Power Ranking - Minnesota at Top in 09

Jan, 05 (Week 3) - Happy New Year. The NLL is starting back up and here are the latest Power Rankings. [vt]

	Rank	Rating	Team		Record	Comment
	1 (2)	91	Min		11-1 Min 101, Chi 100 W Min 79, Ind 69 W Cha 93, Min 110 W GS 94, Min 101 W Min 99, LAC 81 W Min 107, LAL 100 W Min 102, Den 94 W Chi 102, Min 79 L Den 102, Min 112 W Min 108, Tor 96 W Min 116, OKC 111 W LAL 75, Min 92 W	The Wolves have lost only one game and that was weeks ago. They enter the New Year as the NLL team to beat. But will the return of Josh Howard mess with the chemistry?
	2 (5)	76	NJ		9-3 NJ 90, Was 76 W Hou 89, NJ 100 W NY 118, NJ 113 L OKC 94, NJ 107 W NJ 100, Phi 91 W NJ 108, Den 104 W Sac 106, NJ 96 L NJ 100, SA 90 W Dal 107, NJ 109 W NJ 94, Cle 86 W Det 96, NJ 86 L Por 73, NJ 110 W	The top team in East is motoring along. But losses to teams like Sacramento shouldn't be happening. Will this team of stars implode again?
	3 (4)	75	Det		9-3 Det 67, Mil 82 L Phi 99, Det 105 W Det 91, Utah 71 W Mem 104, Det 97 L Det 106, Ind 91 W Den 104, Det 106 W NY 92, Det 98 W Mil 92, Det 98 W Pho 101, Det 108 W Det 96, NJ 86 W Det 98, Cha 104 L Cle 96, Det 102 W	Delonte West says, "It was McCants holding this team back all along." Even without Carlos Boozer, this team is super hot, beating the likes of star-studded teams like New Jersey and Cleveland.
	4 (6)	71	Mem		9-4 Mem 102, Atl 90 W Atl 86, Mem 102 W Cle 89, Mem 85 L Mem 104, Det 97 W Utah 99, Mem 106 W Mem 86, Pho 102 L Mem 102, Por 90 W Mem 97, Tor 94 W Pho 91, Mem 99 W Mil 83, Mem 92 W Mem 103, NO 112 L NO 106, Mem 86 L Mem 127, Phi 124 W	Despite the loss of long-time GM Deckard, the Grizzlies are doing quite well. They are 0-2 versus teams in their division, something that needs to be fixed.
	5 (1)	63	Dal		8-5 Sac 112, Dal 110 L Dal 97, Sac 87 W Dal 100, Tor 108 L Dal 108, Utah 99 W Dal 101, Mia 95 W Hou 93, Dal 103 W Dal 113, Utah 97 W Dal 99, NO 90 W Hou 89, Dal 96 W NY 106, Dal 110 W GS 99, Dal 75 L Dal 96, Den 103 L Dal 107, NJ 109 L	After a strong start, this team has started to slip. Amare Stoudemire really messed with them last week at home. Derek Fisher may not be the replacement they have been searching for since trading away Steve Nash.
	6 (17)	61	Cha		8-5 Phi 108, Cha 91 L Cha 93, Min 110 L Bos 76, Cha 93 W Cha 113, Orl 103 W Cha 103, NY 99 W Ind 99, Cha 91 L Cha 94, Mia 97 L Cha 128, LAC 127 W Cha 106, Hou 98 W NY 118, Cha 112 L Det 98, Cha 104 W Cha 116, Bos 108 W Cle 103, Cha 106 W	Stackhouse and Tim Thomas are hardly playing and the Bobbies started out strong like this last season. Will this be the year the team finally makes the playoffs?
	7 (3)	58	Tor		7-6 Utah 80, Tor 103 W Dal 100, Tor 108 W Tor 101, Den 93 W Tor 95, Chi 103 L Mia 93, Tor 102 W Mem 97, Tor 94 L Tor 92, NO 67 W Was 95, Tor 103 W Tor 82, Mil 92 L Tor 95, Mia 80 W Por 103, Tor 87 L Min 108, Tor 96 L Tor 86, Utah 96 L	The 50-win talk has officially begun in Toronto. But since a 7-2 start, the team has been 1-4. Maybe these upstarts jumped the gun a little?
