Power Poll: Raptors Back On Track
Sean Deveney - SportingNews.com
Dec 09, 2009
What a difference a team meeting makes.
Last week, the Raptors suffered one of the most embarrassing losses for any team this season, getting drubbed by 31 and yielding 146 points to Atlanta. The Hawks shot 59.1 percent from the field, had nine players in double figures and had 75 points at halftime. “It was tough," point guard Jose Calderon said. "We know we are a better team like that. We just had to all get back on the same page."
Thus, the team meeting. And a funny thing happened—the meeting actually worked. Toronto came out on Friday night and edged the Wizards, then went to Chicago and blew out the Bulls the next night, their first win on the second half of a back-to-back. At 9-13, the Raptors have .500 in their sights. Now, they're looking to keep the momentum going with a game against the Timberwolves at home Tuesday night.
It's a reminder, of course, that it's still very early, and there's plenty of time for teams that are scuffling to get things turned around. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves," forward Chris Bosh said. "But this is more like how we feel we can play. We just have to keep doing it now."
1. Lakers (last week 1). It's still hard to figure out exactly how Kobe Bryant got that shot to go down. It's hard to figure out how he got the shot off at all.
2. Magic (3). There was some concern early about C Dwight Howard's funk. But that's long past and now this bunch is rolling.
3. Celtics (4). A nifty four-game sweep of their last road trip makes the coming trip—through Washington, Charlotte and Memphis—look like a breeze.
4. Cavaliers (6). The Cavs have to hope that Sunday's performance by G Delonte West (21 points) is something he can sustain.
5. Nuggets (8). Seemed that the Carmelo Anthony-for-MVP campaign quieted for a bit. But, the way he's played lately, it's back.
6. Hawks (5). Three softies on the schedule this week—Chicago, Toronto, New Jersey—should be good news. But Atlanta has lost four times to sub-.500 teams.
7. Suns (2). A bit of a speed bump there with three straight road losses to New York, Cleveland and the Lakers, but they had to give in to the schedule at some point.
8. Mavericks (7). Sure, there are injuries. But everyone's got injuries. When the offense has back-to-back nights of 82 and 75, something isn't right.
9. Jazz (11). Big problem for the Jazz last year: They could not win on the road. Big problem this year: They can't win on the road.
10. Rockets (12). If you haven't seen the video of broadcaster Matt Bullard taking off his headset to yell at the refs, look it up.
11. Heat (14). Had to be skeptical of the Heat early on, because their schedule was pretty soft. But they've held their own on the road, and should have taken down the Lakers.
12. Blazers (10). C Greg Oden's knee injury is a tough blow to him, especially as he was establishing himself as a defensive presence. But the team can survive.
13. Thunder (13). Tough enough for the Blazers to watch C Greg Oden go down again to a knee injury. Even tougher when you get a look at Kevin Durant.
14. Spurs (9). SG Manu Ginobili is back, but he's still not quite himself—he says he still needs to find his confidence.
15. Kings (17). Admittedly, I was already handing over the Rookie of the Year trophy to PG Brandon Jennings. G Tyreke Evans strenuously objects, however.
16. Hornets (21). PG Chris Paul is back in a big way. Just one problem: He reports that his left ankle is still hurting.
17. Bobcats (15). They could still finish .500. They could even make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. But they'll never forget losing to the Nets.
18. Clippers (20). Well, look at that. Someone woke up SF Al Thornton, who is averaging 18.9 points in his last 10 games.
19. Raptors (23). Just like that, they're playing a little defense and looking like the team they were supposed to be.
20. Grizzlies (24). They managed two wins on a very tough road trip and are 7-4 in their last 11 games. Who needs Iverson?
21. Pistons (22). No SF Tayshaun Prince. No SG Rip Hamilton. Only a little of SG Ben Gordon. And yet, the Pistons are playing pretty well.
22. Bucks (16). PG Brandon Jennings has cooled off after his astonishing start, and the rest of the offense has done the same. .
23. Bulls (18). They're third-worst in the league in scoring, at 90.4 points, and it might be best if Derrick Rose takes on more of a scoring load.
24. Wizards (25). Wins over Toronto and Milwaukee seemed have them heading in the right direction—until tough losses to the Raptors and Pistons over the weekend.
25. Knicks (28). SG Nate Robinson has been in the Mike D'Antoni doghouse before. But this time, it looks like he might not make it out.
26. Warriors (27). Andris Biedrins, Ronny Turiaf, Anthony Morrow, Raja Bell—there's just too many injuries for these guys to have a chance.
27. Pacers (19). It's already been a season undermined by injuries, injuries and more injuries. Now, they wait on SF Danny Granger.
28. Sixers (26). It's probably too late to save the season from lottery land, but SG Allen Iverson at least makes this team interesting.
29. Timberwolves (29). PF Kevin Love is back, and now, things are not looking so grim in Minnesota, with two wins (over Denver and Utah) in their last four.
30. Nets (30). They finally got the win, avoiding the all-time losing streak record. But they're still comfortably at the bottom of the poll.
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