Updated Jan. 1
The new year begins with a new team at the top.
Gasp away. Judging by your weekly e-mails, I'm certain most of you never saw this coming.
Although San Antonio has held on to the top mark in the Western Conference despite December absences from Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and most recently, Manu Ginobili, a disappointing home setback at the hands of Toronto, coupled with Detroit's recent dominance, sealed its fate.
Granted, the Spurs are more concerned with what happens in June than they are in January, but at this stage of the season, it is noteworthy that they've fallen from the No. 1 seat that they've held since earning their fourth ring in nine years last summer.
To their credit, injuries have been the reason for their small slip, not a lack of motivation. When Parker, Duncan and Ginobili have all been in the lineup, San Antonio is 15-3 and undefeated at home. Ginobili will miss the next few games with an injured finger, leaving the Spurs to try and stay afloat at less than full strength.
Try your best not to weep for them. Somehow, I doubt we've seen the last of the Spurs at the top.
The week's Power Rankings:
| Power Rankings | ||||||||||
| Current | Team | Previous | ||||||||
 | 1 | Lakers · Trends | 5 | |||||||
| Kobe Bryant tops 40 for 100th time; just 171 more to catch Chamberlain. ... Gasol (24 and 13 in season debut vs. Bulls) is best Lakers big man since Little Dipper -- Shaq. | ||||||||||
 | 2 | Magic · Trends | 4 | |||||||
| Three nice wins dwarfed by one huge loss -- Jameer Nelson to knee surgery. ... New look, same result: Vince Carter outplays Rasheed Wallace in playoff rematch. | ||||||||||
 | 3 | Cavaliers · Trends | 1 | |||||||
| Club leads by 17, then loses by 17 at Washington. ... Maybe this is why LeBron didn't pick 13 as his new number: Teammate Delonte West beat him to it. | ||||||||||
 | 4 | Hawks · Trends | 2 | |||||||
| No. 1 in home record (7-0), No. 17 in home attendance. ... Shot of week is closest one: Josh Smith spikes home game winner vs. Rockets. | ||||||||||
 | 5 | Suns · Trends | 6 | |||||||
| Shaq couldn't do this: New center Channing Frye has at least one 3 in all 14 games, 38 in all. ... 13 vs. 13: Nash leads Wilt in all-time assists 7,667-4,643. | ||||||||||
 | 6 | Nuggets · Trends | 3 | |||||||
| Looking to move back up: Next five against Nets, Timberwolves twice, Knicks, Warriors. ... Nothing is automatic: Loss to Clippers was first since 2007. | ||||||||||
 | 7 | Celtics · Trends | 7 | |||||||
| Non-elite team, non-elite star: Kevin Garnett is 72nd in league in scoring, 27th in rebounding. ... Celtics, Knicks go to overtime for 32nd time in history. | ||||||||||
 | 8 | Mavericks · Trends | 10 | |||||||
| Erick Dampier out of the lineup, team goes on winning streak. Coincidence? ... Replacement center Drew Gooden goes 11-14-11-16 on boards in his first four starts. | ||||||||||
 | 9 | Trail Blazers · Trends | 9 | |||||||
| Embarrassed club rebounds from loss at Golden State with 28-, 24-point romps. ... Warriors (108) only foe to reach 100 this month. | ||||||||||
 | 10 | Rockets · Trends | 11 | |||||||
| Impressive aspect of 8-6 record: Rugged schedule that's included Lakers, Blazers twice apiece. ... Tracy McGrady returns to practice, says he's ready to go. Now what? | ||||||||||
 | 11 | Jazz · Trends | 18 | |||||||
| Out of nowhere: Wesley Matthews starting, Jazz winning. ... Triumph at San Antonio is first in 10-plus years. | ||||||||||
 | 12 | Bucks · Trends | 15 | |||||||
| No Andrew Bogut, no defense: Grizzlies, Spurs average 105 after just three of Milwaukee's first 10 foes top 100. ... Michael Redd returns vs. Spurs, goes 1 for 6 from line. | ||||||||||
 | 13 | Heat · Trends | 8 | |||||||
