HoopsAvenue

NBA Power Rankings - Week 18

HoopsAvenue — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:41:33 +0000

Are the Lakers the clear favorite now? After sweeping the Celtics and Cavs, we’re starting to think so, despite the injury to Andrew Bynum. One team we can’t quite figure out is the Hornets…not bad at 32-22, but why have they slipped from last season? Remember when they acquired James Posey in the offseason and were considered serious contenders in the West? That seems like eons ago. Check out this week’s power rankings below.

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

3. Boston Celtics

4. Orlando Magic

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. Denver Nuggets

7. Portland Trailblazers

8. Dallas Mavericks

9. Utah Jazz

10. Houston Rockets

11. Atlanta Hawks

12. New Orleans Hornets

13. Phoenix Suns

14. Miami Heat

15. Detroit Pistons

16. Philadelphia 76ers

17. Milwaukee Bucks

18. Indiana Pacers

19. New York Knicks

20. Chicago Bulls

21. New Jersey Nets

22. Toronto Raptors

23. Charlotte Bobcats

24. Golden State Warriors

25. Minnesota Timberwolves

26. Memphis Grizzlies

27. Washington Wizards

28. Los Angeles Clippers

29. Oklahoma City Thunder

30. Sacramento Kings

Check back next week to see how things change!

NBA Power Rankings - Week 16

HoopsAvenue — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:46:30 +0000

It’s easy to pick numero uno this week with the Lakers winning both at Boston and Cleveland last week, but how are the other top teams going to shake out? Check it out below…

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Boston Celtics

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

4. Orlando Magic

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. Denver Nuggets

7. Dallas Mavericks

8. New Orleans Hornets

9. Portland Trailblazers

10. Houston Rockets

11. Detroit Pistons

12. Atlanta Hawks

13. Utah Jazz

14. Phoenix Suns

15. Miami Heat

16. Phiadelphia 76ers

17. New Jersey Nets

18. Milwaukee Bucks

19. Charlotte Bobcats

20. Chicago Bulls

21. New York Knicks

22. Indiana Pacers

23. Toronto Raptors

24. Minnesota Timberwolves

25. Golden State Warriors

26. Memphis Grizzlies

27. Oklahoma City Thunder

28. Los Angeles Clippers

29. Sacramento Kings

30. Washington Wizards

Poor Wizards…check back next week for next week’s power rankings.

Pick of the Week: Lakers (+4.5) at Cavs

HoopsAvenue — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:30:09 +0000

We had to pick this game this week, it’s such a great matchup. The Lakers are rolling having just won at Boston and we expect they will take care of business in Cleveland, too. Yes, the Cavs are unbeaten at home, but that streak is bound to end and the Lakers are the team to do it. Here’s why we like the Lakers:

The best team in the league coming off a win on the road against the defending champions is a 4.5 point underdog? C’mon, we don’t even need the points.
Kobe. This is probably the biggest Kobe-Lebron matchup we’ve seen yet. They’re both winning and playing great this season, but you’ve got to trust Kobe a little bit more in a close game as Lebron is still relatively unproven in tough situations.
The Cavs are bound to lose. It’s not very likely the Cavs go 41-0 at home so it makes sense the Lakers would be the team to snap that streak. Call it a gut feeling.

Make your picks this week at BetUS!

Pick of the Week: Boston (-13.5) vs. Minnesota

HoopsAvenue — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:17:05 +0000

Last week’s pick did of the Kings covering as 9 point underdogs in Toronto didn’t work out for us, but we’re still 7-3 on the season! This week we’re taking the mighty Boston Celtics even though they are heavy favorites at home against Minnesota. Boston is favored by 13.5. It’s a Sunday noon game on Super Bowl Sunday so that’s always dicey and who knows where the player’s head is, but we’re banking on the hot, experienced Celtics to get the job done. Here are some reasons we like the pick:

Boston is on a roll having won 10 straight. It’s going to end at some point, but probably not at home to Minnesota. In 6 of those 10 wins, they’ve won by over 14 as well so another blowout is very possible.
Minnesota is young and young teams never seem to handle weirdly timed games like this one. What we mean is its Super Bowl Sunday and they’re on the road so they are probably trying to figure out where the party is at rather than getting ready to play.
The Celts won by 17 in Minnesota early in the year. It’s only one game, sure, but one would think they’d win by even more at home, making this an attractive pick.

