May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach Lionel Hollins reacts in the second half of game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the San Antonio Spurs at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

After four years in charge as the head coach of the Memphis Grizzlies, it seems that Lionel Hollins may be on his way out.

Since he took over in 2009, Hollins has turned the Grizzlies into a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. They missed the playoffs in his first hear at the helm, but made the postseason each of the previous three  years. This year they finished 56-26 and advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, before being knocked out by the Spurs.

Despite the success, it seems like the Lionel Hollins era in Memphis is over, according to reports from Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski.

Memphis has given permission to coach Lionel Hollins to speak to other teams, league source tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Talks between Memphis and Lionel Hollins have been ongoing for several days, but stalled on Saturday night, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Memphis and Hollins never seriously discussed financial terms and year, sources tell Y! “Major philosophical differences,” one source says.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Asked two sources with direct knowledge of Grizzlies-Hollins talks if they believe he’s coached his final game there. Both answered: “Yes.”

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 2, 2013

Hollins contract isn’t officially up until the end of the month, but based on the report from Wojnarowski, he may as well be a free agent. With multiple teams looking for new coaches, including the Los Angeles Clippers and Brooklyn Nets, it’s likely that Hollins won’t be out of a job for long.

It was certainly a frustrating series for the Grizzlies. They showed they were able to compete, bouncing back from a blowout loss in Game 1, but ultimately losing Games 2 and 3 in overtime. Game 4 was close, but the Spurs had control the whole way. In the end, Memphis was just beaten by the better team.

The frustration showed late in the 4th quarter, when head coach Lionel Hollins got into it with backup point guard Jerryd Bayless. As Bayless came to the bench with just a a a few minutes remaining, Hollins gave him a little shove. Hollins was clearly upset with something Bayless had done, and was letting him know it. An assistant coach stepped in, although it didn’t look like the situation was going to escalate.

Whatever Hollins was upset about must not have been that serious however, as Bayless would re-enter the game a few minutes later.

Bayless finished the game with 8 points on 3-10 shooting. For the series, Bayless averaged a little over 10 points a game on just 35% shooting from the field. Like the rest of the team, Bayless struggled to hit his jumper all series, in large part due to the great defense of San Antonio.

May 27, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; San Antonio Spurs chairman Peter Holt hoists the Western Conference championship trophy in the locker room after game four of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedEx Forum. The Spurs won 93-86. Mandatory Credit: Rogelio V. Solis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

It was a hard fought fourth game and series as a whole, but the better team won. After winning Game 4 93-86, to complete a four game sweep, the San Antonio Spurs have advanced to the NBA Finals.

The Spurs took control from the tip, and though the Grizzlies kept it within reach, they were never able to get over the hump. Every time they made a little run, the Spurs pushed the lead out again.

Tony Parker was magnificent, finishing with 37 points and 6 assists. He took command of the Spurs offense, leading the way to victory, despite taking a nasty, inadvertent poke in the eye from Marc Gasol in the process.

Tim Duncan was his usual, steady self, providing 15 points and 8 rebounds. And as they always seem to do, the Spurs got solid, though not spectacular contributions from a number of players.

While the Grizzlies certainly didn’t play their best basketball in this series, they have nothing to be ashamed of. It was a closely contested series – the Spurs were just a little bit better.

San Antonio will now sit and wait for the winner of the Miami Heat and Indiana Pacers Eastern Conference Finals series. The Heat currently have a 2-1 series lead, with Game 4 set for tomorrow night.

May 21, 2013; San Antonio, TX, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) drives to the basket as San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker (9) looks on in game two of the Western Conference finals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at AT

In a sport and league predicated largely on athleticism, Zach Randolph has managed to succeed despite a lack thereof. While there are nightly highlights showing off the quickness and leaping ability of players across the league, Randolph, who was blessed with neither, is busy toughing it out in the post. He makes his living largely because of his footwork and ability to create space down low.

At just 6’9”, and with little leaping ability, the man affectionately known as “Z-Bo” has found a way to both score on the post, and become a rebounding force. He has been in the top 5 in rebounding 3 of the last 4 years. (He only played 28 games last year.) This year, Randolph put up a little over 15 points and 11 rebounds a night for the Grizzlies, and has averaged 17.2 points and 9.3 rebounds a game in his 11-year career.

To see Randolph at work, let’s go to the tape, featuring plays from Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. (The Grizzlies lost 104-93 in overtime, despite 14 points and 15 rebounds from Randolph.)

First, let’s look at this possession from late in the 2^nd quarter. Keep your eyes on only Randolph this possession. (He’s wearing number 50 in white and starts off near the right block being guarded by Matt Bonner, who wears number 15 in black.)

He starts off the possession by setting multiple screens. He then moves down to the paint, where he posts up Bonner. He doesn’t get the ball from Marc Gasol, but he keeps moving and looking for position. Then, a shot goes up that misses, but the Grizzlies grab the rebound. As Conley drives the lane, Randolph slides away from the defense, looking for the pass – but Conley shoots instead, and Randolph, who has moved into great position, outduels three Spurs (while hardly jumping) for the offensive rebound. He ends up missing the put-back and a second tip attempt, but that isn’t the point.

Look how much work Randolph did this possession. None of it took exceptional athletic ability. It was just hard work and smart positioning. While it didn’t pay off this time, this sequence exemplifies Z-Bo’s game.

Now, we’ll check out a couple plays in the 4^th quarter. Three consecutive trips down the floor, Randolph fights his way to offensive rebounds.

For the first possession, Randolph is along the baseline as the shot goes up. It looks like Bonner should have the position to box him out, but Randolph gives him a little bump and gets Bonner on his hip. From there, he uses his strength and outworks three Spurs for the rebound.

Randolph begins the second possession by setting a screen for Conley. Following this, he makes his way into the paint. He gets his body into his defender, and seals him on his backside. At this point, Randolph has the control. Gasol doesn’t give him the ball on his first post-up attempt, instead choosing to skip the ball to the corner. Once again, Randolph gets himself good position, but doesn’t get the ball. As Bayless shoots the three from the corner, Bonner, who is guarding Randolph has the inside position for the rebound since Randolph sealed him to get post position. But once again, Randolph uses his footwork (and a hip bump) to move Bonner out of the way, drawing a foul from Bonner in the process and gaining the Grizzlies an extra possession.

In the third possession, Randolph once again finds himself on the baseline, presumably out of position for a rebound. But once again, as the shot goes up, he forces his way to the right spot. Bayless shoots the three from the right wing, and Randolph battles his way to the left block. This is the best spot for an offensive rebound because, as Kirk Goldsberry showed in this excellent piece, rebounds go to “the other side” – when a field goal is attempted from the baseline or wing areas and it misses, chances are the rebound will occur on the opposite side of the rim.

The Grizzlies never got Randolph the ball on three separate trips down the court, even though he had excellent position on a few occasions. Despite this, Randolph kept working, and got himself to the right spot and in the right position to grab crucial offensive rebounds for his team.

Finally, let’s take a quick look at a few instances in which Randolph actually did get the ball on offense, and put it to good use.

In the first clip, Randolph gets the ball on near the three-point line. Tiago Splitter tries to shade him to the right, but Randolph, smartly goes left, making Splitter drop his right foot before being able to slide with Randolph as he drives to the basket. It gives Randolph space to start his move. Splitter is able to recover however, due to Randolph’s lack of quickness. To counter, Randolph fakes a spin to the middle and comes back to his favorite left hand for a jump hook that he hits after creating space with the fake.

In the second possession, Z-Bo gets the ball near the elbow with his back to the basket, near the elbow. After a few dribbles, he starts to spin for a jump hook, but pump fakes and turns it into an up-and-under. His defender falls for it for a split second, giving Randolph the time to step through and shoot a little leaner.

