Miami 100, Atlanta 94

In the comment section of my last power rankings, Shooter exclaimed Chicago to be the most inconsistent team in the league. I agree with him that they are inconsistent, but they are nowhere near the inconsistency of the Miami Heat.

I understand that Dwyane Wade has been out for 4 straight games and the Heat didn’t win any of those games (big surprise), but even when he is in the lineup, I have no idea what team will show up. They beat the Lakers already this week and now behind Wade’s 38 point and 10 assist performance, they are 1 game over .500 and back into the playoffs. They were unbelievable and it’s all on Michael Beasley’s shoulders.

Everyone knows what D-Wade is going to do, but Beasley, a mystery. When he drops 18+, they are a solid club, but when he can’t find the basket, they lose to the Idaho Stampede. If you look at some games he has played, he has the ability to score 32 one night, and the 7 the next. His production determines the team’s success. It’s as simple as that. He finished with 22 and what a surprise, the Heat end up with a victory.

Atlanta needs to find a way to win on the road. They have the potential to beat Cleveland, call me crazy, but they have lineup that gives any team problems. However, they can’t get it together on a consistent basis (I am starting to hate that word) and if they play Toronto in the first round, they are in trouble if they don’t fix themselves.

We will see.

New Jersey 113, New York 93

Wow New York, way to represent. I wouldn’t really care if the Knicks lose a close game to the Nets, because honestly they aren’t much better than the Nets, but losing by 20 at home. At Home! That’s just absurd. It is simply embarrassing.

Devin Harris led the way with 31 points and it’s about time he produces a game like this. He has been terrible, disappointing and completely non-existent. He isn’t even the shadow of the player that went to the All Star Game last year. He needs to show all Nets fans something. Fight hard, make something happen and prove to future free agents that it’s worth their time…and money to play in Dirty Jerzee.

New Jersey is now 4-3 against New York and Charlotte this season and 3-52 against the rest.

Dallas 122, Chicago 116

Don’t look now, but the Lakers aren’t alone anymore.

All year, our staff has tried to find a team that has a fighting chance to beat the Lakers. The Nuggets and Jazz have a fighting chance, but with Dallas’ new and improved team, they are a legit contender for the Western Conference championship. They are on an 11-game winning streak with this impressive win in Chicago. They had a lot to contend with though.

Derrick Rose was superb and finished with 34 points and 8 assists. The Bulls actually had 6 players in double figures, but Dallas had Caron Butler, Dirk Nowitzki, and Rodrique Beaubois combine for 75 points. Jason Kidd was two buckets shy of a triple double (6 points, 15 assists, and 11 rebounds). I must say that Kidd’s and Steve Nash’s play has more than amazed me, it’s shocking. Kidd, at 38, and Nash, at 36 are redefining the way that must of us are looking at the longevity of point guards in the future. If you can supply your teammates with leadership, balance, and supreme vision, you will be successful for years. I can’t say enough about these guys. I am in awe.

Let me just concentrate on Kidd for a second though. His play is putting them over the edge, but it’s due to the addition of Caron Butler. The ex-Wizard brings another option, and Kidd has used it to his biggest advantage. They are dangerous and a force to reckoned with.

Oh, here are Dallas’s next four games: Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Chicago. You know where I am going with this.

Milwaukee 92, Cleveland 85

I understand LeBron was out in this game, but the Bucks deserve some DAP.

Everyone is talking about Tyreke Evans and Stephen Curry being the only players in the ROY talk, but what about Jennings. He has brought a 30 win team from last year and made them into a playoff contender. Wait, let me reword that, they are the 5th seed right now. They are not fighting anymore, the Bucks are here to stay and it’s all because of his arrival and Andrew Bogut’s health. It’s too bad Bogut was injured in the beginning of the year because he deserved to be in the All-Star Game over David Lee and Al Horford. Bogut finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

The addition of John Salmons has reignited this team and every player is meshing in Scott Skiles system. With that, Skiles is slowly becoming one of the best coaches in the league. Of course he not up there with the Poppavich’s, Sloan’s, and Jackson’s of the NBA, but he cannot be overlooked as a terrific coach.

Back to Jennings, he dominated both sides of the floor against the Cavs, making Mo Williams look like a scrub in the process. Williams finished with 7 points on 3-17 shooting while Jennings ended up with 25 points and 6 assists. Brandon J was 5-7 from 3. A stat that puts a smile on Shooter’s face.

For Fantasy Owners: Antawn Jamison scored 30 points, ripped down 11 boards, and created 5 takeaways. Impressive.

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