NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West

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Nov 17, 2010

NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West When Celtics GM Danny Ainge put his team together for this season, the theory behind the C’s eventual success was simple: Stay healthy and afloat in the regular season, and make a big push come April.

Instead, Boston has decided to start that “push” early. With an 8-2 record, including two wins over LeBron James and Co., the Celtics are asserting themselves as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

And while the NBA season is a grind, especially for an aging team like the C’s, a hot start is nothing new to this squad. Remember, Boston started 29-3 in the fall of 2007, and went on to win it all the following summer.

The NBA has changed since then, however, and it’s not just the usual suspects that are making big waves in the league this year.

The New Orleans Hornets, for instance, have seemingly come out of nowhere with an 8-1 record, and Chris Paul is reminding everyone why he’s one of the top point guards in the league.

The way things are going right now, a Paul-Rajon Rondo matchup in June really could happen.

NBA Power Rankings
1 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 1
Record: 9 – 2
Los Angeles Lakers
Andrew Bynum is targeting a return next week. The Lakers have plenty to be thankful for this holiday season.
2 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 2
Record: 8 – 2
Boston Celtics
If the C’s can maintain their sparkling .800 winning percentage through this upcoming rough patch, with Jermaine O’Neal sidelined and a couple of other guys banged up, it’ll be impressive. Luckily for them, they’ve got a few cupcakes coming up on the schedule in late November.
3 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 5
Record: 8 – 1
New Orleans Hornets
An 82-0 season isn’t in the Hornets’ future, but the 8-1 Hornets have shown tremendous improvement this year. Chris Paul is healthy and dominating, Emeka Okafor is playing like he cares again, and the whole team is playing lock-down defense. It’s a sight to behold.
4 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 3
Record: 6 – 4
Miami Heat
Miami’s 6-4 record isn’t dazzling, but the margins of victory tell you a lot. The Heat’s losses are by two, three, five and eight points; they’ve won five games by double digits, including a 28-point win over a title contender in Orlando. Dwyane Wade is right — this squad is better than its wins and losses.
5 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 7
Record: 8 – 1
San Antonio Spurs
Manu Ginobili has a really good chance of cracking 20-plus points per game for the first time this season. Not many guys reinvent themselves at age 33, but Manu looks like the exception to the rule. He’s got the Spurs off to a fantastic start.
6 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 4
Record: 7 – 3
Orlando Magic
Dwight Howard says he doesn’t like to recover the loose ball when he blocks shots — he prefers to knock them out of bounds, to “send a message.” It might send a better message if he could help Orlando overtake Boston on the East totem pole.
7 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 12
Record: 7 – 4
Utah Jazz
The Jazz had an incredible week, recording five straight comeback victories from a combined 88-point deficit. Then the Thunder force-fed them their own medicine, falling behind by double digits early but pulling off a dramatic win in Salt Lake City. So much for that winning streak.
8 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 9
Record: 7 – 2
Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs have some big wins to their name already — Denver, Boston, and then on Monday night, they handed the mighty Hornets their first loss of the season. Dallas and New Orleans have a rematch Wednesday. If the Mavs win again, that’ll be a huge statement.
9 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 10
Record: 6 – 5
Denver Nuggets
Honestly, why wouldn’t we expect Carmelo Anthony to come out guns-blazing in the opening weeks? He wants to prove he can still be a team player amid all the trade gossip, and boy, has he ever. Melo’s got 24.5 points per game, and the Nuggets are poised to be a contender again out West.
10 NBA Power Rankings Feature Celtics Holding Court in East, Hornets Rising in West
Last week: No. 13
Record: 6 – 3
Chicago Bulls
Derrick Rose led the Bulls to a 3-0 week, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors in the process. If Rose and the Bulls keep it up, they could be angling for a high playoff seed in the East come April.
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