C's climb in power rankings
December, 7, 2009
12/07/09
2:28
PM ET
By
Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com
The Boston Celtics climbed to No. 3 in Marc Stein's weekly ESPN.com NBA Power Rankings, while holding onto the top spot in John Hollinger's statistics-based rankings.
In Stein's latest offering, the Celtics are the top gainer in the top 10, hopping up from the sixth spot after a spotless four-game road trip. But he writes:
Our thoughts? Hard to argue with Stein's rankings this week. The top-ranked Lakers have the best record in basketball -- even if they've played a mere four games away from the comfy confines of the Staples Center -- and the second-ranked Magic beat Boston on its home court last month. Also worth noting: The Celtics have beaten just one team in the top 10 thus far -- 10th-ranked Utah.
In Hollinger's latest numbers, the Celtics are out front of the Lakers by fractions of a rating point (107.726-107.465). The strength-of-schedule number is working against the Celtics, whose opponents boast only a 46.0 winning percentage this season (compared to the Lakers at 52.3 percent), 26th worst in the NBA.
As always, we hope you hop over to our user-generated rankings and organize the teams as you see fit.
In Stein's latest offering, the Celtics are the top gainer in the top 10, hopping up from the sixth spot after a spotless four-game road trip. But he writes:
It's not this seven-game win streak that moved Boston up. Or a 9-1 road record that leads the league. It's how the Celts took it up a notch in back-to-back smotherings of San Antonio and OKC in their away green.
Our thoughts? Hard to argue with Stein's rankings this week. The top-ranked Lakers have the best record in basketball -- even if they've played a mere four games away from the comfy confines of the Staples Center -- and the second-ranked Magic beat Boston on its home court last month. Also worth noting: The Celtics have beaten just one team in the top 10 thus far -- 10th-ranked Utah.
In Hollinger's latest numbers, the Celtics are out front of the Lakers by fractions of a rating point (107.726-107.465). The strength-of-schedule number is working against the Celtics, whose opponents boast only a 46.0 winning percentage this season (compared to the Lakers at 52.3 percent), 26th worst in the NBA.
As always, we hope you hop over to our user-generated rankings and organize the teams as you see fit.
Chris Forsberg
Celtics reporter, ESPNBoston.com- Covered Celtics since 2007
- Emmy award-winning videographer
- Joined ESPNBoston.com in 2009
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UPCOMING GAMES
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOS | 7-5 | 88.3 | 84.7 | 5-1 | 2-4 | L1 | 6-4 |
| ATL | 2-4 | 82.2 | 86.8 | 2-1 | 0-3 | L1 | 2-4 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOS | 7-5 | 88.3 | 84.7 | 5-1 | 2-4 | L1 | 6-4 |
| ATL | 2-4 | 82.2 | 86.8 | 2-1 | 0-3 | L1 | 2-4 |
| W-L | PF | PA | HM | AW | STK | L10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATL | 2-4 | 82.2 | 86.8 | 2-1 | 0-3 | L1 | 2-4 |
| BOS | 7-5 | 88.3 | 84.7 | 5-1 | 2-4 | L1 | 6-4 |
TEAM LEADERS
| POINTS | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Paul Pierce
|
|||||||||||
| OTHER LEADERS | ||||||||||||
| Rebounds | K. Garnett | 8.2 | ||||||||||
| Assists | R. Rondo | 11.7 | ||||||||||
| Steals | R. Rondo | 1.8 | ||||||||||
| Blocks | J. O'Neal | 1.7 | ||||||||||
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