In these two examples, Randolph uses his array of fakes and moves to give himself space when he has the ball. He doesn’t have the quickness to dribble past guys or the leaping ability to shoot over them, but he makes up for it with footwork with the ball in his hands.

Though often overlooked, just like Randolph himself, this is an impressive ability. Great footwork and knowing how to give yourself space is vital, especially when you aren’t blessed with all the athletic gifts other players have. Without it, Randolph might not even be in the league, never mind an important piece on a Conference Finals team.

A big reason for their comeback was a flagrant foul called on the Spurs’ Manu Ginobili. The flagrant allowed the Grizzlies two free throws and the ball. Down 4 at the time of the foul, Tony Allen hit both of the free throws and Mike Conley hit a floater on the ensuing possession to tie the game.

The flagrant call will certainly come under speculation, but Ginobili grabbed Allen’s arm and pulled him out of the air. After landing, Allen grabbed his head and rolled around on the ground even though he never hit his head. He might be receiving a call from the league offices for that acting job.

May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph (50) misses a free throw during the second half of game five against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. The Grizzlies defeated the Thunder 88-84. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1 was a disaster for both Memphis and Zach Randolph. The Spurs blew out the Grizzlies 105-83, hitting 14-29 threes in the process.

Zach Randolph, meanwhile, shot just 1-8 for 2 points and grabbed just 7 rebounds in 28 minutes. After the game, Randolph wanted all the blame to be placed on him. According to a report from the USA Today’s Sam Amick, Randolph apologized to his teammates in the locker room following the loss.

From Mike Conley,

“He tried to apologize (in the locker room), and we wouldn’t accept that.” We said, ‘It’s not you; it’s all of us.’ He’s just saying that he’s going to do better, but we’ve all got to do better defensively, and offensively we’ve got to move the ball in order to get other guys open like Zach and play our game.”

Randolph, himself, had this to say,

“It’s just one of them nights, first game of the series for me,” he said. “It was just the rhythm of the game. … But I’ve got to be better. Like I told my teammates, I’ve got to be better for them and we’ve got to be better as a group.”

Despite the Game 1 loss, the tough, defensive-minded Grizzlies will surely bounce back. In their first two series, the team also lost Game 1 before winning the series.

Game 2 will be Tuesday in San Antonio at 9:00 PM EST on ESPN.

Here at STS, we previewed the series in a roundtable format.

San Antonio Spurs:

Most Important Player:

Jack Maloney (@jmaloney9) – Manu Ginobili. He still found a way to make an impact despite the fact he didn’t score well in their series against the Warriors. And as important as his playmaking is, the Spurs need him to score if they want to beat the defensive minded Grizzlies.

May 16, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich (left) instructs point guard Tony Parker (9) against the Golden State Warriors during the third quarter in game six of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Spurs defeated the Warriors 94-82. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Sonny Guiliano (@SonnyCG) - For quite some time I’ve maintained the belief that in order for the Spurs to win an NBA title, Tim Duncan needs to resemble Tim Duncan from somewhere between 2003 and 2007. Maybe not for every single game, but Duncan needs to turn back the hands of time and deliver a few 25 point and 13 rebound games against the Grizzlies frontline for the Spurs to advance to the Finals.

Quentin Haynes (@Haynesenburg) – Kawhi Leonard. I think Leonard will be needed as a two-way player in this series. If I’m San Antonio, I’m throwing Leonard on Mike Conley in the fourth quarter to disrupt their offense. On the offensive side, I think Leonard needs to put pressure on Prince and Memphis’ other wings by hitting corner threes.

Vijay Shravah – Manu Ginobili. We know what Duncan is going to bring. We know what Tony Parker is going to bring. But Ginobili is the single biggest wildcard the Spurs have. After taking it relatively easy since returning from injury, he is going to have to play great to overcome Memphis’ other advantages.

Biggest Strength

JM – Their foundation. Coach Popovich, Duncan, Ginobili and Parker lead the way, and in their footsteps everyone follows.

SG – The Spurs have the playoff chops that the Grizzlies in large part don’t. They’ve been in this position before. This is the 8^th time in the Duncan/Popovich era that the Spurs have been to the Western Conference Finals. This is the 1^st appearance in the Conference Finals for Memphis in their franchise’s history, and only Tayshaun Prince, Tony Allen and Keyon Dooling have been there before. It’s much more likely that the Grizzlies get swallowed up by the pressure of the big stage than the Spurs.

QH – Guard play. Memphis has wings, but the Spurs have Manu Ginobili, Danny Green, and Leonard; all three should be able to change at least one or two games in this series.

VS – Coaching. Gregg Popovich is the best in the business when it comes to analyzing matchups and making adjustments on the fly.  Lionel Hollins has never coached a Conference Finals, while Pop has done it a billion times.

Biggest Weakness

JM – Frontcourt. After Duncan, the Spurs are thin up front. Getting Tiago Splitter back is big, but the Spurs will still have a tough time dealing with both Gasol and Randolph. Splitter’s defense will be an x-factor in this series. If he can contain one of the Grizzlies’ big men, it will go a long way in deciding this series.

SG – This series ultimately boils down to three key matchups- Who wins the coaching matchup (Popovich vs. Hollins), which “Big Three” produces the most (Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili vs. Gasol, Randolph, and Conley), and what team gets the most from everyone else? There lies the “weakness” of both teams. Is there any guarantee that Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal, Tayshaun Prince, Tony Allen, Jerryd Bayless, or Quincy Pondexter can produce offensively on a nightly basis? Absolutely not.

QH – Honestly? No clue. I don’t like their bench much, but guys like Diaw, Manu, and Mills/Joseph do the best they can in their roles.

VS – Depth. The Spurs role players and bench have not been giving them much this postseason, hence the struggles against a young and athletic Warriors team in their last series. Tiago Splitter, Kawhi Leonard, and Boris Diaw must make significant contributions to match the bigger and deeper Grizzlies.

Memphis Grizzlies:

Most Important Player

JM – Mike Conley. He was amazing in the series against the Thunder, averaging 18 points, 6.8 assists, and 6.4 rebounds a game. Whether or not he can keep this up while also trying to shut down Parker on the defensive end will be a big key for Memphis if they want to win this series.

SG – It’s a dead heat between Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. You can’t force me to choose just one because essentially, the Grizzlies need only one of their two front court stars to match or surpass the play of Tim Duncan for Memphis to have a very good chance of beating San Antonio. And as you’ll see with my pick, I don’t see this being too big of a task.

QH – Mike Conley. Conley needs to put the team on his back during this series and play Tony Parker to a draw. His ability to run this offense will be key to keep Memphis in this game offensively.

VS – Zarc Ransol. I think the play of the team’s two-headed monster down low is going to decide the series. Duncan is going to match up with one of them, but can’t stop both. Whoever Duncan is not guarding will have to impose his will in the paint.

Biggest Strength

JM – Defense. They have the Defensive Player of the Year in Marc Gasol (who somehow found himself on the 2^nd Team All-Defense), Tony Allen (1^st Team All-Defense) and Mike Conley (2^nd Team All-Defense) all in their starting lineup. San Antonio is one of the most efficient offensive teams in the league, but the Grizzlies have the ability to disrupt them.

SG – The Spurs waltzed through the 1^st two rounds without Parker and Ginobili having to deal with defenders that could give them a headache. That won’t be the case against the Grizzlies. Tony Allen (1^st Team All-Defense) and Mike Conley (2^nd Team All-Defense) will be hounding Parker and Ginobili all game long, which will put the pressure on Duncan (dealing with Gasol and Randolph) and an unproven supporting cast to be able to create their own shots.

