To bring a close to 2006, the DroppingDimes crew has compiled the rankings to open up 2007 like Jay-Z used to pop ‘Cris at the 40/40 club.  We won’t give you Ashton Kutcher, Paris Hilton or even Carson Daly (what the hell happened to THAT guy??), but we will give you the edge that you can use next week while your opponents are still nursing hangovers and BCS gambling debt. 

Have a safe and enjoyable New Year.  Here are the games played for each team next week…

Atlanta Hawks - 2; Boston Celtics - 4; Charlotte Bobcats - 2; Chicago Bulls - 3; Cleveland Cavaliers - 4; Dallas Mavericks - 3; Denver Nuggets - 3; Detroit Pistons - 2; Golden State Warriors - 4; Houston Rockets - 3; Indiana Pacers - 2; Los Angeles Clippers - 4; Los Angeles Lakers - 3; Memphis Grizzlies - 3; Miami Heat - 3; Milwaukee Bucks - 2; Minnesota Timberwolves - 4; New Jersey Nets - 2; New Orleans Hornets - 3; New York Knicks - 3; Orlando Magic - 3; Philadelphia 76ers - 3; Phoenix Suns - 4; Portland Trail Blazers - 4; Sacramento Kings - 3; San Antonio Spurs - 4; Seattle Supersonics - 4; Toronto Raptors - 3; Utah Jazz - 3; Washington Wizards – 3

Obvious tiers can be seen with the bottoms of each being Baron Davis (1st), Luke Ridnour (2nd), and Mike James rounding out the bottom of the top 15 with Marbury.  Check it out…

1. Steve Nash (1.00)
2. Gilbert Arenas (2.33)
3. Allen Iverson (2.67)
4. Baron Davis (4.00) - Could easily wind up in the top two
5. Jason Terry (6.67)
6. Mike Bibby (7.00)
6. Tony Parker (7.00)
6. Luke Ridnour (7.00)
9. T. J. Ford (11.00) - Can he keep up the scoring?
10. Deron Williams (12.67)
11. Jason Kidd (13.33)
11. Kirk Hinrich (13.33)
11. Shaun Livingston (13.33) - Given the “Big D” bump!
14. Chauncey Billups (13.67)
15. Stephon Marbury (15.00)
15. Mike James (15.00)

Not too big of a fall-off anywhere besides the Hughes/Bell gap.  I’d be comfortable with any of these guys for a week…

1. Ray Allen (1.67) - Four games + No Rashard = Huge Week
2. Dwyane Wade (2.00)
3. Kobe Bryant (2.33)
4. Manu Ginobili (4.33)
5. Tracy McGrady (5.33)
6. Andre Iguodala (6.67)
7. Jason Richardson (8.67) - Should be a Baron & JR Show
7. Larry Hughes (8.67)
9. Raja Bell (11.00)
10. Vince Carter (11.67)
10. Cuttino Mobley (11.67)
12. Ricky Davis (12.00)
13. Ben Gordon (14.00)
14. Kevin Martin (14.33)
15. Brandon Roy (15.00) - See “Livingston, Shaun”

No real suprises here, aside from the inclusion of one Gerald Green!  From Wire to Wire only a few weeks back to our top-15 rankings?  Not too shabby if you ask me…

1. LeBron James (1.00)
2. Shawn Marion (2.00)
3. Josh Howard (3.33) - Respect!
4. Ron Artest (4.00)
5. Caron Butler (5.00)
6. Andrei Kirilenko (6.00)
7. Andres Nocioni (8.00)
8. Corey Maggette (8.33) - Trade rumors continue to swirl
8. Mike Miller (8.33)
10. Shane Battier (11.00)
11. Luol Deng (11.67)
12. Mikael Pietrus (14.33)
13. Gerald Wallace (14.37) - Is he back for good?
14. Richard Jefferson (15.67)
14. Gerald Green (15.67)

Definitive tiering at the four spot.  Tier bottoms include Dwight Howard at the top, Drew Gooden in the middle and the Gomes/Willaims duo rounding out the top 15.  How about that Nené sighting?

1. Kevin Garnett (1.00)
2. Dirk Nowitzki (2.00)
3. Elton Brand (3.00)
4. Zach Randolph (4.33)
5. Dwight Howard (4.67)
6. Antawn Jamison (7.00)
6. Chris Wilcox (7.00) - The only reliable big man in Seattle
6. Al Jefferson (7.00)
9. Drew Gooden (9.00)
10. Udonis Haslem (12.33)
11. Rasheed Wallace (13.00)
11. David Lee (13.00) - Could easily rack up 45 boards
13. Chris Webber (13.33)
14. Nene (14.00) - Can the knees handle a top-15 ranking?
15. Marvin Williams (15.33)
15. Ryan Gomes (15.33)

It’s good to see Gasol’s name back in the mix.  Unfortunately with the Centers, it seems that six through 15 could wind up in any order depending on a few big games.  Such is life in fantasy hoops…

1. Tim Duncan (1.00)
2. Amare Stoudemire (2.00)
3. Carlos Boozer (4.00)
4. Pau Gasol (5.33) - He’s back, and getting PT
5. Mehmet Okur (5.67)
6. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (7.67)
6. Andris Biedrins (7.67)
8. Boris Diaw (9.00)
9. Chris Kaman (9.33)
10. Ben Wallace (10.33)
11. Brad Miller (11.00)
12. Channing Frye (12.33) - Coming off of a nice stretch
13. Samuel Dalembert (13.00)
14. Erick Dampier (13.67)
15. Tyson Chandler (15.00) - Depleted Hornets team