NBA Western Conference Power Rankings
The defending World Champion Los Angeles Lakers are making an early statement not only in the Western Conference but throughout the entire league riding a six game winning streak that has them on top of Pacific division with a 7-1 record with Phoenix in second at 8-2. In no big surprise, Kobe Bryant is leading the league in scoring, averaging 33 points per game and as a team they are shooting 48% from the field. Portland has the next longest winning streak at four in a row and is currently tied with Denver atop the Northwest division at 6-3, while Dallas and Houston are tied at 5-3 in the Southwest division. Here is a brief look at my power rankings for the top teams in the West.
Los Angeles Lakers (7-1) Current Odds to Win the West +105
Over the last week the Lakers are starting to look like the team that rolled over Orlando is last year’s NBA finals. Last Friday they cruised past the Grizzlies beating Memphis 114-98. Kobe Bryant scored 41 points and Digier Ilunga-Mbenga added 13 rebounds in the one sided win. Against the Hornets they scored 114 points again and held New Orleans to 88 points. In this game the Lakers’ bench contributed to the victory scoring 46 points. In a big divisional match-up the Lakers beat the Suns by almost 20 points 121-102. In this game that was never really close, they led by as many as 27. Bryant scored 29 and Andrew Bynum added 26 in the win. In the first eight games Bryant is the leading scorer averaging 33 points per game, Bynum is the leading rebounder with 11.3 per game, and Lamar Odom leads in assists with 5.1 per game. Next up for Los Angeles are the Nuggets tonight on the road and then back home to face the Rockets on Sunday, the Pistons on Tuesday, and the Bulls on Thursday, November 19th.
Portland Trail Blazers (6-3) Current Odds to Win the West +725
Portland has rebounded from a poor 2-3 start to win their last four games in a row. Against San Antonio last Friday they jumped out to an early lead and went on to win 96-84. Brandon Way led the scoring with 24 and Joel Przybilla added 13 rebounds. In the first of a home and home series with the Timberwolves, they won the first game at home 116-93 with Andre Miller leading the way with 21 points. Sandwiched between these two games they hammered out a 93-79 win over the Grizzlies with Roy scoring 20 in the win. On the road against Minnesota the venue was different but the results were the same with another relatively easy 107-84 win. The scoring in this game was equally distributed with five players in double digits. Through nine games Roy is the leading scorer with 27 points per game as well as in assists with 4.8 and Greg Oden leads in rebounds with 10 per game. Next up for Portland are the Hornets tonight, Bobcats on Saturday, and Hawks on Monday all on the road, then back home against the Pacers on Wednesday, November 18th.
Phoenix Suns (8-2) Current Odds to Win the West +3000
Last Friday the Suns handed the Boston Celtics their first loss of the season in an impressive 110-103 win on the road. Jason Richardson led the way with 34 points. From there they beat the Wizards 102-90 behind Richardson’s 22 points. Next up on the East Coast road trip where the 76ers who gave them all they could handle, but the they were able to grind out a four point 119-114 win. Steve Nash had 20 assists in the victory. Back home they cruised by the Hornets in a 124-104 romp. Amar’e Stoudemire led the way in this one with 22 points. Fatigue from playing four games in six nights finally caught up with them as they had little left in the tank in a 121-102 loss to the Lakers. Through ten games Stoudemire leads in scoring with 18 points per game, Grant Hill is the leading rebounder averaging 8.2 per game, and Steve Nash is the assist leader with 11.8 per game. Next up for Phoenix are the Raptors at home on Sunday and on the road against the Rockets on Tuesday and the Hornets on Thursday, November 19th.
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