30. New Jersey Nets (4-48)
The Nets are awful. Nuff said.
29. Golden State Warriors (14-37)
As much as I hate to put my second favorite NBA team this low, they honestly deserve it. Nelly has got a rag tag group of youngsters and fake-tanning foreigners, and I think all the scotch drinking he does in my mind before and during games isn't helping. Stephen Curry is pretty sweet though, and Monta Ellis could be a bright spot on any team, no matter how bad.
28. Washington Wizards (17-33)
After losing Gilbert (Gibbert) Arenas for the year for his gun play in the locker room, the already terrible Wizards will most likely be big sellers at the deadline, which will make them fully deserve a spot this low in the Power Rankings.
27. Detroit Pistons (18-33)
The Pistons are the worst they have been in a long time. With Rip Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince and Ben Gordon battling injuries all year and Charlie Villanueva showing everyone just how average he actually is, Rodney Stuckey is the only thing keeping this team even watchable. A loss to Sacramento at home just before the break puts DE-TROIT BAS-KET-BALL! below the Kings at the break. Yikes.
26. Sacramento Kings (18-34)
If the Kings could play the Nuggets every game, they would be a dynamite team. Unfortunately for the Kings, them and the Nuggets only played three times this year, and they don't play anymore. Tyreke Evans is a Rookie of the Year candidate who I think could legitimately bring basketball excitement back to a fanbase that, in its glory days, was one of the most rabid in the league.
25. Indiana Pacers (18-34)
I feel bad for Danny Granger. He is stuck in Indiana with a bunch of white guys and a depressed fanbase. He could be so good on a contender. I just hope he doesn't end up as irrelevant in his career as the Pacers have become in the NBA. I honestly can't think of a franchise in this league I care less about than the Indiana Pacers.
24. Minnesota Timberwolves (13-40)
You might think that the Wolves should be much lower. Me, I'm not so sure. I think a win at Denver earlier this year was a flash of how good this team of talented, untamed youngsters can be. Kevin Love, Corey Brewer and Jonny Flynn make up an interesting core of youngsters. I still don't know if Al Jefferson fits on this team, but I think they have much more potential than any team below them on this list.
23. New York Knicks (19-32)
The Knicks have shown flashes of competency this year (like against Miami on Christmas), and I will tend to give a team the regular season benefit of the doubt when they are coached by Mike D'Antoni. When the chips are down though, this team is going nowhere.
22. Philadelphia 76ers (20-32)
The Northeast Division's futility continues with another underachieving franchise in the 76ers. It still remains to be seen whether or not they will trade Andre Iguodala or not, but either way, this team is still stuck with a woefully average and overpaid Elton Brand, who is kind of a microcosm for their whole team. Hey Elton, do you think 14.4 ppg and 6.5 rpg is what you're getting all that money for? Oops.
21. Los Angeles Clippers (21-31)
But wait, the Pacific Division retorts to the Northeast: "Don't forget about us, we are 3/5ths notably bad teams as well. However, in the Clippers defense, they are a snakebitten franchise (Blake Griffin is the latest piece of evidence there), and they do have some really good players that are caught in a trap of the Clipper curse. In my opinion, this team needs to trade Marcus Camby while they can still get something for him, as they are a long shot for the playoffs.
20. Milwaukee Bucks (24-27)
The 20th and 19th spots on the list came down to Milwaukee and Miami. It was an easy decision, as Miami has Dwyane Wade and Milwaukee doesn't. However, if Milwaukee can keep developing Brandon Jennings and build themselves through the draft another few years, they could be in the playoffs sooner rather than later. Andrew Bogut putting up 16 and 10 a game helps as well. These are not #1 overall numbers, but the Bucks are kind of snakebitten as well in my opinion. They passed on Deron Williams, Chris Paul, Andrew Bynum, and Danny Granger among others in the 2005 Draft to get Bogut. Sad...
19. Miami Heat (26-27)
As I wrote in my playoff predictions blog, I don't like to bet against a team with a player like Dwyane Wade on it. However, he needs some help. This shows just how much better the Western Conference is, that Miami is going to be a playoff team and they are 19th in the Power Rankings. There are going to be some teams in the West that are much better, complete teams than Miami that will miss the playoffs. Sad...