May 15, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) warms up before game five of the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

QH – The big man combination of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph.

VS – Defense. With the two All-NBA defenders in their starting five, it is going to be very tough for perimeter creators Parker and Ginobili to get anything going. Tony Allen will probably be assigned to Parker through some spurts throughout the series. And there is little doubt who the Defensive Player of the Year will be guarding.

Biggest Weakness

JM – Three-point shooting. Over the course of the playoffs, the Grizzlies have shot just 31% from downtown. So far, however, it hasn’t slowed them down. But if Conley, Prince, and Pondexter can knock down some threes, it will be a huge boost to their offense.

SG – This series ultimately boils down to three key matchups- Who wins the coaching matchup (Popovich vs. Hollins), which “Big Three” produces the most (Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili vs. Gasol, Randolph, and Conley), and what team gets the most from everyone else? There lies the “weakness” of both teams. Is there any guarantee that Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter, Gary Neal, Tayshaun Prince, Tony Allen, Jerryd Bayless, or Quincy Pondexter can produce offensively on a nightly basis? Absolutely not.

QH – Offense, especially in the final five minutes. Memphis needs to have a lead, or be down as little as one to really win games. I’m just not a fan of that, and San Antonio has two wing players that could defend Mike Conley, and that could spell out trouble.

VS – Perimeter half-court offense. I’ve maintained for months that trading Rudy Gay was a bad idea, and the Grizz have sure made me look bad in that regard. But against a gritty Spurs team looking to clog the interior against the Gasol-Randolph tandem, they may have to rely on outside scoring from Conley and Jerryd Bayless. Without a guy like Gay, that may be tough. But they’ve gotten this far without him, so maybe it’s not a glaring weakness.

Series Prediction:

JM – I think this will be a great series, and I can see it going either way. I’m going with Memphis in 6, but not with a ton of confidence.

SG – Memphis in 6

QH – I have San Antonio in 6. I REALLY want to go in five, but I respect Memphis. I think the Spurs have everything needed to stop (contain) the wings and bigs of Memphis. If Splitter can give the Spurs 20 minutes, I think San Antonio is going to the finals.

VS – Memphis in 6. I picked against them every round so far, and I’m not foolish enough to do it again. This is a tough bunch that truly embraces the pound-and-grind style that seems to always win in the postseason.

(Thanks to @HPBasketball for the video)

There was no question who was getting the ball for the final possession, and Chris Paul showed us why he is the point god.

The win gave the Clippers a 2-0 series lead as the series heads to Memphis. Game 3 will be Thursday night at 9:30 ET on TNT.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzles have carved their niche this season by stopping opposing defenses dead in their tracks. With a league-best 89.3 points allowed per game, the Grizzlies have managed to shut down all comers. However, they may face their stoutest test coming up against Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers. Memphis are by far the best constructive defensive team in the lead, with perennial lockdown perimeter defender Tony Allen expected to deal with Jamal Crawford for the series and the potent combo of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol making the paint a no-fly zone.

During the stretch against the Clippers this season, the Grizzlies went 1-3. However, they’re a much more unique side coming into the playoffs as they work with a rapidly improving Tayshaun Prince and an in-form front line. What has made the Grizzlies such a strong defensive team this season has been the improvement by Marc Gasol. He very quickly went from the lesser Gasol brother, to on par, and now undeniably the better in the span of as season.

Apr 13, 2013; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) brings the ball up court during the game against the Los Angeles Clippers at FedEx Forum. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–USA TODAY Sports

Gasol isn’t a maestro at one particular element of basketball. He doesn’t use extraterrestrial leaping abilities to swat basketball into the nosebleeds, nor is he merely ‘a hustle guy’. Marc Gasol is the most complete defensive big man in the NBA, bar none. Gasol’s instinct on the defensive and ability to get the first position is impressive enough, but his effort to stay with his man and then use his length to contest or alter every shot, no matter how far from the rim it’s coming up from, is what sets him apart. He was the clear leader for the Grizzlies in their single, crucial win over the Clippers in March with 21 points and 5 steals, but it was his defensive touch even then that tipped the Grizzlies over the line.

However, Gasol’s brilliance at the defensive end isn’t equated at the offensive end – if he was, he’d be the MVP – and thus, Memphis have a gaping hole at the other end to fill. With Rudy Gay’s departure midseason, the Grizzlies have been left with even bigger problems at the offensive end than they had on opening night. Zach Randolph leads the team’s scoring at a modest 15.4 a game and while the Grizzlies score deep (Conley and Gasol hover around a similar mark), they don’t score a lot – ranked 27th in the league for points per game.

The Clippers will invariably be slowed by Memphis’ grinding pace and lockdown defense but they won’t come to a standstill. As well as being the fastest and most devastating transition team not from South Beach, they do a very serviceable job of the halfcourt game. That means that while Memphis will be effective defensively, they’ll need to something at least average in order to succeed against the Clippers; and being a team three rungs from the bottom in scoring, that is quite a big ask.

One of the keys for Memphis will be the production of Jerryd Bayless. A journeyman of the NBA, Bayless has failed to perform despite the opportunities gifted to him by Coach Hollins this year. While his 9 points in 22 minutes isn’t bad by any means, he’ll need to be more spark and less simmer in his chances against the Clippers. Going further, Zach Randolph is going to need to up his scoring to keep the Grizzlies afloat. Matched up against Blake Griffin, a known enemy of his, Randolph will not need any more motivation to knuckle down and try to put up some special numbers to match his magical run against the Spurs two seasons prior.

Los Angeles Clippers

Do you want to guess what the biggest strength of the Clippers is? Maybe this will jog your memory. Or this. Or this, this or this. The Los Angeles Clippers are like the Harlem Globetrotters, except sharper, more precise and a lot more unforgiving. Taking the most springy power forward in the game, putting in the same frontcourt as DeAndre Jordan and then lining your bench with Eric Bledsoe seems like you’re specifically trying to match the Raptors’ dunking reserves. And then having Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford to dish dimes to them. This just isn’t fair.

The Clippers aren’t just strong at wowing audiences and embarrassing Detroit point guards, their high octane athleticism and transition game is pretty darn effective. While the Clippers would have to be disappointed their crosstown rival Lakers didn’t get their elderly list high enough to face them in the first round, they’ll take a Grizzlies team they went 3-1 against after knocking them out of the first round of the Playoffs.

Chris Paul has captained his squad to a brilliant 2013 that is capped by their top ten offense. Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and Jamal Crawford all averaging more points per game than Zach Randolph, the top scorer for Memphis and the Clippers run even deeper on the bench. Their offensive superiority is clear, but it is merely a question of whether its enough to surmount the Grizzlies defense.

What may get in the way of the Clippers’ march to the second round is the limited transitional opportunities that they’ll have. While they’ve proven to be good enough at the halfcourt game, it’s a shadow of their turnover-forcing, alley-oop throwing transition offense. If Memphis can ensure they remain sharp and clean with their ball handling, they’ll wipe away a lot of the Clippers’ easy scoring options and make life a lot harder for them.

The onus will fall upon the pickpocket guard duo of Eric Bledsoe and Chris Paul to make the most of the four steals they collectively snare on average. As adept passers, their steals will play crucial roles in getting the break started and finished. If the Grizzlies manage to slow the Clippers, it’ll force them to play a much more grinding game which we’ve seen before doesn’t suit L.A. Chris Paul, while a good jump shooter, takes a lot more of his shots off of drives and lay-ups, and the Clippers lack the consistent perimeter threats to make Memphis sweat a halfcourt game.

