami Heat 7-4
I still think the Heat will be the team to beat in the East by the end of the season, but they are clearly behind the Celtics at this point.  Miami is in desperate need of an inside presence.  Bosh is not strong enough to bang down low, and Ilgauskas is too slow to keep up with the tempo of their offense.  The Heat might want to try giving Dexter Pittman or Jamaal Magloire some more minutes, or look elsewhere for a serviceable center.

3. Orlando Magic 7-3
The Magic got off to a 5-1 start, then dropped two in a row at home (one of them to the Raptors).  They have since righted the ship with two straight victories, and they are getting everyone involved with 12 guys averaging 12 minutes are more on the season.  They will be one of the best teams in the East, and they're a lock to make the playoffs.



4. Chicago Bulls 6-3
The Bulls are already a pretty good team, and they will be much stronger once Carlos Boozer gets back.  Derrick Rose is a lock for the All-star game, and Joakim Noah is making a strong case as well.

5. Atlanta Hawks 8-4
The Hawks cooled off after a 6-0 start, losing 4 straight before winning their last two.  The 4 losses were all to good teams, so there's really no reason to panic.  Atlanta is still a solid playoff team, and should have no problem being one of the top 8 teams in the East.

6. Milwaukee Bucks 5-6
The Bucks got off to a horrible start, but it seems they now have their act together.  Ersan Ilyasova needs to play more because when he does, Milwaukee wins.  As long as this team stays healthy, we should see them in the playoffs.


7. Indiana Pacers 4-5
Roy Hibbert has been really good at the center position this year, and the rest of the team has plenty of talent to be one of the top 8 teams in the East.  They beat Denver by 31 points, and that's enough to make me a believer.



8. Charlotte Bobcats 4-7
The Bobcats haven't beaten anyone good, but they have played everyone close and won on the road against several of the teams below them in the East.  This team isn't great, but they might be good enough to sneak in the playoffs.  For that to happen, they have to get better at closing out games.  Their lack of a superstar player is very evident late in the game, and they can't continue to blow 4th quarter leads and expect to be in the top 8.


9. New Jersey Nets 4-7
After winning their first two games, the Nets dropped five straight before winning two of their last three (with the loss by one to the Magic).  The production of Brook Lopez dropped off tremendously during the losing streak, but he has picked it back up in the last two games.  New Jersey will need him to do a better job on the glass if they hope to make the playoffs.

10. Detroit Pistons 4-8
The Pistons have had a brutal early season schedule, and it shows in their record.  They did beat Golden State and get a few nice wins on the road on the West coast, but their schedule doesn't do them any favors for quite a while.  If Detroit can avoid losing confidence early in the season, they will have a chance to go on a nice run later on and make a solid bid for a playoff spot.

11. New York Knicks 3-8
The vagaries of the New York Knicks continue.  They seemed to have things figured out after a big win in Chicago and a beatdown of the Wizards, but they followed those two victories with 6 straight losses, with 4 of the 6 to teams with losing records.  Toney Douglas started the season out on fire, but his production has fallen off dramatically during the current losing streak.  Wilson Chandler have been a pleasant surprise all season long, but the Knicks have to start playing defense if they want to win consistently.  Coach Mike D'Antoni has never been one to preach defense, so it might be up to Raymond Felton to show the way.  Felton and Stoudamire need to watch videotape of Steve Nash and get the pick and roll figured out as well, because right now Amare is not being used effectively.  Stoudamire was the best in the league at the pick and roll with Nash in Phoenix, so there is no reason they shouldn't be able to run it successfully in New York.

12. Toronto Raptors 3-9
This team has been much more competitive than the names on their roster would suggest.  The Raptors got a shocking win in Orlando on Friday night, and with two spots up for grabs in the East, maybe they have an outside shot at the playoffs.  Andrea Bargnani has been great, and with solid contributions from DeRozan and Weems, this team has been much better than expected despite their record.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-5
The Cavs have been better than everyone thought, but making the playoffs still seems like a tall task.  They've been getting nice contributions from Daniel Gibson, J.J. Hickson, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Ramon Sessions, and Anderson Varejao, but they still may need more if they hope to sneak in one of the last 2 spots in the East.  Their solid 5-5 record is due much more to an easy schedule than good play.

14. Washington Wizards 3-7

John Wall is great.  He has been every bit as good as advertised and then some, and right now has to be the leader for rookie of the year honors.  His team might be a little too young to contend for a playoff spot, but there is no doubt this team is loaded with talent.  If they can all get on the same page soon and take better shots, they might have a chance.