	8 (12)	54	Atl		7-5 Mem 102, Atl 90 L Atl 86, Mem 102 L Sac 94, Atl 103 W GS 95, Atl 104 W Bos 95, Atl 104 W Cle 85, Atl 81 L Utah 95, Atl 90 L Atl 100, Hou 93 W Ind 93, Atl 67 L Atl 105, Pho 97 W Atl 103, Was 100 W Atl 103, Ind 75 W	Oden is playing insane and Derrick Rose should have been the first pick. Atlanta in the Top 10? Blame it on global warming.
	9 (13)	54	Hou		7-5 Hou 89, NJ 100 L Hou 84, LAL 81 W Den 108, Hou 112 W Pho 102, Hou 109 W Hou 93, Dal 103 L Hou 89, Dal 96 L LAL 86, Hou 93 W Atl 100, Hou 93 L Hou 105, Sac 94 W OKC 94, Hou 100 W Cha 106, Hou 98 L Hou 105, Sac 95 W	Yao is playing like an All-Star. 25.6 ppg and 11.4 boards is quite impressive. This team really needs him to stay healthy.
	10 (8)	54	NY		7-6 Bos 91, NY 95 W NY 101, SA 88 W NY 97, Por 84 W NY 118, NJ 113 W Cha 103, NY 99 L NY 103, Phi 81 W NY 85, Was 88 L NY 92, Det 98 L NY 106, Dal 110 L NY 118, Cha 112 W Orl 99, NY 88 L NY 106, LAC 93 W Mia 94, NY 79 L	All it took was 3 weeks for Elton Brand to go down with a dislocated shoulder. Quite an investment. Is the future of the Knicks tied to their $15 million man?
	11 (21)	52	GS		7-6 SA 103, GS 92 L GS 98, NO 87 W GS 95, Atl 104 L GS 94, Min 101 L GS 86, OKC 94 L GS 98, SA 90 W Bos 96, GS 98 W GS 95, Orl 87 W Chi 95, GS 84 L GS 99, Dal 75 W Orl 89, GS 97 W GS 77, Por 88 L GS 92, LAL 91 W	A fairly even schedule, but a win over Champs Portland must feel good. "See," says Michael Beasley, "This team needed only one thing. Me."
	12 (20)	51	Was		7-5 NJ 90, Was 76 L Mil 89, Was 79 L Was 108, Bos 100 W Cle 103, Was 95 L Was 105, Ind 98 W Was 96, Phi 86 W Was 95, Tor 103 L NY 85, Was 88 W Was 107, Orl 101 W Was 99, Mil 97 W Atl 103, Was 100 L Was 107, NO 94 W	The Wizards made a big move, ditching Joe Johnson and bringing in Tyson Chandler. We're not sure about Caron Butler at SG, but we are sure about the team's burgeoning payroll. It's the taxman, baby.
	13 (11)	50	Chi		6-6 Chi 95, Phi 103 L Min 101, Chi 100 L Chi 106, Den 109 L Tor 95, Chi 103 W Ind 86, Chi 112 W SA 106, Chi 101 L Chi 102, Min 79 W Chi 95, GS 84 W Ind 91, Chi 92 W LAL 93, Chi 94 W Chi 83, SA 88 L Mia 91, Chi 77 L	They hold the honor of being the only team to beat the Wolves so far. Injuries ripped them up last week, but Shaq has been playing well.
	14 (9)	47	Mil		6-6 Det 67, Mil 82 W LAL 89, Mil 76 L Mil 89, Was 79 W Mil 98, Cle 86 W Orl 95, Mil 92 L Mil 97, Mia 95 W Tor 82, Mil 92 W Mil 92, Det 98 L Mil 104, Ind 85 W Was 99, Mil 97 L Mil 83, Mem 92 L Utah 85, Mil 78 L	This team would really like Martell Webster back sometime soon.
	15 (23)	46	LAC		6-6 LAC 93, Mia 96 L Pho 108, LAC 96 L Den 101, LAC 106 W LAC 108, Pho 102 W Utah 124, LAC 113 L Min 99, LAC 81 L LAC 102, Bos 83 W Cha 128, LAC 127 L Phi 77, LAC 85 W LAC 101, Phi 88 W NY 106, LAC 93 L Por 84, LAC 92 W	It is very doubtful Darko and Cassell will ever play together. This team relies on one man only. The success will probably only be fleeting.