Players to watch

With Marc Gasol already the set alpha-male at the defensive end, Lionel Hollins is going to have to ask more of Zach Randolph at the offensive end. The veteran may not have another shot at a title, and he will want more than anyone else to win one as a member of the Grizzlies. A member of the notorious Jailblazers, then a part of those troubled Knicks, Randolph came into his own as a Grizzly and now has gone from a locker room disruption to a leader at the club. He thrived with Rudy Gay sidelined in the stirring upset of the top-seeded Spurs in 2011, but then looked out of sorts when his touches were split in 2012. Now, it’s back on his shoulders. Can he do it against Blake Griffin? The two had no issue getting into it during last season’s playoffs series, and then they mixed it up in a regular season encounter this year. If there’s one player sure to pick up a tech in the first round now we know neither Stephen Jackson nor Rasheed Wallace will appear, my money would be one of these two dudes.

For the Clippers, Jamal Crawford will be the key to driving them forward. Chris Paul is going to be elite, regardless of whether or not the Clippers play on their terms or Memphis’. Blake Griffin will catch alley-oops, DeAndre Jordan will be spectacularly unimportant in the scheme of things. But Jamal Crawford could either win or lose the entire series off of his sweet as candy handles. If he turns into the devastating offensive dynamo he started as at the start of season, the Grizzlies may have some issues. However, if Tony Allen can make him an absolute non-factor in the series, Vinny Del Negro would be feeling pretty nervous about his job security and the Clippers’ chances of advancing beyond the first round.

Prediction

While the Clippers go from great to good when their transition offense is forced into a halfcourt grinder, good still beats average any day of the week. The Grizzlies made a bold move trading away Rudy Gay at the deadline, and it’s going to haunt them more than ever during this series when they look for a scoring option. Zach Randolph could potentially unload upon the Clippers, but the duo of Griffin and Jordan, with Turiaf and Odom providing support from the bench, should be enough to curtail Randolph’s influence. It won’t be easy, but the Clippers will prevail in 6.

With the score tied at 90 and just 6 seconds remaining, Conley received the inbounds pass and drove to the basket before finishing a tough left-handed layup.

Conley led the Grizzlies in scoring with 23, as Memphis knocked off a short handed San Antonio 92-90.

Mar 22, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol (33) looks on in the final moments of the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Hornets at the New Orleans Arena. The Hornets defeated the Grizzlies 90-83. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Disappointing news in the association today, as the Memphis Grizzlies announced that Marc Gasol has an abdominal tear, and it is unknown when he will return.

RT @thefishnation: Update: @memgrizz Marc Gasol’s injury is an abdominal TEAR and he is out indefinitely.

— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) March 24, 2013

Gasol originally suffered the injury against Portland on March 6^th, but it didn’t cause him to miss any games. He has actually played every single game this year for the Grizzlies.

Along the way, Gasol has turned into arguably the best defensive big man in the game, thanks to his combination of size, agility and intelligence. Gasol has averaged 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists a night.

Since the Rudy Gay trade, the Gasol had led the Grizzlies to a 17-6 record while being the focal point of the offense. However long the big Spanard is out, and hopefully it isn’t very, it will be a difficult stretch for Memphis. If the Grizzlies hope to make a deep playoff run, they’ll need Gasol back soon.

LeBron returned to Cleveland and willed the Heat back from a 27 point deficit, and Deron Williams and Brook Lopez each put up over 30 points to lead the Nets over the Mavericks. But the most exciting moments were two games won by late tip-ins.

First, the New Orleans Hornets battled back to knock off the Boston Celtics 87-86 on a Anthony Davis tip-in with under a second remaining. Davis finished with 9 points and 8 rebounds, while the Hornets were led by point guard Greivis Vasquez who almost recoreded a triple double, with 13 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Then, a few minutes later, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime, 90-89 behind a tip-in from Marc Gasol, which was also with under a second left. It was a great game between two Western Conference favorites. Gasol showed once again why he is one of the best centers in the league, finishing the night with 14 points and 15 rebounds while playing great defense.

Early in the 4th quarter, Gasol lost his shoe on the offensive end. Without time to put it back on, he started playing defense with his shoe in his hand. Then, as Derrick Favors tried to drive past him, Gasol reached around and poked the ball free with his shoe. Unfortunately for Gasol, he was whistled for a foul on the play.

Check out the video of the play below.

Dec 8, 2012; Memphis, TN, USA; Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith (5) drives to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies small forward Quincy Pondexter (20) and Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley Jr. (11) during the game at the FedEx Forum. The Atlanta Hawks defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 93-83. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden–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…

Suns (7-14) 99 @ Clippers (13-6) 117

• Leading scorers: PHX – Michael Beasley 21, LAC – Blake Griffin 24.
• Leading rebounds: PHX – Luis Scola 10, LAC – Blake Griffin, Lamar Odom, Matt Barnes 8.
• Leading assists: PHX – Goran Dragic, Michael Beasley 5, LAC – Chris Paul 11.

Warriors (13-7) 101 @ Wizards (2-15) 97

• Leading scorers: GSW – David Lee 24, WAS – Jordan Crawford 22.
• Leading rebounds: GSW – David Lee 17, WAS – Jordan Crawford 7.
• Leading assists: GSW – Steph Curry, Klay Thompson 5, WAS – Jordan Crawford 8.

Spurs (17-4) 132 @ Bobcats (7-12) 102

• Leading scorers: SAN – Danny Green 23, CHA – Kemba Walker 23.
• Leading rebounds: SAN – Nando de Colo 8, CHA – Bismack Biyombo 8.
• Leading assists: SAN – Tony Parker 9, CHA – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 6.

76ers (11-9) 79 @ Celtics (11-9) 92

• Leading scorers: PHI – Thaddeus Young 22, BOS – Kevin Garnett 19.
• Leading rebounds: PHI – Lavoy Allen 9, BOS – Rajon Rondo, Jared Sullinger 9.
• Leading assists: PHI – Jrue Holiday 8, BOS – Rajon Rondo 11.

Hornets (5-14) 90 @ Heat (13-5) 106

• Leading scorers: NOH – Ryan Anderson 24, MIA – Dwyane Wade 26.
• Leading rebounds: NOH – Robin Lopez 8, MIA – Chris Bosh 6.
• Leading assists: NOH – Greivis Vasquez 7, MIA – LeBron James 7.

Pistons (7-15) 104 @ Cavaliers (4-17) 97

• Leading scorers: DET – Brandon Knight 30, CLE – Jeremy Pargo 24.
• Leading rebounds: DET – Tayshaun Prince 8, CLE – Anderson Varejao 13.
• Leading assists: DET – Rodney Stuckey 6, CLE – Daniel Gibson 6.

Knicks (14-5) 85 @ Bulls (11-8) 93

• Leading scorers: NYK – Raymond Felton 27, CHI – Luol Deng, Marco Belinelli 22.
• Leading rebounds: NYK – Tyson Chandler 18, CHI – Joakim Noah 11.
• Leading assists: NYK – Raymond Felton 5, CHI – Nate Robinson 8.

Hawks (12-5) 93 @ Grizzlies (14-4) 83

• Leading scorers: ATL – Josh Smith 24, MEM – Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol 18.
• Leading rebounds: ATL – Al Horford 14, MEM – Zach Randolph 13.
• Leading assists: ATL – Jeff Teague 6, MEM – Marc Gasol 5.

Mavericks (10-10) 116 @ Rockets (9-10) 109

• Leading scorers: DAL – O.J. Mayo 40, HOU – James Harden 39.
• Leading rebounds: DAL – O.J. Mayo 8, HOU – Chandler Parsons 10.
• Leading assists: DAL – Derek Fisher, Darren Collison 5, HOU – James Harden 9.

