Post by Utah Jazz on Sept 4, 2007 1:24:09 GMT
1.
DETROIT PISTONS 41 - 14 (3L)
The Pistons continue to be the best team in the NBA despite their current 3 game losing streak. The Detroit GM has obviously done a great job this year.
2.
PHOENIX SUNS 41 - 17 (2W)
The Suns sit atop the Western Conference led by Amare Stoudamire & newly aquired Shaquille O'Neal! In 1 of Shaq's 1st games in a Suns uniform he notched quite an impressive triple-double. The Suns at this point are the team to beat in the West.
3.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS 38 - 19 (1L)
The Spurs were by far the busiest team around the trading deadline. They made so many deals Im not even 100% sure whos on the team since not all of the trades have been processed yet. Regardless the Spurs continue to give the Suns a run for their money for the best in the West!
4.
CHICAGO BULLS 38 - 21 (1W)
Not much has changed for the Bulls lately. Some injuries have caused the Bulls to drop a few games, but there is no need for panic in the Windy City as the Bulls just knocked off the Pistons to get back on track.
5.
DENVER NUGGETS 37 - 19 (2W)
The Nuggets have not lost a step despite the fact that Carmelo Anthony has been hurt for the majority of the year. Allen Iverson continues to lead the Nuggets to the front of the Northwest division & they arent to far away from the Suns for the top spot out West.
6.
HOUSTON ROCKETS 37 - 20 (1L)
Houston has been 1 of the best teams in the NBA all year and they continue to keep rolling along. Led by Yao & T-Mac the Rockets stay in the 4 team race for the #1 seed in the Western Conference.
7.
TORONTO RAPTORS 36 - 23 (2W)
The Raptors quietly keep handling their business out in the Atlantic division. The Raptors GM made a huge deal & brought in young superstar Tony Parker to run the show in Toronto. Toronto is still waiting for Parker to make his Raptor debut but even without him they continue to win games & try to secure home court advantage in rhe Playoffs.
8.
MIAMI HEAT 34 - 23 (2W)
The Heat have gotten hot as of late with a big win over Detroit to help them to a 2 game win streak so far. Miami needs Dwyane Wade to start taking over and help get this team back into contention for a top 2 finish in the East.
9.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 35 - 22 (1W)
The Clippers are 1 of few teams in the league that havent made any significant changes to their starting rotation and it shows. The Clippers have been hot over the past month and have put themselves within striking distance of the top 4 in the Western Conference.
10.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 34 - 25 (2W)
The Blazers have got to be the suprise team of the year so far. They traded away alot of young talent to get Kobe Bryant and then the new GM traded away Bryant & got Andre Iguodala & Peja Stojakovic in return. The move has looked great so far as the Blazers are in the Playoff picture as of right now
11.
NEW JERSEY NETS 32 - 25 (5W)
The Nets are the hottest team in the NBA right now & just aquired all star big man Mehmet Okur. The Nets are starting to click and have their sights set on the Raptors division lead and possibly home court advantage in the Playoffs.
12.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 32 - 25 (1L)
The Cavs fell off the radar a little bit when they put together quite a few losses in a row but have corrected that problem as of late. The Cavs remain in the Playoff picture & no team wants to see LeBron in the 1st round, thats for sure!
13.
ORLANDO MAGIC 32 - 27 (1L)
The Magic in a similar situation to Cleveland hit a slump and dropped down in the standings a few spots. They have been playing better as of late and will no doubt challenge Miami for the Southeast title.
14.
UTAH JAZZ 31 - 27 (2L)
Just when things start looking promising in Utah a dark cloud in the form of a 2 game losing streak comes to rain on their parade. The Jazz continue to underachieve, but hopes remain high in Utah that Coach Sloan can get things going in the right direction. If he cant, the Jazz could find themselves in the draft lottery.
15.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 30 - 28 (1L)
Very similar to the Jazz are the Warriors. The Warriors are 1 of the most talented teams in the NBA but they continue to play inconsistent and their record reflects that. The Warriors are currently the 8th seed in the West & that is a very scary looking 8th seed.