	16 (14)	46	Mia		6-6 LAC 93, Mia 96 W Mia 118, Bos 111 W Mia 95, OKC 82 W Dal 101, Mia 95 L Mia 93, Tor 102 L Cha 94, Mia 97 W Mil 97, Mia 95 L Orl 107, Mia 96 L Tor 95, Mia 80 L Mia 81, Den 89 L Mia 91, Chi 77 W Mia 94, NY 79 W	The Heat aren't looking as strong as last year and the loss of Baron Davis is devastating.
	17 (24)	45	NO		6-7 NO 92, Pho 100 L Utah 71, NO 85 W GS 98, NO 87 L Cle 86, NO 70 L NO 93, OKC 74 W Sac 81, NO 83 W Dal 99, NO 90 L NO 88, Utah 91 L Tor 92, NO 67 L Mem 103, NO 112 W NO 106, Mem 86 W NO 89, Orl 82 W Was 107, NO 94 L	Why did Rondo get the bump? Is Mike Miller the answer? Will the Hornets make more moves? Will Rondo be gone?
	18 (10)	45	Orl		6-6 Orl 104, Ind 96 W Ind 90, Orl 96 W Phi 120, Orl 116 L Cha 113, Orl 103 L Orl 87, Cle 79 W Orl 95, Mil 92 W GS 95, Orl 87 L Orl 107, Mia 96 W Was 107, Orl 101 L Orl 89, GS 97 L Orl 99, NY 88 W NO 89, Orl 82 L	Ditching T-mac for Peja and RJ was a boon for this team. Beating the powerhouse Knicks is even more impressive.
	19 (18)	44	OKC		6-6 Mia 95, OKC 82 L OKC 94, NJ 107 L GS 86, OKC 94 W OKC 85, Por 98 L NO 93, OKC 74 L OKC 102, Cle 84 W OKC 100, SA 97 W Por 94, OKC 106 W Pho 110, OKC 113 W OKC 94, Hou 100 L OKC 97, Phi 88 W Min 116, OKC 111 L	This team is talking about trading Paul to get into the playoffs. Hopefully they won't have to face him in the playoffs then. And lose to him...
	20 (16)	43	Por		6-6 NY 97, Por 84 L Por 94, SA 87 W Por 86, LAL 75 W OKC 85, Por 98 W Por 96, Sac 77 W Mem 102, Por 90 L Por 94, OKC 106 L Pho 102, Por 88 L Por 103, Tor 87 W GS 77, Por 88 W Por 84, LAC 92 L Por 73, NJ 110 L	We feel a deal of some sort is imminent. Colton wants to move Big Ben. Besides Z-Bo and Pierce, what else does this team have? A chance of a Sixers-Blazers repeat is looking grim (see also #28).
	21 (19)	43	Sac		6-6 Sac 112, Dal 110 W Dal 97, Sac 87 L Sac 94, Atl 103 L Sac 81, LAL 70 W Por 96, Sac 77 L Sac 81, NO 83 L Pho 85, Sac 90 W Sac 106, NJ 96 W Hou 105, Sac 94 L Hou 105, Sac 95 L Sac 89, SA 82 W Utah 81, Sac 88 W	The Kings are ranked 7th in the Western Conference standings. Mayo is looking like a sureshot for ROY. Let's hope these guys don't make another trade and blow it.
	22 (27)	40	Den		5-7 Chi 106, Den 109 W Tor 101, Den 93 L Den 108, Hou 112 L Den 101, LAC 106 L LAL 103, Den 114 W NJ 108, Den 104 L Den 104, Det 106 L Min 102, Den 94 L Dal 96, Den 103 W Mia 81, Den 89 W Den 102, Min 112 L Den 88, Bos 76 W	I think Denver are one of many teams looking for 2008 to disappear and 2009 to come on quick.
