Post by tunit213 - Former Rockets on Aug 10, 2010 2:30:57 GMT -5
PRE-SEASON POWER RANKINGS
1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS (1)
P.Gasol(91)-L.Odom(80)-R.Artest(80)-K.Bryant(99)-M.Williams(78)
Although it might have been hard to trade Bynum away, atleast the Lakers can rely on Mo to play more than fifty percent of the games. Plus two time defending champions should say it all.
2. MIAMI HEAT (2)
R.Wallace(75)-L.Scola(77)-L.James(99)-D.Wade(99)-A.Brooks(76)
Trading away Bosh was not the smartest move, but having two of the top three players in the NBA keeps them steady at 2. Scola and Brooks should improve playing alongside possibly the best duo in NBA history.
3. NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (17)
E.Okafor(80)-C.Bosh(92)-S.Marion(75)-T.McGrady(77)-C.Paul(94)
The Hornets made the biggest jump of any team. Smart trading in acquring Bosh and the signing of free agent Mcgrady improves the Hornets from just missing the playoffs to a top 3 team in RSSA. Look for the one two punch of Paul and Bosh to be one of the best in the league.
4. CHICAGO BULLS (5)
J.Noah(80)-T.Gibson(71)-G.Wallace(86)-S.Jackson(84)-D.Rose(88)
Trading Boozer away for two huge upgrades at the 2 and 3 spots make the Bulls more balanced throughout. Watching these five in the open court will be very entertaining. Gibson handled his own at the 4 spot last year, and the improve play of Rose and Noah will make the Bulls a hard team to handle.
5. HOUSTON ROCKETS (11)
Y.Ming(87)-Zach Randolph(84)-T.Ariza(77)-B.Gordon(80)-D.Harris(81)
Houston had a great off-season in basically shipping out Scola, Martin, and Brooks for Randolph, Gordon, and Harris. Gordon and Harris should complement each other on offense well, while Ariza brings the energy and defense. The Rockets went from a team in the middle of the pack to a top 3 seed in the West.
6. DENVER NUGGETS (10)
N.Hilario(77)-A.Harrington(76)-C.Anthony(93)-R.Hamilton(78)-B.Jennings(79)
Im sure it was hard shipping out one of their better players and captains in Chauncy Billups. But throw in the steady play of Hamilton and the up and coming star in Jennings in the lineup alongside Melo and it should create a few mismatches. Doesn’t hurt to have one of the strongest benches in RSSA with Smith, Martin, and Lawson either.
7. SAN ANTONIO SPURS (6)
S.Oneal(77)-T.Duncan(88)-A.Jamison(79)-J.Salmons-(78)-C.Billups(84)
San Antonio is a hard team to judge. They definitely have some firepower but its hard to imagine Billups and Salmons that much more of an upgrade over Parker and Ginobili. But it will be interesting finally seeing Duncan and Shaq on the same team. They should be anywhere from a 2 to 5 seed out West.
8. BOSTON CELTICS (4)
K.Perkins(76)-K.Garnett(87)-J.Howard(77)-R.Allen(83)-J.Wall(80)
First year in many the Celtics took a little dip in the rankings over the off-season. Yeah Wall might turn out to be a superstar, but it will be tough for the Celtics to see Pierce and Rondo not in green and white. If Garnett goes so do the Celtics.
9. UTAH JAZZ (12)
A.Jefferson(86)-P.Millsap(79)-A.Kirilenko(77)-R.Bell(74)-D.Williams(92)
They lose Boozer and add Jefferson. Lose Mathews and add Bell. Although the new GM did not do much to improve the team, they should still compete with the best of them in the West.
10. ATLANTA HAWKS (13)
A.Horford(81)-J.Smith(86)-M.Williams(75)-J.Johnson(88)-M.Bibby(77)
The Hawks are another team that didn’t do much over the off-season. Atlanta, Washington, and Orlando will be going back and forth from the 3, 4, and 5 spots all season long. One thing is for sure, no way will they play that pitiful again when they reach the playoffs.
11. WASHINGTON WIZARDS (24)
D.Howard(93)-U.Haslem(76)-M.Pietrus(72)-A.Iverson(75)-R.Rondo(85)
I give the Washington GM all the credit in the world. Adding Howard, Iverson, and Rondo while only losing Wall and the risky huge contract of Gilbert Arenas is a big bonus. Going from the bottom of the East to right in the smack middle of the race hands the Wizards one of the most successful offseasons in RSSA.
12. ORLANDO MAGIC (3)
B.Haywood(75)-D.West(83)-D.Granger(87)-V.Carter(78)-J.Nelson(76)
Orlando fell off quite a bit in this edition of the power rankings. Yeah Granger is one of the best scorers in the NBA, but hard to fathom trading away one of the best big men in Dwight Howard. Only one way to prove me wrong.
13. PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (9)
M.Camby(79)-L.Aldridge(79)-W.Chandler(76)-B.Roy(88)-A.Miller(77)
Portland finally got tired of playing the waiting game with Greg Oden. Although Camby may be a more consistent option than Oden, its hard to imagine trading away all that potential.
14. PHILADELPHIA SIXERS (18)
A.Bynum(79)-E.Brand(82)-T.Prince(79)-A.Iguodala(86)-J.Flynn(74)
Trading Evan Turner for Andrew Bynum could be a hit or miss. But when you can add a big man of Bynums caliber it makes the Sixers a much more superior team. Plus having Bynum next to Brand may in fact resurrect his career.
