NBA Eastern Conference Power Rankings
The Cleveland Cavaliers, after a shaky 3-3 start are back near the top of the power rankings in the Eastern Conference after impressive back to back wins over Orlando and Miami running their record to 6-3. The top team in the conference, the Boston Celtics suffered their first defeat of the year falling to the Phoenix Suns 110-103 last Friday night. Another team making noise last week were the Milwaukee Bucks who have now won three games in a row including a 108-103 win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. The Atlanta Hawks also beat the Nuggets 125-100 last Saturday night and are now tied with Miami in the Southwest division at 6-2.The Orlando Magic took a step backwards last week getting blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder 102-74 on Sunday then losing to Cleveland 102-93 on Wednesday to fall to 6-3 on the season. Here is a brief look at my power rankings for the top teams in the East.
Boston Celtics (8-1) Current Odds to Win the East +135
Despite a tough loss to the Suns last Friday night, the Celtics are still the best team in the East at this point of the season. Kevin Garnett scored 26 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the losing cause as Jason Richardson’s 34 points led the way for the Suns. In their next game against the Nets, Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo led the way each scoring 16 points in the 86-76 win. On Wednesday night they jumped all over the Utah Jazz opening up a 20 point lead in the 3rd quarter to win going away 105-86. This was a total team effort as seven player scored in double digits. Through nine games Paul Pierce is the leading scorer averaging 18.1 points per game, Kevin Garnett is the leading rebounder with 7.8 per game, and Rajon Rondo leads in assists with 9.2 per game. Next up for Boston are the Hawks tonight at home, the Pacers on the road on Saturday, then back home to play the Warriors on Wednesday, November 18th.
Cleveland Cavaliers (6-3) Current Odds to Win the East + 150
There apparently is no reason to be concerned about the Cavaliers slow start as they got back to looking like the beast in the east in their last three games. Last Friday in a visit to Madison Square Garden they beat the Knicks 100-91 with LeBron James putting up 33 points and adding 9 rebounds and 8 assists. In a Florida sweep they took care of Orlando on Wednesday night 102-93 and Miami on Thursday night 111-104. Against the Magic James scored 36 and Mo Williams added 28. Against the Heat these two led the way again with James dropping 34 and William adding 25. Through nine games James leads the team in scoring with 28.2 and assists with 7.4 per game and Anderson Varejao leads in rebounds with 8.6 per game. Next up for Cleveland are the Jazz on Saturday and Warriors on Tuesday at home and the Wizards on the road Wednesday, November 18th.
Miami Heat (6-2) Current Odds to Win the East +1800
Last Friday night the Heat hosted the Nuggets and handed Denver their first loss of the season winning 96-88. They were led by Dwyane Wade’s 22 points and Udonis Haslem’s 10 rebounds. In their next outing they rolled over the Wizards 90-76 in a game where Washington turned the ball over 22 times. Wade scored a season high 41 points in the win. Thursday night they hosted the Cavaliers and despite a solid effort they could not pull off the win. Once again Wade led all scorers with 36 and Michael Beasley added 24 but it was not enough in the seven point loss. Through eight games Wade is the leading scorer with 30.6 points per game, Haslem leads the team in rebounds with 9.4, and Mario Chambers leads in assists with 5. Next up for Miami are the Nets on Saturday and the Thunder on Tuesday at home, and the Hawks on the road on Wednesday, November 18th.
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