Golden State continues to roll while Atlanta took a couple steps back. LeBron is lurking with 3,5 weeks left before the playoffs
Home court advantage throughout the NBA playoffs will belong to the Golden State Warriors, now four games ahead in the loss column to slipping Atlanta. The home court has been heaven to the Warriors so far this year, a dominating 33-2 with an average margin of victory just over 15 points per game. The Warriors defense has been the key to their success. Golden State has yet to lose a game all season when they hold opponents to under 100 points, 37-0.
Who will challenge Stephen Curry-led Golden State come playoff time?
Lets take a look at this week’s NBA power rankings.
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30 New York Knicks
Still with the worst record in the league, the Knicks have lost their last three. Those losses included a home game to Minnesota along with a road contest at Philadelphia. The Knicks did get a win this week, somehow beating San Antonio in OT at home. Gregg Popovich was disgusted:
"“We didn’t respect the game, we didn’t respect our opponent. It was a pathetic performance, and I hope every player is embarrassed. Not because we’re supposed to win the game, quote unquote, but it’s about how you play the game.”"
Pop can say “how you play the game” all you want. This is the reaction from a coach who lost to the Knicks.
29 Minnesota Timberwolves
If you had been a train ride away from Madison Square Garden and had played some college, maybe even high school basketball, you had a chance of receiving an emergency call from the Timberwolves last Thursday night. Flip Saunders needed a player since his T’Wolves only had seven healthy bodies, which is illegal to play with it. Minnesota asked for a “hardship exception” allowing them to sign a 16th player to their roster.
That player turned out to be Sean Kilpatrick, a former Cincinnati Bearcats player who was playing for the D-League Delaware 87ers as of Thursday morning. Kilpatrick arrived at the arena 45 minutes before tip, played 10 minutes and grabbed one rebound. The Wolves beat the Knicks in OT 95-92. Kilpatrick is still on the roster, but hasn’t played since.
28 Philadelphia 76ers
Two wins this week and an emerging rookie highlight, a step-forward week for Nerlens Noel and the Sixers. Noel had a career-high 23 points, 14 rebounds, five steals and three blocks in the Sixers’ 97-81 win over the New York Knicks Friday. The last rookie to reach those numbers in a game was Shaquille O’Neal, who had 27 points, 17 rebounds, five steals and three blocks on March 27, 1993 for Orlando in a win over the Nets. There is no Shaq/Noel comparison being made here, but even it if is for just one-game that is a bright spot worth mentioning.
Noel is averaging 9.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.9 blocks this season. No other rookie has averaged those numbers across the board since the 40’s. Noel is right there with Andrew Wiggins for rookie of the year.
27 Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers got a win this week, but it was one they did not necessarily want beating Philadelphia 101-87. The win kept L.A. ahead of the Philly in the standings. The Lakers reason for wanting as bad a record as possible is two-fold. One, getting the best talent available in the draft is what this team needs. More importantly, if the Lakers slip below 5th in the draft lottery, they lose the protected draft- pick altogether to the Sixers, who acquired it last month from Phoenix. If the Lakers were going to win a game this week it should have been against Golden State or Utah. Alas, they beat the Sixers and perhaps themselves.
26 Orlando Magic
Where would this franchise be today if Shaquille O’Neal had never left for the bright lights and titles in Los Angeles and then Miami? Probably no different today since Shaq has retired, but perhaps a couple banners would be hanging in the Magic kingdom. Shaq will be inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame this Friday in a private ceremony, then honored at the Magic’s game that night versus Detroit. Question. Why do the Orlando Magic have a Hall of Fame? Shaq joins team founder/senior vice president Pat Williams and Nick Anderson. Maybe Penny Hardaway will be next.
Next: Teams 25-21