	23 (7)	40	Pho		5-7 NO 92, Pho 100 W Pho 108, LAC 96 W LAC 108, Pho 102 L Pho 102, Hou 109 L Mem 86, Pho 102 W Pho 85, Sac 90 L Pho 94, Cle 74 W Pho 102, Por 88 W Pho 110, OKC 113 L Pho 91, Mem 99 L Atl 105, Pho 97 L Pho 101, Det 108 L	Phoenix is a victim of the "one trade too many" syndrome. Eric Gordon and Manu would look better in Arizona right now.
	24 (26)	40	Utah		6-8 Utah 80, Tor 103 L Utah 71, NO 85 L Dal 108, Utah 99 L Det 91, Utah 71 L Dal 113, Utah 97 L Utah 99, Mem 106 L Utah 124, LAC 113 W Utah 95, Atl 90 W NO 88, Utah 91 W Bos 96, Utah 79 L Utah 85, Mil 78 W Tor 86, Utah 96 W SA 80, Utah 96 W Utah 81, Sac 88 L	After six straight losses, the Jazz are 7-2. Is a big "told ya so" in order for the doubters?
	25 (15)	37	SA		5-8 Ind 76, SA 91 W SA 103, GS 92 W NY 101, SA 88 L Por 94, SA 87 L Bos 82, SA 91 W OKC 100, SA 97 L GS 98, SA 90 L SA 106, Chi 101 W NJ 100, SA 90 L SA 88, LAL 96 L Chi 83, SA 88 W Sac 89, SA 82 L SA 80, Utah 96 L	Who is even on this team besides Duncan and Parker? It might be time to do something drastic, Leeroy.
	26 (22)	24	Cle		4-8 Cle 89, Mem 85 W Mil 98, Cle 86 L Cle 103, Was 95 W Cle 86, NO 70 W Orl 87, Cle 79 L Cle 85, Atl 81 W OKC 102, Cle 84 L Pho 94, Cle 74 L NJ 94, Cle 86 L Cle 103, Cha 106 L Bos 108, Cle 100 L Cle 96, Det 102 L	OOf....6 losses in a row. The debt is mounting up and the lux tax kicks into gear big time next season. What did Sam Cooke say about change?
	27 (28)	20	LAL		3-9 LAL 89, Mil 76 W Sac 81, LAL 70 L Hou 84, LAL 81 L Por 86, LAL 75 L LAL 103, Den 114 L Min 107, LAL 100 L Phi 87, LAL 99 W LAL 86, Hou 93 L LAL 93, Chi 94 L SA 88, LAL 96 W GS 92, LAL 91 L LAL 75, Min 92 L	This team might be bad, but they did beat three time Eastern Conference Champ Philadelphia. That's a helluva lot of forwards you got there, Wiz.
	28 (25)	17	Phi		3-9 Chi 95, Phi 103 W Phi 108, Cha 91 W Phi 99, Det 105 L Phi 120, Orl 116 W NJ 100, Phi 91 L Phi 87, LAL 99 L NY 103, Phi 81 L Was 96, Phi 86 L Phi 77, LAC 85 L LAC 101, Phi 88 L OKC 97, Phi 88 L Mem 127, Phi 124 L	Strong first week and then no more wins? Can you blame Josh Smith? Z is gone for awhile. The team splashed out and got Joe Johnson. More changes to possibly come. (see also #20)
	29 (30)	8	Bos		2-10 Bos 91, NY 95 L Was 108, Bos 100 L Mia 118, Bos 111 L Bos 76, Cha 93 L Bos 95, Atl 104 L Bos 82, SA 91 L Bos 96, GS 98 L LAC 102, Bos 83 L Bos 96, Utah 79 W Den 88, Bos 76 L Cha 116, Bos 108 L Bos 108, Cle 100 W	At least they're not Indiana because....
	30 (29)	5	Ind		2-10 Min 79, Ind 69 L Ind 76, SA 91 L Orl 104, Ind 96 L Ind 90, Orl 96 L Ind 86, Chi 112 L Det 106, Ind 91 L Ind 99, Cha 91 W Was 105, Ind 98 L Ind 91, Chi 92 L Mil 104, Ind 85 L Ind 93, Atl 67 W Atl 103, Ind 75 L	.....they are. Fans hold annual Anti-Anthony Day in honor of dubious former GM. This team will feel the effects for years.

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