Week 3 Exclusive Power Rankings. What do you think? Feedback Welcome.
1. Detroit Pistons – The Pistons are still the only team with one loss. It will be interesting to see how they respond in their next game.
2. Dallas Mavericks – Shelling of the Pistons and Spurs put them into serious talk about a title for the first time since Nash left. The Mavs seem to be on a roll despite inconsistent play from some positions. They are deep enough to overcome the erratic play.
3. San Antonio Spurs – Are already rounding into championship form again, barring injury, it’s hard to see another Western Conference team make the finals.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Winning is now coming with regularity for this once lowly franchise. This team is challenging all preseason assertions that the elite teams in
the East ended after Miami, Detroit and Indy.
5. L.A. Clippers – The sum of the team is finally equal to its parts. The Clipps are getting solid contributions from the bench. When Livingston comes back from his back injury, this team will only become better.
6. Indiana Pacers – Hard to rank them this high, but their record dictates it. It seems that Reggie is missed more than anyone would have guessed. Can Rick Carlisle get them all on the same page like they were pre-brawl? This team is still tattooed with the effects of November 2004.
7. Philadelphia 76ers – C-Webb may just prove to be the lethal 2 punch the Sixers have been searching for since Jerry Stackhouse. Webber appears to be almost, if not totally, back from his injury. This team has stars and depth; it appears that they have finally added maturity by not panicking after the 0-3 start.
8. Memphis Grizzlies – Gasol is a total beast this year. Typical Grizzlies, team effort and a deep rotation make the Grizzlies hard to stop on any given night.
9. Milwaukee Bucks – This team is loaded with talent. The solid starting rotation is backed by a decent bench. Bucks have lost a few in the last week, but I don’t think it will be a trend.
10. Golden State Warriors – Warriors season all hinges on injuries. If there is any such thing as bad luck, the Warriors always seem to get it. Hopefully this is the year they make it back to the post season, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
11. Denver Nuggets – Injury ridden team will have a hard time making any noise come playoff time…..if they even make the playoffs at all. Marcus Camby is playing the best ball of his career to keep the Nuggs in it, but can he do this all year?
12. Miami Heat – Shaq’s absence should not have the Heat reeling like this. Zo has taken up the rebounding and shot blocking slack and most of the scoring absence. The Heat are a better team than what their record has indicated so far, but if they want home court they need to get it in gear.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves – Bye bye KG? If Garnett is dealt, the Wolves need to really do something with the new cap space in the off season. My money is on KG staying in Minny.
14. Phoenix Suns – Barbosa was really pouring in the points…..until he was injured. Marion and Nash need to get this team to the playoffs in the hope Amare will be back and healthy enough to help them do something.
15. New Jersey Nets – Lack of depth is what hurts. This team is going nowhere fast without a trade for some bench players.
16. Washington Wizards – If only they could keep some of the points from blow out wins for other nights. Inconsistent play will have to be remedied for the Wizz to turn around a long losing trend.
17. Seattle Supersonics – Team has kind of turned it around since the shaky start. They need to sort out the front court if they want to compete night in and night out. Players’ complaining about floor time is nothing new to the NBA, neither are losing seasons.
18. Chicago Bulls – Chandler got the money and proceeded to do nothing more to earn it. Think the Bulls wish they had kept Eddy instead?
19. Boston Celtics – Play teams tough but there still isn’t enough firepower around PP to win.
20. Sacramento Kings – So close in so many games this year. It’s time for some new offensive set in Sac town.
21. New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul will get the ROY award if he keeps this up. Unbelievable that Desmond Mason doesn’t play much.
22. L.A. Lakers – Kobe is a great player, it’s to bad the NBA isn’t one on one ball.
23. Utah Jazz – I’ve said it before, injuries are killing the Jazz’s season. This is a good team with everyone healthy. It’s a sad day when your best front court players are Mehmet Okur and Greg Ostertag.
24. Orlando Magic – At least Dwight Howard should get some help from their high draft position this summer.
25. Portland Trailblazers – You get the sense that Portland’s rebuilding won’t work. Not because the young pieces aren’t there, but because the vets on the team are working against them.
26. New York Knicks – Marbury and Brown on the same team? Brilliant! This should entertain all season.
27. Houston Rockets – My biggest disappointment of the year. Houston should have enough depth to win a few with Tmac out. McGrady’s back is the litmus test for this team every game.
28. Charlotte Bobcats – This team may lose a lot of games, but they play hard every night. Young talent makes this team one of the more promising of the next few years.
29. Toronto Raptors – They should thank their lucky stars everyone will focus on Atlanta being the only winless team so far.
30. Atlanta Hawks – Hmm, take a team and have five swingmen in Johnson, Childress, Smith, Williams and Harrington. No real point guard and Pachulia as your best front court option it’s going to get ugly. Hawks need a trade for a point guard in a big way.
