Jan 6, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (5) against the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. The Thunder beat the Raptors 104-92. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder and Phoenix Suns are discussing a deal that would bring Marcin Gortat and P.J. Tucker to OKC in exchange for Kendrick Perkins, rookie Jeremy Lamb and a first-round pick.

For Phoenix, it’s now easier to talk about who hasn’t been mentioned in trade rumors. They have everyone on the block. I would love this deal for the Thunder, not so much for the Suns, but I get what they’re trying to do in Phoenix.

The Thunder get a major upgrade at center over Perkins, who doesn’t even play crunch time minutes for them anymore. Gortat fits perfectly along side Ibaka in the frontcourt, bringing necessary scoring to the 5-position, as well as the same shot-blocking ability as Perkins did. The only thing they really lose is that Perkins “toughness” quotient, but really, has anbody ever called Gortat soft? The offensive upgrade alone makes this deal a win for OKC. He’s also cheaper than Perkins. And with more minutes in Phoenix, P.J. Tucker has shown that he’s capable of handling tough defensive assignments, which may be utilized come playoff time or should anything happen to Sefolosha. The loss of Jeremy Lamb, now being tossed around as a constant trade chip, as well as the pick, won’t set the Thunder back at all.

The acquisition of Lamb will mean more for the Suns, as they can find minutes for him coming off the bench. At this point, he’s approaching the path of wasted lottery pick, so this may be his chance to show his value. Perkins will simply replace Gortat in the starting lineup, look disinterested and angry at every glance, and eventually leave when free agency starts up again for him in 2015-16 or demand a trade out of a “bad situation.” Perk should be motivated to raise his value and somewhat stand out while playing with this collection of players.

Report courtesy of Paul Coro, Arizona Republic. Article can be found here.

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

Dec 5, 2012; Sacramento, CA, USA; Toronto Raptors center Andrea Bargnani (7) looks to the basket against the Sacramento Kings during the first quarter at Sleep Train Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Since Bargnani’s role has has now been deemed ”changed,” it’s looking more and more likely that he’s going to stay with the Toronto Raptors past the deadline and potentially through next season. With the Raps apparently wiping the Carlos Boozer-for-Bargnani deal off the table from last week, this was ultimately was a sign of their lack of urgency to deal him at all.

I understand that Bryan Colangelo’s position is to avoid just throwing away Bargnani for the sake of it, but what exactly will Bargnani’s “new” role? Will he make it back into the starting lineup and replace the ever-popular Amir Johnson, who’s been playing great? Will he be the Raptors new 6th man weapon? Do they try him at center again and shove Jonas Valanciunas back to the bench? It’s unclear as to what this changed role will be. About the only thing that is clear with the Raptors recent moves is that he will no longer be the No. 1 option (Gay), and not likely the No. 2 either (DeRozan/Lowry).

The pressure off Bargnani might be a good thing. I was definitely in the “Trade Bargnani” camp over the past few weeks, but if the expectation of him is now one with less pressure and to give the team (and possibly the bench) more versatility, then I can get behind that plan. Especially in the midst of a winning streak and playoff push in the weaker Eastern Conference.

Anything’s possible.

Article via Sam Amick, USA Today Sports can be found here.

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

February 8, 2013; Charlotte, NC, USA; Charlotte Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson (9) drives past Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant (24) during the game at Time Warner Cable Arena. Lakers won 100-93. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Jordan Crawford is a complete enigma to me. Shot selection isn’t exactly his strong suit, but he can definitely score the ball. His streakiness could certainly provide some bench scoring for some team. Perhaps if he’s playing along side some better quality teammates, he’ll find his most effective role. Several teams are interested in bringing in Crawford. My first thought at the best fits would be the Celtics, Warriors or Pacers, all projected playoff teams that are thin at shooting guard and bench scoring.

Blair is sure to be gone from San Antonio before the deadline, which the Spurs have said they’ll take the best offer for him, likely a second-round pick. With Duncan, Splitter, Diaw and Bonner getting the bulk of the big man minutes, Blair is out of the rotation. There’s no way he re-signs with them again next season, so it’s definitely time to move on, where he can help another team. Blair could help teams like the Sixers, Pacers and Celtics.

I’m a little puzzled as to why the Bobcats are so eager to move Gerald Henderson. He’s their third leading scorer at 12.8 points per game and is a very solid perimeter defender. After the Ben Gordon meltdown, he’s sure to be moved, leaving the Bobcats very thin at the shooting guard position. Trading Gordon and NOT Henderson makes the most sense. But alas, it is the Charlotte Bobcats and true to form, Michael Jordan’s ownership skills are once again leaving people scratching their heads. It sounds like they’re asking for a first-rounder for Henderson, which they’ll likely screw up in the draft anyway. Henderson could help any NBA team in need of an above average wing defender, which pretty much includes ALL of them.

Latest Yahoo! Sports NBA trade deadline buzz. tinyurl.com/aqr2xrv

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) February 20, 2013

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

For Toronto, it would give them another ball handler who can push the tempo with the new pieces they’ve acquired during the offseason and more recently with the Rudy Gay trade. Telfair isn’t quite the streaky shooter that Lucas is, but he can be a steady hand if needed.

Currently Telfair is averaging about 17 minutes per game in backing up Goran Dragic in Phoenix and the move would ultimately mean that they’re ready to start giving some minutes to UNC rookie Kendall Marshall. The Suns are already a mess this year, so it’s hard to know exactly what they would look for in a trade other than a draft pick. Linas Kleiza perhaps? With Kleiza’s tremendous ability to stay off the court this season, Raptors fans certainly hope so.

Sources: Knicks showing strong interest in Phx’s Jermaine O’Neal…Phx also talking w/Toronto about moving Sebastian Telfair

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) February 20, 2013

Stay with us at SavingtheSkyhook.com as we continue to report more on the highly anticipated NBA trading deadline. We will be getting news out as soon as we hear about it.

Dec 15, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; A photo of Miami Heat center Chris Bosh is carried through the stands before a game against the Washington Wizards at the American Airlines Arena. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Bosh made headlines a week ago when he staked an absolutely ridiculous claim. When asked by FOX Sports Florida about his current Hall of Fame credentials, Bosh had this very interesting thing to say:

“Hell, yeah, of course. I’ve been a Hall of Famer like four years ago. And I say that very serious, though. I’ve talked about it before with my friends.”

First let me preface this by saying that when his career is over, Chris Bosh has a very legitimate shot at the Hall of Fame. His career numbers are tremendously consistent, he’s now an 8-time All-Star (which I still can’t believe), he’s was “the featured guy” for a franchise over a significant number of years and now, he has at least one NBA championship on his resume. All very impressive.

However, Chris Bosh seems to have lost his damn mind.

It was as much the way in which Bosh so nonchalantly delivered his answer, with a strong sense of dismissal toward the question. Like we didn’t already know?

I don’t just have a problem with the way Bosh answered, but the fact that he so arrogantly decided to exaggerate his greatness by saying he’s not only a Hall of Famer today (wrong), but he was four years ago, while struggling to achieve a .500 record with the perenially lowly Toronto Raptors.

But why the significance of “four years ago” Chris? Why four? What does that number even mean? What was happening then? If I remember correctly, he was toiling in irrelevance while trying to lead a Raptors ball club into an 8th seed of the Eastern Conference. Yes, that Eastern Conference.

Does he think at that time, his numbers were simply that incredible? Hell, he just finished his sixth season. His SIXTH! His 6th! That’s a grand total of 439 career games! Unfortunately, he’s irrefutably mistaken. After completing that sixth season, Bosh was sitting at 19.6 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 50.1% shooting. Certainly those are very impressive numbers for six full seasons in the NBA, all of them on mediocre-to-bad Raptor teams, but we’re talking about the Hall of Fame here, not simply an All-Star Game appearance.

Would anyone else in their right mind have the balls to say they are a Hall of Fame player after six season? LeBron, Kobe, anyone? Hell, Jordan wouldn’t have even said that, and all those guys breathe confidence like it’s oxygen.

Of course Bosh does now have his one NBA championship to his name, so maybe that’s where this extreme over-confidence is coming from? You’re good Chris, but hell, with this kind of swag, you’re scaring the children!

At least Joe Johnson was kind enough to give us this highlight as a parting gift reminder.

Jan 5, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George (24) goes up for a dunk against the Milwaukee Bucks during the second half at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 95-80. Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports

Delightfully, my quams with the NBA All-Star rosters are at a minimum this season (compared to past seasons). With a few minor exceptions, I think they got it almost right this year.

The starters are set in stone and while it’s typical for some fans act outright delusional and warrant restricted access to All-Star voting, there’s nothing us realistic fans can do to change it. Besides, other than Kevin Garnett, I’m actually fine with the ten starters. Normally I could rant all day about the flaws with fan voting, but I’ll leave it alone while the going is good for this season.

Even though the reserves (announced Thursday night) were in decent shape, there are always exceptions. Coaches of the NBA, you did alright, but there’s always an opportunity for improvement. Let’s discuss.