15. Philadelphia 76ers 2-10
The 76ers had a terrible start to the season, but they have shown signs of improvement despite not getting the wins.  Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young, Jrue Holiday, and Evan Turner have all shown flashes of brilliance, but they will have to find some consistency for this team to be successful.




West


1. Los Angeles Lakers 10-2
The Lakers are on cruise control, and look poised to enter the playoffs as the team to beat yet again.

2. New Orleans Hornets 9-1
This might be the surprise team of the season so far.  They finally lost their first game of the season on Monday after an 8-0 start, but they avenged the loss to the Mavericks tonight in New Orleans.  Chris Paul has to be high on the list for MVP of the league.


3. Utah Jazz 8-4
After an ugly 0-2 start to the season, the Jazz started reeling off wins (including consecutive road victories at Miami, Orlando, and Atlanta) and look more like the team I expected coming into the season.  Deron Williams is on the short list of MVP candidates at this point in the season, and Paul Milsap has played at an all-star level as well.  

4. Dallas Mavericks 7-3
No one is really talking about Dallas, but Dirk Nowitzki is once again leading this team to one of the best records in the West.  Jason Kidd is still playing great despite his age.  All the weapons he has at his disposal in Dallas make it much easier for him to continue putting up staggering assist numbers, even at 37 years old.

5. Denver Nuggets 6-5
Denver is one of only two teams to beat the Lakers this season, and they have as much talent as anyone in the league.  As long as Carmelo Anthony plays for the Nuggets, this team will be a contender.


6. San Antonio Spurs 8-1
The Spurs have quietly (as always) started the season 8-1, but they have had one of the West's easiest schedules.  Despite that, the Spurs are one of the best run franchises in the NBA, and they find a way to get it done year after year.  I don't expect 2010-2011 to be any different.


7. Oklahoma City Thunder 7-4
I expected the Thunder to make a jump up the standings in the West this season, but it appears they might not be in the upper half of the playoff picture just yet.  Kevin Durant is once again leading the league in scoring, and Oklahoma City is getting great contributions from Russell Westbrook and Serge Ibaka.  With the West being so close, there is still a chance this team could get homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs.


8. Portland Trail Blazers 7-5
Portland is an extremely talented team, but they can't ever seem to escape the injuries that do major damage to their playoff seeding.  Greg Oden has already been ruled out for the season, and Brandon Roy is once again having trouble with his knees.  The Trail Blazers are getting good contributions from a lot of different players this season, but they made need a few guys to step up even further if they want to make any noise in the Western Conference playoffs.


9. Phoenix Suns 6-5
The Suns have been surprising this season.  I thought they might have a pretty steep dropoff after losing Amare Stoudemire in the offseason, but Hakim Warrick has filled in admirably in the high-flying-dive-to-the- basket-off-the-pick-and-roll-from-Steve Nash-role, and Jason Richardson and Nash have both increased their scoring from last season.


10. Memphis Grizzlies 4-8
The Grizzlies have endured a brutal schedule to start the season.  Rudy Gay has played great in trying to live up to his huge contract, but Memphis still isn't beating the top teams it needs to if it wants to make the playoffs.  There's still plenty of time to turn it around, but with all the talent in the West, they can't afford to fall too far behind.


11. Golden State Warriors 7-4
The Warriors are off to a great start, but part of that is due to a very favorable early season schedule.  Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry are playing at a very high level in the backcourt, but Golden State can't afford to be without David Lee for too many games.  He has already missed several games due to surgery on his elbow after Wilson Chandler's teeth gave him an infection, and the Warriors will need him back soon to avoid tumbling down the West standings.


12. Houston Rockets 3-8
The Rockets would be in the playoffs in the East, but their very difficult early season schedule has them in a big hole in the West.  The Rockets have lost a lot of close games, and they will have to start winning most of those if they want to make a run at the top 8.  Luis Scola should be an all-star if he keeps up his current level, as he is averaging 23 points and 10 rebounds on the season.


13. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-9

Minnesota has been very competitive of late, and they've even won three of their last five games.  Michael Beasley has turned up the scoring in that stretch, and he's now averaging 21 on the season.  Kevin Love is leading the league in rebounding with over 14 a game, and he's coming off a legendary 31-point, 31-rebound performance last Friday against the Knicks.  If the T'Wolves can find some consistent production at the point (ironic since they seemingly drafted a point guard with their last 10 draft picks), they might be able win some games this year.  Luke Ridnour was doing a serviceable job before he was injured, and they will need him to stay healthy if they want to stay competitive.  Sebastian Telfair is just too inconsistent to be the answer for this team.


14. Los Angeles Clippers 1-11
The Clippers have started the season 1-11, but they too have had an extremely difficult early season schedule.  Injuries have once again hurt the "other team from L.A., " as veterans Baron Davis and Chris Kaman have both missed several games.  The Clippers have no chance at the playoff this year, but they have a good nucleus of players that should be ready to compete for a playoff spot in the next few years.



15. Sacramento Kings 3-6
Just as I suspected, the Kings fast start was just a facade.  They had a very easy schedule to start the season, but they've lost lost 5 straight and haven't really been close to winning any of them.  Tyreke Evans is a great player, but Sacramento is inconsistent and I expect the losses to pile up all year.

UNC Season Opener

UNC opened its 2010-2011 season with an 80-66 victory over Lipscomb.  The Heels struggled with Lipscomb for most of the game, before finally putting them away late in the 2nd half.  A few things jumped out at me from this game...

1. All 3 freshman have to start
Reggie Bullock and Harrison Barnes are probably the best two players on this team already.  Reggie Bullock's game reminds me of Rashad McCants plus a few extra inches and much less drama.  At 6'7" he will be a matchup nightmare for everyone at the 2 guard position, and he played a near flawless game in his 15 minutes on the court.  If he's not in the starting lineup from now on it's inexcusable.  Dexter Strickland playing over him is a total joke.  Harrison Barnes looked like he was rushing it a little bit in his first collegiate game, but he showed the flashes of brilliance that made him a preseason All-American selection (not sure he's quite at that level yet).  Kendall Marshall had a rough start with 2 turnovers almost immediately, but from that point on he played much better than Larry Drew II.  He just seemed much more under control and his passes were much easier to handle.

2.  John Henson has the longest arms on the planet
Henson was great, as he finished the game with 10 points, 17 rebounds, and 7 blocks.  He seemed to snatch down every rebound in the game, and he blocked or altered most shots inside the lane, forcing Lipscomb to jack up shots from the outside all game long.  He could very well lead the ACC in rebounding this season.

3. Tyler Zeller has to get stronger with the ball
Sure Zeller had 15 points and 7 rebounds, but I'm not sure he caught the ball cleanly once the whole game.  He seemed to bobble the ball constantly, but luckily for him he had a huge height advantage and drew a bunch of fouls.  He needs to get much stronger to be able to handle post players in the ACC.

The Rest
Leslie McDonald and Justin Knox both gave nice contributions off the bench.  Knox was a huge pickup for the Heels at the last second, because without him they are very thin up front.  I was very happy with his play, and I believe he will be a serviceable sub for the other towers inside.  Justin Watts probably shouldn't see much action this year, and Larry Drew II and Dexter Strickland should see their minutes greatly reduced in favor of Marshall and Bullock.  The sooner Roy makes these changes, the faster UNC can work on catching up to Duke.

Midseason NFL Playoff Projections

The power rankings are getting a little repetitive, so it's time for something new.  We've reached the halfway point of the season, and by now we know who the playoff contenders and the bottom feeders are, and in the NFC West a few teams could be classified as both. The NFC is pretty much set in my opinion, with only the order of finish left to be determined.  The only spot that really looks up for grabs is the one designated for the NFC West Champion, with all 4 teams still in contention.  The AFC is much more complicated, with as many as 11 teams still with a shot at the playoffs.

NFC

1. New York Giants 6-2
The Giants have been by far the best and most consistent team in the NFC.  With Eli Manning at the helm, Hakeem Nicks having a Pro Bowl season at receiver, Ahmad Bradshaw running well out of the backfield, and the defense drilling quarterbacks at a high rate, this team has all the pieces to make another run at a Super Bowl.

2. Green Bay Packers 6-3
Despite their slow start and plethora of injuries, the Packers have taken back control of the NFC North and look poised to cruise into the playoffs.  Aaron Rodgers is still underrated somehow, as he isn't given credit for being in the same class with Manning, Brady, Brees and the other best QB's in the league even though he clearly has to be in the conversation. I picked Green Bay to make the Super Bowl before the season started, and it once again looks very possible after a rough start to the season.

3. New Orleans Saints 6-3
Despite playing without their top 2 running backs for most of the season, the Saints are quietly right there in the race for the NFC South.  They have one of the best QB's in the NFL in Drew Brees, and the defense has really picked it up the last few weeks.  I look for them to overtake the Falcons in the second to last game of the season.