Kings (7-12) 99 @ Trail Blazers (8-12) 80

• Leading scorers: SAC – DeMarcus Cousins, John Salmons 19, POR – LaMarcus Aldridge 17.
• Leading rebounds: SAC – DeMarcus Cousins 12, POR – J.J. Hickson 15.
• Leading assists: SAC – John Salmons 11, POR – Damian Lillard 9.

I’m thankful for the food I will shoving in my face today, including but not limited to: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, a dinner roll, and seconds for all of those things; then later on in the night some peanut butter pie, pumpkin pie, a turkey sandwich, and more stuffing. I will also be thankful for the recliner in my living room since that will be where I pass out after eating all of this food. Additionally, I’m thankful for whoever invented sweatpants, since they are the official Thanksgiving eating attire of Sonny Giuliano.

I’m thankful for a solid slate of football because really, what is Thanksgiving without football? Just like spaghetti and meatballs, foreign players and flopping, and my writing pieces and the Stephen A. Smith/Kwame Brown You Tube video, they go hand in hand.

I’m thankful for LeBron James for, well, just being LeBron James and doing LeBron James things on a nightly basis.

I’m thankful that even though it seems to have fizzled out already, we were fortunate enough to get one week of James Harden in eff-you mode. I was lukewarm on the trade for Oklahoma City to begin with, and when Harden was going bananas the first few games of the season, I was prepared to make the following two conclusions:
A: Houston acquired a franchise player
B: Oklahoma City sabotaged their chances to repeat as Western Conference champions

Now coming down the aisle… Spencer Hawes!

Admittedly, that was a wee bit premature of me. Maybe Harden is a franchise player. I still have a slight lean towards yes, but he has without question come back down to earth the last few games (35.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.3 assists in his first three games; 20.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4 assists per game in his last 9). As for point B, Oklahoma City shrugged off a bit of a slow start and is now 9-3. Kevin Martin is finding his niche, Durant and Westbrook are being Durant and Westbrook and the Thunder is just as much a contender in the Western Conference as anyone else is.

I’m thankful for the Philadelphia 76ers frontcourt and their respective hairstyles. Spencer Hawes’ hair makes him look like a 1980’s WWF wrestler that never made it, and Andrew Bynum looks like he is doing his best to look like Frederick Douglass.

I’m thankful for the NBA League Pass. Even though I spent the first 15 years of my life without it, I don’t even remember what it was like to be a basketball fan without the luxury of being able to watch every game, every night. It makes being a fan and writer of the NBA infinitely easier.

I’m thankful for Ersan Ilyasova for making me look good by including him on my Toughest Omissions for the Top 50 players in the NBA, and even going as far as saying he had a chance to be the starting small forward on the All-Foreign Team by the end of the 2012-13 season. For those of you who still don’t know who Ersan Ilyasova is (don’t feel too bad), this is sarcasm. He’s stunk like a rotten egg fart so far this year.

I’m thankful that the Memphis Grizzlies are in the mix at the top of the Western Conference, and have been the most impressive team I’ve seen thus far. Maybe I didn’t pick them to make the NBA Finals this season, but I can still hang my hat on the fact that I picked them to go there last season.

I’m thankful for Kevin Love, who returned after missing the first three weeks of the season in typical Kevin Love style: 34 points and 14 rebounds. Even though Minnesota lost last night and have been completely ravaged by injuries all year long (Brandon Roy, Chase Budinger, and Ricky Rubio), the Timberwolves have managed to get off to a 5-5 start, giving basketball fans a glimmer of hope that we could possibly see Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio, Rick Adelman and Co. in the playoffs this year. Realistically, that hope isn’t too far-fetched when you take a good look at their roster. The Timberwolves boast two of the top 50 players in the league and a rotation that can go about 10 deep. Now we will just have to wait and see how healthy Minnesota can stay and if they can remain competitive in the ultra-competitive Western Conference.

I’m thankful that my 2nd favorite player in the league is actually playing… for now.

I’m thankful every time Stephen Curry rolls his ankle that his foot doesn’t just disconnect from his leg. It seems like that is the next stage of this very unfortunate injury plagued set of events. Curry has the intangibles, pedigree and charisma to be one of the brightest stars in the NBA, but it’s only a matter of time until another serious ankle sprain is going to put him on the sidelines for an extended period of time. Every time you watch Golden State play it feels like an edge of your seat moment if you are focusing your attention on Curry. He could go down at any second. So enjoy him while you can, and enjoy the Warriors being a fringe playoff team while you’re at it.

I’m thankful for the strong start by the New York Knicks, and a pretty nice start for the Brooklyn Knicks in their own right. Sparked by a conversation I had with my roommate about the San Francisco 49ers the other day, it’s good for the NBA that the Knicks are relevant. Just like it’s good for the NFL when San Francisco, Chicago, either New York team, Green Bay, Pittsburgh or Dallas is good, it’s good when New York, Boston, the Lakers and Philadelphia are all contenders. This year, sparked by Carmelo Anthony, a veteran movement and a rejuvenated Raymond Felton, the Knicks are momentarily the biggest threat to Miami in the Eastern Conference.

I’m thankful that Bill Simmons is now a co-host of ESPN’s NBA Countdown. Any diehard basketball fan knows that Bill Simmons is basically living the life we dream of one day living.

I’m thankful that I will get to enjoy Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Jason Kidd, Steve Nash, and Dirk Nowitzki (when he comes back) for at least one more season. I’m also thankful that I will get to watch Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Blake Griffin, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, DeMarcus Cousins, and Damian Lillard for years to come.

Last and most importantly, I’m thankful for my family, friends and girlfriend. Not just today, but every day, and I hope you guys know that.

Nov 17, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; Memphis Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay (22) drives on Charlotte Bobcats small forward Jeffery Taylor (44) during the second half at the Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Curtis Wilson-US PRESSWIRE

We have a NEW number one team in the Memphis Grizzlies and really, who can argue that there’s a hotter team right now? The Bucks make the biggest jump of the week, up 9 spots with their hot 6-2 start. And how about those Bobcats, sitting at .500 this late in the season. On the dark side, the Nuggets had another winless week and the Pacers have earned the dubious distinction of Most Disappointing Team so far.

Welcome to The Skyook’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 4 – November 19th, 2012

1. Memphis Grizzlies | 8-1 | Last week: 4

Certainly the hottest team in the league right now with their 8 straight victories (including impressive wins over the Heat, Thunder, Knicks and Bucks). And, if you want to get real technical, we could use the following equation: Grizzlies > Knicks > Spurs.

2. San Antonio Spurs | 8-2 | Last week: 1

No disrespect Spurs fans, you’ve had your impressive wins as well, including a 26-point destroying of the Nuggets on Saturday, but the Grizzlies are just a slightly hotter. It will be interesting to see how the Spurs handle a Monday night battle with the Clippers followed by a 6-game road trip.

3. New York Knicks | 7-1 | Last week: 6

After an impressive comeback win in San Antonio, I’m now ready to move fowward and declare that the Knicks are indeed “for real.” The shooting has cooled off but when you hold opponents to 90 points per game (leading the league), you don’t always have to be lighting it up.

4. Los Angeles Clippers | 7-2 | Last week: 5

The Clips are another hot team thriving on both ends of the floor (2nd in points, 7th in points against). Jamal Crawford continues his 6th man onslaught while DeAndre Jordan’s improvement continues to draw raves (including a “best center in the West” comment from Shaq).

5. Miami Heat | 8-3 | Last week: 2

I’m not Heat-bashing, but their 3 losses have come at the hands of 3 of our top 4 teams, so this is the right place them. Spoelstra said this weekend that Bosh was the Heat’s most “important” player. Considering his scoring efficiency (.552 FG%), he might be on to something.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder | 8-3 | Last week: 3

Losing at home the Grizzlies hurt, but trust me, things in OKC are just fine. It seems almost unfathomable that last night’s triple double (25 pts, 13 rebs, 10 asts) was the first of Kevin Durant’s career. Fact: Daniel Orton has played 2 minutes this season and has a 63.0 PER.

