NBA Power Rankings, Jan. 9 Edition: A New Face At The Top

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Jan 4, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) puts up the ball over Milwaukee Bucks forward Ekpe Udoh (5) in the second half at US Airways Center. The Suns won 116-100. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports /

30. Milwaukee Bucks (7-27)

Last Week: 0-3
Previous Ranking: 30

Neal On The Block: According to ESPN.com’s Marc Stein, the Bucks are shopping guard Gary Neal. Neal was involved in a locker-room spat after the Bucks lost at Phoenix over the weekend. Neal was quoted as shouting at Larry Sanders, “I earned my money. Why don’t you try it?” It’s the latest in a series of controversies this season involving Sanders, but since he’s the guy the franchise has hung its hat on, to the tune of four years and $44 million, it’s going to be the guy on the two-year, $6.5 million deal that gets moved. Neal is averaging 10.4 points in just 20.5 minutes a game and is shooting 41.9 percent from 3-point range.

The Week That Was: The Bucks lost at Utah 96-87 on Thursday, lost at Phoenix 116-100 on Saturday and lost to the Warriors 101-80 on Tuesday.

The Numbers: 46.4% FG, 32.8% 3PT, 76.9% FT, 35.7 RPG (29th), 17 TOPG (28th), 89 PPG (27th)
The Opponents: 46.4% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 83.9% FT, 44.3 RPG, 13.7 TOPG, 104.3 PPG

The Leaders: Brandon Knight 17 PPG, Caron Butler/Khris Middleton/Larry Sanders 5.3 RPG, Knight 5 APG, Knight 1.3 SPG, Ekpe Udoh 1.5 BPG (2 games), O.J. Mayo 14-for-26 (53.8%) FG, Mayo 7-for-13 (53.8%) 3PT
Don’t! Shooters: Butler 11-for-26 (42.3%) FG, Ersan Ilyasova/Knight 2-for-9 (22.2%) 3PT