
Top five teams
1. Magic: Perhaps an overdue ascent to the top of our rankings. 2. Cavaliers: Now it's their turn for the dangerous West Coast swing.
3. Lakers: Big weekend test against the East's best.
4. Celtics: Hey, it's a winning streak again!
5. Spurs: Roger Mason , just clutch.
Bottom five teams 5. Warriors: All eyes on Monta Ellis now.
4. Grizzlies: Losing, with or without Darius Miles .
3. Thunder: Winners of four of their last seven.
2. Wizards: Can they Inaugurate a new team?
1. Clippers: The losing streak ends after a clean dozen.
Post-ups They booed Santa Claus in Philly. Think they'll spare Elton Brand if he messes up his team's newfound rhythm? The Sixers finally put together a seven-game winning streak without their mega-priced star - who hasn't played since dislocating his shoulder a month ago - and Brand's return will undoubtedly slow the offense down. Again. Stay tuned to see how this reunion goes.
With the Cal-Stanford rivalry renewed this weekend, congratulations to Brook Lopez and Ryan Anderson , the NBA rookies who are now starting alongside each other in New Jersey. While Lopez is a regular starter, Anderson was just bumped into the Nets' lineup for the injured Yi Jianlian , who will miss at least a month with a broken pinky finger.
When Jazz guard C.J. Miles went down with an ankle injury last week, he took a bit of history with him. Utah has had at least one player appear in all 82 games for 29 consecutive seasons. Considering that Jerry Sloan just celebrated his 20th anniversary as coach, maybe it's the local water.
Game of the week Kobe Bryant and LeBron James squaring off on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day? It's the NBA showcase of showcases as the Lakers host the Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. in the nightcap of TNT's holiday triple-header.