7. Milwaukee Bucks | 6-2 | Last week: 16

It might be time to get the ”Fear the Deer” campaign in full swing again. A 3-0 week by the Bucks in which their average margin of victory was 9 points per game, is enough to shoot them 9 spots up in the rankings. Jennings continues his push for the ASG and leads the league in steals (3.25).

8. Brooklyn Nets | 6-2 | Last week: 13

Brooklyn is hard to read considering most of their 5-game winning streak came against the Cavs, the Kings and the Magic twice. They get the rest of the Pacific division this week. People ragged on Brook Lopez, but how many centers are giving 17.8 pts and 2.75 blks per game right now?

9. Boston Celtics | 6-5 | Last week: 9

As he chases Magic’s record, Rondo’s double digit assist streak has now reached 34 games, which is ridiculous. On the down side, Pierce’s age is really begin to show, as he’s shooting a near-career low of .409%. With the Spurs and Thunder coming to town this week, the C’s will be tested.

10. Los Angeles Lakers | 5-5 | Last week: 7

Just like that, the Lakers are back to .500. And now that D’Antoni is ready to debut, make no mistake, fans will be expecting Showtime 2.0 when Nash comes back. Kobe, Dwight and Pau are playing at an unbelivable level and MWP has quietly had a underrated season.

11. Denver Nuggets | 4-6 | Last week: 8

Perhaps the streaky Nugs should be slightly lower than this with a 4-6 record (last in the Northwest), but this team is still too dangerous, even if they don’t have a true identity. That being said, playing 7 of their first 10 on the road (and 10 of their next 13) wasn’t and won’t be very easy.

12. Dallas Mavericks | 6-5 | Last week: 12

After a mediocre 2-2 week, the Mavs are still hanging tough as they await Dirk’s return. O.J. Mayo continues to lead this team and his shooting an absolutely ridiclous 59% (36-61) from behind the arc. The Mavs host the Warriors, Knicks and Lakers this week.

13. Philadelphia 76ers | 6-4 | Last week: 10

Obviously this team is surrounded by negative buzz with Andrew Bynum’s now-January anticipated return date amid “Bowling-gate.” I’m affraid this team is destined to be a bottom tier playoff team without him in the lineup. But hey, at least they still have Spencer Hawes haircut.

14. Chicago Bulls | 5-5 | Last week: 11

The Bulls came back to earth after facing some tougher competition (losses to C’s, Clips, Blazers) last week. They have a home and home with the Bucks for Central Division supremacy. Joakim Noah (14.8 pts, 10.0 rebs, 4.0 asts, 2.0 blks) should be a starting forward in the ASG.

15. Utah Jazz | 5-6 | Last week: 17

After going 2-2 on their road trip last week (including a triple overtime win in Toronto), the Jazz come back home and have the Kings twice this week. Ty Corbin has already done some tinkering with the lineup, inserting Favors and Foye for Hayward and Williams.

16. Minnesota Timberwolves | 5-4 | Last week: 14

The honeymoon may be over the Wolves as the injuries are now piling up. Budinger, Pekovic, Lee and now Brandon Roy out for a month (big surprise). On the bright side, Kirilenko keeps getting better every game and it looks like they’ve found a diamond in the rough with Alexey Shved.

17. Golden State Warriors | 5-5 | Last week: 18

Given heavier minutes, rookie Harrison Barnes has really stepped up for the Warriors, averaging 16.3 pts and 7.7 rebounds last week. While not surprising, the Bogut news has been disappointing. Klay Thompson’s shooting percentage (.352%) needs to come up.

18. Atlanta Hawks | 4-4 | Last week: 20

Unfortunately, Josh Smith is going to have to deal with the “Josh Smith for ___” rumors a while, especially the recent Pau Gasol rumors. The fact remains that Smith’s numbers (15.3 pts, 8.3 rebs, .413 FG%) just don’t equal a max contract, no matter where he might end up.

19. Indiana Pacers | 4-7 | Last week: 15

Easily the pick for most disappointing team so far. The Pacers are two different teams on each end of the floor, ranking 2nd in rebounding and points against, while ranking 29th in points and assists. And right now it’s costing the Pacers $145,412 per Roy Hibbert point scored. Ugh.

20. Portland Trail Blazers | 5-5 | Last week: 22

The Blazers bounced back with 3 straight wins to finish the week, but after the Suns on Wednesday, they embark on a 7-game road trip. Aldridge’s rebounds and FG% are down, but his assists (a very nice 3.6 per game) and blocks are up. This is slowing becoming Batum’s team.

21. Houston Rockets | 4-6 | Last week: 19

The Rockets very quietly rank in the Top 10 in Points (10th), Rebounds (5th) and Assists (9th) and have six players averaging double figures in scoring. Really hope they figure out the Royce White drama, such a sad turn of events for what I’m sure would be such an exciting player.

22. Charlotte Bobcats | 4-4 | Last week: 27

If this Bobcats keep this pace up, we’re going to start seeing votes pour in for both Mike Dunlap for Coach of the Year and Kemba Walker for Most Improved. The bench was dealt a blow today when it was announced that Tyrus Thomas is going to miss 2 months.

23. Phoenix Suns | 4-7 | Last week: 23

Goran Dragic may be making the Rockets feel like they chose the wrong point guard (over Lin) as he’s up to 16.3 points, 7.3 assists and 2.0 steals per game. With a 6-game eastern road trip coming up, losing 3 games at home to the Nuggets, Bulls and Heat stung a little more than usual.

24. New Orleans Hornets | 3-5 | Last week: 21

The two Hornets rookies are on opposite ends of the PER spectrum with Anthony Davis at 25.9 and Austin Rivers at 5.4. Sadly, they both play the same amount of minutes. Ryan Anderson is also throwing his hat into the 6th man ring by leading the team with 16.4 points per game.

25. Orlando Magic | 3-6 | Last week: 26

The Magic Kingdom will begin a 5-game homestand, starting with the Pistons and Cavs. J.J. Redick coming into his own, averaging 15.8 points and 5.5 assists, with good percentages across the board. Quietly, Moe Harkless lurks in the background for some minutes.

26. Toronto Raptors | 3-7 | Last week: 24

Make no mistake, Kyle Lowry is the difference maker on this team. However, with Lowry sidelined, DeMar DeRozan is playing the best ball of his young career with the key being his agressive attacking of the basket. No one was saying this in the summer, but thank god for Jose Calderon.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers | 2-8 | Last week: 25

As if 2-8 wasn’t bad enough, the Cavs learned today that Kyrie Irving is going to miss ONE MONTH with his fractured finger. The Cavs could be headed for Wizards territory. Anderson Varejao (14.3 pts, 13.1 rebs and 3.3 asts) is as deserving as anyone for an All Star spot in the East.

28. Sacramento Kings | 2-8 | Last week: 28

Just when you’d hoped Cousins was growing up, the strange Sean Elliott confrontation and consequent suspension happens. To make things worse, the Kings have lost 5 straight games and no end in sight. This team is shooting a miserable 29.8% from three and 41.8% overall.

29. Detroit Pistons | 2-9 | Last week: 30

A big week for Motown gets the Pistons out of the Rankings basement. They picked up two wins, including a very convincing throttling of the Celtics. The Rodney Stuckey bench project may be exactly what he needs to get going and I think Kyle Singler is a good fit in the starting lineup.

