All Star Weakend Power Rankings
I guess now's as good a time as any to do this, let's have a look at the NBA.
Current overall ranking based on record in brackets. W-L Record in parentheses.
1. [6] L.A. Lakers (38-19) - The Lakers have looked flawed. I think it's all about Pau Gasol, when he plays well the Lakers look like the best team in the league. When he doesn't the Lakers look like they can get beat by the Cavs. Still, I don't think I'll worry about them until they lose 4 games in the playoffs.
2. [3] Miami (41-15) - It will be very interesting to see this team in the playoffs.
3. [8] Orlando (36-21) - The Magic have struggled since making a pair of crazy trades. Hedo has done pretty well, Richardson and Arenas have not fit in well. If they can figure out a way to get everyone involved and on the same page this is the best team in the league. Big if.
4. [13] Utah (31-26) - wtf happened?
5. [4] Dallas (39-16) - Roddy's back, which solves a lot of the Caron Butler injury issue. They're a contender for sure.
6. [7] Oklahoma City (35-19) - Still playing well, still healthy. Still need one more piece to be a championship threat.
7. [2] Boston (40-14) - They look good. The team is much more solid now that Perkins is back.
8. [18] Houston (26-31) - This team is a real mess. Rebuilding mode starts as soon as Yao's contract is gone.
9. [9] Atlanta (34-21) - They are who we thought they were.
10. [10] Portland (32-24) - LaMarcus has become a star, like I always knew he would if the team would run an offense. Roy's story is a sad one, but Aldridge is now the future and he looks good. As much as I love Miller they need to look for a long term PG running mate. Aaron Brooks?
11. [22] Milwaukee (21-34) - This team is better than their record, not the eleventh best in the league, but they'll make a run at a playoff spot.
12. [5] Chicago (37-16) - Derrick Rose has been awesome. If Noah comes back and gives what we're used to seeing from him they're championship caliber.
13. [11] Denver (32-25) - Despite the melodrama they've been winning games. I'd say the odds are about 2:1 that Melo gets traded before the deadline.
14. [17] Phoenix (27-26) - Gortat was a good get, but Vince Carter has been unimaginably awful. Which is saying a lot.
15. [1] San Antonio (46-9) - Yeah yeah, I missed here. The Spurs have done an amazing job bringing up and developing their talent. The Spurs depth has given them the best record in the league while no player has averaged more than 32 minutes per game (Parker).
16. [14] Memphis (31-26) - Conley has fallen off like we knew he would. That contract is hideous. Their best player has been Zach Randolph. I like Z-Bo okay, but that's about as promising as your best player being Monta Ellis.
17. [23] L.A. Clippers (21-35) - The story here is that the future looks bright. As long as Griffin and Gordon can stay healthy for a season together. Oh, and Baron Davis needs to show up a bit more ready to go at the beginning of next season. So, it turns out the Clippers' story is still a tragedy.
18. [11] New Orleans (33-25) - This team still looks full of holes to me, but I'll reserve judgement until Okafor comes back. Also if Monty would figure out that Marcus Thornton is his best shooting guard I think that would help.
19. [17] Philadelphia (27-29) - Running the offense through Iguodala has been a short term boom. However I think this presents the same problems for the rest of the team as running the offense through Roy did in Portland. Really though, if they'd quit giving Lou Williams so much playing time I'd really like the look of this Philly squad going forward.
20. [26] Washington (15-39) - M - E - S - S.
21. [21] Charlotte (24-32) - Silas is definitely better than Larry Brown, but this team still sucks.
22. [30] Cleveland (10-46) - Cavs ain't got no alibi. Shoot for that first pick.
23. [28] Sacramento (13-40) - Let me see if I can help Westphal out. Udrih, Evans, Casspi, Landry, Cousins. That's your starting 5. Thompson, Dalembert and Garcia, when healthy, should see significant minutes off the bench. NOONE ELSE ON YOUR TEAM SHOULD GET ANY REAL BURN! Not Donte Green, not Darnell Jackson, not Luther Head.
24. [19] Indiana (24-30) - This team will be good next year. Even better the year after that. A lineup of Collison, George, Granger, Hansbrough, Hibbert looks pretty good in 2012. But the scary thing about Indiana is not only that they have a nice solid young core, but they will be one of the few teams under the new cap next year. They'll have the flexibility to add pieces and should have a pretty good idea of what they need.
25. [18] New York (28-26) - Their early success was partly a product of a gentle schedule, but they're about a .500 team. And in a good spot to build for next year.
26. [24] New Jersey (17-40) - Avery Johnson should not last long. What happened to Brook Lopez?
27. [23] Detroit (21-36) - Too many albatross contracts from players who are redundant on the squad. Rip and Gordon are similar players, Daye is like a mix between Tayshaun and Villanueva. . . and Kuester is awful. DEEETROIT BASKETBALL!
28. [17] Golden State (26-29) - Dorell Wright has been awesome, thanks to him this team is a lot better than I thought. But still not that good. 3 of their starting 5, Monta, Curry, and Lee, are huge defensive liabilities.
29. [27] Toronto (15-41) - Terrible. Pretty much Detroit, but with street cars.
30. [29] Minnesota (13-43) - In their wildest dreams they're Golden State.
So far I'm off by an average of 4.667. That doesn't seem so great, but it doesn't seem all that bad either, who knows.
If I had to re-rank them right now I'd go:
1. Boston
2. Miami
3. L.A.
4. San Antonio
5. Dallas
6. Orlando
7. Chicago
I don't think anyone else has much of a chance at a championship.
Current overall ranking based on record in brackets. W-L Record in parentheses.