4. Arizona Cardinals 3-5
I picked the Cardinals to win the NFC West for 2 reasons.  One, they have the easiest schedule, and two, they've been to the playoffs recently.  Basically no one on the other 3 teams knows anything about the playoffs, so I'm going with Arizona to get back there and bow out in the first round.  They have plenty of weapons at receiver, and the defense has been extremely opportunistic.  That said, it wouldn't surprise me to see any of the other teams in their division in this spot.


5. Atlanta Falcons 7-2
The Falcons have been squeaking out victories all year, and I think it will catch up to them late in the season and in the playoffs.  Roddy White has been spectacular, and Michael Turner keeps the defense honest by providing a solid ground game.  The pass defense is one of the league's worst, and I think that ultimately be their undoing come playoff time.

6. Philadelphia Eagles 5-3
The Eagles are arguably the most dangerous team in the NFC when they are healthy, and it appears most of their stars are finally starting to shake the nagging injuries that have held them back at times this season.  It's going to be tough for them to win the NFC East, but no one is going to want to play this team in the playoffs.


Others in contention:  Seattle Seahwaks 4-4, St. Louis Rams 4-4, and San Francisco 49ers 2-6 (entire NFC West)  Playoff Chances on Life Support: Tampa Bay 5-3, Chicago 5-3

AFC

1. Pittsburgh Steelers 6-2
The Steelers have been my #1 team for most of the year, and they haven't done anything to change my mind.  Pittsburgh has all the weapons on both sides of the ball, and they remain the favorite to win it all.

2. New York Jets 6-2
The Jets have been struggling recently, as Mark Sanchez seems to have come back to earth after his nearly perfect start to the season.  They're in a dogfight with the Patriots for the division championship, a fight they will lose if they don't pick up their level of play.  I expect them to start looking more like the Jets team at the beginning of the season in the coming weeks.


3. Indianapolis Colts 5-3
Injuries are really starting to take a toll on this team.  When Peyton Manning looks down the field, most of the familiar faces he's used to seeing aren't there.  Despite playing with mostly backups, the Colts just find a way to get it done.  I'm sure they will be around come playoff time.


4. Kansas City Chiefs 5-3
This one is close.  The Chiefs have played extremely well this season, and boast one of the games best rushing attacks to go with a solid defense.  That said, the Raiders and Chargers are right on their heels, so KC will have to keep it up if they want to hold on in the NFC West.


5. Baltimore Ravens 6-3
No one would want to play this team in the playoffs.  They have all the tools to win a title, but will likely drop to the 5 seed since they are in Pittsburgh's division.

6. New England Patriots 6-2
This season is a real credit to the coaching staff.  The Patriots' defense was terrible at the beginning of the season, and no one has ever heard of any of the guys running the ball for New England.  Brady lost his Hall of Fame receiver, but the offense didn't miss a beat when Deion Branch was brought in to replace him. This organization just knows how to win.

Others in contention:  San Diego Chargers 4-5 (have all the talent to overtake KC) and Oakland Raiders 5-4 (NFC West battle), Tennessee Titans 5-3, Miami Dolphins 4-4, Houston Texans 4-4

Care to Place a Wager? A Gambler's Guide

If you're a gambling man or woman, and you like to try to earn a little extra cash on the side by beating the books in Vegas with your sports expertise, then this column is for you.  I won't actually be placing any wagers on any of these games, but if I were going to these would be the games I would take.

NFL 

Buffalo Bills +3 vs. Chicago Bears
The Bears are turning the ball over at an alarming rate, and the Bills have come agonizingly close to getting their first win of the season the past couple of weeks.  I think they not only cover this spread, but they win the game.

Houston Texans +3 vs. San Diego Chargers
I'm a little shocked the Texans are underdogs in this game.  I'd happily take the Texans and the points, and I expect Houston to also win the game at home.

New Orleans Saints -6.5 at Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are awful, and the Saints seem to have found a little something in their win against the Steelers.  Anyone that can beat Pittsburgh should have no problem with Carolina.

Green Bay Packers -7 vs. Dallas Cowboys
This one scares me slightly, but I think the Packers are improving while the Cowboys are going the other way.  We've heard a lot about all the talent in Dallas, but as long as they continue to turn the ball over I'm picking against them.


NBA

New York Knicks -5.5 vs. Philadelphia 76ers
-My apologies to Danilo Gallinari.  He started the season off in a terrible slump, but he's broken out of it and is shooting well.  The Knicks are playing some good ball, with Raymond Felton running the show, Toney Douglas producing big points off the bench, and Amare Stoudamire consistently being one of the best players on the floor.  Amare is producing quite what he was in Phoenix, but I look for his stats to increase as the season goes on. 

