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//  Saturday, July 31, 2010

NBA Power Rankings: Week 1

Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Posted by Neil Conklin

The big story so far in the young season has been the LeBrons losing their first two games. They weathered the storm with two wins, but they clearly have some work to do. The question is: does Shaq really make this team any better than they were last year? And if not, how can they win a championship with the other top 4 teams in the league arguably improving?

As far as the rest of the league goes, the Celtics are off to a strong start behind a scary good defense, the Lakers look bored already, and the Clippers aren’t living up to expectations. No surprises there.

Check back every Monday for updated Weekly Power Rankings.

 

1. Celtics (4-0): Hard to argue here. Four wins to start the season, including one in Cleveland, where the Cavs lost just 2 games all season last year, and a beat down on those feisty Bulls that gave them all that trouble last postseason. Teams averaged just 81 points per game vs. the Celts in those first four games. (Last week: 2)

2. Lakers (2-1): Can’t drop the defending champs much lower than this with just one loss. Scoring was a problem in the first two games, and you knew that wouldn’t last with Kobe on your team. They scored 118 behind Kobe’s 41 against the Hawks Sunday. Plus, Pau Gasol has yet to play a game. Can’t stick to that top spot with the Celtics playing like they have though. (Last week: 1)

3. Magic (3-0): Vince’s first few games in Orlando have been quiet. He sat out Sunday, and the Magic scored 125 points, draining 17 three-pointers. The question as the season goes on will be whether or not he will fit into an offense that doesn’t traditionally have a primary scorer like him. (Last week: 5)

4. Spurs (2-1): Jefferson started to fit in on Sunday against Sacramento, after a couple of rough games to start the season. Dejuan Blair looks to be a good addition to an already deep bench that saw more minutes than the starters did on Sunday. (Last week: 4)

5. Cavaliers (2-2): There’s no doubt that Shaq can still be a solid starting center in the NBA, but how much can he really contribute anymore? If his first 4 games in Cleveland are any indication, not much. Delonte West returning earlier than expected was a big boost. (Last week: 3)

6. Nuggets (3-0): Denver started off the season with impressive wins on back-to-back nights against Utah and at Portland. Not many people expect the Nuggets to duplicate what they did last year. They’ve managed to start off strong despite J. R. Smith serving his 7-game suspension. Carmelo is off to a torrid start. (Last week: 6)

7. Mavericks (2-1): The Mavs proved an opening night loss to Washington was a fluke with strong performances back-to-back nights in L.A. against the landlords and the tenants. The difference maker? They’re playing some defense in Big D. (Last week: 8)

8. Trail Blazers (2-2): Greg Oden is averaging 10 rebounds and almost 3 blocks in four games despite averaging less than 25 minutes. If this guy could just learn to stay out of foul trouble (4.8 fouls per game so far), he might not be a huge bust after all. (Last week: 7)

9. Hawks (2-1): Washington and Toronto are the only teams that look as if they have the potential to knock the Hawks off their perch as the East’s 4th best team. Atlanta defended that spot with a win over Washington. A win in L.A. would have made some noise, but Kobe spoiled the fun. (Last week: 9)

10.  Suns (3-0): Shaq is out and the run and gun offense is back. Steve Nash is back in his comfort zone, dishing out assists as Jason Richardson and Channing Frye drain threes. The philosophy and players are still there to make it work. This team will make the playoffs. (Last week: 13)

11.   Heat (3-0): Miami looks good as it makes a move to keep its grasp on the 5 seed it held last season, and perhaps even catch the Hawks at 4. As Chalmers and Beasley improve, so will Miami’s chances of keeping Wade. This is the good start they needed. (Last week: 18)

12.  Rockets (3-1): No Yao? No T-Mac? No problem. The Rockets never seem to be out of the mix no matter how battered they get. That’s a tribute to good coaching and brilliant management putting together a sound team. (Last week: 21)

13.  Wizards (2-1): Gilbert Arenas has come out strong. With the Butler/Jamison/Arenas trio in action, Washington will make a playoff run. Watch out for Andray Blatche, who looks to play a solid role off the bench. (Last week: 16)