 What They Did Right

• Jrue Holiday. Of all the All-Star selections, the Jrue Holiday one pick is my favorite. There is no secret to how I feel about the Holiday All-Star scenario. With the guard situation in the East, he deserves to go over Deron Williams, over Brandon Jennings and even despite their better record, he certainly deserves to go over J.R. Smith. If you want the full rant, check the list posted above. Even though he’s already been named, I’ll slide in that he posted a career-high 35 points earlier tonight.
• Paul George. I was extremely happy to see the coaches select George to his first All-Star appearance in the Eastern Conference. Sitting at 26-18 (only 4 games out of 1st) someone had to represent the Pacers in this game right? With the absence of Roy Hibbert, who’s having an abomination of a season, George has stepped up big time to lead Indiana back after a disappointing start to the season. David West certainly warrants some consideration, but George has put together the complete package or scoring, rebounding and defense (he even averages 3.7 assists per contest). Logging a heavy 36.7 minutes per game, I personally thought George was a no-brainer. I’m glad the coaches felt the same way.
• The omitting of Paul Pierce. This was exactly right. I listened to someone on a podcast the other day drive my view on All-Star selections home perfectly. The All-Star game is played every season, so we should be honoring those players that are having the very best CURRENT seasons. Past performance should be such a minor consideration. In the case of Paul Pierce, he’s clearly not at the All-Star level in years past. His numbers are way down and if you simply watch him play, he’s no longer a dominant player. And his disappointing Celtics are under .500 in the mediocre East. To put Paul Pierce in the All-Star game this season would have been a travesty. Thank you again coaches.

What They Did Wrong

• LaMarcus Aldridge over Stephen Curry. Look, I’m actually a huge LaMarcus Aldridge guy and I particularly love watching the Blazers play, especially that starting five. I think Aldridge is one of the premier post players in the league. However, Steph Curry is having a more fantastic season. He’s averaging 20.9 points (8th in the league), .450 from 3-point range (2nd) and a very healthy 6.5 assists per game (14th). He’s stayed relatively healthy while his Warriors are a very solid (and overachieving) 26-17, currently good for the 5th seed in a tough Western Conference. David Lee was became the first Warrior All-Star since Latrell Sprewell in 1997, Steph Curry should have been the second one.
• Chris Bosh over Brook Lopez. I get it, the “Big Three” need major representation. I’ve actually grown to like Bosh’s role in Miami as the third wheel as well. He’s become extremely efficient and compliments James and Wade well. But really, he doesn’t have All-Star numbers. Even though their numbers are pretty close (Bosh is at 17.2 pts, 7.2 rebs, 1.4 blks while Lopez is at 18.6 pts, 7.3 rebs, 2.1 blks), Brook Lopez should have been selected to represent the Nets in the game. Both Joe Johnson and Deron Williams are having down seasons (to say the least) and the Heat already have two guys in the starting lineup. It’s no coincedence that the Nets are where they are and it frustrates me that not a single player from the East’s #4 seed is in the game. Besides, Lopez has consistently been one of the best bigs in the entire league this year. He should be going to Houston, period. The coaches messed this one up big time.
• Luol Deng. I have nothing against Luol Deng, I just think his spot deserved to go to one of Josh Smith, Al Horford or Brook Lopez. The Bulls have a solid record (without Derrick Rose), but already have one All-Star representing them in Joakim Noah, which the the right choice. The Nets (26-18) or the Hawks (25-18), who I also feel are overachieving aren’t represented in the game. Both Hawks players have better overall numbers than Deng’s 17.4 pts, 6.4 rebs and 3.0 asts per game. As you can probably tell, I’m a fan of maximizing team representation (within reason) and while Deng is a very solid and important player to the Bulls, I think the coaches whiffed here.

What They Should Do Next Season

Just go ahead and expand the damn rosters to 13 players! The regular season rosters are now permanently set at 13, so the league needs to mix in some common sense and mirror that for next year’s game in New Orleans. Consider it redemption for this Pelicans fiasco.

Jun 06, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) reacts to a foul call against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half in game six of the Western Conference finals of the 2012 NBA playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

I’m certain that if you ever came across a diary that included a list of Tim Duncan’s personal goals, you would not find “be the greatest power forward of all time” anywhere on that list. That’s just the kind of player, and person, that Tim Duncan is. But while he maintains his ever-so-modest demeanor again this season, he continues to cement his legacy of being exactly that, the greatest power forward to ever play the game.

As we inch toward the All-Star Game in Houston next month, Tim Duncan’s play so far during this season has been typical. Typical in the sense that it’s being completely underrated and flying under the radar once again.

Now, understand that Duncan’s current season statistics are of a smaller sample size of only half of the NBA season (exactly) so reasonably, as the season wears on, one would expect his numbers dip slightly as those old legs pivot their way to the finish line. Even with his increasing age, the bottom line is that what he’s doing this season is phenomenal. Simply, Duncan is having his best all-around season in years. At this current pace, he will earn a spot on the Western Conference All-Star team, not be given a hand-me-down spot because of his name, past accomplishments and overall “nice guy” contributions to the league.

Let’s talk numbers for a minute. In 30.1 minutes (highest average in three years), Duncan is currently averaging 17.1 points per game (29rd overall in a league filled with younger stars), his highest average since the 2009-10 season when he averaged a slightly-higher 17.9. His efficiency is still very much in tact with his field goal percentage at .501% (30th) and his free throw percentage at .815%, easily the highest of his career.

On the defensive side of the ball, there lie even more impressive numbers. He ranks 4th in the entire league in defensive rebounds per game at 7.9 (2nd in total defensive rebounds) and 3rd in blocks per game (2.78). He also ranks 10th in the league with 18 double doubles in 40 games.

One step further, the more advanced stats reveal that Duncan is 4th in Total Efficiency Points (940), 7th in Efficiency Ranking (23.5) and 3rd overall in Efficiency Ranking per 48 minutes (37.5).

Not bad for an old guy. An old guy playing in a league full of young, freakishly athletic, talented big(ger) men.

In the continuation of his legacy confirmation, there’s little evidence that can be collected among the power forwards of generations past to support the notion that Duncan is not the greatest of all time, with this year’s “twilight” season only adding to it. Tim Duncan’s numbers compare and often exceed those of his previous counterparts, whether relevant peers or not. Looking at his numbers at age 36 or older, very few have doing what he’s currently doing. Sure, for every Karl Malone (who performed exceptionally past the age of 36), Duncan seperates himself on one key stat: Championships. Hell, he’s only got 4 rings.

The major piece of criteria that seperates Duncan from the other great power forwards is winning. Tim Duncan-led basketball teams win games and championships. Of course Kevin McHale is the one exception, having won 3 NBA titles, albeit with the Boston Celtic “super teams” of the 1980′s. But in his case, he doesn’t have the individual numbers that stack up to Tim’s. Duncan has attained both individual greatness with his numbersandwon multiple titles (at a time when the league has an even greater competitive atmosphere than McHale’s era). Some might argue that Duncan played on some Spurs teams that were considered to be “super” like McHale’s Celtics. I think it’s apples and oranges really. Unless you count end-of-the-first-round French point guards (Parker) and end-of-the-second-round Agentinian enomolies (Ginobili) to be equal to a lineup full of Hall of Famers. I sure don’t. In reality, Duncan’s Spurs have always drafted extemely extremely well when it comes to value and they seems to always have a mix of perfectly fitting role players.

This season? His Spurs are rolling again with a 30-11 record, good for third best in the entire NBA. No big deal. Andhisteam is doing while having fun.

We always jump to give credit to those who reinvent themselves. Duncan is a breathing example of that. The question with Duncan isn’t whether he’s still got it, he clearly does. I challenge anyone to present a case that he’s not the greatest power forward the league has ever seen. He’s the greatest, overall, and in almost every aspect of the game. When we consider Tim Duncan’s career as whole, the question on everyone’s mind should be, “where does Tim Duncan rank all time, regardless of position?”

The answer to that question should be anything but modest.

October 13, 2012; Atlantic City, NJ, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Deron Williams (8) drives against Philadelphia 76ers guard Jrue Holiday (11) at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

In the year 2013, it should be a clear understanding among true NBA fans that the voting system for the NBA All-Star game is completely flawed. Sure, a couple of inappropriate choices slide in under the radar every season, but that doesn’t mean that the coaches have to screw it up to.

Which is the likely scenario this season with the Nets’ Deron Williams and Sixers’ Jrue Holiday. The higher-ups are likely to send Deron Williams to Houston over Holiday because of his past performance,  name recognition and exciting style of play (comparable and arguable). The fact remains that Williams is having his worst season in years, and almost his whole career.

Of course, where the debate gets sticky is the ”team success” factor. While the Nets are currently riding a 7-game win streak and sit at 23-15 (slightly out of 2nd place in the East), the Sixers have fallen apart and at 16-23, are not currently a playoff team. Does that all rest on each one of these players individually? Certainly not. One could always toss in the counter argument that Williams has a much better team around him (true) and the Nets should be this good. You can call the Sixers  a bad team, but without Holiday, they would be an ever bigger mess. When we go down the ”value to their team” avenue, Brooklyn has enough to stay afloat while Philly would be lottery bound. That’s at least true for this particular season.