15. DALLAS MAVERICKS (7)
T.Chandler(75)-D.Nowitzki(90)-C.Butler(78)-J.Terry(79)-De.West(76)
Chandler at center will be a nice fit alongside Dirk. But it’s as simple as replacing Delonte West with Jason Kidd. In my mind that’s a pretty big downfall.
16. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (16)
C.Kaman(80)-C.Smith(70)-R.Gay(83)-K.Martin(80)-O.Mayo(81)
The Grizzlies will be one of the more entertaining young teams to watch. They can even sub Battier for Smith and try some small ball. Either way they should compete with Dallas and Oklahoma City for the eighth seed.
17. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (8)
N.Krstic(71)-J.Green(76)-K.Durant(90)-T.Sefolosha(72)-R.Westbrook(82)
Oklahoma City is such a bubble team. They played so well in the playoffs against the Lakers. They have good young talent but didn’t do anything to improve their team. Although it’s all about growth in Oklahoma City, theres only one direction for the Thunder to go up.
18. MILWAUKEE BUCKS (14)
A.Bogut(81)-A.McDyess(71)-C.Magette(79)-M.Ginobili(81)-T.Parker(82)
I'm sure it was hard getting rid of Jennings, but Parker and Ginobili give the Bucks a solid backcourt to team with Bogut. Only reason they fall a bit here is because many teams in the East have gotten better. Should still sneak into the playoffs.
19. PHOENIX SUNS (15)
C.Frye-(76)-H.Turkoglu(76)-J.Childress(75)-J.Richardson(81)-S.Nash(87)
Phoenix didn’t do much this off-season. They lost Amare Stoudamire, and Nash is on the decline. I see them slipping slightly while the other teams out West improved.
20. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (21)
A.Biedrins(76)-D.Lee(85)-D.Wright(72)-M.Ellis(83)-S.Curry(83)
The biggest off-season move in the Bay Area was not the signing of David Lee, but the much needed new owners. This team desperately needed new ownership, and now with that and a new GM the Warriors are finally looking good. They have some very nice pieces, but I don’t see them making the playoffs quite yet.
21. NEW JERSEY NETS (26)
B.Lopez(81)-D.Favors(78)-P.Pierce(85)-C.Lee(75)-B.Udrich(75)
New Jersey had a nice off-season this year and should not come close to the pitiful season of 09-10. Nice young pieces in Lopez, Favors, and Lee surrounded by the veteran savvy of Paul Pierce will make the Nets compete night in and night out.
22. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (23)
M.Gasol(82)-B.Griffin(78)-X.Henry(74)-E.Gordon(77)-Baron Davis(82)
Gasol brings that gritty aggressiveness that the Clippers lacked last year. Gordon should be much improved, while we finally get to see how good Blake Griffin really is. I see the Clippers improving slightly.
23. NEW YORK KNICKS (19)
A.Stoudemire(89)-A.Randolph(74)-D.Gallinari(75)-R.Felton(77)-J.Kidd(77)
Amare Stoudemire up front and Jason Kidd running the show significantly improves the Knicks. Anthony Randolph could have a breakout year. Things are looking up in New York. Only reason they slip slightly is because the Eastern Conference has gotten much better.
24. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (27)
G.Oden(78)-C.Landry(79)-E.Turner(80)-M.Redd(78)-T.Ford(75)
Cleveland definitely had one of the best off-seasons to date. Especially for a team that lost Lebron and had nothing to look forward too. That all changed with the addition of youngsters Greg Oden and Evan Turner. Look for the Cavs to rise every season from here on out.
25. SACRAMENTO KINGS (22)
D.Cousins(77)-A.Blatche(77)-O.Casspi(73)-T.Evans(83)-K.Hinrich(77)
The Kings are going to be a very entertaining team. Draft pick DeMarcus Cousins and Rookie of the Year Tyreke Evans will play very well off each other. The addition of Andre Blatche who had a breakout season last year creates a solid foundation. They aren’t yet ready to compete but the future looks really bright in Sacrmaneto.
26. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (20)
C.Boozer(88)-B.Diaw(77)-L.Deng(77)-A.Morrow(73)-D.Augustin(71)
The Bobcats won 44 games last season then this summer traded away a few key pieces in Jackson and Wallace. Hard to see the Bobcats improving on what they did last year. Will be interesting to see what happens.
27. INDIANA PACERS (25)
J.O'Neal(76)-D.Blair(74)-M.Beasley(77)-P.Goerge(73)-G.Arenas(84)
The Pacers gave away one of the best scorers in the NBA for a very risky Gilbert Arenas. Insert Beasley into their starting lineup and you got a pretty entertaining team. Only problem is its for the wrong reasons.
28. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (30)
K. Love(77)-T. Murphy(79)-W. Johnson(76)-J. Anderson(70)-L. Williams(75)
The Timberwolves have some talent. A nice duo in Kevin Love and draft pick Wesley Johnson, Minnesota has something nice to build around. They have a long way to go, but it’s a start.
29. DETROIT PISTONS (28)
G.Monroe(76)-P.Patterson(75)-T.Young(75)R.Stuckey(76)-J.Holiday(73)
Detroit will be hard pressed to win games this season. But they actually have some nice and very young pieces throughout their starting lineup. With 35 million dollars of cap space next season, they will have a good shot at making some moves.
30. TORONTO RAPTORS (29)
A.Bargnani(76)-A.Johnson(71)-L.Kleiza(70)-D.DeRozan(71)-J.Jack(74)
Toronto is just plain bad. Will be interesting to see if they hit the double digit win mark.