Whether you like this game or others, head on over to BetUS and cash in on your hoops prognosticating abilities!

NBA Power Rankings - Week 14

HoopsAvenue — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 14:37:41 +0000

The Celtics have won 8 straight…do they really want to sign Stephon Marbury?!? Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have put together an impressive 9 game losing streak. But they still aren’t as bad as the Wizards who now have the worst record in the league. Somebody tell me how a team with Caron Butler and Antawn Jamision is 9-35? Oh, that’s right…Blake Griffin. Here are this week’s power rankings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

3. Boston Celtics

4. Orlando Magic

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. New Orleans Hornets

7. Houston Rockets

8. Denver Nuggets

9. Portland Trailblazers

10. Phoenix Suns

11. Detroit Pistons

12. Dallas Mavericks

13. Miami Heat

14. Utah Jazz

15. Atlanta Hawks

16. Philadelphia 76ers

17. Milwaukee Bucks

18. Charlotte Bobcats

19. Minnesota Timberwolves

20. New York Knicks

21. New Jersey Nets

22. Indiana Pacers

23. Toronto Raptors

24. Golden State Warriors

25. Chicago Bulls

26. Oklahoma City Thunder

27. Los Angeles Clippers

28. Sacramento Kings

29. Washington Wizards

30. Memphis Grizzlies

How do you rank ‘em this week?

Pick of the Week: Sacramento (+9) at Toronto

HoopsAvenue — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:44:27 +0000

Last week’s pick of San Antonio, a 3-point favorite, over Chicago was correct bringing Pick of the Week’s record to 7-2! We’re not perfect, but you could be making some pretty good cash over at BetUS by paying attention to our picks. So who do we like this week?

The Sacramento Kings, a 9-point underdog, in Toronto. It’s not that we think Sacramento will win (they probably won’t), but they will be competitive enough to keep the margin under 9. Here’s why we like the Kings:

The Kings have something to prove by winning a road game since they are terrible on the road. This is their 2nd game on a 4 game Eastern swing and they already lost the first with Cleveland and Boston coming up after this one. They’ve got to have a bulls-eye on Toronto.
The Raptors have lost 7 of 8. Sorry, but you don’t deserve to be 9-point favorites when you’re on a skid like that.
The Kings have been keeping it close lately. Though they’ve been losing, if you look at their schedule, a lot of the losses are close with the occasional blowout mixed in. Toronto doesn’t figure to be a team that can pull of a blowout.

So who do you like in this one? Post your pick for this game in the comments and let’s see how well everyone does.

Confident in your picks? Take it over to BetUS and make some cash!

NBA Power Rankings - Week 13

HoopsAvenue — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:55:26 +0000

It’s getting interested at the bottom of the standings as the Wizards are closing in on the Thunder for league’s worst record. Meanwhile, at the top, the Lakers sent a message, beating Cleveland by 17 last night to hold onto our top spot. Here are the complete power rankings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Orlando Magic

3. Cleveland Cavaliers

4. Boston Celtics

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. New Orleans Hornets

7. Houston Rockets

8. Detroit Pistons

9. Portland Trailblazers

10. Denver Nuggets

11. Atlanta Hawks

12. Phoenix Suns

13. Dallas Mavericks

14. Utah Jazz

15. Miami Heat

16. Philadelphia 76ers

17. Milwaukee Bucks

18. New Jersey Nets

19. Chicago Bulls

20. New York Knicks

21. Charlotte Bobcats

22. Minnesota Timberwolves

23. Indiana Pacers

24. Golden State Warriors

25. Toronto Raptors

26. Sacramento Kings

27. Memphis Grizzlies

28. Los Angeles Clippers

29. Washington Wizards

30. Oklahoma City Thunder

What are your rankings?