Besides, are we not rewarding outstanding individual behavior with the All-Star labeling? In 10 years, nobody will remember that the Nets were a mid-tier Eastern Conference playoff team and the Sixers missed the playoffs. We will however, see the “X”-time All-Star on each player’s career resume. Personally, I want to be able to see that Jrue Holiday made at least ONE All-Star team, while Deron Williams will have more than a few under his belt.

When we look at numbers (because sometimes that’s the bottom line), Holiday has been better, with less talent around him, and far more consistent:

Deron Williams
37 GP, 16.8 pts, 7.7 asts, 3.2 rebs, 1.0 stls, 40.6 FG%, 32.0 3PT%, 85.7FT%

Jrue Holiday:
35 GP, 19.0 pts, 8.8 asts, 4.2 rebs, 1.37 stls, 45.8 FG%, 37.5 3PT%, 78.3 FT%

Even though Williams has the undoubtedly more talented nucleus around him, Holiday has been superior (and some significantly) in every major category except free throw percentage and he does average more turnovers per game. If you used the anonymous “Player A-B” comparison approach, you’d have to agree that Holiday has been an All-Star caliber player.

The coaches need to do the right thing with their votes and get Holiday in the game. Even Deron Williams agrees.

January 11, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) directs his team during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 98-91. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

This week’s Skyhook’s NBA Power Rankings provide a delightful twist, as we have additional contributions from Reece Hooker and J.P. Pelosi, two of our current featured writers on the site. Breaking that down, we each exclusively ranked our 30 teams, then mashed them together to get some average weighted rankings, which is what you see below as the finished product.

We all obviously agreed that the Pacers, Nuggets (breaking into the Top 10), Blazers and Nets are rolling, while the Lakers and Hawks are struggling.

So welcome back to The Skyhook’s NBA Power Rankings, where any given week, things can change faster than a James Harden trade.

Week 11 – January 14, 2013

Biggest jump: Rockets, Trail Blazers (+6) | Biggest drop: Lakers, Hawks, Bucks (-7)

1. Oklahoma City Thunder | 29-8 | Won 3 | Last rank: 2

I think we’ve found the Thunder’s kyptonite in the form of the Washington Wizards. Good thing they won’t be meeting in the NBA Finals anytime soon. Meanwhile, Durant continues to dominate in wins over the Wolves and Lakers/Blazers on the road. – Mike

2. Los Angeles Clippers | 28-9 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 1

The Clippers have already lost more than games this month than they did December, but don’t take that as an issue. After dropping two straight to start the year, the Clips padded their 10 game home winning streak with 3 straight wins before an uncharacteristic loss to the Magic on Saturday. - Reece

3. San Antonio Spurs | 29-11 | Won 1 | Last rank: 3

A potentially bold statement, but as the Spurs continue their ever-consistent run year after year, one might now be inclined to say that Tony Parker should now be considered a lock for the Hall of Fame. The Spurs consistency is unheard of in sports. – Mike

4. Memphis Grizzlies | 24-11 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 4

Before a minor blip in Dallas, the Grizz had won three straight on the road, including two statement wins over the Warriors in Oakland then a grinder against the Spurs in overtime at home. The question will be – what will this team look like when the Rudy Gay dust settles? – Mike

5. Golden State Warriors | 23-13 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 7

The Golden State Warriors sit fifth in the Western Conference right now, a position that fans would have been hopeful for with a healthy Andrew Bogut, let alone without. A lot of that success has been due to the brilliance of Stephen Curry, who posted a double-double in their win against Portland. – Reece

6. Miami Heat | 24-11 | Won 1 | Last rank: 6

The Heat have opened 2013 with uncertainty, going an uncharacteristic 4-3, but recent losses are nothing to worry about. Crockett and Tubbs didn’t always come out on top, right? Every season has these episodes – especially when you don’t rebound, which is emerging as a must-get. – Reece/J.P.

7. New York Knicks | 24-13 | Won 1 | Last rank: 5

A rough week for the Knicks as they drop important inter-conference games to the Celtics, Pacers and Bulls (two of them at home). Suddenly they find themselves barely holding on to that #2 seed. Anyone else excited for Mel0-KG round 2 in Boston on the 24th? – Mike

8. Indiana Pacers | 23-15 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 10

Ten wins in a row at home, including one against the defending champs, the Heat, and old rivals, the Knicks. This defense is stifling. – J.P.

9. Denver Nuggets | 23-16 | Won 5 | Last rank: 13

After the Broncos collapse, at least the Nugs are currently one of the hottest teams in the league right now. They’ll have 6 of their next 8 at home and could very well find themselves near the top of the rankings in a couple weeks’ time. – Mike

10. Houston Rockets | 21-17 | Lost 3 | Last rank: 16

Consider this a retroactive bump for the Rockets recent “hotness,” as they hit a wall last week, though it was all on the road. With they way they score the ball, we still like them more than 2/3 of the rest of the league, at least for now. – Mike

11. Portland Trail Blazers | 20-17 | Lost 2 | Last rank: 17

This is a team to watch out for in the playoff race in the West. A snapshot of January for the Blazers: Wins – @NYK, @MEM, @MIN, MIA. Losses – @GSW, OKC. Quality wins and even the losses are respectable. After his 37 against the Warriors, Dame Lillard keeps improving. – Mike

12. Chicago Bulls | 20-15 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 9

They’re prone to sleep on some lighter teams, but when push comes to shove, the Bulls will bang and bruise against the elite. And Rose is still to come! – J.P.

13. Brooklyn Nets | 22-15 | Won 6 | Last rank: 14

With that #2 seed wide open in the East, the scorching Nets are making their run before the All-Star break with a 6-0 January start, with an impressive average margin of victory of 15 points per game. It’ s obvious, but Brook Lopez has outplayed the two other “All-Stars.” – Mike

14. Boston Celtics | 19-17 | Won 5 | Last rank: 18

The C’s have been making their own run with 5 straight wins, and over some high quality opponents in IND, @ATL, @NYK and HOU (a combined record of 89-60). Avery Bradley, game changer? Certainly feels like it. – Mike

15. Atlanta Hawks | 21-15 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 8

The Hawks went 1-3 this week, closing with an embarrassing 10 point loss to the Wizards. Yes, those Wizards. Josh Smith continues to delight and disturb Hawks fans with his inconsistent performances. Can Larry Drew turn it around, or will those trade winds pick up again? – Reece

16. Utah Jazz | 20-19 | Won 1 | Last rank: 19

This Jazz team just can’t sustain any moment. At times they show flashes of brilliance, other times look lottery bound. With 6 of their next 7 at home (where they’re 11-4), hopefully they can grab a cushion over .500 and slip into that 8th spot. – Mike

17. Minnesota Timberwolves | 16-18 | Lost 3 | Last rank: 15

You really have to feel bad for this team, they can’t catch a break. First Rubio suffers set backs then love re-breaks his hand and is out 8-10 weeks, likely crushing their playoff hopes. In the meantime, more minutes for Derrick Williams to prove himself? – Mike

18. Los Angeles Lakers | 16-21 | Won 1 | Last rank: 11

After an 0-6 start to the month/year, Mike D’Antoni says the season BEGINS Sunday for the Lakers. A good thing in the background is that won’t face pressure about seeding, as it’s “win to get in” time. Losing Jordan Hill, who was playing well, will hurt. – Mike

19. Milwaukee Bucks | 19-17 | Won 1 | Last rank: 12

It’s pass the buck time. Jim Boylan inherits a rather one dimensional offense that lacks the ability to compete because they don’t share the ball. – J.P.

20. Toronto Raptors | 14-23 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 21

The Raps (once up 20 in the 1st quarter) really needed that W against the Bucks and finished their homestand only 3-3. It seems with each game that passes, the Kyle Lowry experiment in Toronto is failing. Shout out to Amir Johnson and Ed ‘Boss’ Davis, playing well in the frontcourt. – Mike

21. Detroit Pistons | 14-24 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 26

So they gave up a few games early season, but keep an eye on these Pistons. They can shoot, their center, Greg Monroe is dominating the paint, and wow, Jason Maxiel can really throw it down. – J.P.

22. Philadelphia 76ers | 16-22 | Won 1 | Last rank: 20

After a horrible start to January, the Sixers have a light 2-game week, hosting the Hornets/Raps. ASG comparison: Player A – 16.8 pts, 7.7 sts, 3.2 rebs, .409 FG%. Player B – 18.7 pts, 8.8 asts, 4.1 rebs, .454% ( Player A = Deron Williams, Player B = Jrue Holiday). I rest my case. – Mike

23. Dallas Mavericks | 15-23 | Won 2 | Last rank: 22

According to insiders, there is a 100% probability that Mark Cuban makes a deal(s) before the deadline. Are we really going to bet against this man? The question will be: Will the roster in a month from now be good to make a last-ditch playoff run? – Mike

24. Phoenix Suns | 13-26 | Won 1 | Last rank: 23

The Suns win the award for the most mundane team in the league right now, hands down. With Michael Beasley registering consistent DNP-CD’s lately, this team is in total flux. Not sure what happened in Chicago the other night. – Mike

25. Sacramento Kings | 13-24 | Lost 4 | Last rank: 25

The DeMarcus Cousins circus keeps on rolling. After 31 points and 20 rebounds in Toronto, the big man gets ejected against the Mavericks for his foul jab at Vince Carter. A huge loss to the HEAT summed up a disappointing week for the Kings. – Reece

26. New Orleans Hornets | 11-26 | Lost 1 | Last rank: 28

Stolen from Marc Stein: Hornets are 0-15 when they fail to score 100 points. But what an extremely satisfying week for the Hornets, going 3-1 with wins over the Spurs (yes!), Rockets and Timberwolves (holding them to a combined 86.3 points per game). – Mike

27. Orlando Magic | 13-23 | Won 1 | Last rank: 24

The Magic ended a 10 game slide with a Saturday upset of the Clippers. They have a chance to steal some wins with games against Washington and Charlotte coming up. Nikola Vucevic has averaged 17 boards a game during the last week. And Magic fans thought all the great centers had already bailed on the city. – Reece/J.P.