16.
DALLAS MAVERICKS 28 - 29 (1W)
Built in the same mold as the Jazz and Warriors, the Mavs made numerous trades early in the year and havent been able to build enough chemistry to put it all together. The Mavs have played well lately and have kept themselves in the Playoff hunt.
17.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS 28 - 31 (1L)
The Bobcats new GM wanted to deal either Carter or Pierce for a good big man but wasnt able to get a deal done. I dont know if Charlotte has what it takes to make a serious run in the Playoffs, but they are talented enough to get in the playoffs and possibly pull off a 1st round upset.
18.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 24 - 32 (1L)
Talk about a team that has been rebuilt, tore down, and rebuilt again. The new T-Wolves GM came in and traded away Shaq and essentially made them a more complete team. The future is bright in Minny and who knows if they get hot they could sneak into the Playoffs!
19.
INDIANA PACERS 25 - 31 (1L)
The Pacers didnt seem to have a direction they were going in, but after a recent 3 team trade with Minnesota & New Jersey the Pacers dealt Okur but got back possible franchise point guard Raymond Felton. At this point Indy is a long shot for the Playoffs.
20.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS 25 - 34 (2W)
The Hornets had high hopes coming into the season, but havent quite lived up to those expectations. They have put together a few wins in a row, but the Playoffs seem to be disappearing out of their sights
21.
ATLANTA HAWKS 25 - 32 (1L)
Atlanta still has hopes for a Playoff birth but they are going to have to really start taking care of business. The talent is there in Atlanta they just need to start putting it together on the court.
22.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 24 - 35 (2L)
The Bucks are under new management again, but unfortunately for the new Bucks GM he got the job right at the trading deadline and was not able to make any last second moves. The Bucks seem destined for the Lottery at this point.
23.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS 22 - 34 (3L)
There is a new GM in Washington and word is they are going into rebuild mode. With alot of talent in Arenas & Butler they could be dangerous if they were able to land Oden or Durant in the Lottery.
24.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 22 - 35 (2L)
The Lakers have been in rebuild mode since trading away superstar Kobe Bryant early in the season & their record reflects that. The Lakers have some nice young pieces and will really benefit from a deep draft this year.
25.
BOSTON CELTICS 21 - 35 (2L)
I like what the Celtics have done this year. They traded Paul Pierce and got young big man Emeka Okafor to build around. The Celtics have some great young talent and would love to hear their names called 1 or 2 in the draft Lottery.
26.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS 21 - 36 (4L)
The Sonics have alot of talent in Seattle, but dont have the right pieces in place to be competitive right now. With a trade here or there though the Sonics could very well find themselves in the Playoff hunt next season.
27.
PHILADELPHIA 76'ERS 21 - 37 (1L)
The Sixers have been preparing for next season all year long and have made the right moves to have a bright future in Philly. The 76'ers just dealt Andre Miller for your stud PG T.J. Ford who will be the face of the franchise for many years to come. Philly remains a major contender in the Oden/Durant sweepstakes.
28.
SACRAMENTO KINGS 17 - 40 (1W)
This season cant get over soon enough for the Kings. The Kings are another team that has some talented pieces in place & an early draft pick will help get Sacramento headed in the right direction again.
29.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 15 - 44 (1W)
The Grizzlies have been looking forward to this season being over since it began. The Grizzlies traded for Carlos Boozer and will build around him. The Grizzlies GM is hoping that a terrible season could possibly lead to a very happy draft day.
30.
NEW YORK KNICKS 15 - 43 (1W)
You could flip a coin between NY and Memphis for this final spot but this week its going to the Knicks. The Knicks GM has a done a good job tearing down what Isiah built by dumping contracts and players to help build toward a possible future. The city of New York would be a great place for Greg Oden or Kevin Durant to blossom into a superstar and Im pretty sure the Knicks GM would agree
DETROIT PISTONS 41 - 14 (3L)
The Pistons continue to be the best team in the NBA despite their current 3 game losing streak. The Detroit GM has obviously done a great job this year.
