Post by Boston Celtics on Jul 7, 2007 13:48:32 GMT
December 30th: Power Rankings
1.
DETROIT PISTONS (23-5)
Continuity must be a great thing, if you're looking for wins. Detroit has made no changes whatsoever to it's team and the chemistry has clearly paid off. On a current four game win streak, the Pistons lead the toughest division in the league. They can't afford to slip up, however, the Cavs and Bulls are just a few games behind.
2.
HOUSTON ROCKETS (23-7)
The Rockets stand atop the South West Division. McGrady and Yao are managing to dominate a division that should be a lot more competitive and recently slipped past Phoenix into top spot in the West. To succeed this much in such a tough atmosphere, the Rockets must be doing something right!
3.
PHOENIX SUNS (22-8)
The troublesome Pacific division is basically Phoenix's backyard. The only thing separating them from Houston is one win and the fact they play in a relatively easier division. Kirilenko has adjusted to the Suns pace and his defensive presence has been felt in their current three game win streak.
4.
CHICAGO BULLS (22-9)
For the first time this season you can put Chicago ahead of Cleveland in the championship stakes without feeling guilty! Chicago have looked awesome on paper (compared to the Cavs) and, until now, the paper hasn't added up to wins. Seven wins in a row however make Chicago the first team to truly look like challenging Detroit's hegemony in the East.
5.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (22-8)
Just how strong does the Central Division look? Three of their teams make up the Top 5 and the Cavaliers round it out. Two recent losses have jeapardized their chances slightly, but it's impossible to ignore the dominance they've established despite technically only being a one man team on paper.
6.
ORLANDO MAGIC (22-10)
Every team in the South East could lay a claim for this position, and it's credit to the Magic for continually holding onto this spot despite the threat of other amply talented teams within close proximity. Even Atlanta, 12 games behind Orlando, should be pushing for South East dominance but still Dwight and co. are lording it.
7.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (18-12)
With a league tied seven highest game winning streak, the Spurs are looking like the dominant team they should and along with the Rockets are making the Dallas's of this world look poor. Without making a single change the Spurs are, of course, contending again after a shaky season start.
8.
DENVER NUGGETS (18-10)
After a bad start to the season the Nuggets are looking like their old selves. Five wins in a row has propelled them to the top of the North West division, a division that suddenly looks a lot stronger than it started out. With the Nuggets GM listening to offers for AI and 'Melo all of a sudden though, who knows what the future holds? But an 8 week injury to Carmelo might already show us.
9.
UTAH JAZZ (17-14)
Right behind the Nuggets in the North West we have the rejuvinated Jazz. With a lineup that fails to resemble anything of the one which started the season, you kinda get the feeling that when a team this underrated starts meshing they could eclipse their division.
10.
MIAMI HEAT (18-12)
A great swathe of trades have passed through the Miami ranks, but still Dwyane Wade remains to lead his team. However swapping higher talent for mediocrity (the Heat now have 11 players rated in the 70s) is never a route to success and hopefully the Heat GM knows this. The South East should be more competitive than it looks and Miami are going to have to do everything they can to stay in contention with Orlando.
11.
TORONTO RAPTORS (18-14)
It's not hard to succeed in the Atlantic Division at the moment, and that's what separates the Raptors from the Heat. Very few changes have been made recently but Toronto are having trouble getting their act together and have lost the last two.
12.
NEW JERSEY NETS (16-14)
It should take no problems for the Nets to achieve a playoff spot this year, hopefully their soft division wont stop them playing hard when they get there, but you kinda feel that New Jersey still needs more pieces for the puzzle before they do. A team like the Nets should be dominating the Atlantic.
13.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (15-14)
It's possible that the Clippers GM is merely an apparition, that there isn't actually a GM running the team but a highly sophisticated coincidence in space and time and matter, such has been the silent running of the Clips. Who is this guy?
14.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (13-14)
Since Shaquille O'Neal arrived in cold Minneapolis things have been on the up for the TWolves. They're doing quite well, mid-way down the Western Conference, they'll be competing for one of the last playoff spots atleast.
15.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (14-18)
The Warriors just took on-board some nasty-sized salaries. But they now also have an intimidating front-court duo in Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph. With Iguodala on board and a proper point guard, Ridnour, in the mix, with a little time to settle the Warriors might've hit on something good and who knows where Seattle's 1st rounder will land in June! For now though, they're slightly mediocre.
16.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (14-16)
Maybe there's no chemistry, maybe there's not enough depth, but this team should be headed somewhere better than here. Recent poor form has led the Wizards GM to even put Arenas on the block, which may not be entirely a bad thing considering Agent 0 hasn't been enough so far.