28. Cleveland Cavaliers | 9-30 | Lost 2 | Last rank: 27

They should have more wins given Kyrie Irving is so damn dynamic. Rookie Dion Waiters is pairing up nicely with his point, offering a view to what this Cavs team might become. – J.P.

29. Washington Wizards | 6-28 | Won 2 | Last rank: 29

John Wall is back! John Wall is back! That has a nice ring to it. The Wiz have actually won TWO straight games with hopefully more wins to follow. – J.P.

30. Charlotte Bobcats | 9-27 | Lost 3 | Last rank: 30

Good news for the Bobcats is they’ve finally snapped that huge losing streak. The bad news is they’re back to being awful, only managing to steal the outlying victories against an off Chicago Bulls and overtime against the dreadful Detroit Pistons. A double-digit loss to the Raptors was typical of a Bobcats season that’s gone from promising to poor in a blink. – Reece

January 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after making a basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 115-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Sadly, after many, many years, I’m retiring from Slam Dunk Contest fandom. Simply, there’s nothing left to be done and it’s far too gimmicky today. The dunks that should win the contest never do, as it takes a (sponsor’s) car driven on to the court to even have a chance. Look, I could go on all day about my beef with the Dunk Contest, maybe we’ll save that for a seperate post.

But the Three-Point Shootout on the other hand, now that requires skill. It also does NOT involve judgement of any kind. You take ‘em, you make ‘em, and you move on. With the three point shot becoming an ever-increasing weapon of choice in today’s NBA, there are also plenty of guys that can bomb from long range. Thus, it’s hard to pick just six players that I’d like to see in the contest.

However, at this moment in time, here are the six I would like to compete in Houston for the shooting crown:

Stephen Curry, Warriors

Simply, Curry is the best pure shooter in the league right now and his numbers completely back it up. While he’s only second to Anderson in 3-point makes, he’s also second in the whole league in percentage at an incredible .452%. With the Warriors success, Curry should also double as an actual All-Star, so very fitting for him to be in this as well. He made the second round last year, I expect him to WIN this year.

Ryan Anderson, Hornets

The contest must inculde this guy. Ryan Anderson is  straight lethal. The Magic should have done everything in their power to keep him around, but that’s a story for another day. A volume 3-point shooter, Anderson currently leads the league in total 3-point makes (109), total 3-point attempts (270), 3-point makes per game (3.1) and still manages to shoot it at a .404% clip (28th). Even with a small hitch in his shot, he has one of the quickest releases in the league. Being 6’10 certainly helps him easily get his shot off. If (when) Anderson gets named, I expect him to at least make it out of the first round.

Ray Allen, Heat

Of course we need a sentimental and former champion pick… and that’s Ray Allen. With his 7th time entering the contest (his 4th with a different jersey on), Ray would be a bit of a throwback favorite to win. But let’s not kid ourselves, Ray can still shoot the lights out, as he ranks 3rd in the entire league this season in 3-point percentage. Having only one win (in 2001-02), I’m sure Ray would love to add a second trophy to his mantle.

O.J. Mayo, Mavericks

O.J. Mayo once led the league in 3-point percentage by a WIDE margin, as he was blazing hot to start the season (he’s now ranked 14th at .421%). He’s obviously still a solid shooter from the outside (he’s 5th in total made) and I think it would a compliment to his impressive season to have him be a participant in the contest for the first time. Lord knows, the Mavs could use some kind of excitement in this down year.

Klay Thompson, Warriors

Rarely would I want two players from the same team in the contest, but I think a little “side bet” type competition between Curry and Thompson would be fun. Like Curry, Thompson is a lights out shooter, although he’s been a tad streaky this season than Curry. Still, he’s 3rd behind him in 3-point makes with 93 and is excellent at the catch and shoot, which is the recipe for this contest. How cool would it be to have two Warriors launching in the finals? Very cool.

Carmelo Anthony, Knicks

Of course, everyone knows that Carmelo is a “scorer” first, “shooter” second. But given his very impressive season from behind the arc and the Knicks early success, he deserves to make his debut in the contest. Lord knows, he loves to shoot it. He does rank 10th overall in percentage (.428%) and 3rd overall in 3-point makes per game (2.8). Let’s get Melo chucking.

Other considerations (my apologies to):

James Harden, Rockets – Being in Houston, seems fitting.
Steve Novak, Knicks – Deadly accurate, a specialist.
Kyle Korver, Hawks – How has this guy only been in two of these?
Kevin Martin, Thunder - Even more efficient from three than from two.
Metta World Peace, Lakers – C’mon, you know he secretly wants in!

Jan. 7, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) and Boston Celtics power forward Kevin Garnett (5) have words on the court during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Boston won 102-96. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

… the fans! Of course it’s the us, the NBAbrethren. Think about it for a second. We just watched two players, two mega stars nonetheless, in Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett scuffle all over the basketball court, with ‘Melo trying to scuffle just as much off of it as he “hung out” by the Celtics team bus after the game.

Now with chaos ensuing, we have everything NBA fans dream of… an intense, dramatic and at least “in-season” rivalry, where the two teams will meet another three times before the end of the season (twice in Boston, once more in New York).

We’re going to have hostile basketball, trash talking, video clips, exaggerrated interviews, social media blowups and lord willing, a continued storyline heading into the playoffs. Another fact: If the playoffs started today, take a guess at who would meet in the first round. That’s right, the #2 Knicks would host the #7 Celtics. After last night, please, please let this happen.

Now, I don’t need to go into the rant about how much KG is disliked on the basketball court, his reputation proceeds him. But we saw a side of Carmelo Anthony last night that we have never seen before. Angry Carmelo. Like he needed even more support from New York’s MSG faithful, now he’s chirping raucously at one of the league’s most hated players? Spike Lee was having a baby on the sideline. And we all know that Spike represents the “people.”

My favorite part of the Carmelo video (linked to above) was the fact that halfway through the clip, Rajon Rondo just wanders into the picture with his hands in his pockets. Remember, this is the guy who didn’t even play in the game because he was already serving a 1-game suspension, and now he’s just casually surveying the scene? We’re even getting unintentional comedy out of MeloGate, BusGate, whatever “Gate” label will be cast upon this. But we all love it.

Thursday, January 24th is when Round 2 is scheduled. This time in Boston. Like Spike, they’ll be ready.

January 7, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal (3) celebrates with Wizards point guard A.J. Price (12) after making the game-winning basket in the final second against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 101-99. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Thunder (26-8) 99 @ Wizards (5-28) 101

•  Leading scorers: OKC – Kevin Durant 29, WAS – Bradley Beal, Martell Webster 22.
•  The Wizards: 5 wins in 33 games, 2 of them against the Thunder. Can’t make it up.
•  Bradley Beal hit the game winner, but also finished with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
•  With the season he’s had, you could say that 10 points (5-6 FG) and 7 rebounds is practically a breakout game for Jan Vesely.
•  Beal and Webster went a combined 9 for 13 from behind the arc.
•  Durant (29 pts, 7 rebs, 8 asts) and Ibaka (26 pts, 11 rebs, 2 blks) had big games, but it couldn’t out do Westbrook’s 4 for 17 shooting night.

Celtics (17-17) 102 @ Knicks (23-11) 96

•  Leading scorers: BOS – Paul Pierce 23, NYK – J.R. Smith 24.
•  With NO Rajon Rondo, the C’s handled business in NY, winning their 3rd straight.
•  Garnett had a solid game with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 near-fight with Carmelo.
•  Jeff Green gave 16 points and 6 rebounds off the bench.
•  Carmelo shot a very ugly 6 for 26 from the field, finishing with 20 points.
•  Tyson Chandler had a big game with 13 points and 17 rebounds.
•  The Knicks knocked down 14 threes and still lost.

Cavaliers (8-28) 92 @ Bulls (19-13) 118

•  Leading scorers: CLE – Dion Waiters 18, CHI – Carlos Boozer 24.
•  Offensively, the Bulls had their best and most efficient game of the season, shooting 53.7% (71.4% from three) overall and dishing out 34 assists.
•  Carlos Boozer continued his string of very impressive stat lines with another 24 points and 11 rebounds.
•  Taj Gibson had 18 points (8-9 FG) and 7 rebounds.
•  The Cavs continue to miss Anderson Varejao as they got outrebounded 47-31 by the Bulls.
•  Dion Waiters had 18 points (6-11 FG) and 6 rebounds off the bench.

