The NBA announced the rookie and sophomore selections for All-Star Weekend's Rising Stars Challenge on Tuesday but this week's Fanalyst Rankings show that youth is mostly wasted on the young.
There are two sides to every NBA Power Ranking: the Fanalytical and the Fanatical. As a Miami HEAT blogger living on the east coast, MHI played the Eastern Conference fanalyst for games thru Friday. As a Denver Nuggets fan living west of the Mississippi River, Mrs. NBA played the fan and provided the slander. The roles are reversed for the Western Conference Rankings.
1. Miami HEAT (20-7, Last Week #1)
MHI: According to nbastuffer.com, the only team in the NBA with a better schedule-adjusted efficiency differential than the HEAT are the Bulls and they beat them head-to-head two weeks ago to claim the top spot in the East. The only HEAT loss in the last five games came on the second night of a back-to-back in Orlando. With the sixth-oldest rotation in the NBA, the HEAT have been vulnerable in those games, playing 0.400 basketball. First-round draft pick Norris Cole has not been much help as the second-least productive rookie in the NBA and that’s why he doesn’t belong in the Rising Stars Challenge on All-Star Weekend. The HEAT play three games in three nights next week before getting to rest before playing the Cavs and Magic. A 3-2 record next week is the most likely scenario.
Mrs. NBA: Wait, didn’t the Heat lose to Dwight and the Magic???? Anyways, Heat is still the best team in the East, no contest. However, who cares!!! It’s LIN-Sanity!!!!
2. Chicago Bulls (23-6, Last Week #2)
MHI: The Bulls went undefeated this week without Derrick Rose at full-strength. They only have the 12th-oldest rotation in the NBA, but next week’s schedule against the Celtics, Kings and Nets without any back-to-backs will help their injured roster put up another undefeated week. The Bulls don’t have any Rising Stars but Jimmy Butler ranks in the top 15 for wins produced by rookies.
Mrs. NBA: Who cares?!?! Move over Derrick Rose, an Asian has my heart, but you still get the box! It’s LIN-Sanity!!!!
3. Atlanta Hawks (18-9, Last Week #3)
MHI: Reality’s starting to set in as the Hawks dropped from first to third in schedule-adjusted efficiency differential. They go on the road to face the Lakers and Suns in a back-to-back after the HEAT game on Sunday. The Hawks have the 8th-oldest rotation in the NBA and their most productive rookie, Ivan Johnson, is a 27 year-old from the D-League with below average production. The Hawks may go winless next week.
Mrs. NBA: Hawks??? Who cares about the flying birds from Hotlanta!!! The only flying object the NBA-verse loves is LIN-Sanity!!!!
4. Philadelphia 76ers (18-9, Last Week #4)
MHI: The Sixers have the fourth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the NBA this season but they only rank 22nd in their last five games due to tougher competition. Rising Star Evan Turner and the Sixers’ productive rookie big men, Lavoy Allen and Nikola Vucevic, should help the fourth-youngest rotation in the NBA go undefeated next week with @Bobcats, @Magic, Mavs and @Timberwolves on the schedule without any back-to-backs.
Mrs. NBA: The Sixers make me question if things are real or just a fantasy… They lost to the Clippers and I just sort of scratch my head.
5. Indiana Pacers (17-9, Last Week #6)
MHI: The Pacers have the fifth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the East but are only 2-3 in their last five games. They moved up in the rankings because the Celtics didn’t look good in their rock fight against the Lakers. It will be tough for the Pacers to hold onto the fifth spot next week with three games in three nights but the ninth-youngest rotation in the NBA should win two out of three. Rising Star Paul George, the most productive player on the roster, will need to play big next week.
Mrs. NBA: FUCK THE PACERS! It’s LIN-Sanity!!!
6. Boston Celtics (14-12, Last Week #5)
MHI: The Celtics have the sixth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the East, but they lost a rock fight they should’ve won against the Lakers and got killed as expected on the second night of a back-to-back in Toronto. The second-oldest rotation in the NBA will need to win three of the next four games in its home-and-home series with the Bulls and Pistons next week for the Celtics to move up the rankings. If they can’t beat the Bulls in Boston on Sunday, Kevin Garnett will need rookie Greg Stiemsma, top 15 in rookie wins produced, to beat them on the second night of a back-to-back in Chicago.
Mrs. NBA: Celtics are still the Celtics… With wheelchairs, walkers, and Ben-Gay!
7. New York Knicks (12-15, Last Week #8)
MHI: The Knicks have the ninth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the East this season, but they have the ninth-best rating IN THE NBA over the last five games with a 4-1 record. The one loss came before Mike D’Antoni played Jeremy Lin starter’s minutes. It’s also fortunate the Knicks played the 26th-weakest schedule in that span and don’t face another playoff team until the Mavsliving the dream in the backcourt with Rising Star Landry Fields, then the Knicks can go 4-1 next week, too.