Atlanta Hawks -6 vs. Phoenix Suns
Atlanta's off to a great start this season, and the Suns still could be a little weary after an incredible win against the Grizzlies on Friday, followed by a cross-country flight.

Oklahoma City -1.5 vs. Boston Celtics
Just have a feeling Kevin Durant and company are going to pull this one out.  The Celtics have been playing a lot of close games, and I think this one will be no different.  KD comes up big in the clutch.

Week 9 NFL Power Rankings

 Rank (Last Week)


1. Pittsburgh Steelers 5-2 (1)
Losing a game to the defending champions in New Orleans is hardly a reason to panic, especially since it was such an important game for the Saints.  The Steelers have still been the most consistent team all year long, and nothing has changed.

2. Baltimore Ravens 5-2 (3)
The Ravens moved up a spot in their week off, and retake the field by hosting the Dolphins this week.


3. New York Jets 5-2 (2)
The Jets were surprisingly shut out at home against the Packers.  Green Bay definitely needed the win much more, but Jets fan have to be a little worried about putting up a goose egg against a banged up defense that has hardly been impressive so far this year.


4. Indianapolis Colts 5-2 (4)
The Colts restored order in the AFC North with a win in their rematch with Houston.  It doesn't seem to matter who Indianapolis puts in the lineup, as the Colts started the game with their 3rd string RB, who eventually got hurt himself, and were without Dallas Clark and Austin Collie.  As long as they have Peyton Manning, they just win.


5. New York Giants 5-2 (5)
The Giants get back in action after a week off with a road trip to Seattle.  2nd year player Hakeem Nicks is on his way to the Pro Bowl.


6. New England Patriots 6-1 (7)
Most "experts" are ranking the Patriots #1, but I refuse to put them there just because they have the best record.  The schedules definitely still play a big part in overall record at this point in the season, and while New England is finding a way to win, they're not as good as the teams ahead of them. 


7. Atlanta Falcons 5-2 (8)
No one is really talking about the Falcons, but they have the best record in the NFC and are quietly taking care of business.  Huge game for the outright division lead this week against the Buccaneers, and I look for Atlanta to win it in dominating fashion.

8. New Orleans Saints 5-3 (15)
The Saints got an absolutely huge win at home against the Steelers last week.  It hasn't been pretty at times New Orleans, but they have stayed afloat despite their depleted backfield and should get another win in Carolina this week.  They have a much needed bye after that, and should get at least one and maybe both of their star runners back in Week 11.


9. Kansas City Chiefs 5-2 (10)
The Chiefs escaped the lowly Buffalo Bills in overtime last week, and continue to ride the league's best rushing attack to victories.


10. Green Bay Packers 5-3 (13)
The Packers are getting it done despite all the injuries, and are coming off a huge win at the Jets last week.  After a rough start, Green Bay is back atop the NFC North, and the rest of the division looks to be in trouble.

11. Houston Texans 4-3 (11)
The Texans are an extremely talented team and are still in the mix for the playoffs.  Andre Johnson is having a heroic season playing on that injured ankle, and Houston will need him to keep it up if it hopes to still be playing after the 1st week in January.


12. Miami Dolphins 4-3 (12)
The Dolphins are a very strong team, and if they can ever find a way to finish their drives with touchdowns instead of field goals, they will be a real threat come playoff time.


13. Tennessee Titans 5-3 (6)
Kenny Britt was just starting to emerge as a great receiver in this league, and then he got hurt.  The Titans just claimed Randy Moss to replace him, and they will need him to fill Britt's shoes admirably to keep opposing defenses from completely keying on RB Chris Johnson. 


14. Philadelphia Eagles 4-3 (9)
The Eagles got a much needed week off for all their injured stars to rest, and it looks like they will have a full squad, including Michael Vick, for their game against the Colts.


15. San Diego Chargers 3-5 (18)
What a big win.  The Chargers finally closed the deal and beat the Titans in a game they had to have, and maybe this will be the start of turning their huge statistical output into victories.


16. Oakland Raiders 4-4 (22)
The Raiders have blown out their last 2 opponents, and have a chance to get back into the division race if they can beat Kansas City this week.


17. Minnesota Vikings 2-5 (14)
Things are falling apart in Minnesota.  Their aging QB is bruised, battered, and broken, but he'll probably still start this week anyway.  Randy Moss has been waived, and head coach Brad Childress has to be losing respect in the locker room.  It would be an absolute shock if the Vikings came back to make the playoffs at this point.