Pick of the Week: San Antonio (-3) at Chicago

HoopsAvenue — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:42:06 +0000

Pick of the Week is 6-2 now and this week we’re taking San Antonio as a 3-point road favorite in Chicago. The Spurs let us down last time, but we like the spread this week. It’s a bit puzzling why the Spurs are only 3 point favorites against the Bulls given how well San Antonio has played in Chicago. Here are a few reasons you might want to consider taking the Spurs tonight:

The Bulls have lost 8 out of their last 10 at home to the Spurs. Combine that with the fact the Spurs are a good, veteran road team at 10-6 and the home court advantage is non-existent in this one.
San Antonio is coming off a bad 22 point loss in Philadelphia last night and surely don’t want to be embarrassed in another road game.
The Bulls have been extremely inconsistent this year. Yes, they are capable of beating the league’s best and knocked off the Cavs the other night, but since they’ve won 2 straight, it’s hard to fathom them putting together a 3 game win streak.

Agree or disagree?

Whatever your opinion, take a look at the lines and make your pick at BetUS.

NBA Power Rankings - Week 12

HoopsAvenue — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:01:07 +0000

The Celtics are continuing to struggle while the Cavs still look strong…makes you wonder if Cleveland could actually be the favorite to come out of the East. Orlando isn’t looking too shabby either. Can someone tell me how you lose by 42 to Minnesota? That’s what OKC did last week…talk about tanking it. They’re only 1 game “up” on the Wiz though for top dibs in the draft lottery. Here are this week’s power rankings:

1. Los Angeles Lakers

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

3. Orlando Magic

4. Boston Celtics

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. New Orleans Hornets

7. Detroit Pistons

8. Denver Nuggets

9. Phoenix Suns

10. Portland Trailblazers

11. Atlanta Hawks

12. Houston Rockets

13. Utah Jazz

14. Dallas Mavericks

15. Miami Heat

16. Philadelphia 76ers

17. New Jersey Nets

18. Milwaukee Bucks

19. Toronto Raptors

20. Charlotte Bobcats

21. Chicago Bulls

22. Minnesota Timberwolves

23. Indiana Pacers

24. New York Knicks

25. Golden State Warriors

26. Memphis Grizzlies

27. Sacramento Kings

28. Washington Wizards

29. Los Angeles Clippers

30. Oklahoma City Thunder

That’s it. Check back next Monday for next week’s power rankings!

3 Illegal Dribbles, Moves, and Spins

HoopsAvenue — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:58:30 +0000

Dear Lebron,

We were hoping you would just let it go, but two days after being called for traveling on your “Crab Dribble,” you’re still trying to convince us it was a legal move. We’re sure you’ve seen the video of you taking THREE steps by now, but if you haven’t, here it is again:

One, Two, Three…and Jalen Rose goes on to inform you that you’re even confused what a crab dribble is.

Since we are here to help you live up to your billing of The Chosen One, we wanted to inform you of 3 other moves that are illegal before you try them in a game. Please let us know if you find these helpful as we might let Donovan McNabb know about some NFL rules once he’s finished with the playoffs.

“The Chalk Move” - Your new commercial is nice, but make sure you don’t actually clap chalk into your opponents face DURING the game. For instance, do not dribble across half-court, scoop up some chalk, clap in your opponent’s face to blind them, and drive to the basket. This would most likely earn you a technical foul.
“The Tornado” - After hearing you talk about Crab Dribble and watching your footwork over your career, we get the feeling you think anything is illegal when you’re pivoting. We just wanted to let you know that you cannot just spin, spin, and spin to the basket without dribbling just because you are “pivoting.”
“Traveling” - An oldie, but a goodie. We understand you are aware of the rule, but we just wanted to give you yet another reminder since you…well, you do stuff like this:

We would have listed “The Charge,” but it seems you are allowed to get away with this one. Good luck!

Your Fans,

HoopsAvenue