2.
PHOENIX SUNS 41 - 17 (2W)
The Suns sit atop the Western Conference led by Amare Stoudamire & newly aquired Shaquille O'Neal! In 1 of Shaq's 1st games in a Suns uniform he notched quite an impressive triple-double. The Suns at this point are the team to beat in the West.
3.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS 38 - 19 (1L)
The Spurs were by far the busiest team around the trading deadline. They made so many deals Im not even 100% sure whos on the team since not all of the trades have been processed yet. Regardless the Spurs continue to give the Suns a run for their money for the best in the West!
4.
CHICAGO BULLS 38 - 21 (1W)
Not much has changed for the Bulls lately. Some injuries have caused the Bulls to drop a few games, but there is no need for panic in the Windy City as the Bulls just knocked off the Pistons to get back on track.
5.
DENVER NUGGETS 37 - 19 (2W)
The Nuggets have not lost a step despite the fact that Carmelo Anthony has been hurt for the majority of the year. Allen Iverson continues to lead the Nuggets to the front of the Northwest division & they arent to far away from the Suns for the top spot out West.
6.
HOUSTON ROCKETS 37 - 20 (1L)
Houston has been 1 of the best teams in the NBA all year and they continue to keep rolling along. Led by Yao & T-Mac the Rockets stay in the 4 team race for the #1 seed in the Western Conference.
7.
TORONTO RAPTORS 36 - 23 (2W)
The Raptors quietly keep handling their business out in the Atlantic division. The Raptors GM made a huge deal & brought in young superstar Tony Parker to run the show in Toronto. Toronto is still waiting for Parker to make his Raptor debut but even without him they continue to win games & try to secure home court advantage in rhe Playoffs.
8.
MIAMI HEAT 34 - 23 (2W)
The Heat have gotten hot as of late with a big win over Detroit to help them to a 2 game win streak so far. Miami needs Dwyane Wade to start taking over and help get this team back into contention for a top 2 finish in the East.
9.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS 35 - 22 (1W)
The Clippers are 1 of few teams in the league that havent made any significant changes to their starting rotation and it shows. The Clippers have been hot over the past month and have put themselves within striking distance of the top 4 in the Western Conference.
10.
PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS 34 - 25 (2W)
The Blazers have got to be the suprise team of the year so far. They traded away alot of young talent to get Kobe Bryant and then the new GM traded away Bryant & got Andre Iguodala & Peja Stojakovic in return. The move has looked great so far as the Blazers are in the Playoff picture as of right now
11.
NEW JERSEY NETS 32 - 25 (5W)
The Nets are the hottest team in the NBA right now & just aquired all star big man Mehmet Okur. The Nets are starting to click and have their sights set on the Raptors division lead and possibly home court advantage in the Playoffs.
12.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 32 - 25 (1L)
The Cavs fell off the radar a little bit when they put together quite a few losses in a row but have corrected that problem as of late. The Cavs remain in the Playoff picture & no team wants to see LeBron in the 1st round, thats for sure!
13.
ORLANDO MAGIC 32 - 27 (1L)
The Magic in a similar situation to Cleveland hit a slump and dropped down in the standings a few spots. They have been playing better as of late and will no doubt challenge Miami for the Southeast title.
14.
UTAH JAZZ 31 - 27 (2L)
Just when things start looking promising in Utah a dark cloud in the form of a 2 game losing streak comes to rain on their parade. The Jazz continue to underachieve, but hopes remain high in Utah that Coach Sloan can get things going in the right direction. If he cant, the Jazz could find themselves in the draft lottery.
15.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 30 - 28 (1L)
Very similar to the Jazz are the Warriors. The Warriors are 1 of the most talented teams in the NBA but they continue to play inconsistent and their record reflects that. The Warriors are currently the 8th seed in the West & that is a very scary looking 8th seed.