30. Washington Wizards | 0-8 | Last week: 29

Ladies and gentlemen, meet your honorary 2012-13 Charlotte Bobcats! I will be very surprised if the Wizards win 10 games all year with this team. I’m sure they weren’t expecting 2.8 points and 2.9 rebounds from Jan Vesely in year two. Stay away John Wall and Nene, just stay away!

Nov 14, 2012; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Kevin Martin (23) fights for a loose with Memphis Grizzlies guard Mike Conley (11) during the second half at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

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…

Pistons (1-8) 94 @ 76ers (4-4) 76

• Leading scorers: DET – Greg Monroe 19, PHI – Lavoy Allen 14.
• This time, Greg Monroe’s 19 points, 18 rebounds and 6 assists did not go to waste, as the Pistons got win #1.
• The Pistons outrebounded the Sixers 57-38.
• Brandon Knight tallied 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.
• Corey Maggette saw his first action of the season, coming off the bench for 9 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in 22 minutes.
• Sixers starters shot a combined 11-44 for 25% from the field.

Jazz (4-5) 93 @ Celtics (5-3) 98

• Leading scorers: UTA – Paul Millsap 20, BOS – Paul Pierce 23.
• The C’s hung on despite getting destroyed on the offensive glass 18-4 (and 48-33 overall).
• Leandro Barbosa (16 pts) and Jeff Green (16 pts) picked up the slack on a rough night for the Celtics starters.
• The Jefferson and Millsap combo put up production for the Jazz with a combined 33 points and 16 rebounds.

Pacers (3-6) 85 @ Bucks (5-2) 99

• Leading scorers: IND – Tyler Hansbrough 17, MIL – Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings 16.
• The Bucks only turned the ball over 6 times in the whole game (Brandon Jennings 0).
• Beno Udrih had 9 points and 10 assists off the bench in 27 minutes.
• George Hill and Paul George combined to go 6-27 from the field.
• The Pacers still lost the game by 14 points, even though they outscored the Bucks 32-17 in the 4th quarter.

Hornets (3-3) 96 @ Rockets (4-4) 100

• Leading scorers: NOH – Greivis Vasquez 24, HOU –  James Harden 30.
• James Harden still dropped 30 points, despite going only 1-7 from three.
• Asik added 12 more rebounds to his impressive season total so far.
• Greivis Vasquez continued his solid start to the season with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists.
• Ryan Anderson had a 20 and 12 double double off the bench.

Grizzlies (6-1) 107 @ Thunder (6-3) 97

• Leading scorers: MEM – Rudy Gay 28, OKC – Kevin Durant 34.
• Rudy Gay put it all together for this big matchup with the Thunder and poured in 28 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists.
• Zach Randolph continued his impressive streak (double doubles in all 7 games) with 20 points and 11 rebounds.
• Kevin Durant got his scoring feel back with 34 points and 10 rebounds.
• Serge Ibaka continues to improve his all-around game with 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks.

Bobcats (4-3) 89 @ Timberwolves (5-3) 87

• Leading scorers: CHA – Kemba Walker 22, MIN – Andrei Kirilenko 26.
• The Charlotte Bobcats: 4-3.
• The legend of Kemba grows. 22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals to go along with the game winning dagger to beat the Wolves at home.
• Byron Mullens finally with some “true center” numbers with 12 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks (andonly2 3-point attempts).
• Andrei Kirilenko certainly did his part with 26 points (9-12 FG) and 12 rebounds.

Wizards (0-7) 101 @ Mavericks (5-4) 107

• Leading scorers: WAS – Jordan Crawford 21, DAL - O.J. Mayo 25.
• The Wizards, now the NBA’s last winless team made 13 threes in the game, but gave up 107 points and 14 offensive rebounds.
• O.J. Mayo contined his scoring barrage with another 25 points (9-15 FG).
• Jordan Crawford (21 pts, 7 asts) and Kevin Seraphin (16 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts) led the way for the Wiz.

Bulls (5-3) 112 @ Suns (4-5) 106 – OT

• Leading scorers: CHI – Carlos Boozer 28, PHX – Luis Scola 24.
• The Bulls starting forwards led the way in this OT win. Boozer (28 pts, 14 rebs), Noah (21 pts, 12 rebs) and Deng (21 pts, 5 rebs) combined for 63% of the total points.
• As for the Suns, Luis Scola posted 24 points and 12 rebounds to lead Phoenix.
• Sebastian Telfair got lots of crunch time minutes and finished with 17 points and 4 assists.

Heat (6-3) 100 @ Clippers (6-2) 107

• Leading scorers: MIA – LeBron James 30, LAC – Jamal Crawford 22.
• Is something wrong with Dwyane Wade? 29 minutes, only 6 points on 2-10 shooting.
• Meanwhile, LeBron had his usual: 30 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists.
• Blake Griffin put together a well rounded effort with 20 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists.
• Jamal Crawford with another 22 off the bench.

Hawks (3-4) 88 @ Warriors (4-4) 92

• Leading scorers: ATL – Lou Williams 18, GSW – Harrison Barnes 19.
• Harrison Barnes came through with a breakout game with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
• The Warriors outrebounded the Hawks 44-29 (who were without Al Horford).
• Lou Williams led the Hawks with 18 points and 6 assists.

Nov 4, 2012; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) before the first half against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-US PRESSWIRE

The Knicks, Timberwolves and to some degree, the Grizzlies have all exceeded expectations and are pushing up the rankings. The Thunder, Lakers and Nuggets bounced back. Meanwhile, the Wizards and Pistons are battling to avoid the basement.

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

Previous weeks: Preseason | Week 1

Week 3 – November 12th, 2012

1. San Antonio Spurs | 6-1 | Last week: 2

The “old men” just keep on winning. Tim Duncan with another vintage week and now leads the team (by a wide margin) in Points (18.9), Rebounds (9.7) and Blocks (2.4). It’s also the typical Spurs to be leading the NBA in Assists, whcih they do, at 25 per game.

2. Miami Heat | 5-2 | Last week: 1

The Heat’s two losses came at the hands of the 5-1 Grizzlies and 4-0 Knicks, so timing is everything. While LeBron averages a double double (21.9 pts, 10.0 rebs), Chris Bosh is quietly having a solid start to the season with his 20.4 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder | 5-2 | Last week: 3

With Kevin Martin averaging almost 18 off the bench, the Thunder don’t miss Harden that much do they? They’ve put together a nice little 4 game win streak and look angry doing it. Looks like Serge Ibaka may have polished his offense in the offseason, now up to 14.6 points (a career high).

4. Memphis Grizzlies | 5-1 | Last week: 9

The Grizz are not messing around. During their 5-game win streak, their winning margin is at 12.6 points per game, including an 18-point drubbing of the Heat last night. Z-Bo has had a double double in every game so far and leading the league at 14.5 rebounds per.

5. Los Angeles Clippers | 5-2 | Last week: 6

Many great things happening on the red side of the Staples Center: Crawford’s relentlessness, the rise of Bledsoe, Paul’s assists, DeAndre’s defense. But am I wrong in thinking there’s something wrong with Blake? Doesn’t look right. Neither does the team’s rebounding (26th).

6. New York Knicks | 4-0 | Last week: 12

Hard to argue the impressive start. 4-0. 2nd in points scored (104.5). 1st in points against (87.5). 1st in 3-point makes (12.8). 2nd in 3-point percentage (.436%). 1st in point differential (+17). Wins over Heat, Mavs and Sixers (2). Can they sustain offense without relying on such ”hot shooting?”

7. Los Angeles Lakers | 3-4 | Last week: 4

What a gift to be able to beat up on peons like the Warriors and Kings after a 1-4 start. And now, there’s a NEW sheriff coming to down by the name of Mike D’Antoni. Don’t expect the Run N’ Gun Suns from years ago, but this team will be better with him at the helm. Ask Steve Nash.