18. New Orleans Hornets (28-25)
With Chris Paul out, this is the highest the Hornets can hope to get on my Power Rankings. They still have a pretty good team without Chris Paul, but they were underachieving WITH him, so the Hornets just seem to fit into this spot. It will be interesting to see how their year turns out, but I don't see it ending with the playoffs.
17. Chicago Bulls (25-26)
This is just another sad case of an Eastern Conference playoff team being outside of the 16 best teams in the league as a whole. Although the Bulls are VERY dangerous if they pull it all together. Derrick Rose is a legitimate game changer at the point, and they have most of the pieces they had last year (minus Ben Gordon, which hurts) when they took the Celtics to the limit. If Vinny Del Negro can pull this team together, they could be VERY interesting in the playoffs. Yes, that's two all caps VERY's in my analysis of #17. I LOVE THIS GAME!
16. Houston Rockets (27-24)
The Rockets are one of two teams in their division (the Southwest, also the best in the leauge) that are better than Eastern Conference playoff teams but won't make the playoffs in the West. While a lot of teams underachieve, the Rockets are probably the most overachieving team in the league. The fact that they remain relatively competitive with their roster is outstanding. They are made up of under-the-radar, under-hyped hidden jewels that play every game hard and work their asses off. It's sad they won't make the playoffs.
15. Memphis Grizzlies (26-25)
Oh, and here's the second Southwest team that is better than Miami and Chicago and is about equal to Charlotte and will most likely miss the playoffs. I had to put the Grizzlies below the Bobcats because Charlotte has more veteran leadership than Memphis, who is made up of high draft picks from several different drafts who are finally starting to learn to put their egos aside a bit and play together with their teammates. They should be one of the most interesting teams to watch down the stretch.
14. Charlotte Bobcats (26-25)
Stephen Jackson makes the Bobcats a lot better. His do-anything-to-win attitude is becoming contagious in Charlotte. Add this to the fact that there seems to be no rebound Gerald Wallace can't get, and you've got quite a dangerous team. If they can get a legit power forward before the trade deadline, and Larry Brown could really have something exciting on his hands. Watch out NBA! Charlotte is coming back to the playoffs, and they've ditched their ineffective stingers for claws and teeth. (What a metaphor!)
13. Portland Trail Blazers (31-24)
This is the highest I can put a team without a true Center and that has played 2-4 games more than almost every team in the league already. Right now they are in the playoffs because they have played more games than Houston or Memphis. I'd like to see Houston or Memphis make the playoffs more than Portland, but i think Brandon Roy will get the Blazers in. It's going to be a turbulent March and April for Blazers fans.
12. San Antonio Spurs (30-21)
The Spurs (without Tony Parker) showed just how good they can still be on Thursday night in Denver. They ran efficient, effective offense and played solid D to force the Nuggets into several bad shots. You have to wonder how a team like this will hold up down the stretch compared to the next few teams I rank ahead of them. The Spurs are OLD. Hopefully for their fans they won't show it too much over the last 2 months of the season.
11. Dallas Mavericks (32-20)
The Mavericks are banged up. They are barely holding onto their lead in the best division in the league. They are going to continue to play hard games against every other team in their division and the rest of the superior Western Conference for the next two months. I think they need to take a rest in the #11 spot to try to get themselves together. An embarrassing loss in Denver on Tuesday and a loss at home to the Timberwolves have been the lowlights of the season so far. Hopefully for Mark Cuban, they can get it together for the playoff push.
10. Boston Celtics (32-18)
The Celtics are starting to show their age, BAD. They are like the Eastern Conference version of the Spurs: old with a high ceiling and low floor. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen are still capable of carrying a team deep into the playoffs, providing they stay healthy, and they seem to be on about their last legs. Rondo, Perkins and the rest of the role players are going to have to be huge for this team to do anything of substance.
9. Toronto Raptors (29-23)
The Raptors have been playing inspired basketball lately, and it seems like they are trying to put on their best show for Chris Bosh. I still think Bosh leaves after this season if he doesn't get traded first, which he might not now. The Raptors still have playoff experience on their roster, and if the Celtics continue to slip, Toronto could be looking at home court in the first round. I don't know where they will end up, but it should be fun to watch.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-21)
As a Nuggets fan, this Thunder team scares the crap out of me. They are SO good against the Nuggets, who happen to be the best team in their division. They were even good against the Nuggets last year when they had a terrible record. This team is damn good, young, untested, fun having and they have one of the most dynamic players ever leading them, and he's only 21 years old. At his core, Kevin Durant is a winner, and I think that will help Oklahoma City make the playoffs and be dangerous.