17.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (13-17)
The Mavericks are gradually clawing their way back up the power rankings and it's hard to imagine them stopping here, you kinda have the feeling that with Baron Davis, DPOY (IRL) Marcus Camby and Lamar Odom accompanying Mavericks hero Dirk Nowitzki it was always just a matter of time before they started some sort of push in the West.
18.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (12-18)
What's this? An underachieving team in the South East? Another one? With the aquisiton of Paul Pierce to add to their roster, it's clear the Bobcats are pursuing life in the present, not the future, and they're doing it without golden-boy Emeka Okafor. Can the back court make up for the Bobcats deficiencies in the paint, though?
19.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (12-17)
Giving players time to gel is important in Live 07, it gives them time to live up to their full potential, and New Orleans haven't made a trade for a long time! It seems odd then that the Hornets are only three games above Memphis, they've a team of perfectly good role-players alongside Chris Paul. But when you consider it, that's all they are, role-players living up to their full potential. Will New Orleans make any more moves as the season progresses? I hope so!
20.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (14-17)
After a flurry of trading, including the aquisition of Kobe Bryant, it seems Kobe is surrounded by the same sort of team he left in Los Angeles: one that doesn't look like it's going anywhere. The only reason they're not in a lower position than here is because of their win/loss record to date, which was earned by a different bunch of players. I mean, who's the second option in Portland? Jamaal Magloire? Ouch!
21.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (13-18)
Hats off to the Bucks who've managed to go ahead of Indiana in the massively stacked Central Division. The problem is, being where they are, it'll probably be one or two years before they've any hope of reaching the playoffs, Shawn Marion or not!
22.
SACRAMENTO KINGS (11-17)
Sacramento are doing ok given that the only asset they've aquired this year is Atlanta's 1st rounder (at the expense of Ron Artest). The lineup, now featuring Josh Childress, appears to be doing a lot better than expected, which is great for the Kings GM because moving players like Bibby or Brad Miller must be a tough sell. The Kings could push for the playoffs this year, but they could also catapult themselves into contention with a decent draft pick.
23.
INDIANA PACERS (13-19)
They began the season as one of the Top 10 ranked teams, holding their own even in the central division. But as the season's ground on and we enter our third month, the Pacers don't look to be challenging anybody anytime soon. Currently on a 4 game slide and with a lineup of 70somethings, can they still challenge for the East's Top 8? Or are they lottery fodder?
24.
BOSTON CELTICS (10-18)
After a steady, prudent start the Celtics have made a lot of changes recently, but will they be better for Boston?
25.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (11-20)
The Sonics have a brilliant backcourt in Gordon, Redd and Lewis at small forward. They'll have no trouble challenging teams from the perimeter! Without a dominant inside threat though, and no draft pick for the Summer (held by Golden State), where are Seattle headed at the bottom of the North West?
26.
ATLANTA HAWKS (10-18)
For a long time now I've been keeping an eye on the Hawks progress after they made a series of brilliant trades in one week to help their team in the present, rather than the future (they gave their first rounder to Sacramento). But the little changes that looked like gems, bringing in Artest and Jefferson, just haven't seemed to have worked out. Or maybe Artest is screwing around with chemistry again? Who knows! The Hawks are on a four game slide.
27.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (9-21)
You have to give credit to the new Lakers GM. Taking on a team decimated by an incompetent GM (that Bosnian fellow), shedding some hideous salaries and aquiring youth (Monta Ellis) in the process. Los Angeles wont be pushing for the playoffs anytime soon, but their fans can rest easy for a change. After Kupchak and 'Bosnian-dude' they deserve it!
28.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (9-20)
There are the usual modes of analysis you go through when creating a Power Rankings and one of them is factoring-in each team's division before ranking them. That being the case, the Sixers (being in the Atlantic) perhaps should be higher, but after the Iverson and Webber debacle in real life there really wasn't much hope for the Sixers on paper. With new guy Jason Richardson out injured too, what else could go wrong? Atleast though, unlike many other teams, Philly's got a future they're looking forward to!
29.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (9-21)
Remember how Pau Gasol was lighting up the league at the beginning of the year? Well... he got traded. And then Baron Davis came in and... he got traded. And now the fans in Memphis have Carlos Boozer as their go-to guy, which aint great for the time being. Next year however, incorporating Live 08's ratings, Boozer is a 20/10 guy and will rise, no doubt to the high 80s. Plus not even EA could've overlooked Millsap and Foye's potential. Memphis is a team looking forward.
30.
NEW YORK KNICKS (9-23)
I was thinking that perhaps the less I say would be best. The Knicks are bottom of the league and on a 7 game slide and have just released Grant Hill. What more can you say? But there are no riots in Madison Square Garden, no bloodthirsty packs of Ewing worshippers beying for the Knicks GM's scalp. And that's because the current GM has lambasted every shred of evidence left over from Isiah Thomas' bizarre reign and, at last, the premier market of the NBA has a future.
