Here at the ICT Zone, our power rankings are based on a very simple philosophy. "To be the man you gotta beat the man", if a lower ranked team beats a higher ranked team, then the two teams automatically swap spots regardless of results from prior weeks. Welcome to week nine of the the NBA season.
After a disappointing season last year, the Boston Celtics are exceeding expectations during this current campaign. Currently occupying the second seed in the East by percentage points, Boston has the makings of a dangerous playoff team. Despite missing a key contributor in Gordon Hayward (who is now out with a foot injury), the Celtics continue to pile up the wins. If they can make a move for a legit big man at some point this season, the Celtics could be a sleeper pick for the Finals.
Like the Timberwolves, the Suns have slipped down the Western Conference standings after a hot start to the season. That's not too much of an issue, however, as they were never expected to realistically compete for a playoff spot. Devin Booker is having a terrific year, and Deandre Ayton's return following his suspension will help their chances if the desire is to pursue a place in the playoffs. The future of the Suns lies with those two young players, but it'll ultimately be up to the Suns' front office to surround Ayton and Booker with competent role players.
Teams that have been first: Sacramento Kings (1x), Houston Rockets (2x), Memphis Grizzlies (1x), Boston Celtics (1x)
Teams that have been last: Memphis Grizzlies (2x), Golden State Warriors (1x), Minnesota Timberwolves (2x)
1. Boston Celtics +3
(18-7)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers +26
(7-21)
3. Oklahoma City Thunder +9
(13-14)
4. Indiana Pacers +7
(19-9)
5. Miami Heat +1
(20-8)
6. Los Angeles Lakers +1
(24-4)
7. Milwaukee Bucks -4
(24-4)
8. Memphis Grizzlies -7
(10-18)
9. Chicago Bulls +20
(11-19)
10. Toronto Raptors +15
(19-8)
11. Brooklyn Nets +4
(15-12)
12. Denver Nuggets +10
(18-8)
13. Sacramento Kings -11
(12-15)
14. Utah Jazz
(16-11)
15. Charlotte Hornets -2
(13-18)
16. Washington Wizards +5
(8-18)
17. Dallas Mavericks +9
(18-9)
18. Orlando Magic
(12-16)
19. Los Angeles Clippers -11
(21-8)
20. Houston Rockets -11
(18-9)
21. Detroit Pistons -16
(11-17)
22. Portland Trail Blazers -6
(12-16)
23. New York Knicks +4
(7-21)
24. New Orleans Pelicans
(7-22)
25. Philadelphia 76ers -8
(20-9)
26. San Antonio Spurs -16
(10-16)
27. Golden State Warriors -4
(5-24)
28. Phoenix Suns -8
(11-16)
29. Atlanta Hawks -10
(6-22)
30. Minnesota Timberwolves
(10-16)
The month of December is giving us non stop boxing, with an event every weekend until Christmas Day. We started this cold month hot with three world title fights on December seventh, with Richardson Hitchins (19-0, 7 KOs) defeating Liam Paro (25-1, 15 KOs) in a majority decision win to claim the IBF Super Lightweight world title in Puerto Rico....
Another MLS draft is upon us, bringing back fiery debates about whether there is still any value in the system or if it is a complete and utter waste of time. The franchises themselves have long signaled where they stand in that argument. For one, the growing trend of GMs declining to select a player prompted several changes, such as...
On November 9th, two of boxing's biggest future stars will defend their world titles at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. Jaron "Boots" Ennis (32-0, 29 KOs) defends his IBF welterweight world title against Karen Chuhadzhyan (24-2, 13 KOs), and Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez (20-0, 13 KOs) will be defending his WBC and Ring Magazine super flyweight...