18. Detroit Lions 2-5 (19)
I still think this Lions team is pretty good, and they showed it by beating the Redskins last week.  Their tough schedule continues with an angry Jets team coming to town this week.


19. Cleveland Browns 2-5 (24)
The Browns had the week off, but moved up courtesy of some poor performances from a few teams in front of them.


20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5-2 (25)
Tampa Bay just keeps winning, but it's mainly due to the weakness of their opponents rather than what they are doing.  I think they just found a running back in hothead LaGarrette Blount which should help them improve, but I expect them to once again come back to earth when they travel to Atlanta to play their 3rd good team of the season.


21. Cincinnati Bengals 2-5 (28)
The Bengals moved up because others looked so bad.  Cincinnati hasn't been winning much, but they've been in every game, which is a lot more than some other teams behind them can say.


22. St. Louis Rams 4-4 (26)
They're coming off a bye week, and they have another "huge" NFC West matchup this week against San Francisco.  Every game in that division has major implications since no team is that good, and one lucky mediocre team is going to make the playoffs.


23. Seattle Seahawks 4-3 (17)
The Seahawks are one of those mediocre teams that has a chance to make the playoffs, and they are in fact the team with the division lead at the moment.  Seattle either has a great crowd, or their players are just much more comfortable at home or something, because they look like two different teams based on the location.  They are going to need every home advantage when the Giants come to town this week.



24. Washington Redskins 4-4 (26)
Things are coming unraveled in Washington, so this week's bye comes at a great time.  Head coach Mike Shanahan yanked McNabb late in the 4th quarter with the game on the line in favor of Rex "Sexy Rexy" Grossman (that one's for you Locke), a player that has never had much success in the league.  Not sure what coach was thinking there, but with the injuries and all the media battles this team is slowly tearing itself apart.


25. Jacksonville Jaguars 4-4 (27)
The Jags are extremely inconsistent, but at least they have the running game.  They are really pretty bad at most everything, but Maurice Jones-Drew has been enough to carry Jacksonville to a .500 record.  Huge division game against Houston this week, and the Jags have to win to have any hope of a trip to the playoffs.  I'm betting that hope starts slipping away this week.


26. Chicago Bears 4-3 (20)
Turnover, turnovers, turnovers.  The Bears seemingly sabotage themselves week after week, and last week was more of the same with 6 turnovers, including 4 picks from QB Jay Cutler.  I never believed in this team even when they were 4-1, as their defense is pretty good but the offense just finds a way to lose.  Bears fans should be more than worried about their trip to winless Buffalo this week, and I think the Bills have a real shot to finally put one in the win column on Sunday.


27. Denver Broncos 2-6 (23)
What happened to the Denver Broncos?  Once upon a time they had the best passing attack in the NFL and were looking very good at 2-2 coming off a win in Tennessee.  4 losses later, including a 59-14 annihilation at home at the hands of the Raiders, and this team looks hopeless.  The Broncos better use the bye week to figure out what's going on there, and if they don't find something soon they're almost certain to finish last in the division.


28. Dallas Cowboys 1-6 (21)
The season is over for the Cowboys.  With Romo gone and the defense unable to stop anyone, this team has no shot.  Roy Williams went spouting off at the mouth again, claiming that Dallas could run off 9 straight and finish 10-6.  I'm not sure if he's just too close to the action to see just how bad they are, but he's always talked a big game while doing next to nothing to back it up so I guess this should be nothing new.


29. San Francisco 49ers 2-6 (30)
The 49ers got their 2nd win of the season last week, beating a sad looking Broncos team in England by eight. They get the week off to get back and settled in the U.S., with a huge game at home against the Rams looming in week 10.  Unbelievably, the 29th ranked team in the power rankings would get right back in the hunt for a division title with a win in that game.


30. Arizona Cardinals 3-4 (29)
The Cardinals racked up almost 400 yards against the Buccaneers, but 4 turnovers doomed them and led to yet another loss.  This team is pretty bad, but like everyone else in the NFC West, they are still right there in contention for the division crown.



31. Carolina Panthers 1-6 (31)
The Panthers are really tough to watch.  The team is extremely boring, especially without DeAngelo Williams, and everyone seems prone to turnovers.  Not much has gone right for the Panthers, and I expect the franchise to clean house in the offseason.


32. Buffalo Bills 0-7 (32)
I really don't think the Bills are the worst team in the league, but until they get a win they have to occupy this position.  I think this is the week they finally get off the schnide, with a turnover prone Bears team coming to town.  This game should have plenty of errors and bloopers, so if you're wanting to watch a few offenses stink it up on the field, tune into this one.  There will probably be some points scored, but I'm betting on many occasions where the ball is handed to the opponent on a silver platter and the defense is going the other way.

