NOW THE NUGGETS HEAD NORTHWEST

 

(Image taken from NBA.com)

 

OK...so George Karl, a guy who previously led the Shaun Kemp and Gary Payton led Sonics to the '96 NBA finals opened the season by claiming that his current team, the Denver Nuggets would pick up the the 2006 NBA Northwest Division title. 'Yeah right' said most NBA observers, particularly after such a dodgy start. Carmelo Anthony isn't LeBron James. However the Nuggets (with Anthony backed up by Kenyon Martin) are now on a five game winning streak which puts them on a 23-19 record with wins in Chicago(100-93), followed by two home wins against the Cavs(90-89) and Jazz(113-83) before their latest win in San Antonio of all places(89-85).

In the meantime, the Jazz have slipped out of the lead and down to third place in the division thanks to losses in LA against the Clippers(102-93 in overtime), in Denver(113-83) and a home loss to the Cavs(108-90) leaving them with a 20-21 record allowing the T-Wolves to nick into second after keeping things steady with wins in New York(96-90) and at home to the Pacers(90-85). The Sonics and Blazers bring up the rear in the division.

In the Pacific Division, the Suns are still leading with a 26-14 record despite losing their last match to the Sonics in a 152-149 double overtime blowout at home. Both LA sides responded by turning up the heat including a spectacular 81 point effort from Kobe Bryant in a 122-104 win for the Lakers over the Raptors(Bryant outscoring the entire Raptors side in the second half!) The Clippers still have the edge on their arena-mates though with the Warriors still in fourth(despite slowing down their slide with home wins over the Sonics and Cavs) and the Kings still rock bottom.

However it's still the Spurs leading the Western conference with a 31-10 record though that's technically matched now by the Mavs thanks to their five game winning streak(though the Spurs have held the lead for longer). Dirk Nowitski has been the main man for the Mavs in their surge, picking up wins at home to the Bucks(114-95) then going on a road trip to pick up wins in Houston(103-76), LA(101-81 against the Clippers) and Portland(95-89). Result, the entire conference on a knife edge with the Grizzlies in third in the Southwest division, the Hornets in fourth and the Rockets in fifth.

And of course there's still no one arguing with the Pistons anywhere, now on 33-5. Furthermore, it's dead cert that no one will be arguing with them in the East at least before the Allstar Game on February 19th. So Detroit coach Flip Saunders has 'already' been given the job of coaching the East side. The Pistons are currently seven games without a loss with the Cavs, Bucks, Pacers and Bulls floundering in their wake in that order in the Central Division.

In the Southeast division it's still the Heat running things with a 24-17 record, then the Wizards, then the Magic(now on a three game home winning streak with Steve Francis still in action), then the Bobcats(on a seven game losing streak) then the Hawks.

Finally in the Atlantic division, the Nets are still heading things up with a 22-16 record with the Sixers not far behind. Boston in third, at the bottom end of the table the Raptors have overtaken the Knicks, Larry Brown getting nowhere in New York with his team now on a five game losing streak, a sorry mess for the popular club.

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