1.
DETROIT PISTONS (23-5)
Continuity must be a great thing, if you're looking for wins. Detroit has made no changes whatsoever to it's team and the chemistry has clearly paid off. On a current four game win streak, the Pistons lead the toughest division in the league. They can't afford to slip up, however, the Cavs and Bulls are just a few games behind.
2.
HOUSTON ROCKETS (23-7)
The Rockets stand atop the South West Division. McGrady and Yao are managing to dominate a division that should be a lot more competitive and recently slipped past Phoenix into top spot in the West. To succeed this much in such a tough atmosphere, the Rockets must be doing something right!
3.
PHOENIX SUNS (22-8)
The troublesome Pacific division is basically Phoenix's backyard. The only thing separating them from Houston is one win and the fact they play in a relatively easier division. Kirilenko has adjusted to the Suns pace and his defensive presence has been felt in their current three game win streak.
4.
CHICAGO BULLS (22-9)
For the first time this season you can put Chicago ahead of Cleveland in the championship stakes without feeling guilty! Chicago have looked awesome on paper (compared to the Cavs) and, until now, the paper hasn't added up to wins. Seven wins in a row however make Chicago the first team to truly look like challenging Detroit's hegemony in the East.
5.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (22-8)
Just how strong does the Central Division look? Three of their teams make up the Top 5 and the Cavaliers round it out. Two recent losses have jeapardized their chances slightly, but it's impossible to ignore the dominance they've established despite technically only being a one man team on paper.
6.
ORLANDO MAGIC (22-10)
Every team in the South East could lay a claim for this position, and it's credit to the Magic for continually holding onto this spot despite the threat of other amply talented teams within close proximity. Even Atlanta, 12 games behind Orlando, should be pushing for South East dominance but still Dwight and co. are lording it.
7.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS (18-12)
With a league tied seven highest game winning streak, the Spurs are looking like the dominant team they should and along with the Rockets are making the Dallas's of this world look poor. Without making a single change the Spurs are, of course, contending again after a shaky season start.
8.
DENVER NUGGETS (18-10)
After a bad start to the season the Nuggets are looking like their old selves. Five wins in a row has propelled them to the top of the North West division, a division that suddenly looks a lot stronger than it started out. With the Nuggets GM listening to offers for AI and 'Melo all of a sudden though, who knows what the future holds? But an 8 week injury to Carmelo might already show us.
9.
UTAH JAZZ (17-14)
Right behind the Nuggets in the North West we have the rejuvinated Jazz. With a lineup that fails to resemble anything of the one which started the season, you kinda get the feeling that when a team this underrated starts meshing they could eclipse their division.
10.
MIAMI HEAT (18-12)
A great swathe of trades have passed through the Miami ranks, but still Dwyane Wade remains to lead his team. However swapping higher talent for mediocrity (the Heat now have 11 players rated in the 70s) is never a route to success and hopefully the Heat GM knows this. The South East should be more competitive than it looks and Miami are going to have to do everything they can to stay in contention with Orlando.
11.
TORONTO RAPTORS (18-14)
It's not hard to succeed in the Atlantic Division at the moment, and that's what separates the Raptors from the Heat. Very few changes have been made recently but Toronto are having trouble getting their act together and have lost the last two.
12.
NEW JERSEY NETS (16-14)
It should take no problems for the Nets to achieve a playoff spot this year, hopefully their soft division wont stop them playing hard when they get there, but you kinda feel that New Jersey still needs more pieces for the puzzle before they do. A team like the Nets should be dominating the Atlantic.
13.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (15-14)
It's possible that the Clippers GM is merely an apparition, that there isn't actually a GM running the team but a highly sophisticated coincidence in space and time and matter, such has been the silent running of the Clips. Who is this guy?
14.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (13-14)
Since Shaquille O'Neal arrived in cold Minneapolis things have been on the up for the TWolves. They're doing quite well, mid-way down the Western Conference, they'll be competing for one of the last playoff spots atleast.
15.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (14-18)
The Warriors just took on-board some nasty-sized salaries. But they now also have an intimidating front-court duo in Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph. With Iguodala on board and a proper point guard, Ridnour, in the mix, with a little time to settle the Warriors might've hit on something good and who knows where Seattle's 1st rounder will land in June! For now though, they're slightly mediocre.
16.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS (14-16)
Maybe there's no chemistry, maybe there's not enough depth, but this team should be headed somewhere better than here. Recent poor form has led the Wizards GM to even put Arenas on the block, which may not be entirely a bad thing considering Agent 0 hasn't been enough so far.
17.
DALLAS MAVERICKS (13-17)
The Mavericks are gradually clawing their way back up the power rankings and it's hard to imagine them stopping here, you kinda have the feeling that with Baron Davis, DPOY (IRL) Marcus Camby and Lamar Odom accompanying Mavericks hero Dirk Nowitzki it was always just a matter of time before they started some sort of push in the West.