1st revision, NBA Power Rankings

After a week I see a few things that need to be changed.  The Jazz, Bobcats, Wizards, and Clippers were ranked a little too high, and the Suns, Nets, Pacers, and Pistons were too low. The East and West are split up so you can get a better idea of where your team stands in the playoff race.

East

1. Miami Heat 3-1
Well I thought it might take the Heat a couple of weeks to surpass the Magic, but apparently this team only needed one game to get on the same page.  These guys are terrifying, and if they stay healthy the Bulls record 72-win season might be in jeopardy.

2. Orlando Magic 1-1
This team is very impressive.  They have the deepest team in the league, and they seemingly make every open jumpshot. They have the most dominant big man in the league, and scorers at every position.  Unfortunately for them, they don't seem to be able to beat the best teams consistently enough to win a title.  The Heat are a terrible matchup for them, and there is no way they could beat them in a 7-game series.


3. Boston Celtics 2-1
The Celtics looked great for most of the game against the Heat, then laid an egg on the road in Cleveland.  PG Rajon Rondo is now the most important player on this team, and he very well could lead the NBA in assists this year.  He had 24 of them in a triple double the other day, and this team may be the only threat to the Heat's domination of the East this year.

4. Chicago Bulls 2-1
Derrick Rose is one of the best point guards in the league already,and this team is playing well even without Carlos Boozer.  Once he returns from injury, this team will only get better.

5. Atlanta Hawks 3-0
I made a mistake in dropping the Hawks so low in the 1st edition of the power rankings.  They had a bad preseason, but they have looked sharp in their first few games and seem poised for a similar finish as last year. 4th in the East is the most these guys could hope for though, as the top 3 are simply too strong for them.

6. New York Knicks 1-2
The Knicks are a work in progress, and with a little tweak to their rotation they could be very good.  Galinari and Mosgov are basically worthless, and they should be removed from the starting lineup.  Wilson Chandler has been arguably their best player and needs to be in the game as much as possible, with Toney Douglas taking up Galinari's minutes. 



7. Indiana Pacers 2-1
Roy Hibbert is playing at an all-star level, and Tyler Hansbrough looks ready to break in to the starting lineup.  If they can all stay healthy, they have a real shot to make the playoffs.

8. New Jersey Nets 2-1
Brook Lopez is a beast, and Derick Favors looks ready to contribute right away.  This team could easily go from nearly the worst record of all time to the playoffs in a year.


9. Detroit Pistons 0-3
Detroit is playing much better than I expected, but they have a brutal schedule to start the season and are still without a win.  They could have started 3-0, but they have failed to close in all those games and dropped them all.  It's going to be tough for them to sneak in the playoffs.

10. Milwaukee Bucks 1-2
The Bucks aren't off to a very good start, and it looks like they might take a step back this season.  They had a great year last season, but a duplication of their 5th place finish last year looks out of the question.

11. Charlotte Bobcats 0-3
I was hoping the Bobcats were going to be decent, but it looks like they will take a step back after finally making the playoffs a year ago.  D.J. Augustin provides much more scoring from the point guard position than Raymond Felton did, but he lacks the defensive ability and leadership qualities that were extremely important to this team.  The identity of this team has changed, as they no longer play the defense that took them to the playoffs last season.  Forward Derrick Brown has to see more time, and I would recommend him taking most of Boris Diaw's minutes as well as his starting spot.


12. Toronto Raptors 1-2
This team may end up being much better than I thought.  They don't have any big names, but if they can ever find some consistency at the point (Barbosa, Jack, and Calderon, or some combination of the 3), they could move up.

13. Cleveland Cavaliers 1-2
J.J. Hickson, Ramon Sessions, and Daniel Gibson are a decent trio, but the win over Boston is not an indication of how this team will be this year.  They just don't have enough talent to win consistently, and it's going to be a tough season for the Cavs.

14. Washington Wizards 0-2
It looks like this team is going to be wildly inconsistent.  John Wall is great, but he will still have nights where he turns the ball over way too much, and there are too many selfish players who take terrible shots on this team for them to be a playoff team.  I thought this team would be better, but after watching them and their suspect shot selection, it looks like a playoff spot probably isn't possible.


15. Philadelphia 76ers 0-3
The 76ers aren't very good, and it looks like they're going to lose a lot of games this season.

West

1. Los Angeles Lakers 3-0
The Lakers are the 2-time defending champions, and they are still the team to beat in the West.  As long as they have a guy named Kobe Bryant on the court, they will remain the favorite to get back to the finals.