1. Detroit Pistons – The Pistons are still the only team with one loss. It will be interesting to see how they respond in their next game.
2. Dallas Mavericks – Shelling of the Pistons and Spurs put them into serious talk about a title for the first time since Nash left. The Mavs seem to be on a roll despite inconsistent play from some positions. They are deep enough to overcome the erratic play.
3. San Antonio Spurs – Are already rounding into championship form again, barring injury, it’s hard to see another Western Conference team make the finals.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Winning is now coming with regularity for this once lowly franchise. This team is challenging all preseason assertions that the elite teams in
the East ended after Miami, Detroit and Indy.
5. L.A. Clippers – The sum of the team is finally equal to its parts. The Clipps are getting solid contributions from the bench. When Livingston comes back from his back injury, this team will only become better.
6. Indiana Pacers – Hard to rank them this high, but their record dictates it. It seems that Reggie is missed more than anyone would have guessed. Can Rick Carlisle get them all on the same page like they were pre-brawl? This team is still tattooed with the effects of November 2004.
7. Philadelphia 76ers – C-Webb may just prove to be the lethal 2 punch the Sixers have been searching for since Jerry Stackhouse. Webber appears to be almost, if not totally, back from his injury. This team has stars and depth; it appears that they have finally added maturity by not panicking after the 0-3 start.
8. Memphis Grizzlies – Gasol is a total beast this year. Typical Grizzlies, team effort and a deep rotation make the Grizzlies hard to stop on any given night.
9. Milwaukee Bucks – This team is loaded with talent. The solid starting rotation is backed by a decent bench. Bucks have lost a few in the last week, but I don’t think it will be a trend.
10. Golden State Warriors – Warriors season all hinges on injuries. If there is any such thing as bad luck, the Warriors always seem to get it. Hopefully this is the year they make it back to the post season, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
11. Denver Nuggets – Injury ridden team will have a hard time making any noise come playoff time…..if they even make the playoffs at all. Marcus Camby is playing the best ball of his career to keep the Nuggs in it, but can he do this all year?
12. Miami Heat – Shaq’s absence should not have the Heat reeling like this. Zo has taken up the rebounding and shot blocking slack and most of the scoring absence. The Heat are a better team than what their record has indicated so far, but if they want home court they need to get it in gear.
13. Minnesota Timberwolves – Bye bye KG? If Garnett is dealt, the Wolves need to really do something with the new cap space in the off season. My money is on KG staying in Minny.
14. Phoenix Suns – Barbosa was really pouring in the points…..until he was injured. Marion and Nash need to get this team to the playoffs in the hope Amare will be back and healthy enough to help them do something.
15. New Jersey Nets – Lack of depth is what hurts. This team is going nowhere fast without a trade for some bench players.
16. Washington Wizards – If only they could keep some of the points from blow out wins for other nights. Inconsistent play will have to be remedied for the Wizz to turn around a long losing trend.
17. Seattle Supersonics – Team has kind of turned it around since the shaky start. They need to sort out the front court if they want to compete night in and night out. Players’ complaining about floor time is nothing new to the NBA, neither are losing seasons.
18. Chicago Bulls – Chandler got the money and proceeded to do nothing more to earn it. Think the Bulls wish they had kept Eddy instead?
19. Boston Celtics – Play teams tough but there still isn’t enough firepower around PP to win.
20. Sacramento Kings – So close in so many games this year. It’s time for some new offensive set in Sac town.
21. New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul will get the ROY award if he keeps this up. Unbelievable that Desmond Mason doesn’t play much.
22. L.A. Lakers – Kobe is a great player, it’s to bad the NBA isn’t one on one ball.
23. Utah Jazz – I’ve said it before, injuries are killing the Jazz’s season. This is a good team with everyone healthy. It’s a sad day when your best front court players are Mehmet Okur and Greg Ostertag.
24. Orlando Magic – At least Dwight Howard should get some help from their high draft position this summer.
25. Portland Trailblazers – You get the sense that Portland’s rebuilding won’t work. Not because the young pieces aren’t there, but because the vets on the team are working against them.
26. New York Knicks – Marbury and Brown on the same team? Brilliant! This should entertain all season.
27. Houston Rockets – My biggest disappointment of the year. Houston should have enough depth to win a few with Tmac out. McGrady’s back is the litmus test for this team every game.
28. Charlotte Bobcats – This team may lose a lot of games, but they play hard every night. Young talent makes this team one of the more promising of the next few years.
29. Toronto Raptors – They should thank their lucky stars everyone will focus on Atlanta being the only winless team so far.
30. Atlanta Hawks – Hmm, take a team and have five swingmen in Johnson, Childress, Smith, Williams and Harrington. No real point guard and Pachulia as your best front court option it’s going to get ugly. Hawks need a trade for a point guard in a big way.
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