| Team losing (four of six), but Michael Beasley's numbers picking up (19.7 points, 10.0 rebounds last three). ... Last two wins: 1-pointers over Nets, Hornets. | ||||||||||
 | 14 | Spurs · Trends | 14 | |||||||
| Matt Bonner (23 points) an unlikely star in win over Bucks. ... It's a long season: Team won't rush Manu Ginobili (groin) back. | ||||||||||
 | 15 | Thunder · Trends | 17 | |||||||
| Sixth Man Award nominee: James Harden drops in 24, 25 points in consecutive games off bench. ... Another comeback looms: More knee surgery for Shaun Livingston. | ||||||||||
 | 16 | Raptors · Trends | 12 | |||||||
| Two Western trips, same results: Win first game, lose rest. ... Jarrett Jack picking up steam: 17 points vs. Heat, 11 assists vs. Magic. | ||||||||||
 | 17 | Bulls · Trends | 13 | |||||||
| "Circus Trip" turning into circus: Club drubbed by Lakers, Nuggets, Blazers. ... Best No. 13 center in game today: Gotta be Joakim Noah. | ||||||||||
 | 18 | Hornets · Trends | 23 | |||||||
| New coach winning with new look: Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison excel during three-game streak. ... Finally a break in schedule: Two apiece vs. Kings, Timberwolves in 11-day stretch. | ||||||||||
 | 19 | Bobcats · Trends | 20 | |||||||
| First win of Stephen Jackson era: He's nailed with technical in victory over Pacers. ... Jackson factor? Gerald Wallace held to 11 points in three of new teammate's four games. | ||||||||||
 | 20 | Pacers · Trends | 16 | |||||||
| Losing streak has silver lining: Mike Dunleavy is cleared to return to practice. ... Tar Heels coach Roy Williams watches Tyler Hansbrough lose in North Carolina homecoming. | ||||||||||
 | 21 | Wizards · Trends | 24 | |||||||
| Club's three wins followed by 11-, 12-, 19-point losses. ... One problem: Gilbert Arenas is averaging 20 shots in past six games, making 34 percent. | ||||||||||
 | 22 | Pistons · Trends | 19 | |||||||
| Tough trip, rough outcomes: Losses to Lakers, Blazers, Jazz, Suns. ... How the mighty have fallen: Someone named Jonas Jerebko is starting at forward. | ||||||||||
 | 23 | 76ers · Trends | 22 | |||||||
| How to blow possible upset: 10-point fourth melts late lead vs. Cavs. ... Improvement noted: Elton Brand averaging 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds in last three after 9.8, 5.3 in first 10 games. | ||||||||||
 | 24 | Kings · Trends | 21 | |||||||
| Club survives scare: Tyreke Evans' middle finger is sprained, not broken. ... Streaky team has three-, four-game losing skids sandwiching four-game winning run. | ||||||||||
 | 25 | Clippers · Trends | 25 | |||||||
| Go figure: Baron Davis shoots 4-for-21 combined in wins over Nuggets, Timberwolves. ... Another Clippers low: Broadcasters ejected for comments about Grizzlies' Hamed Haddadi. | ||||||||||
 | 26 | Warriors · Trends | 26 | |||||||
| Making new friends: Injured Raja Bell leads spirited effort at Boston, then leaves for wrist surgery. ... Just thinking of Mark Cuban makes Don Nelson sick; he sits out Southwest trip. | ||||||||||
 | 27 | Grizzlies · Trends | 27 | |||||||
| Lightweight champ: Team beats Timberwolves, Clippers, 76ers, Kings in 10-day stretch. ... Nobody hotter than Rudy Gay: 41 for 72 (.569), 25.5 average in last four games. | ||||||||||
 | 28 | Knicks · Trends | 28 | |||||||
| Winning can be comical: Nate Robinson shoots at wrong basket in victory over Nets. ... Sad state of Allen Iverson: Even Knicks say he's not worthy. | ||||||||||
 | 29 | Timberwolves · Trends | 29 | |||||||
| Team has failed to score more than 87 points in the last six games (all losses). ... No holiday treat: Second and final showdown with Nets looms Dec. 23. | ||||||||||
 | 30 | Nets · Trends | 30 | |||||||
| Better days ahead: Devin Harris returns in loss to Knicks. ... Looking for first win? Club visits Sacramento during weeklong Western trip. | ||||||||||