2. New Orleans Hornets 3-0
Chris Paul has returned from injury with a vengeance, and the Hornets have responded to their tough early season schedule by starting 3-0.  New Orleans made some great moves in the off-season, and they have starting gelling as a team even faster than I anticipated.  I knew they would be making a big jump from last season, but they've surpassed my lofty expectations.

3. Denver Nuggets 2-1
This Nuggets team is loaded, but the Carmelo Anthony trade talks still loom over their heads.  It doesn't seem to be bothering anyone very much so far, as the Nuggets have played well and look to be a certain playoff team as long as they stay intact.


4. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1
Kevin Durant has the Kobe-like ability to deliver the dagger late in the game, and teammates Jeff Green and  Russell Westbrook have given KD plenty of support.  I still like the Thunder despite an unexpected home blowout loss to a desperate Jazz team still searching for their first win.

5. San Antonio Spurs2-1
The Spurs just get it done, and it was good to hear members of the team stress the importance of trying to win every game this year.  This team doesn't have the margin for error it used to in past years, when they could afford to rest their stars and take games off.  This team plays great together, and they are still a playoff team as long as they stay healthy.


6. Dallas Mavericks 2-1
The Mavericks are loaded with talent, and their 37-year old point guard is still running the team at an elite level.  They've been a lock in the playoffs for years, and they look poised to get back there yet again.

7. Portland Trail Blazers 3-1
Portland is off to a great start, thanks in large part to LaMarcus Aldridge.  He's been a big-time double double machine, and he's getting plenty of help from Brandon Roy and company.


8. Utah Jazz 1-2
The Jazz got off to a shockingly bad start in blowout losses to Denver and Phoenix, but bounced back nicely with a huge road win in Oklahoma City.  Paul Milsap has been a complete animal so far, but the Jazz got almost nothing from their bench in their 2 losses to start the year.  C.J. Miles stepped up in a big way off the bench in their first win against the Thunder, and they will look for more from him as the season goes on.  I expected a lot from this team coming into the season, and I expect them to rebound from their nightmare start.

9. Memphis Grizzlies 2-1
The Grizzlies got off to a bad start in a blowout home loss to the Hawks, but they bounced back with a big road win in Dallas.  The starters are playing great, but they will need a bigger contribution from the bench if they want to be a playoff team.

10. Phoenix Suns 1-2
Steve Nash is the master of the pick and roll, and he even made Hakim Warrick look like Amare Stoudamire in their 2nd game against Utah.  Unfortunately for the Suns, they haven't gotten consistent contributions from the bigs inside. If they aren't able to establish a low post threat soon, it's going to be a long season for these guys.


11. Houston Rockets 0-3
The Rockets are 0-3, but they have been a little unlucky to start that way.  They nearly won their first two games on the road against the Lakers and Warriors, but they dropped close contests in both games.  Luis Scola is looking like an all-star, but Houston has to play better defensive if it hopes to make the playoffs in the West.

12. Golden State Warriors 2-1
The Warriors looked great while starting the season 2-0.  Monta Ellis was being a good teammate, and if he's willing to pass the ball this team has a very high ceiling.  Unfortunately for Golden State, Steph Curry reinjured his ankle late in the 2nd game, and his absence will be devastating to this team.  Curry does so many things for this team, and they can't afford to lose him for any extended period of time.

13. Sacramento Kings 3-1
The Kings are off to a great start at 3-1, but they really haven't beaten a good team yet.  We will see just how good they are when they host the Lakers on Wednesday, but this team has some nice pieces and will certainly be in the mix in the West sometime soon.  It might just be a year or 2 down the road.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves 1-2

The T'Wolves have a lot of young talent and have been cleaning up the glass better than anyone in the league.  Unfortunately, their youth too often comes through in the form of inconsistency, and this results in poor shot selection and bad defense.  Kevin Love and Luke Ridnour are playing consistently well, but Minnesota has to get more regular contributions from the supporting cast, especially Michael Beasley, if they expect to escape the bottom tier of the league.

15. Los Angeles Clippers 0-4
The Clippers have a pretty impressive starting lineup, but they're getting nothing from the bench. Blake Griffin is going to be a great player in this league for years to come, and his teammates really need to try harder to get him the ball.  Eric Gordon is a great scorer, but the Clippers have to find a few more contributors if they hope to be a factor come playoff time.  They are probably a year or 2 away, but they have had a very difficult schedule to open the season so we should give them a little more time.  Unfortunately for them, the schedule doesn't get any easier anytime soon.