18.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (12-18)
What's this? An underachieving team in the South East? Another one? With the aquisiton of Paul Pierce to add to their roster, it's clear the Bobcats are pursuing life in the present, not the future, and they're doing it without golden-boy Emeka Okafor. Can the back court make up for the Bobcats deficiencies in the paint, though?
19.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (12-17)
Giving players time to gel is important in Live 07, it gives them time to live up to their full potential, and New Orleans haven't made a trade for a long time! It seems odd then that the Hornets are only three games above Memphis, they've a team of perfectly good role-players alongside Chris Paul. But when you consider it, that's all they are, role-players living up to their full potential. Will New Orleans make any more moves as the season progresses? I hope so!
20.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (14-17)
After a flurry of trading, including the aquisition of Kobe Bryant, it seems Kobe is surrounded by the same sort of team he left in Los Angeles: one that doesn't look like it's going anywhere. The only reason they're not in a lower position than here is because of their win/loss record to date, which was earned by a different bunch of players. I mean, who's the second option in Portland? Jamaal Magloire? Ouch!
21.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS (13-18)
Hats off to the Bucks who've managed to go ahead of Indiana in the massively stacked Central Division. The problem is, being where they are, it'll probably be one or two years before they've any hope of reaching the playoffs, Shawn Marion or not!
22.
SACRAMENTO KINGS (11-17)
Sacramento are doing ok given that the only asset they've aquired this year is Atlanta's 1st rounder (at the expense of Ron Artest). The lineup, now featuring Josh Childress, appears to be doing a lot better than expected, which is great for the Kings GM because moving players like Bibby or Brad Miller must be a tough sell. The Kings could push for the playoffs this year, but they could also catapult themselves into contention with a decent draft pick.
23.
INDIANA PACERS (13-19)
They began the season as one of the Top 10 ranked teams, holding their own even in the central division. But as the season's ground on and we enter our third month, the Pacers don't look to be challenging anybody anytime soon. Currently on a 4 game slide and with a lineup of 70somethings, can they still challenge for the East's Top 8? Or are they lottery fodder?
24.
BOSTON CELTICS (10-18)
After a steady, prudent start the Celtics have made a lot of changes recently, but will they be better for Boston?
25.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (11-20)
The Sonics have a brilliant backcourt in Gordon, Redd and Lewis at small forward. They'll have no trouble challenging teams from the perimeter! Without a dominant inside threat though, and no draft pick for the Summer (held by Golden State), where are Seattle headed at the bottom of the North West?
26.
ATLANTA HAWKS (10-18)
For a long time now I've been keeping an eye on the Hawks progress after they made a series of brilliant trades in one week to help their team in the present, rather than the future (they gave their first rounder to Sacramento). But the little changes that looked like gems, bringing in Artest and Jefferson, just haven't seemed to have worked out. Or maybe Artest is screwing around with chemistry again? Who knows! The Hawks are on a four game slide.
27.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (9-21)
You have to give credit to the new Lakers GM. Taking on a team decimated by an incompetent GM (that Bosnian fellow), shedding some hideous salaries and aquiring youth (Monta Ellis) in the process. Los Angeles wont be pushing for the playoffs anytime soon, but their fans can rest easy for a change. After Kupchak and 'Bosnian-dude' they deserve it!
28.
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (9-20)
There are the usual modes of analysis you go through when creating a Power Rankings and one of them is factoring-in each team's division before ranking them. That being the case, the Sixers (being in the Atlantic) perhaps should be higher, but after the Iverson and Webber debacle in real life there really wasn't much hope for the Sixers on paper. With new guy Jason Richardson out injured too, what else could go wrong? Atleast though, unlike many other teams, Philly's got a future they're looking forward to!
29.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (9-21)
Remember how Pau Gasol was lighting up the league at the beginning of the year? Well... he got traded. And then Baron Davis came in and... he got traded. And now the fans in Memphis have Carlos Boozer as their go-to guy, which aint great for the time being. Next year however, incorporating Live 08's ratings, Boozer is a 20/10 guy and will rise, no doubt to the high 80s. Plus not even EA could've overlooked Millsap and Foye's potential. Memphis is a team looking forward.
30.
NEW YORK KNICKS (9-23)
I was thinking that perhaps the less I say would be best. The Knicks are bottom of the league and on a 7 game slide and have just released Grant Hill. What more can you say? But there are no riots in Madison Square Garden, no bloodthirsty packs of Ewing worshippers beying for the Knicks GM's scalp. And that's because the current GM has lambasted every shred of evidence left over from Isiah Thomas' bizarre reign and, at last, the premier market of the NBA has a future.