Spurs (27-10) 88 @ Hornets (9-25) 95

•  Leading scorers: SAN – Manu Ginobili 21, NOH – Eric Gordon 24.
•  Eric Gordon is quickly back to himself, launching 22 shots (making 9) and finishing with 24 points.
•  Greivis Vasquez (3rd in the league in assists) finished with a double double of 14 points and 11 assists.
•  Ginobili had a solid game for the Spurs with 21 points (7-13 FG), 5 rebounds and 4 assists.

Mavericks (13-22) 94 @ Jazz (18-18) 100

•  Leading scorers: DAL – Dirk Nowitzki 20, UTA – Gordon Hayward 27.
•  Gordon Hayward was brilliant for Utah in a comeback (24-16 4th quarter) win. He finished with 27 points (8-14 FG, 4-5 3PT), 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks. Get him back into the starting lineup or don’t fix what ain’t broken? Tough call.
•  The Jazz shot 10 for 19 (52.6%) from 3-point range.
•  Big Al put up 15 points and 11 rebounds.
•  On the Mavs side, it certainly was nice to put Dirk’s name back into the “leading scorers” field. He had 20 on 7-14 shooting.
•  Elton Brand had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Grizzlies (22-10) 113 @ Kings (13-22) 81

•  Leading scorers: MEM – Wayne Ellington 26, SAC – John Salmons 17.
•  Another random big one for Wayne Ellington, finishing with 26 points, shooting an INSANE 10 for 11 from the field, including 6 for 7 from three in 26 minutes.
•  The Grizz also shot 11-20 from behind the arc and outscored the Kings 27-8 in fastbreak points.
•  For the Kings, Thomas Robinson had 8 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

Magic (12-22) 119 @ Blazers (19-15) 125 – OT

•  Leading scorers: ORL – J.J. Redick 29, POR – LaMarcus Aldridge 27.
•  Perhaps most impressive? With the OT win, the Blazers are now 5-0 in overtime games this season.
•  All five Blazers starters scored in double figures and four of them had double doubles: Aldridge (27 pts, 10 rebs), Batum (16 pts, 10 asts), Hickson (20 pts, 15 rebs) and Lillard (18 pts, 10 asts).
•  Blazers shot 51.1% for the overtime game.
•  J.J. Redick finished with an impressive 29 points on 11 for 17 shooting, including 6 for 10 from three.
•  Jameer continues to play well with his 21 points and 12 assists.
•  This was the 9th straight loss for the Magic.

January 6, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) lays on the floor after being fouled by Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee (34) in the second half of the game at the Staples Center. Gasol left the game. Nuggets won 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Thunder (26-7) 104 @ Raptors (12-22) 92

•  Leading scorers: OKC – Russell Westbrook 23, TOR – Alan Anderson 27.
•  Russell Westbrook (23 pts, 7 assts) and Kevin Durant (22 pts, 7 rebs, 7 asts) seemingly took it easy on the Raptors.
•  For the second time this season, Durant only attempted 11 shots for the game, his second lowest output of the season (he attempted only 8 in the 54-point blowout of the Bobcats).
•  The Thunder were 22-24 (91.7%) from the free throw line.
•  Alan Anderson lit it up for the Raps, scoring 27 while shooting 10-14 (4-8 3PT) from the field.
•  Amir Johnson, in his first start of the season, had 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks and only 1 personal foul in 38 minutes.
•  The Raptors had 28 assists on 34 made field goals (82.4% assist rate).

Wizards (4-28) 71 @ Heat (23-9) 99

•  Leading scorers: WAS – Kevin Seraphin 14, MIA – LeBron James 24.
•  The Heat had an uncharacteristic 50 rebounds to the Wizards 39.
•  LeBron had only 2 of them.
•  Chris Bosh had 17 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks.
•  From the bench, Ray Allen and Mike Miller combined for 33 points on 12 for 17 shooting, including 5 for 9 from downtown.
•  The Wiz shot a woeful 35.8% from the field.

Bobcats (9-24) 108 @ Pistons (13-23) 101 – OT

•  Leading scorers: CHA – Kemba Walker 20, DET – Tayshaun Prince 21.
•  Bismack Biyombo had a solid game for the Bobcats with 10 points and 17 rebounds in 34 minutes.
•  Off the bench, Ben Gordon had 18 points on 7-12 shooting.
•  Greg Monroe had a great game for the Pistons with 18 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists.
•  Tayshaun led Detroit in scoring with 21 points (9-15 FG) and 7 rebounds.

Grizzlies (21-10) 92 @ Suns (12-23) 81

•  Leading scorers: MEM – Zach Randolph 21, PHX – P.J. Tucker 17.
•  Z-Bo was the model of efficiency, scoring 21 points on 9 of 11 shooting and grabbing 8 rebounds.
•  Marc Gasol had a solid all-around line of 10 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks.
•  Jerryd Bayless was perfect off the bench with 9 points (2-2 FG, 1-1 3PT, 4-4 FT), 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 0 turnovers in 25 minutes.
•  The Grizzlies shot a very tidy 53.6% from the floor.
•  P.J. Tucker of all people, led the way for Phoenix with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals.

Nuggets (20-16) 112 @ Lakers (15-18) 105

•  Leading scorers: DEN – Ty Lawson 21, LAL – Kobe Bryant 29.
•  It’s usually not a good thing when you’re opponent gets up 101 shots in a non-overtime game, which the Nuggets did in this one.
•  They had six players score in double figures.
•  The point guards really did a number with Ty Lawson having 21 points and 10 assists while Andre Miller putting up 12 points and 10 assists.
•  Nuggets outscored the Lakers in the paint 60-38.
•  Despite a costly turnover late in the 4th, Dwight Howard had a monster game with 14 points, 26 rebounds and 4 blocks.
•  Kobe finished with 29 points, recording his 17th straight game with at least 27 points.

January 3, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Jose Barea (11) drives to the basket against Denver Nuggets forward Corey Brewer (right) during the first half at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Spurs (26-9) 83 @ Knicks (22-10) 100

•  Leading scorers: SAN – Gary Neal 12, NYK – Carmelo Anthony 23.
•  Amar’e Stoudemire improved vastly in his second game. All the way up to 10 points and 2 rebounds. And yes, that was sarcasm.
•  Tyson Chandler has a double double with 10 points and 14 rebounds.
•  Steve Novak went 5 for 7 from behind the arc and finished with 15 points.
•  The Knicks outrebounded the Spurs 48-35.
•  There were no impressive games for the Spurs, as they shot only 36.4% and had a very un-Spur like 14 assists for the game.
•  The game featured only 9 total fast break points.

Timberwolves (15-14) 101 @ Nuggets (18-16) 97

•  Leading scorers: MIN – Alexey Shved, J.J. Barea 17, DEN – Ty Lawson, Kosta Koufos 16.
•  The Timberwolves improved to 6-10 on the road with an impressive win in Denver.
•  Kevin Love put up 12 points and 17 rebounds.
•  J.J. Barea and Alexey Shved both had exactly 17 points, 4 rebound and 5 assists.
•  The Wolves outrebounded the Nugs 52-39.
•  Andre Miller started for the Nuggets and had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
•  The other Andre, Iguodala, put up 14 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
•  Even in the loss, the Nuggets had 11 steals and 11 blocks as opposed to the Wolves 2 and 3.

January 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Festus Ezeli (31, left) commits a flagrant foul on Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (32, center) as Warriors power forward David Lee (10) defends during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Clippers 115-94. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Trail Blazers (16-15) 79 @ Raptors (12-20) 102

•  Leading scorers: POR – Damian Lillard 18, TOR – Terrence Ross 26.
•  In an easy win, the Raptors (winners of 8 of 9) had one of the strangest statistical anomalies of the season. Their point guards, Jose Calderon and Kyle Lowry combined for 0 points and 22 assists. The odd part? They only attempted 3 shots between them for the entire game in 43 minutes.
•  Three Raptors starters (Calderon, Gray an Pietrus) did not even score in the game.
•  Terrence Ross set a career-high with 26 points, going 6 for 9 from behind the arc.
•  DeMar DeRozan and Ed Davis combined for 43 points on 20 for 29 (69.0%) shooting.
•  The Raps had 34 assists on 41 made field goals for an insane 82.9% assist rate.
•  The Blazers were led by Damian Lillard who had 18 points and 7 assists, but also had 7 turnovers.
•  Portland was only 4-22 from 3-point range.

Bulls (17-13) 96 @ Magic (12-20) 94

•  Leading scorers: CHI – Carlos Boozer 31, ORL – Jameer Nelson 32.
•  The Bulls starting frontline of Carlos Boozer (31 pts, 11 rebs), Taj Gibson (21 pts, 11 rebs) and Luol Deng (23 pts) got the job done without Joakim Noah.
•  Boozer and Gibson played 40 and 45 minutes respectively.
•  Rip Hamilton only had 4 points, but had 9 assists in 30 minutes.
•  Jameer Nelson put up a season-high 32 points and went 6 for 9 from three.
•  Nik Vucevic continues to put up solid production with another 20 points and 12 rebounds.

