Power Rankings: Week 5

Now one month into the season, we are finding which teams are for real and which are just the Item of the Week. A few teams returned back to Earth: Atlanta, Milwaukee, & Portland, and teams that are playing how they should: LA Lakers, Utah, and San Antonio. No team has taken sole control of NBA dominance yet, but now we are going to be able to separate the contenders from pretenders. Let’s look at the rankings from The Ref’s eyes:

Biggest Gain: San Antonio (+9)
Biggest Drop: Atlanta (-7)

1.Lakers (12-3) This team is taking full advantage of the early easy schedule by winning 6 in a row. Pau Gasol completes this team by sending Lamar Odom to aid the bench troubles. Oh, and his inside presence.
2.Magic (14-4) If it wasn’t for a controversial non-offensive basket inference call, this team would be #1. Exclude that, and Orlando is still the best road team in the league with an 8-2 record.
3.Phoenix (14-3) This version of the Suns is better than the 2005-2006 version. Nash is back and Amare Stoudemire is entering in his prime.
4.Boston (13-4) Kevin Garnett is showing the NBA world that he still has the ability to score at will, and his play has taken the Celtics out of their offensive woes and into a 4 game winning streak.
5.Cleveland (12-5) Mo Williams has the power to dictate how far this team goes. His play is that vital and can give LeBron James a much needed rest on night to night basis.
6.San Antonio (9-6) I wonder if a few people wonder if the Spurs are a bunch of phonies now. Hello, this team is on a 5 game winning streak and just got back Manu Ginobili.
7.Dallas (12-5) Even though this team is doing well, they need Erick Dampier and Josh Howard back. Dirk Nowitzki is going to run out of gas.
8.Atlanta (12-5) I don’t know how a team can disappoint me more. They get embarrassed on Thanksgiving by Anthony Johnson of all players and then lose to the Pistons who were without Ben Gordon, Tayshaun Prince, and Rip Hamilton. All of this after I gave them so much pub. Never again.
9.Denver (12-5) This team had the easiest week schedule… ever, but couldn’t handle the T-Wolves… at HOME. I hope the fans got their money back. That’s just embarrassing, but George Karl proves again that he cannot keep his team’s focus.
10.Utah (9-7) After losing to the Thunder at home, they win two statement games against the Bulls at home and Portland on the road. Carlos Boozer is playing so well that he is starting to dish out assists. He now averaged 5 a game during the week. Impressive.
11.Houston (9-8) Aaron Brooks amazes me. He makes his teammates so much better. I am so glad that I figured out how the Rockets is winning with their roster. This Sunday night’s game against OKC is a prime example of his ability.
12.Portland (12-7) How does a team lose to Memphis by ten at home after winning 10 of their last 12 games? I am asking you, because I have no idea.
13.Miami (9-7) Even though they lost to the Celtics on Sunday, Michael Beasley took over the game for a few minutes and gave everyone a glimpse what he can do in the near future. Erick Spolestra, the man has arrived.
14.Oklahoma City (9-8) Just when you think this team is going to get over the hump, they lose to the Rockets at home where they had control of the game for 40 minutes. That can’t happen.
15.Charlotte (7-9) Can Stephen Jackson make that much of a difference? I guess so. They’re on a 4-game winning streak.
16.Milwaukee (8-7) Oh NOOOO… Milwaukee is 1-5 when Michael Redd is playing and Brandon Jennings is only averaging 15 ppg and shooting 33% in those games.
17.Sacramento (8-8) It’s sad that this team will not get any TV time this year. Everybody needs to watch Tyreke Evans, Jason Thompson, and Omar Casspri play. They’re straight up filthy.
18.LA Clippers (8-10) Eric Gordon is back and the Clips have won 4 of their last 5. Also, Blake Griffin’s return is right around the corner.
19.Chicago (6-8) OK Chicago, we know you have a tough schedule, but you’re getting blown out. You need to show me something this week.
20.Indiana (6-8) This team is now at full strength with Michael Dunleavy and Troy Murphy back in action, and they have an easy schedule this week with Golden State, Sacramento, & LA Clippers. No excuses.
21.New Orleans (7-10) It will be interesting to see how Jeff Bower will play Darren Collison and Chris Paul when he returns from injury because I can’t see them playing together. They both have too similar games.
22.Toronto (7-11) This team scores 105 a game (4th best) but give up 109 (Worst). If they played a little defense, Chris Bosh’s insane year would be worth something.
23.Memphis (6-11) I wonder how good Marc Gasol would be if he never got traded for his brother. He’s nasty, and him and Z-Bo play pretty well together to create a decent front-court for the Grizz.
24.Detroit (6-11) The combination of Will Bynum and Rodney Stuckey is great. They’re young, they play hard and go to the hole strong. Detroit needs that type of play since Ben Gordon joins their laundry list of injuries.
25.Golden State (5-10) Monta Ellis was nasty this week by scoring 37 against Dallas (win) and dropping 42 against San Antonio (loss) on the next night.
26.Washington (5-10) Wow Gilbert, do you see what happens when you include your teammates… You WIN!
27.Philadelphia (5-12) With Lou Williams out, they should have signed AI two days ago. Are you really going to let Jrue Holiday run the show. Did you see what he did last game? 2 pts (1-8), and 5 assists. Please Sixers, let me be GM for a day.
28.Minnesota (2-15) Well, they proved that they’re definitely better than the Nets with winning at Denver. I wonder what the betting odds were for that game.
29.New York (3-14) I don’t understand Wilson Chandler. It’s not like this guy has on and off games. He has on and off minutes. He makes a great play one moment, then throws the ball in the opponent’s hoop the next. It doesn’t make any sense.
30.New Jersey (0-17) They are going to break the record for the worst start for a team, but now it may get worse since Charlotte is now better, and …gulp the Knicks are better than New Jersey’s finest. At least Lawrence Frank is fired.

-This is The Ref signaling I’m out until next time and remember We miss calls, you miss layups.