8. Denver Nuggets | 4-3 | Last week: 8

What a turnaround for the Nugs. After an 0-3 start, they posted a 4-0 week last week. The offense has risen to 8th (99.o PPG) and if Danilo Gallinari can figure out his shooting stroke (only 30% from the field), they’ll crack the Top 5 in no time. Kenneth Faried truly is the “Manimal.”

9. Boston Celtics | 3-3 | Last week: 5

Can’t be satisfying when 2 of Boston’s 3 wins are against the Wiz. After only 6 games, we’re really starting to see the lack of size on this roster with the Celts averaging only 37.8 rebounds per game, second last in the entire league. A slow start is normal for these guys though, so no panic yet.

10. Philadelphia 76ers | 4-2 | Last week: 10

Have to give them credit, they’re hanging in there without Bynum. They don’t score much (27th), but they don’t give up points either (2nd). Holiday is an absolute legit point guard in this league (18.2 pts, 9.5 asts) and it looks like Turner may have found his groove (12.3 pts, 9.5 rebs, 3.3 asts).

11. Chicago Bulls | 4-2 | Last week: 14

The 4 Bulls wins have come against the Kings, Cavs, Magic and Wolves, so we’ll really see how they hold up against tougher competition and a 5-game road trip starting this week. The defense is obviously still in tact, holding opponents to only 88.7 points per game (4th overall).

12. Dallas Mavericks | 4-3 | Last week: 13

While the Mavs have to be happy with 4-3, hanging around until Dirk comes back, all they’re doing is leading the league in scoring (104.7 per game). O.J. Mayo (21.9 ppg) has been fantastic and his backcourt partner Darren Collison has been steady as well.

13. Brooklyn Nets | 3-2 | Last week: 11

With a 3-2 record, the Nets haven’t been very impressive. Thankfully they’ll welcome back Gerald Wallace and MarShon Brooks this week to spark the offense. What the heck is up with Joe Johnson? 13.6 points per game on 36% shooting? I don’t think this is what Brooklyn had in mind.

14. Minnesota Timberwolves | 4-2 | Last week: 22

One of the surprises so far, the Wolves are getting the job done without their two stars. The defense has been top notch, allowing 89.5 points per game, good for 5th overall. AK47 is looking great and worth the money. His line: 11.2 pts, 7.7 rebs, 4.2 asts, 1.7 stls, 2.0 blks.

15. Indiana Pacers | 3-4 | Last week: 7

The Pacers are a hard team to peg. The Granger injury looks like it’ll hurt them more than originally thought, as the depth is questionable. George Hill (15.1 pts, 5.1 asts) has been worth the money, while Roy Hibbert (8.7 pts, 7.7 rebs, 38% shooting) has not.

16. Milwaukee Bucks | 3-2 | Last week: 18

A very deceiving record at 3-2. An impressive win in Boston, but then beat the Wizards and needed a Jennings buzzer beater to beat the Cavs at home. How impressive has Larry Sanders been? Averaging 12.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game in only 27 minutes.

17. Utah Jazz | 3-4 | Last week: 17

Home is where the heart is for the Jazz. They are 3-0 at EnergySolutions Arena and 0-4 on the road, though they’ve played some tough teams so far. The Utah frontcourt is in great shape with Jefferson and Millsap, but can Mo Williams keep up this 16.8 point, 6.3 assist per game effort?

18. Golden State Warriors | 3-4 | Last week: 15

Stephen Curry and perhaps Klay Thompson have the numbers, but most of us would (should) agree that the MVP of this team through 7 games is Carl Landry. At 16.1 pts, 8.1 rebs and 60% shooting, Landry has been a game changer off the Warrior bench.

19. Houston Rockets | 3-3 | Last week: 19

It’s still very early, but it sure looks as though the Rockets are going to lack the firepower (no pun intended) to contend for the playoffs in the West. Unless of course they can play the Pistons (who they beat twice) 76 more times. At least they’re 3rd in the league in rebounding (47.5).

20. Atlanta Hawks | 2-3 | Last week: 16

The Hawks have lost against some tough teams, but their remaining November schedule is very favorable. We’ll see what their record says then. Unfortunately, not all their shooters (Lou Williams 35%, Kyle Korver 32%) are shooting. Josh Smith needs to take over if he wants the BIG contact.

21. New Orleans Hornets | 3-2 | Last week: 23

The Anthony Davis effect: Hornets are 3rd in points allowed (88.6), 10 in rebounding (43.2) and as soon as he returns from a 2-game absence, they promptly beat the Bobcats. Al-Farouq Aminu quietly having a solid year with 12.8 pts, 8.6 rebs, 2.4 asts and 2.0 steals per game.

22. Portland Trail Blazers | 2-4 | Last week: 21

Seems like this team should be better than 2-4, but they’ve played the toughest schedule in the league so far (LAL, @OKC, @HOU, @DAL, LAC, SAN). Nicolas Batum (39.5 mins, 19.3 pts, 6.2 rebs, 2.7 stls) is finally breaking out!

23. Phoenix Suns | 3-4 | Last week: 26

At this pace, Marcin Gortat should be in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year with his 10.7 rebounds and 3.9 blocks per game. On a disappointed, unrelated note, P.J. Tucker, Luke Zeller and Diante Garrett are all averaging more points than Wesley Johnson (1.3 ppg).

24. Toronto Raptors | 1-5 | Last week: 20

The injury bug has ravaged the Raptors so far with Lowry, Fields and now Alan Anderson out. It’s really incredible what a different team this is on both ends of the floor with Lowry leading the way. DeRozan and Bargnani will need to continue to be agressive. Give Jonas V more minutes already!

25. Cleveland Cavaliers | 2-5 | Last week: 24

Monday night’s “Kyrie and Dion Upset Show” in Los Angeles seems so far away now that the Cavs have dropped their last three, while giving up 106.3 points in those games. Unfortunately for the Cavs “young and fun” won’t win too many ball games this season with that defense.

26. Orlando Magic | 2-4 | Last week: 27

I hope Magic fans enjoyed that 2-0 while it lasted. Now they’ll need to get used to this being the regular deal. This roster, the lowest scoring one in the league (87.8 ppg), truly lacks a superstar, something every team needs. I love Big Baby and Afflalo, but they won’t cut it.

27. Charlotte Bobcats | 2-3 | Last week: 28

The ‘Cats are a surprising 7th overall in scoring (99.8) but a very unsurprising 30th in points allowed (107.2). Kemba Walker with a very solid 18.8 pts, 5.8 assists and 2.8 steals, while shooting an un-Kemba like 43% from the field. MKG is getting noticeably more comfortable now.

28. Sacramento Kings | 2-5 | Last week: 30

Just when things are going smoothly for DeMarcus Cousins, he has a “run-in” with an announcer? I thought he’d turned the corner. Such a shame. The proof is in the numbers with a team that we believe don’t play together and don’t share the ball: 16.6 assists per game (last in the league).

29. Washington Wizards | 0-5 | Last week: 25

The talent-deprived, winless Wizards have one of the puzzling stats so far this season. They rank 29th in scoring at 88.0 points per game, yet rank 4th in assists at 24.0 per game. How does that make sense?  Part of it is A.J. Price averaging 8.0 assists per game.

30. Detroit Pistons | 0-7 | Last week: 29

Words can’t describe how bad Rodney Stuckey has been. 7.9 points in 31.9 minutes from your “feature” guard. At this point, we have to feel bad for the situation Greg Monroe was drafted into. He’s going to have an All-Star season and are we sure the Pistons will have a win by then?