Mrs. NBA: Funny how you BARELY mention the ASIAN SENSATION!!! Are you feeling that Chinese MAMBA?!?!?! Can you feel that, can you smell that??? That’s not chicken-fried rice, mayne, that’s LIN-Sanity!!!
8. Milwaukee Bucks (12-14, Last Week #7)
MHI: The Orlando Magic are 3.5 games ahead of the Bucks in the standings but their schedule-adjusted efficiency differential numbers are virtually the same. Since the Magic will rapidly drop out of the playoff picture once Dwight Howard is traded (and he’s never rescinded his trade demands), the Bucks get the eighth spot by default. Little man Brandon Jennings is no longer considered a Rising Star in his third season, but big man Jon Leuer ranks in the top 10 for rookie wins produced and has helped the Bucks stay competitive without Andrew Bogut. They should go 3-1 next week with HEAT, Hornets, @Magic and @Nets on the schedule.
Mrs. NBA: Who cares?!?! Move over Derrick Rose, an Asian has my heart, but you still get the box! It’s LIN-Sanity!!!!
3. Atlanta Hawks (18-9, Last Week #3)
MHI: Reality’s starting to set in as the Hawks dropped from first to third in schedule-adjusted efficiency differential. They go on the road to face the Lakers and Suns in a back-to-back after the HEAT game on Sunday. The Hawks have the 8th-oldest rotation in the NBA and their most productive rookie, Ivan Johnson, is a 27 year-old from the D-League with below average production. The Hawks may go winless next week.
Mrs. NBA: Hawks??? Who cares about the flying birds from Hotlanta!!! The only flying object the NBA-verse loves is LIN-Sanity!!!!
4. Philadelphia 76ers (18-9, Last Week #4)
MHI: The Sixers have the fourth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the NBA this season but they only rank 22nd in their last five games due to tougher competition. Rising Star Evan Turner and the Sixers’ productive rookie big men, Lavoy Allen and Nikola Vucevic, should help the fourth-youngest rotation in the NBA go undefeated next week with @Bobcats, @Magic, Mavs and @Timberwolves on the schedule without any back-to-backs.
Mrs. NBA: The Sixers make me question if things are real or just a fantasy… They lost to the Clippers and I just sort of scratch my head.
5. Indiana Pacers (17-9, Last Week #6)
MHI: The Pacers have the fifth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the East but are only 2-3 in their last five games. They moved up in the rankings because the Celtics didn’t look good in their rock fight against the Lakers. It will be tough for the Pacers to hold onto the fifth spot next week with three games in three nights but the ninth-youngest rotation in the NBA should win two out of three. Rising Star Paul George, the most productive player on the roster, will need to play big next week.
Mrs. NBA: FUCK THE PACERS! It’s LIN-Sanity!!!
6. Boston Celtics (14-12, Last Week #5)
MHI: The Celtics have the sixth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the East, but they lost a rock fight they should’ve won against the Lakers and got killed as expected on the second night of a back-to-back in Toronto. The second-oldest rotation in the NBA will need to win three of the next four games in its home-and-home series with the Bulls and Pistons next week for the Celtics to move up the rankings. If they can’t beat the Bulls in Boston on Sunday, Kevin Garnett will need rookie Greg Stiemsma, top 15 in rookie wins produced, to beat them on the second night of a back-to-back in Chicago.
Mrs. NBA: Celtics are still the Celtics… With wheelchairs, walkers, and Ben-Gay!
7. New York Knicks (12-15, Last Week #8)
MHI: The Knicks have the ninth-best schedule-adjusted efficiency differential in the East this season, but they have the ninth-best rating IN THE NBA over the last five games with a 4-1 record. The one loss came before Mike D’Antoni played Jeremy Lin starter’s minutes. It’s also fortunate the Knicks played the 26th-weakest schedule in that span and don’t face another playoff team until the Mavsliving the dream in the backcourt with Rising Star Landry Fields, then the Knicks can go 4-1 next week, too.
Mrs. NBA: Funny how you BARELY mention the ASIAN SENSATION!!! Are you feeling that Chinese MAMBA?!?!?! Can you feel that, can you smell that??? That’s not chicken-fried rice, mayne, that’s LIN-Sanity!!!
8. Milwaukee Bucks (12-14, Last Week #7)
MHI: The Orlando Magic are 3.5 games ahead of the Bucks in the standings but their schedule-adjusted efficiency differential numbers are virtually the same. Since the Magic will rapidly drop out of the playoff picture once Dwight Howard is traded (and he’s never rescinded his trade demands), the Bucks get the eighth spot by default. Little man Brandon Jennings is no longer considered a Rising Star in his third season, but big man Jon Leuer ranks in the top 10 for rookie wins produced and has helped the Bucks stay competitive without Andrew Bogut. They should go 3-1 next week with HEAT, Hornets, @Magic and @Nets on the schedule.
Mrs. NBA: Brandon Jennings just needs to go find himself a nice little man somewhere, nut in his ass, and shut his diva-like ass. PERIOD.
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