Since we are officially one eighth of the way through the pro-basketball season, now seems like a sensible time to review my power rankings of the NBA. Given how my preseason ratings seem to have been good for predicting just about nothing to come out of the season so far, you’ll notice a lot of change between this and previous set of ratings Hey, what did you expect. I’m a rank amateur putting together criticism of highly complicated sports franchises, based on little more than box scores and my own limited television viewing. Still I shall endeavor to provide at least little glimpses of information and insight you can’t normally get from most other power rankings.
I. Sun-
Detroit Pistons- Many commentators have determined that it must be some positive influence of Flip Saunders that has the Pistons sizzling on offense. Don’t buy the hype the starting five have always played their hardest when they had something to prove.
II. Jupiter-
San Antonio Spurs- Right now they look like a team that’s trying to cruise to the playoffs on their talent and depth. Not to say it won’t work, but their lack of motivation has earned them a demotion on my list.
III. Earth-
Miami Heat – I thought Shaq’s injury would push them down to the Uranus tier. Give the credit for their survival to Wade and ‘Zo.
Indiana Pacers- They have a mix of great wins and horrible losses, but they’re looking very good for the long haul. I’ll take their wins over the Heat and the Nets over that puzzling loss to the Bucks.
Cleveland Cavaliers- When LBJ has his opponents asking to see his birth certificate like in little league, that to me is a good sign his arrival is on.
IV. Saturn-
Los Angeles Clippers- Their ownership was happy to have a losing team for so many years, that I wonder if the new winning Clips have the ownership saddened. Shades of The Producers.
Dallas Mavericks- Dirk and the boys may be threatening to take one of the top two tiers. Not just for being the only team with wins over both the Spurs and the Pistons, but also the only team who is in the top-five in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
Minnesota Timberwolves- Things on Kevin McHale’s to do list: 1) Buy Michael Olowakandi a nice present, something from Bath and Body 2) Reassure the fourth best player in the league that I am not stupid enough to trade him, so he’ll go back to giving 100% on the court.
V. Venus-
Denver Nuggets- I have been shifting through some plus/minus data and it does seem that one of the best things the Nuggets could do to improve their record is to bench K-Mart. Explaining why the evidence indicates this is a hard task, but my guess is that Martin hasn’t been playing defense. See Denver leads the association in defensive efficiency, but is in the bottom 10 in offensive efficiency, suggesting that a score-first power forward that has long been criticized for his lack of toughness may not be their biggest asset right now.
Washington Wizards- I don’t know how much dire the difference between your road and home games can be than when you go from scoring 130+ in regulation at the MCI center than bombing three on the road. Who can say “consistency”?
Milwaukee Bucks- My love for their hot start has been tempered by some shaky performances since. How do you never get the lead against the Kings? This is the NBA we’re talking about right?
VI. Mars-
Philadelphia 76ers- Want to know the secret of Philly’s resurgence after a horrible start? Ball control. Just look at how few turnovers they’ve given up over the last few games, pretty impressive.
Los Angeles Lakers- It’s been a shaking start so far, but I still believe. That and I’ll take any excuse to praise a man called Smush.
Golden State Warriors- This team is making up for its sub-par offense with some suffocating D. I’ve got my eye on whether a major hot streak or major injury comes first.
New Jersey Nets- Carter and Kidd haven’t been nearly as destructive a twosome as they were last April, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt for a few more weeks.
VII. Mercury-
Boston Celtics- I’ve watched them twice already and both games they looked great. Except in both games they got outgunned by a superior Eastern team, I don’t expect them to last long at this rate.
Chicago Bulls- They did catch fire late in the season last year, but this opening screams mediocre more than underachieving.
Memphis Grizzlies- You could argue they belong in a higher tier, but I can’t think of the team without the image of Shane Battier’s bleeding head rushing into my mind. I’m sorry but that just shakes my confidence in a team that plays in the same division as three of the most physical teams in the league.
VIII. Neptune-
Portland Trailblazers- I hear the people in Portland want some good news. It seems the new sheriff has brought in a new sense of discipline; the Blazers aren’t giving away as many cheap fouls.
Phoenix Suns- I don’t know what to say here except that everyone in Arizona should just hold out hope until Amare comes back. As much as I have criticized him in the past, it’s clear the offense just isn’t as stellar without him.
Orlando Magic- Their faith in their developing young talent is the only thing that has them up here instead of out on Pluto.
Seattle Sonics- For a team that caused a real stir last season largely off of their determination to go after the boards, it seems all those offensive rebounds they're giving up are really hurting them this season.
IX. Uranus-
New York Knicks- I’m calling shenanigans on their wins so far, they still are dead last in offensive efficiency. Steph says he wants to stop playing point. It seems to me he hasn’t been a table setter yet in his career, so why start now?
Utah Jazz- They never can get all their cylinders firing at once, between injuries and apathy. It makes me wonder if we’re witnessing the beginnings of “The Curse of the Mailman”.
Houston Rockets- You can blame their bad performance on Yao’s fouls or T-Mac’s back. I think it may have something to do with their terrible rebounding of late.
Sacramento Kings- How shocking is it that Brad Miller may be the best player at the center position in the Western conference so far? How troubling is it that even with that on their side the Kings still look dreadful?
X. Pluto-
Charlotte Bobcats- These ‘Cats are doing okay for the players they have. Being last in the league in effective field goal percentage is not a good sign though.
New Orleans Hornets- Two points: 1) I’m still calling them the “New Orleans Hornets” as a gesture of solidarity with the recovering city. 2) Despite the Oklahoma City home crowd and their enthusiastic support, this team is still a long way from the postseason.
Atlanta Hawks- So . . . Joe Johnson. He hardly seems worth a major infight between the team ownership at this point does he.
Toronto Raptors- With the chip Vinsanity left on their shoulder last season officially spent, this team is officially done.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment