Observations from around the league

TOP TEN TEAMS FOR WEEK OF NOV. 12-18:

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images Kevin Garnett and
Ray Allen combined with Paul Pierce for 73 of Boston's 112
points vs. the Nets on Saturday.

1. Boston: Only team still undefeated and have the largest differential in points scored-to-points allowed at +16.6 per game.

2. Houston: Tied with San Antonio for most wins with 6 and beat San Antonio earlier this week. Plus their only loss is to Dallas in Dallas.

3. San Antonio: Like Houston they are tied for most wins at 6 and only loss is to Houston on the road.

4. Detroit: Are 5-1 which is the fourth best record in the league after the three teams listed above. Only loss was on the road in Chicago (on the one night that Chicago actually played to their talent level).

5. Phoenix: They are 5-2 but could easily be 4-3 if Nash hadn't been on fire to end the game against Miami. Plus losses are to Lakers (by 21) and the 2-4 Hawks (a LEastern Conference team).

6. Utah: They are 5-2 and their losses came at the Lakers and against Houston. Boozer is one of the best PF and Deron is one of the best PG giving them the African-American version of Stockton-Malone.

7. Orlando: Also 5-2 with losses to Detroit and Phoenix. Could easily be higher but aren't quite as good as they have been playing so far.

8. Dallas: They are 4-2 which would make you think they should be in top 5 since they had the best record last year, but losses are to lowly Portland and Atlanta.

9. New Orleans: Perhaps the surprise team so far this year. They are 5-2 with one loss coming to the Spurs plus they have beaten both the Nuggets and Lakers on the road.

10. Denver: They are capable of beating any team in this league but are still 4-3. They could climb into top 5 in the next couple of weeks.


TROUBLE IN CHICAGO:

The Bulls must think it is still the off-season because they have yet to show up this season. They are in a three-team tie for last place in the Eastern Conference and sit alone at the bottom of the Central with a 1-5 record. Gordon is averaging 3 points less than last year but rebounding much better so he is not to blame. Rather much of the blame can fall on Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich.

Let's start with Deng. He is averaging less points, less rebounds, less assists, and is shooting more than seven percent worse from the field. For a guy who is supposed to be the next great thing he is averaging just 14 points and 5.3 rebounds. His averages will go up but last year he shot an amazing .517 from the field. He has never shot over .463 in any other season. He will likely end up averaging 17-18 points a game and 6-7 rebounds this season but until (if ever) he developes a 3-pt shot he will never be a dominant player.

Now as for Hinrich He is averaging a career low 9.3 points so far an shooting an abysmal .318 from the field. That's not his 3-pt percentage that's his field goal percentage ladies and gentleman. He is also averaging a career low 5.7 assists a game. Coach Skiles recently benched the entire starting lineup at the end of yet another blowout and if Hinrich doesn't pick it up soon his benching could become permanent.

The real problem in Chicago is management ruined the team chemistry. All but Deng was unsure if they would still be on the team for the first week of the season due to the Kobe Bryant trade rumors. The team was stuck worrying about their status on the team instead of their next opponent. Last season it was Pal Gasol now its Kobe. Essentially the Bulls front office has made it clear they don't think the current roster can win it all and they are desperately trying to trade for a superstar player in hopes it makes them good enough to push for the first championship since the Jordan-era in Chicago. They either need to make their move and stop pulling out right when the deal is done and put an end to it all or wait for their young roster to develop into a championship caliber team. Until then they will never go anywhere. They will still make the playoffs trade or no trade but the team will never gel completely until their front office chooses a side.

ORLANDO HIGHS:

The Magic are off to a 5-2 start placing them 7th in my rankings. That's good but not as good as last season. In 2006 they started 13-4 before collapsing in December with a 6-10 record. The question is can they last this year or will they falter again. The answer is rather easy when you look at it. Last year they had Dwight Howard really becoming a superstar for the first time. He has improved offensively each year in the league and is now a 20-12 guy. Jameer Nelson was in his first year as a full-time starter. He has developed in a decent PG now with averages around 15 points and six assists. Hedo Turkoglu also became a full-time starter last year for the first time in his career. Also J.J. Redick was a rookie.

This is all without mentioning the most prominent change from last season to this season. The addition of Rashard Lewis. He is a 20 points scorer who plays well in the post and on the perimeter. This takes the pressure off Howard and also makes it hard for other teams to double team Howard.

Orlando is not a championship caliber team this season Howard still needs one more year to reach the level of Lebron James and the other unstoppable players in the NBA. However, they will win their division and will be a top four team in the East.

FIVE GAMES TO WATCH:

1. Houston at San Antonio: The Spurs try to even the season series at 1-1. (Friday 8:00 ESPN)

2. Phoenix at Houston: Houston plays one of the big three (Spurs, Mavs, Suns) for the fourth time this season. (Saturday 8:30)

3. San Antonio at Dallas: Anytime two teams in Texas play it is one of the top games that week. (Thursday 8:00 TNT)

4. Utah at Cleveland: Boozer returns to the city he tricked into giving him free agency on a just look and see basis. (Friday 7:30)


5. Orlando at Boston: Battle for top team in the East. If Orlando wins there is no doubt, if Boston wins they are clearly right there with the big four in the West. (Wednesday 7:00)

Other games worth a look...

Chicago at Phoenix
Utah at Toronto
Washington at Minnesota (for comedies sake)