16.
DALLAS MAVERICKS 28 - 29 (1W)
Built in the same mold as the Jazz and Warriors, the Mavs made numerous trades early in the year and havent been able to build enough chemistry to put it all together. The Mavs have played well lately and have kept themselves in the Playoff hunt.
17.
CHARLOTTE BOBCATS 28 - 31 (1L)
The Bobcats new GM wanted to deal either Carter or Pierce for a good big man but wasnt able to get a deal done. I dont know if Charlotte has what it takes to make a serious run in the Playoffs, but they are talented enough to get in the playoffs and possibly pull off a 1st round upset.
18.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 24 - 32 (1L)
Talk about a team that has been rebuilt, tore down, and rebuilt again. The new T-Wolves GM came in and traded away Shaq and essentially made them a more complete team. The future is bright in Minny and who knows if they get hot they could sneak into the Playoffs!
19.
INDIANA PACERS 25 - 31 (1L)
The Pacers didnt seem to have a direction they were going in, but after a recent 3 team trade with Minnesota & New Jersey the Pacers dealt Okur but got back possible franchise point guard Raymond Felton. At this point Indy is a long shot for the Playoffs.
20.
NEW ORLEANS HORNETS 25 - 34 (2W)
The Hornets had high hopes coming into the season, but havent quite lived up to those expectations. They have put together a few wins in a row, but the Playoffs seem to be disappearing out of their sights
21.
ATLANTA HAWKS 25 - 32 (1L)
Atlanta still has hopes for a Playoff birth but they are going to have to really start taking care of business. The talent is there in Atlanta they just need to start putting it together on the court.
22.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 24 - 35 (2L)
The Bucks are under new management again, but unfortunately for the new Bucks GM he got the job right at the trading deadline and was not able to make any last second moves. The Bucks seem destined for the Lottery at this point.
23.
WASHINGTON WIZARDS 22 - 34 (3L)
There is a new GM in Washington and word is they are going into rebuild mode. With alot of talent in Arenas & Butler they could be dangerous if they were able to land Oden or Durant in the Lottery.
24.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS 22 - 35 (2L)
The Lakers have been in rebuild mode since trading away superstar Kobe Bryant early in the season & their record reflects that. The Lakers have some nice young pieces and will really benefit from a deep draft this year.
25.
BOSTON CELTICS 21 - 35 (2L)
I like what the Celtics have done this year. They traded Paul Pierce and got young big man Emeka Okafor to build around. The Celtics have some great young talent and would love to hear their names called 1 or 2 in the draft Lottery.
26.
SEATTLE SUPERSONICS 21 - 36 (4L)
The Sonics have alot of talent in Seattle, but dont have the right pieces in place to be competitive right now. With a trade here or there though the Sonics could very well find themselves in the Playoff hunt next season.
27.
PHILADELPHIA 76'ERS 21 - 37 (1L)
The Sixers have been preparing for next season all year long and have made the right moves to have a bright future in Philly. The 76'ers just dealt Andre Miller for your stud PG T.J. Ford who will be the face of the franchise for many years to come. Philly remains a major contender in the Oden/Durant sweepstakes.
28.
SACRAMENTO KINGS 17 - 40 (1W)
This season cant get over soon enough for the Kings. The Kings are another team that has some talented pieces in place & an early draft pick will help get Sacramento headed in the right direction again.
29.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 15 - 44 (1W)
The Grizzlies have been looking forward to this season being over since it began. The Grizzlies traded for Carlos Boozer and will build around him. The Grizzlies GM is hoping that a terrible season could possibly lead to a very happy draft day.
30.
NEW YORK KNICKS 15 - 43 (1W)
You could flip a coin between NY and Memphis for this final spot but this week its going to the Knicks. The Knicks GM has a done a good job tearing down what Isiah built by dumping contracts and players to help build toward a possible future. The city of New York would be a great place for Greg Oden or Kevin Durant to blossom into a superstar and Im pretty sure the Knicks GM would agree