Kings (12-20) 97 @ Cavaliers (7-26) 94

•  Leading scorers: SAC – Jason Thompson 19, CLE – Kyrie Irving 22.
•  Jason Thompson (19 pts, 10 rebs) and DeMarcus Cousins (18 pts, 16 rebs) both posted double doubles.
•  The Kings pounded the Cavs in the paint 52-36.
•  Alonzo Gee had a solid game for Cleveland with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists.

Wizards (4-26) 81 @ Pacers (19-13) 89

•  Leading scorers: WAS – Jordan Crawford 20, IND – Paul George 29.
•  Paul George dominated the Wiz with 29 points (9-19 FG) and 14 rebounds.
•  David West had an unusual off night with only 8 points on 3-13 shooting.
•  The Wizards actually made more FG’s (35 to 29) than the Pacers, but Indiana made 26 FT’s to the Wiz’s 8.
•  Jordan Crawford once again led the Wizards with 20 points and 7 assists.
•  Kevin Seraphin put up 16 points and 9 rebounds off the bench.

Grizzlies (20-9) 93 @ Celtics (14-17) 83

•  Leading scorers: MEM – Mike Conley 23, BOS – Paul Pierce 17.
•  The Celtics, already the worst rebounding the team in the league at 38.1 per game, managed only 27 rebounds in this game to the Grizzlies 39.
•  Mike Conley led the Grizz with 23 points and 9 assists.
•  Zach Randolph had a very quiet 6 points and 8 rebounds in 30 minutes.
•  Although Kevin Garnett had 12 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists, he had a -15 net rating.

Mavericks (13-20) 109 @ Heat (22-8) 119 – OT

•  Leading scorers: DAL – O.J. Mayo 30, MIA – LeBron James 32.
•  LeBron James was only 1 assist shy of a triple double after putting up 32 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. Yep that’s just LeBron for you.
•  Dwyane Wade was also incredible with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
•  For the Mavs, Mayo dropped 30 on 12 for 21 shooting, but it wasn’t enough in OT.
•  Dirk played 29 minutes and put up 19 points and 6 rebounds. He’s starting to round into form.

Spurs (26-8) 117 @ Bucks (16-14) 110

•  Leading scorers: SAN – Tim Duncan 28, MIL – Brandon Jennings 31.
•  Just another game for the Spurs Big Three: Duncan (28 pts, 13 rebs, 6 asts), Parker (23 pts, 11 asts) and Ginobili (16 pts, 6 asts).
•  The Spurs shot 51.7% and 52.9% from behind the arc, with only 8 turnovers.
•  Brandon Jennings dropped 31 on 13-26 shooting.
•  John Henson had a breakout game with 20 points (on 10-11 shooting!), 9 rebounds and 3 assists.

Hornets (7-25) 92 @ Rockets (18-14) 104

•  Leading scorers: NOH – Ryan Anderson 18, HOU – James Harden 31.
•  The Rockets destroyed the Hornets in the paint, outscoring them 60-28.
•  James Harden finished with 31 points and 7 assists.
•  Patrick Patterson had a double double off the bench with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
•  Greivis Vasquez had an impressive double double with 15 points and 14 assists.

Nets (17-15) 110 @ Thunder (24-7) 93

•  Leading scorers: BKN – Joe Johnson 33, OKC – Kevin Durant 27.
•  The superstars showed up for the Nets with Joe Johnson putting up 33 points on 11-19 shooting, Deron Williams having 19 points, 13 assists and 5 steals and Brook Lopez having 25 points.
•  The Nets went 9 for 17 from downtown.
•  Despite recieving his first career ejection, Kevin Durant finished with 27 points.
•  Russell Westbrook had 26 points and 10 assists.

Timberwolves (14-14) 84 @ Jazz (16-17) 106

•  Leading scorers: MIN – Kevin Love, Alexey Shved 13, UTA – Gordon Hayward 17.
•  Enes Kanter (15 pts, 8 rebs) and Gordon Hayward (17 pts, 3-4 3PT) both had decent games off the Jazz bench.
•  The Timberwolves ended up shooting 2 for 17 from 3-point range.
•  Kevin Love had a double double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
•  Both teams recorded 12 blocked shots.

76ers (15-18) 89 @ Suns (12-21) 95

•  Leading scorers: PHI – Jrue Holiday 16, PHX – Luis Scola 21.
•  Despite the loss, Jrue Holiday put up a triple double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Maybe he can sneak in the All-Star Game?
•  Luis Scola had 21 points and an unexpected 9 assists.
•  Marcin Gortat scored 11 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.
•  Thad Young had 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Clippers (25-8) 94 @ Warriors (22-10) 115

•  Leading scorers: LAC – Jamal Crawford 24, GSW – Steph Curry 31.
•  The Warriors dominated the once-invincible Clippers, shooting 50% overall and 52.2% (12-23) from behind the arc.
•  Steph Curry was insanely efficient with 31 points (11-16 FG, 6-8 3PT), 6 rebounds and 8 assists.
•  David Lee finished with a near triple double with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists.
•  Matt Barnes got the start for the Clips, played 40 minutes and finished with 19 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
•  The Clips got outrebounded 53-38.
•  DeAndre Jordan was a no-show with only 4 points and 4 rebounds.

December 21, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Bobcats shooting guard Gerald Henderson (9) reacts after an injury during the fourth quarter against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena. The Warriors defeated the Bobcats 115-100. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Regardless of sport, the Clippers remain the hottest team in the entire world right now… even fat Lamar Odom can’t screw this one up. Meanwhile the Spurs, Rockets, Blazers and Raptors are pushing for the title of December’s hottest team.

Several big names are still unimpressively hovering around (or even below) .500. Yes, we’re looking at you Nuggets, Lakers, Nets and Celtics.

And finally, the Wizards are happily unseated by the Bobcats for the wine cellar throne. It comes with the 18 straight loss territory.

Welcome back to The Skyhook’s NBA Power Rankings, where any given week, things can change faster than a James Harden trade.

Previous weeks:
Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 7 | Week 8

Week 9 – December 31, 2012

Biggest jump: Bucks (+4) | Biggest drop: Magic (-3)

1. Los Angeles Clippers | 25-6 (W17) | Last week: 1

Like Will Ferrell’s character in Old School, the Clips are (still) going streaking, to the tune of 17 straight wins. Other than a couple of minor close calls, they’ve been blowing teams away (average margin of 15.2 points per game during the streak).

2. Oklahoma City Thunder | 23-6 (W2) | Last week: 2

How do the Thunder respond to getting beat down in Miami? With a grind-it-out win against the Mavs and then an absolute beat down against their old buddy James Harden in Houston. Serge Ibaka still playing insane basketball in the OKC shadows.

3. San Antonio Spurs | 24-8 (W5) | Last week: 3

Popovich alert: Spurs have 3 games in the next 4 days. What will he do, what will he do? Meanwhile, the “old” guys keep killing teams. It’s too bad this team is so deep that Kawhi Leonard can rarely get over 30 minutes… so fun to watch.

4. Memphis Grizzlies | 19-8 (W1) | Last week: 6

Still 19-8, the Grizzles now look like an average team (remember, they started 12-2). They lose at home to an underachieving Sixers team, then hold the Nuggets to 72 points. Go figure. Seems like they need to acquire a new toy near deadline time.

5. New York Knicks | 21-9 (L1) | Last week: 4

A bit of a letdown week for the Knickerbockers as they lose a big game to the Lakers on Christmas Day, then James Johnson buries them at the buzzer on Friday night. Hope everyone’s ready for the return of STAT, it’s around the corner now.

6. Miami Heat | 20-8 (L2) | Last week: 5

I want to rank the Heat higher for their win over the Thunder, but Pistons loss (and their defense in the Bucks loss) offsets that. Though, it might be a perfect example of how much Wade really does mean to this team.

7. Golden State Warriors | 21-10 (W3) | Last week: 7

Warrior love continues to grow. First, they go into one of the hardest places to play in the league in Utah and impress, then they absolutely handle the Celtics by 18 at home. Whatever seed they grab, this will be a dangerous team come playoff time.

8. Atlanta Hawks | 19-9 (W4) | Last week: 8

In an all-Central division week, the Hawks go 3-0 with a very nice win against a hot Pacers team. Looks like Larry Drew is doing some tinkering with the lineup by inserting Lou Williams in as a starter. Fortunately, Lou has totally responded.

9. Chicago Bulls | 16-12 (W1) | Last week: 9

Nothing like a timely matchup with the Wizards to forget about getting pounded by the Hawks (17) and the Rockets (23). Boy has Taj Gibson taken a step backward this season. 6 points and 4.5 rebounds per game? Starting to look like a bogus contract extension.

10. Indiana Pacers | 17-13 (L1) | Last week: 10

Burning question for a hot Pacers squad: Could David West (17.5 pts, 8.0 rebs) sneak into the All-Star Game? It’s too bad the Boxing Day showdown with the Bulls got postponed, that could have been a statement game. I guess they will get the chance.

11. Los Angeles Lakers | 15-15 (W1) | Last week: 12

One could get picky, but the Lakers are 6-1 in their last 7 games and have battled back to .500. The inner city showdown with the Clippers on Friday should be a slugfest, especially if the “streak” is still alive. FYI – Kobe Bryant is 4th in the league in Minutes.