7. Phoenix Suns (31-22)
I have to put the Suns ahead of the Thunder because they are so much more tested and veteran-laden than OKC. Nash is still a dynamite leader at 36 years old. Amare Stoudemire can be one of the best bigmen in the league if he cares enough, which he usually does when Phoenix is good. They have the ability to beat teams like the Nuggets, and they also have the ability to lose to Chicago at home. They can't get complacent.
6. Utah Jazz (32-19)
The Jazz have been on a tear lately, despite a humbling home loss to the Lakers. They are still one of the hardest teams to beat in their building in the league. There's something about being surrounded by Mormons in bright green seats that is just unsettling to opposing teams. However, I am not sold on the Jazz, and I think 6th is the highest they'll reach.
5. Atlanta Hawks (33-18)
The Hawks seem to be pulling it all together this season, and they are going to be dangerous in the playoffs as a 3 or 4 seed. If they meet the Celtics, they will for sure blow by them, however, they are not at the Cavaliers or Magic's level. They have two more chances to try to prove themselves against Cleveland before the playoffs and one more at home against Orlando. I really like their playoff experience on their roster. It will turn out to be one of their greatest assets down the stretch. Who would have thought even 5 years ago that the Hawks would have some of the most playoff experience in the league this year?
4. Orlando Magic (36-18)
The Magic have proven themselves better than the Celtics and Hawks this year, and they still have two more nationally televised games against Cleveland in the last two months to test themselves before the playoffs. However, Hedo Turkoglu was big for them in their Eastern Conference Finals triumph over the LeBrons. The Cavs have also added Shaq to throw at Dwight Howard. I think Rashard Lewis and Jameer Nelson need to be huge for this team for them to do well.
3. Denver Nuggets (35-18)
When the Nuggets play at their best, they might very well be the best team in this league. They have proven themselves against the Lakers and Cavs so far this year with flying colors. However, sometimes George Karl can have trouble motivating this group, and when they are unmotivated and/or playing a bad team, they tend to lower their game to match that level. It is their Achilles heal: not being able to get up for non-marquee games. Chauncey Billups definitely helps with that. Hopefully the Nuggs are saving their best for the playoffs, which just might be based on how they've played in nationally televised games this year with big stakes. I'm excited for the playoffs. A lot.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (41-13)
It's hard for me to put the Lakers at #2 when they have lost all four of their games against the other two teams in the top 3, but until the Nuggets beat them in the playoffs, the Lakers are still the team to beat in the West. They have also been known to save their best basketball for the playoffs, which is understandable since they have some older players on their roster and Kobe is banged up right now. I think they are destined for a Western Conference Finals rematch with the Nuggets, and it should be a slugfest. Excitement!
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (43-11)
The Cavs have proven to be the consistently best team in the league this year. LeBron James is an unquestioned superstar leader, and Shaq brings an extra edge to the table. The rest of their players are experienced and know what it takes to win in the playoffs now, after not having enough of it last year. Cleveland is the team to beat in the East and the league right now. Yeah I said it, CLEVELAND, not defending champion LA is the team to beat right now. Screw you, Lakers.
(I wouldn't mind if all of my bloggings about the NBA ended with the phrase "Screw you, Lakers")
Don't you think George Karl learned that pushing for the best record in the regular season is about as important as learning how to write with your left hand. The man is responsible for the first ever eight seed beating a one seed when he had the best record with the Sonics, then the next year getting upset again by a lower seed. Of course, it'd be great if the Nuggets beat the teams they should kill, but the good news is that the less than stellar teams aren't going to be in the playoffs. We'll be fine, unless we play OKC, yikes that team IS scary. I hope the Nuggets struggles with them has more to do with not respecting them as a threat than the Thunder are better than the Nuggets.
ReplyDeleteAlso I vote that you end every sentence, in life and this blog, with "Screw you, Lakers"