14.  76ers (2-1): Elton Brand hasn’t exactly stormed back strong, but the team has still managed a couple of wins against sub-par East teams. Boston comes in to town Tuesday to test the Sixers. (Last week: 17)

15.  Raptors (1-2): There’s been good and bad with this team in the early going. The excitement of handing the mighty Cavs their second loss to open the season was killed by a loss in Memphis. Chris Bosh is putting up monster numbers as Turkoglu struggles to find his shot. (Last week: 14)

16.  Jazz (1-2): Talks of Deron Williams jumping past Chris Paul as the best point guard in the league are premature, as are talks of the Jazz becoming a contender. Losses to Denver and Houston prove Utah is still working things out. (Last week: 12)

17.  Bulls (1-2): A home opener win against the Spurs has been overshadowed by losses in Boston and Miami. The baby Bulls are struggling to score without Ben Gordon. John Salmons, Derrick Rose, and Luol Deng need to step up. (Last week: 11)

18.  Hornets (1-3): Things don’t look good in New Orleans right now. Losses to San Antonio and Boston are acceptable, but New York? That’s a game the Hornets have to win. Especially when Chris Paul puts up 32 and 13. (Last week: 10)

19.  Thunder (2-1): A playoff team? Well, no, but the Thunder will win their fair share of games this year. The room to grow is there. The Lakers come to town Tuesday. If L.A. falls asleep, they’ll be in for a tough one. (Last week: 19)

20.  Pistons (1-2): This team just doesn’t resemble anything we’ve seen out of the Pistons the past 10 years. They’re going to need to find a new identity quickly, or they’ll find themselves falling out of the playoff mix in an improved Eastern Conference. (Last week: 15)

21.  Bobcats (2-2): Swapping Okafor for Chandler is showing to be a huge defensive improvement, but the Bobcats will struggle to find offense all year. They desperately need a scorer. With Washington back, the Southeast is by far the deepest division in the East. Charlotte will struggle to stay out of the basement. (Last week: 22)

22.  Bucks (1-1): Brandon Jennings has played just two games but looks like a serious ROY candidate. When Michael Redd starts scoring, the Bucks won’t be a team that gets walked all over. (Last week: 28)

23.  Grizzlies (1-3): Memphis has two potential top-20 scorers with Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo. They won’t struggle to score points. A trio of big men (Gasol, Randolph, and Thabeet) will help the Grizzlies win more than the 24 games they won last year. (Last week: 26)

24.  Clippers (1-4): Clippers fans haven’t gotten to see Blake Griffin yet, but they’re witnessed Eric Gordon continue to blossom. This team has a lot of young talent, but everyone loves to hate on Mike Dunleavy. Is he the guy for the job? (Last week: 20)

25.  Timberwolves (1-3): Johnny Flynn is doing his best to make Minnesota fans forget about Ricky Rubio, and he’s leading the team in scoring. (Last week: 27)

26.  Warriors (0-2): How does Anthony Randolph only see 35 minutes of playing time in 2 games? Everyone wants to see what this kid can do. He’s a scary athlete, and let’s face it, the Warriors are terrible. He should be out there learning the ropes. (Last week: 23)

27.  Knicks (1-3): A win over the Hornets got rid of the egg in the left column. It’s going to be a long season in New York though. This season is about enticing upcoming free agents. (Last week: 29)

28.  Nets (0-4): The bright side? Brook Lopez looks good. Devin Harris is still around. Throw some cash at a free agent and Brooklyn will look good in a couple years. Rafer Alston serves no purpose on this team as a backup point guard. He needs to be traded to a playoff team that needs a point guard for a draft pick or young gun. (Last week: 24)

29.  Kings (1-3): It took 48 points from Kevin Martin, but the Kings won a game. At least it was enough to get them out of the bottom spot. Fans are anxious to see what Tyreke Evans can do. The past couple of games haven’t looked great. (Last week: 30)

30.  Pacers (0-2): I am going to struggle, week after week, to find anything to say about this team. There is just no upside here. No potential. Nothing to see here. (Last week: 25)

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