12. Milwaukee Bucks | 16-13 (L1) | Last week: 16

The wins over the Heat and Nets get them a bump up, but how do you explain losses to the Cavs and Pistons? The Bucks are keeping their rivals close, as they’ve played 21 of their 29 games against their own conference, going 14-7.

13. Denver Nuggets | 17-15 (L1) | Last week: 11

The Nugs survived Kobe’s 40 points on Wednesday and then used a terrific 39-point Gallinari night on Friday to take down the Mavs. But the inconsistency still remains. We can only rank the Nugs this high on “potential” for only so long.

14. Brooklyn Nets | 16-14 (W2) | Last week: 14

So on queue, the Brooklyn mess results in Avery Johnson getting canned and drawing more (mostly negative) unnecessary attention to the franchise. Who will be the next coach? Is Phil coming? Is D-Will a coach killer?

15. Minnesota Timberwolves | 14-13 (W1) | Last week: 13

Pretty uneventful 2-game week for the Wolves, who split a pair against the Rockets (tough loss) and Suns (close win). They’ll have a very important all-division week coming up as they visit Utah and Denver and host an improved Portland team.

16. Houston Rockets | 16-14 (L2) | Last week: 15

The Rockets had been hot (5 straight wins) before running into the Spurs/Thunder wall of death. January gets even more difficult as they play 17 games, 12 of which are on the road. Yikes!

17. Portland Trail Blazers | 15-14 (W1) | Last week: 19

The Blazers have found some winning ways of late, finishing with a 9-4 month of December. As one of my personal favorite teams to watch, I’d like to see J.J. Hickson (12.7 pts, 11.0 rebs, .568 FG%) get some mention for Most Improved.

18. Boston Celtics | 14-16 (L3) | Last week: 18

If there’s a team needs to make a deadline deal, it’s the C’s. What in the blue hell happened last week? We know East teams going West is challenging, but they didn’t even SHOW UP in the losses to the Clippers (by 29), Warriors (by 18) and Kings (22).

19. Utah Jazz | 15-17 (L3) | Last week: 17

Not too much shame in the Utah Jekyll and Hydes losing to the Juggernaut Clippers and Warriors last week. I recommend you read further into the “Will they or won’t they trade Paul Millsap?” debate by checking out Skyhook newcomer Reece Hooker’s article here.

20. Philadelphia 76ers | 14-17 (L2) | Last week: 20

Things have gone almost as bad as expected on Philly’s 8-game road trip (1-3 so far). The worse news? They’re only half way and have the Lakers, Thunder and Spurs left. Yuck. Hey, at least Spencer Hawes got a damn haircut.

21. Toronto Raptors | 11-20 (W2) | Last week: 24

After a putrid 4-19 start, the Raps are suddenly winners of 7 out of 8 games. To capture the significance of their run, they now sit only 3.5 games out of a playoff spot in the East. Unfortunately for Andrea Bargnani (and his trade value), he’s been on the sideline for all the fun.

22. Dallas Mavericks | 12-19 (L6) | Last week: 22

The only silver lining hidden in their 6-game slide is that they’ve just played the toughest 6-game stretch (MIA, @MEM, @SAN, @OKC, DEN, SAN) that will be seen in the entire league this season. Cuban’s trigger finger might be getting itchy.

23. Phoenix Suns | 11-20 (L5) | Last week: 23

The Suns will be as excited to see 2013 arrive as anyone after they finished December with a 4-11 record (which looked like this: L5, W4, L6). With a squad full of average Joe’s, this team is in dire need of a superstar. Nash is sorely missed.

24. Orlando Magic | 12-18 (L5) | Last week: 21

More significant Magic moment of the season so far: Beating the Lakers by 10 in Los Angeles or losing to the Raptors at home by 35? After dropping 5 straight, the next crack the Magic might have at a win comes January 14th at Washington.

25. Sacramento Kings | 11-19 (W2) | Last week: 25

Solid week for the Kings as they’re probably still on a high from beating the Knicks at the buzzer and then ambush the Celtics behind DeMarcus Cousins triple double. And throw in ALL the irony of it being against the Celtics, a potential landing spot for Boogie.

26. Detroit Pistons | 11-22 (W2) | Last week: 26

A really nice win against the Heat (*cough*without*Wade*), as they withstood 35 from LeBron. As little as he’s talked about, Jason Maxiell provides some of the nastier highlights in the league. Go YouTube some of his blocks and dunks. Do it.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers | 7-25 (L2) | Last week: 27

Tristan Thompson is trying hard, but he’s no Varejao. They need him back to even compete and move past a 3-13 December. Cavs are likely looking forward to another high lottery pick come June. Two alarming Cavs stats: Alonzo Gee playing 33.6 minutes per game and Dion Waiters shooting .363% for the year.

28. New Orleans Hornets | 7-23 (W1) | Last week: 29

Lots happening in NOLA this past week. The return of Eric Gordon (who dropped 24 in his season debut) and them winning an NBA basketball game without scoring a single fast break point were among the highlights. Also, this Hornets article by Skyhook newcomer J.P. Pelosi.

29. Washington Wizards | 4-24 (L1) | Last week: 30

And they shall be set FREE! The Wiz climb out of the Rankings basement with a big home win over a (depleted) Magic team. NOT having an 18-game losing streak certainly has its perks. So in 17 games, Nene is rocking a very unnoticed +20 PER rating.

30. Charlotte Bobcats | 7-23 (L18) | Last week: 28

Well, it’s not like we can say the B-Cats aren’t recently familiar with this dreaded losing streak territory. Am I the only one that giggles when I think about this team going from 7-5 to 7-23 in what seems like the blink of an eye? I didn’t think so. Just look at poor Gerald Henderson up there.

Jan 1, 2013; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) looks to drive around Portland Trail Blazers shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Mavericks (13-19) 103 @ Wizards (4-25) 94

•  Leading scorers: DAL – Vince Carter 23, WAS – Bradley Beal 22.
•  The Mavs finally snapped a 6-game slide in which they used a 35-19 3rd quarter to get past the Wizards.
•  Vince Carter was inserted into the starting lineup and responded with 23 points on 9 for 14 shooting in 30 minutes.
•  Dirk continued to work his way back with 11 points (5-7 FG) and a couple of rebounds in 17 minutes.
•  Shawn Marion posted 11 points and 14 rebounds.
•  Bradley Beal put up 22 points (4-7 3PT) for the Wizards.

Trail Blazers (16-14) 105 @ Knicks (21-10) 100

•  Leading scorers: POR – Nicolas Batum 26, NYK – Carmelo Anthony 45.
•  Almost unbelievably, Carmelo (45) and J.R. Smith (28) combined for 73 of the Knicks 100 points scored (73% for you non-Math majors out there). I’m sure when two players score three quarters of your team’s points, it’s not a good thing.
•  Melo had 45, but Smith had the better overall game with 28 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals.
•  Nic Batum knocked down six threes as part of his team high 26 points.
•  Damian Lillard finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

Kings (11-20) 97 @ Pistons (12-22) 103

•  Leading scorers: SAC – DeMarcus Cousins 21, DET - Brandon Knight 20.
•  Greg Monroe finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks for the Pistons.
•  Before getting ejected for a flagrant foul on Isaiah Thomas, Charlie Villanueva was 3-5 from behind the arc.
•  DeMarcus Cousins posted a double double of 21 points and 14 rebounds.
•  Jimmer Fredette poured in 14 off the bench in 24 minutes.

Hawks (20-10) 95 @ Hornets (7-24) 86

•  Leading scorers: ATL – Josh Smith 23, NOH – Ryan Anderson 23.
•  Josh Smith stuffed the stat sheet in this one. His finishing line: 23 points (11-20 FG), 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals and 4 blocks. Now THAT is contract year material!
•  The Hawks had 30 assists on 41 made field goals (73% assist rate).
•  Zaza Pachulia had a 12 and 10 double double in only 20 minutes.
•  Greivis Vasquez was only 1 rebound shy of a triple double with 17 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.
•  The Hornets were only 4-12 from the free throw line.
•  Ryan Anderson continued his 3-point barrage, knocking down another five in this game.

Clippers (25-7) 78 @ Nuggets (18-15) 92

•  Leading scorers: LAC – Blake Griffin, Eric Bledsoe 12, DEN – Danilo Gallinari 17.
•  The Clippers streak ENDS at 17 wins. And with 78 points and 38.5% shooting, it wasn’t pretty.
•  Andre Miller started and put up 12 points and 12 assists.
•  The Nuggets had six players score in double figures.
•  DeAndre Jordan had the best Clipper game with 11 points (4-4 FG but 3-10 FT), 11 rebounds and 3 blocks.

76ers (15-17) 103 @ Lakers (15-16) 99

•  Leading scorers: PHI – Jrue Holiday 26, LAL – Kobe Bryant 36.
•  Jrue Holiday (26 pts, 10 asts) and Evan Turner (22 pts, 13 rebs, 5 asts) led the Sixers to a solid road win over the Lakers.
•  Spencer Hawes was solid against the Lakers bigs with 13 points (5-9 FG), 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 blocks in 27 minutes off the bench.
•  Kobe put up 36 points on 14 of 29 shooting.
•  The Lakers were 3-22 from downtown.
•  Metta World Peace had 13 points and 9 rebounds, but shot only 6-17.

