NBA Power Rankings Week 15: Concerns for Milwaukee Bucks, other contenders
By Phil Watson
Previous: . Boston Celtics. 3. team. 18. . 30-14
Last week: Beat Lakers 139-107, beat Memphis 119-95, won at Orlando 109-98
This week: Sunday at New Orleans, Tuesday at Miami, Thursday vs. Golden State, Saturday vs. Philadelphia
The Boston Celtics followed up a three-game slide with three straight wins during a 3-0 week, posting all three by double-digits in a run that began by handing the Lakers their worst loss of the season on Monday, 139-107. This week, the Celtics will get their fourth and final look at the 76ers in the regular season, looking to salvage the series finale after going 0-3 thus far.
Kemba Walker erupted for 37 points in the win at Orlando and in three games averaged 21.7 points, 5.7 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.0 blocks (Kemba Walker, rim protector). He shot 48.9 percent overall and made 47.6 percent on 7.0 3-point attempts per game, including a 6-for-12 night at Orlando.
Los Angeles Lakers. 2. team. 20. . 36-10. Previous:
Last week: Lost at Boston 139-107, won at New York 100-92, won at Brooklyn 128-113, lost at Philadelphia 108-91
This week: Tuesday vs. Clippers, Friday vs. Portland, Saturday at Sacramento
The Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a 3-2 road trip with a stinging loss at Philadelphia Saturday night. After opening with a win at Houston, the Lakers’ two losses came to the other two top-tier teams they faced — Boston and the 76ers — by a combined 50 points. The wins over the woeful Knicks and struggling Nets don’t really offset that.
LeBron James had a week of milestones, becoming the oldest player in NBA history with at least 10 triple-doubles in a season after posting 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists at Brooklyn and on Saturday moving past Laker legend Kobe Bryant into third place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. With 29 points against the Sixers, James is now at 33,655 points for his career.
That leaves James 3,273 points behind second-place Karl Malone and 4,732 shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s all-time record of 38,387.
For the week, James averaged 23.0 points, 9.0 assists, 7.8 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 33.5 minutes a game, shooting 52.3 percent overall and going 6-for-19 from 3-point range.