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ree starts, won for the first time since May 9. Votto went 0-for-4, snapping his career-long 18-game road hitting streak. N
The NBA season is only a week old, and, entering Wednesday, every team has played somewhere between three and five games, so were not exactly talking about a big sample size here.But basketball isnt baseball, and we dont need 200 plate appearances to get a better idea of each players value. A set of eyes and a look at the numbers can be very revealing, even in a short amount of time, and already we are seeing some early-season trends that have drastically changed the rankings since our last update in mid-October.Moving upRussell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: We slid Westbrook down to No. 2 once James Harden received point guard eligibility, but its difficult to consider Westbrook anything but No. 1 after the numbers he put up in his first week without Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City. Facing lower-tier opponents in his first three games, the Thunder star posted two triple-doubles and missed a third by one assist, averaging 38.7 points, 12.3 rebounds, 11.7 assists and even throwing in 2.7 3s per game. If hes going to put up near triple-double averages while also making 3-pointers this season, he has the edge on not only Harden but on everybody in the league.Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans: Davis has never played more than 68 games in a season, which is why we ranked him at No. 9 for much of September before sliding him down to 11 after the news of a preseason ankle injury. His lack of durability makes him a huge risk, and we all know that. Still, as far as pure production goes, hes right there with Westbrook for the top spot and has to be considered almost a 1B to Westbrooks 1A. The Pelicans star power forward averaged a mind-blowing 37 points, 13 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.5 steals and 3 blocks in his first four games.Kevin Durant, Golden State Warriors: In some ways, the Warriors already feel like Durants team, which is weird to even think about, but it shows in his early-season numbers. His scoring (28.5 PPG), rebounding (9 RPG) and shooting percentages (57.4 FG/91.7 FT) are all ahead of last seasons pace, as are his steals and blocks, and some metrics have Durant ranked ahead of Westbrook and Davis for No. 1 thus far. Weve moved him up from No. 5 to No. 3.Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks and Hassan Whiteside, Miami Heat: Both of these players were considered low first-rounders or high second-rounders, and if drafts were held again today theres a good chance theyd each go in the middle of the first round. Antetokounmpos well-rounded game is ahead of even the loftiest of expectations at this point (23.3 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1 SPG, 2 BPG and 0.8 3PG), while Whitesides combination of scoring (19.8 PPG), rebounding (13.8 RPG), shot-blocking (3 BPG) and efficient shooting (60 percent from the field) makes him one of the games elite big men.Gorgui Dieng, Minnesota Timberwolves and Myles Turner, Indiana Pacers: We thought we had Dieng and Turner ranked aggressively in our last update, and guess what -- we were wrong! Whats interesting is the difference in hype, as Dieng tends to float under the radar on a young Minnesota team with a number of much higher-profile stars, while Turner entered the season with as much fanfare as any second-year player. Whats clear is both should be ranked much higher, and thats why weve moved Dieng and Turner to No. 21 and 22, respectively. Dieng simply does it all (14.3 PPG, 11 RPG, 2 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.7 BPG while shooting 64.3 FG and 87.5 FT), while Turner makes the most of his 29-30 minutes on the court each night, particularly as a scorer (18 PPG), rebounder (9.3 RPG) and shot-blocker (3 BPG). Aging big man Al Jefferson doesnt appear to be someone who will hinder Turners upside this season, as we feared might be the case.Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers: Another big man who oozes superstar, Embiid is doing things on the court most 7-footers can only dream of; taking players off the dribble and spotting up from 3-point range. The 76ers are taking it slow with his return to the court after two missed seasons, but his 17.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 2.7 BPG stand to increase when his minutes restriction is lifted. Remember, hes averaged less than 21 minutes a game so far!Other notable risers:DeMar DeRozan, Toronto RaptorsJonas Valanciunas, Toronto RaptorsWesley Matthews, Dallas MavericksAvery Bradley, Boston CelticsJusuf Nurkic, Denver NuggetsGeorge Hill, Utah JazzTim Frazier, New Orleans PelicansT.J. Warren, Phoenix SunsKris Dunn, Minnesota TimberwolvesWill Barton, Denver NuggetsJustise Winslow, Miami HeatMarkieff Morris, Washington WizardsBojan Bogdanovic, Brooklyn NetsNotable fallers:Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota TimberwolvesSerge Ibaka, Orlando MagicDevin Booker, Phoenix SunsTrevor Ariza, Houston RocketsRicky Rubio, Minnesota TimberwolvesBrandon Knight, Phoenix SunsEnes Kanter, Oklahoma City ThunderNerlens Noel, Philadelphia 76ersJahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ersAl-Farouq Aminu, Portland Trail Blazers Cheap Denver Nuggets Jerseys . But what about the officials? Every sport has officials and they also have stories about hard work and sacrifice but their accomplishments are seldom recognized by anyone outside their inner circle. Wholesale Nuggets Jerseys . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. http://www.cheapnuggetsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-thomas-welsh-jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Michael Porter Jr. Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . Cheap Swingman Nuggets Jerseys . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action.CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians made certain one inning decided Thursday nights game against Cincinnati. The Indians, held in check for three innings by Reds starter Homer Bailey, scored seven runs with two outs in the fourth and rolled to a 7-1 win over Cincinnati. The rally featured six straight run-scoring hits and supported a strong outing by Scott Kazmir, who allowed one run in seven innings. "That was really fun to watch," Indians manager Terry Francona said of the big inning that gave the Indians a split of the annual Ohio Cup interleague series. Reds manager Dusty Baker understandably had a different point of view. "Its been a long time since Ive seen a team get six straight two-out hits," he said. "Im not sure what the Indians figured out there, but whatever it was, it worked." The Reds won in Cincinnati on Monday and Tuesday before the Indians took both games when the series shifted to Cleveland. Cincinnati has lost nine in a row at Progressive Field and havent won in Cleveland since May 22, 2010. Run-scoring singles by Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes, an RBI double by Ryan Raburn, a two-run double by Michael Bourn and an RBI single by Jason Kipnis chased Bailey in the fourth. Asdrubal Cabrera added a run-scoring double off Alfredo Simon. "Brantley opened the doors for us with that two-out knock and everybody else tried to follow suit," Raburn said. "Sometimes that doesnt work but tonight it did." The Indians carried a five-game losing streak, in which they scored 14 runs, into the series. Cleveland had also dropped seven of eight, but the bats woke up when the Reds hit town. Cleveland homered twice Wednesday, including a game-clinching three-run homer by Jason Giambi, and fell one run off their biggest inning of the season Thursday. "That was impressive," Francona said. "We had a tough time breaking through. Baileys got good stuff. We kept extending the inning." Jay Bruce drove in Cincinnatis only run with an RBI single in the sixth. Kazmir (3-2) recorded his longest outing in the majors in three years. The left-hander dodged a bases-loaded jam in the third when he got Joey Votto, who came into the game batting .417 in May, to bounce into an inning-ending double play. "That was huge," Kazmir said. "Hes a very good hitter. I knew I had to be careful. Thhats the bottom line.ddddddddddddquot; Bailey (3-4) retired the first seven hitters before Gomes reached on an infield hit in the third. The bottom fell out for the right-hander, who lasted 3 2-3 innings for his shortest outing of the season, in the fourth. Cabrera was hit by a pitch and took second on Carlos Santanas one-out single. After Mark Reynolds struck out, Brantley, who was in a 1-for-15 skid, singled sharply through the left side to score Cabrera. Gomes followed by lining a single to left, scoring Santana. Raburns double to left scored Brantley before Bourn drove a double into the left-field corner for two more runs and a 5-0 lead. Kipnis, who was in a 4-for-34 slump, singled to right to score Bourn and finish Bailey. Cabrera doubled to right against Simon. Brantley and Kipnis werent the only Cleveland hitters to break out of slumps in the inning. Santana came into the game batting .204 in May while Raburn was in a 3-for-24 skid. Bailey, who threw 45 pitches in the fourth, allowed seven runs -- tying his season high. Kazmir, a two-time All-Star with Tampa Bay, had his career sidetracked by arm problems that began in 2009. He was traded to the Angels that season but was 9-15 in 2010 and appeared in only one game the following year before being released. The Indians signed him to a minor-league contract in January after he pitched in an independent league last season. Kazmir, who was 0-1 and allowed 11 earned runs in 13 innings in his past three starts, won for the first time since May 9. Votto went 0-for-4, snapping his career-long 18-game road hitting streak. NOTES: Raburn left the game in the fifth with cramping in his lower legs. Hes listed day to day. ... The Reds begin a three-game series Friday in Pittsburgh. RHP Johnny Cueto (2-0) takes on Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-2). ... Votto is the only Cincinnati player to appear in all 54 games this season. ... The Indians continue their five-game homestand Friday against Tampa Bay. RHP Corey Kluber (3-3) faces Rays righty Alex Cobb (6-2) in the opener of the three-game set. ... Indians RHP Justin Masterson, who defeated the Reds on Wednesday, is 4-0 with a 0.36 ERA in his past 25 innings at Progressive Field. ... Cleveland 1B Nick Swisher was honoured by the FBI Citizens Academy Foundation before the game. Swisher donated $25,000 to the organization in support of the FBIs Child ID Kit program. 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