Dec 31, 2012; Orlando, FL, USA; Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) attempts a layup between Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) and power forward Josh McRoberts (17) during the third quarter at Amway Center. Miami defeated Orlando 112-110 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Grizzlies (19-9) 83 @ Pacers (18-13) 88

•  Leading scorers: MEM –  Zach Randolph 21, IND – Paul George 21.
•  Despite the win, the Pacers got outscored in the paint 44 to 18.
•  Paul George led the way for Indiana with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
•  Z-Bo posted another double double for the Grizz with 21 points and 15 rebounds.
•  Rudy Gay put up an ugly 3 for 17 shooting performance (11 points total).

Bobcats (8-23) 91 @ Bulls (16-13) 81

•  Leading scorers: CHA – Kemba Walker 18, CHI – Luol Deng 19.
•  The Bobcats FINALLY ended their 18-game losing streak with a rare road win.
•  Kemba Walker put up 18 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and even 2 blocks.
•  Little known Jeff Adrien (Connecticut) put up 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks in 23 minutes off the bench.
•  Luol Deng put up 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals.
•  Carlos Boozer also put up a double double with 19 points and 14 rebounds.

Heat (21-8) 112 @ Magic (12-19) 110 – OT

•  Leading scorers: MIA – LeBron James 36, ORL - Aaron Afflalo 28.
•  LeBron had a ridiculous game with 36 points (15-16 FT), 11 assists and 8 rebounds.
•  Ray Allen poured in 17 (6-9 FG) off the bench.
•  Nikola Vucevic had an incredible 20 points and 29 rebounds (11 offensive).
•  The Magic outrebounded the Heat 50-33.

Hawks (19-10) 104 @ Rockets (17-14) 123

•  Leading scorers: ATL – Lou Williams 21, HOU – James Harden 28.
•  The Rockets kept to their league leading scoring ways with 123 points on 53.6% shooting (55.2% from three).
•  Omer Asik posted 11 points and 17 rebounds.
•  Carlos Delfino had a great game off the bench with 22 points (6-8 3PT) and 8 assists.
•  Lou Williams got the start and had 21 points (9-16 FG).

Nets (16-15) 73 @ Spurs (25-8) 104

•  Leading scorers: BKN – MarShon Brooks 16, SAN – Tony Parker 20.
•  The Spurs shot an incredible 58.9% (43-73) from the field and outscored the Nets 56-32 in the paint.
•  Tony Parker led the way with 20 points (9-13 FG) and 6 assists.
•  The Nets “Big 3″ of Williams, Johnson and Lopez combined for 12 for 34 for 31 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
•  MarShon Brooks led the team with 16 points (7-12 FG) in only 19 minutes.

Suns (11-21) 96 @ Thunder (24-6) 114

•  Leading scorers: PHX – Luis Scola 24, OKC – Kevin Durant 30.
•  The Thunder shot 50.6% from the field and committed only 5 turnovers for the game.
•  Durant (30) and Westbrook (24) accounted for 47% of the Thunder’s points.
•  Kevin Martin struggled, shooting only 2 for 12 from the floor.
•  Luis Scola continued his solid scoring run with 24 points on 10-17 shooting.
•  Michael Beasley earned a “DNP – Coaches Decision” for the game.

December 27, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin (left), center DeAndre Jordan (center) and small forward Caron Butler (right) joke around on the bench in the second half against the Boston Celtics at Staples Center. Clippers won 106-77. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome all stat geeks! “Box Score Bulletin’” is sifting through, analyzing and summarizing all of the NBA box scores from the previous day and night, so you don’t have to! So sip your coffee and enjoy the good, the bad and the ugly…

Mavericks (12-17) 105 @ Thunder (22-6) 111 – OT

• Leading scorers: DAL – Darren Collison 32, OKC – Kevin Durant 40.
• Kevin Durant put up a 40-spot on the Mavs, along with 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 blocks.
• The Thunder as a team had 13 blocks, more than doubling the Mavs 5.
• Serge Ibaka had a monster game as well, with 19 points (7-10 FG), 17 rebounds and 5 blocks.
• Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins both struggled with their shot, shooting 7-20 and 0-6 from the field respectively.
• Darren Collison had an incredible game for Dallas, scoring 32 points on 13-22 from the floor, grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing 4 assists and having 4 steals.
• O.J. Mayo was certainly quiet in 36 minutes, with only 4 points (1-7 FG) and 6 turnovers.
• Shawn Marion looked like The Matrix of old, with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

Celtics (14-14) 77 @ Clippers (23-6) 106

• Leading scorers: BOS – Kevin Garnett 16, LAC – Matt Barnes 21.
• The Clippers are now at 15 straight WINS.
• Matt Barnes led the Clips with 21 points, knocking down 5-9 from downtown.
• Blake Griffin (15) and Caron Butler (14) were the only Clipper starters in double figures.
• Lamar Odom had a very solid game with 13 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 blocks (also 4 points).
• Eric Bledsoe totalled 6 steals in only 19 minutes.
• The Celtics meanwhile, only scored 10 points in the 4th quarter.
• Jason Collins got the start at center and contributed exactly 0 points, 1 rebound and 1 turnover in 17 minutes. Think the C’s need a big, like yesterday?
• Rondo did put up 10 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.

December 21, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers small forward Caron Butler (5), power forward Blake Griffin (32), shooting guard Willie Green (34) and center DeAndre Jordan (6) cheer from the bench during the game against the Sacramento Kings at the Staples Center. Clippers won 97-85. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA Today Sports Images

Welcome back to The Skyhook’s NBA Power Rankings, where any given week, things can change faster than a James Harden trade.

Previous weeks: Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 7

Week 8 – December 24, 2012

Biggest jump: Rockets (+6) | Biggest drop: Celtics (-5)

1. Los Angeles Clippers | 21-6 (W13) | Last week: 4

Last week: 4-0 | Current streak: Won 13

2. Oklahoma City Thunder | 21-5 (L1) | Last week: 1

Last week: 2-1 | Current streak: Lost 1

3. San Antonio Spurs | 21-8 (W2) | Last week: 3

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Won 2

4. New York Knicks | 20-7 (W1) | Last week: 2

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Won 1

5. Miami Heat | 18-6 (W4) | Last week: 5

Last week: 3-0 | Current streak: Won 4

6. Memphis Grizzlies | 18-7 (L1) | Last week: 6

Last week: 3-1 | Current streak: Lost 1

7. Golden State Warriors | 18-10 (L1) | Last week: 7

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Lost 1

8. Atlanta Hawks | 16-9 (W1) | Last week: 8

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Won 1

9. Chicago Bulls | 15-11 (L1) | Last rank: 9

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Lost 1

10. Indiana Pacers | 16-12 (W3) | Last rank: 14

Last week: 3-1 | Current streak: Won 3

11. Denver Nuggets | 15-13 (W1) | Last rank: 12

Last week: 2-1 | Current streak: Won 1

12. Los Angeles Lakers | 13-14 | Last rank: 17

Last week: 2-0 | Current streak: Won 4

13. Minnesota Timberwolves | 13-12 (L1) | Last rank: 10

Last week: 1-3 | Current streak: Lost 1

14. Brooklyn Nets | 14-12 | Last rank: 11

Last week: 1-2 | Current streak: Won 1

15. Houston Rockets | 14-12 | Last rank: 21

Last week: 3-0 | Current streak: Won 3

16. Milwaukee Bucks | 14-12 | Last rank: 16

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Lost 1

17. Utah Jazz | 15-14 | Last rank: 15

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Won 1

18. Boston Celtics | 13-13 | Last rank: 13

Last week: 1-2 | Current streak: Lost 1

19. Portland Trail Blazers | 13-13 | Last rank: 19

Last week: 2-1 | Current streak: Lost 1

20. Philadelphia 76ers | 13-15 | Last rank: 18

Last week: 1-3 | Current streak: Lost 1

21. Orlando Magic | 12-15 | Last rank: 22

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Lost 2

22. Dallas Mavericks | 12-16 | Last rank: 20

Last week: 1-3 | Current streak: Lost 3

23. Phoenix Suns | 11-17 | Last rank: 23

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Lost 2

24. Toronto Raptors | 9-19 | Last rank: 26

Last week: 3-0 | Current streak: Won 5

25. Sacramento Kings | 9-18 | Last rank: 25

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Won 1

26. Detroit Pistons | 9-21 | Last rank: 24

Last week: 2-2 | Current streak: Won 2

27. Cleveland Cavaliers | 6-23 | Last rank: 29

Last week: 1-3 | Current streak: Won 1

28. Charlotte Bobcats | 7-20 | Last rank: 27

Last week: 0-4 | Current streak: Lost 15

29. New Orleans Hornets | 5-22 | Last rank: 28

Last week: 0-4 | Current streak: Lost 11

30. Washington Wizards | 3-22 | Last rank: 30

Last week: 0-4 | Current streak: Lost 7