1. [6] L.A. Lakers (38-19) - The Lakers have looked flawed. I think it's all about Pau Gasol, when he plays well the Lakers look like the best team in the league. When he doesn't the Lakers look like they can get beat by the Cavs. Still, I don't think I'll worry about them until they lose 4 games in the playoffs.
2. [3] Miami (41-15) - It will be very interesting to see this team in the playoffs.
3. [8] Orlando (36-21) - The Magic have struggled since making a pair of crazy trades. Hedo has done pretty well, Richardson and Arenas have not fit in well. If they can figure out a way to get everyone involved and on the same page this is the best team in the league. Big if.
4. [13] Utah (31-26) - wtf happened?
5. [4] Dallas (39-16) - Roddy's back, which solves a lot of the Caron Butler injury issue. They're a contender for sure.
6. [7] Oklahoma City (35-19) - Still playing well, still healthy. Still need one more piece to be a championship threat.
7. [2] Boston (40-14) - They look good. The team is much more solid now that Perkins is back.
8. [18] Houston (26-31) - This team is a real mess. Rebuilding mode starts as soon as Yao's contract is gone.
9. [9] Atlanta (34-21) - They are who we thought they were.
10. [10] Portland (32-24) - LaMarcus has become a star, like I always knew he would if the team would run an offense. Roy's story is a sad one, but Aldridge is now the future and he looks good. As much as I love Miller they need to look for a long term PG running mate. Aaron Brooks?
11. [22] Milwaukee (21-34) - This team is better than their record, not the eleventh best in the league, but they'll make a run at a playoff spot.
12. [5] Chicago (37-16) - Derrick Rose has been awesome. If Noah comes back and gives what we're used to seeing from him they're championship caliber.
13. [11] Denver (32-25) - Despite the melodrama they've been winning games. I'd say the odds are about 2:1 that Melo gets traded before the deadline.
14. [17] Phoenix (27-26) - Gortat was a good get, but Vince Carter has been unimaginably awful. Which is saying a lot.
15. [1] San Antonio (46-9) - Yeah yeah, I missed here. The Spurs have done an amazing job bringing up and developing their talent. The Spurs depth has given them the best record in the league while no player has averaged more than 32 minutes per game (Parker).
16. [14] Memphis (31-26) - Conley has fallen off like we knew he would. That contract is hideous. Their best player has been Zach Randolph. I like Z-Bo okay, but that's about as promising as your best player being Monta Ellis.
17. [23] L.A. Clippers (21-35) - The story here is that the future looks bright. As long as Griffin and Gordon can stay healthy for a season together. Oh, and Baron Davis needs to show up a bit more ready to go at the beginning of next season. So, it turns out the Clippers' story is still a tragedy.
18. [11] New Orleans (33-25) - This team still looks full of holes to me, but I'll reserve judgement until Okafor comes back. Also if Monty would figure out that Marcus Thornton is his best shooting guard I think that would help.
19. [17] Philadelphia (27-29) - Running the offense through Iguodala has been a short term boom. However I think this presents the same problems for the rest of the team as running the offense through Roy did in Portland. Really though, if they'd quit giving Lou Williams so much playing time I'd really like the look of this Philly squad going forward.
20. [26] Washington (15-39) - M - E - S - S.
21. [21] Charlotte (24-32) - Silas is definitely better than Larry Brown, but this team still sucks.
22. [30] Cleveland (10-46) - Cavs ain't got no alibi. Shoot for that first pick.
23. [28] Sacramento (13-40) - Let me see if I can help Westphal out. Udrih, Evans, Casspi, Landry, Cousins. That's your starting 5. Thompson, Dalembert and Garcia, when healthy, should see significant minutes off the bench. NOONE ELSE ON YOUR TEAM SHOULD GET ANY REAL BURN! Not Donte Green, not Darnell Jackson, not Luther Head.
24. [19] Indiana (24-30) - This team will be good next year. Even better the year after that. A lineup of Collison, George, Granger, Hansbrough, Hibbert looks pretty good in 2012. But the scary thing about Indiana is not only that they have a nice solid young core, but they will be one of the few teams under the new cap next year. They'll have the flexibility to add pieces and should have a pretty good idea of what they need.
25. [18] New York (28-26) - Their early success was partly a product of a gentle schedule, but they're about a .500 team. And in a good spot to build for next year.
26. [24] New Jersey (17-40) - Avery Johnson should not last long. What happened to Brook Lopez?
27. [23] Detroit (21-36) - Too many albatross contracts from players who are redundant on the squad. Rip and Gordon are similar players, Daye is like a mix between Tayshaun and Villanueva. . . and Kuester is awful. DEEETROIT BASKETBALL!
28. [17] Golden State (26-29) - Dorell Wright has been awesome, thanks to him this team is a lot better than I thought. But still not that good. 3 of their starting 5, Monta, Curry, and Lee, are huge defensive liabilities.
29. [27] Toronto (15-41) - Terrible. Pretty much Detroit, but with street cars.
30. [29] Minnesota (13-43) - In their wildest dreams they're Golden State.
So far I'm off by an average of 4.667. That doesn't seem so great, but it doesn't seem all that bad either, who knows.
If I had to re-rank them right now I'd go:
1. Boston
2. Miami
3. L.A.
4. San Antonio
5. Dallas
6. Orlando
7. Chicago
I don't think anyone else has much of a chance at a championship.
posted by b r christensen at 2/17/2011 03:59:00 PM
2 Comments:
And then that happened.
What I hate most about the NBA: of the 7 teams Brad has listed as potential contenders, 5 of them have won in the past 30 years. And I seriously doubt Orlando is in a position to win this year. Dallas, maybe.
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