Post by duce on Jun 19, 2007 18:33:27 GMT -5
Mid-Season Power Rankings
#1.
Los Angeles Lakers, 26-9
The Lakers are easily the most impressive team in the league performance-wise thus far. They have a very impressive starting 5, led by Shawn Marion. Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa have given team fits as they can create in many ways, with speed on top. Of course you can’t leave out Emeka Okafor’s defensive presence in the middle, as this has given this team an outstanding defense.
#2.
Toronto Raptors, 27-13
Toronto has led their conference for a while now. Chris Bosh and Vince Carter make for a dominant duo. What makes Toronto special is their perfect compliment of role players. Ben Wallace is great in the middle, Jose Calderon is the ideal pass-first point guard, and Lamar Odom is ideal as it gets for a SF as he has all the tools. The Raptors are the team to beat in the east.
#3.
Cleveland Cavaliers, 26-13
LeBron James. Damn. There are no limits for this team because of the 23 year old, future hall of fame forward. Between he and Baron Davis, this offense can be unstoppable at times, and their defense is not to shabby either.
#4.
San Antonio Spurs, 23-15
The star power in San Antonio is great, but they have been taking it easy to say the least in the first half of the season. You expect more from this group, yet as long as they hang around they are still deadly. Manu Ginobili and the legend that is Shaquille O’Neal have played nicely this year.
#5.
Chicago Bulls, 28-17
The Bulls are really the wildcard in the east, as they have the most talent of any team. Elton Brand, dominant. Tracy McGrady dominant. Paul Pierce, awesome. The Bulls will try to stay healthy and get hot at the right time in the second half.
#6.
Portland Blazers, 22-13
Portland has been impressive in an underachieving conference. Ray Allen and Brandon Roy have been as advertised. This team has almost everything you need to win so forgive me for slighting them. They’ll be in it, but need to prove they are this great for a whole season at least.
#7.
Memphis Grizzlies, 23-11
This team has been the breakthrough of the league so far. I have to say I was wrong in saying it would be all on Durant, as Chauncey Billups and Marcus Camby have made a great impact. Memphis has great things to look forward to and will be a threat the whole way.
#8.
Milwaukee Bucks, 22-16
Milwaukee has been nice but also has struggled to find the game plan that can make them outstanding. Their players have been great, particularly Chris Paul who is a dark horse to win the MVP award. The Bucks have almost everything you need for a playoff run, and it will be interesting to see how they do in the end.
#9.
Boston Celtics, 26-19
Another division leader disrespected here… though more of a credit to other teams. Kevin Garnett has been nothing short of perfect this season. The rest of the offense needs to help more, but it doesn’t look as though Gerald Green is quite ready this year so perhaps a trade will go down.
#10.
Houston Rockets, 21-17
Houston is a dangerous squad, and of course Yao and Wade says it all. Their supporting cast will need to do better - they need more reliable offensive production. The Rockets will always be a threat but they need to add to be a true contender.
#11.
Utah Jazz, 22-23
The Jazz get a bit of a pass, because Bryant has played 5 of their 45 games. This is an awfully scary team with Kobe though, obviously, and if Devin Harris can continue to just play his role than this team can go all the way.
#12.
New Orleans Hornets, 20-16
It’s easy to question their center but the Hornets have been successful regardless. Ron Artest, Josh Howard and Charlie Villanueva have really given this team a lot of ways to win.
#13.
Atlanta Hawks, 23-18
Atlanta is a well-managed team with a lot of talent. Despite not being strong in important areas, they have been a winning team for the past couple seasons and they’ll only get better in time. If they can make it farther than they did last year it would mean a great deal for that team.
#14.
Denver Nuggets, 19-16
Denver could be in serious trouble, because they’re on a downslide and wish Steve Nash out until about day 90, the Nuggets could be in catch-up mode and maybe not even make the playoffs. With Nash in there, he, Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol make a great trio. So far though, it has been a disappointing season.
#15.
Phoenix Suns, 20-17
The Suns continue to display one of the toughest teams in the league. They attack and they’re good at it, and as a result they have a playoff seed right now. Amare Stoudemire is dominating everyone. This team will be a very dangerous opponent if Andrew Bynum is re-signed and continues his development. Tony Parker has been great as well.
#16.
Indiana Pacers, 24-23
After a hot start the Pacers are fading and headed for the lotto, however they have shown great signs and with another year of development they are potentially unstoppable.
#17.
Dallas Mavericks, 21-24
After the great season they had in 08, this year the Mavs have struggled big time to find their winning ways of the past. It’s hard to blame any of the players, but collectively their defense just has not been the same and that will have to be improved for Dallas to make the post-season.
#18.
Miami Heat, 20-18
For the Heat to hang around .500 as they have this season, is pretty impressive. They have a nice, young nucleus. Michael Beasley is really the future of this club, so it will be interesting to see how he develops over time.
#19.
Detroit Pistons, 20-21
Allen Iverson and the Pistons have been competitive but not as much as they’d like. While the team has a collection of good players, they’ve struggled to improve the front-line. This team needs to make deals, though the attempt has been there.
#20.
Orlando Magic, 22-20
Orlando has been playing great of late but still need to prove they can stay this good. They have a lot of good players but no great ones. Their point per game differential doesn’t exactly make them look impressive but they’re winning and that is what matters.
#21.
Washington Wizards, 21-26
Time is going to start running out on the Wizards’ season. They have hung in there and Jason Kidd always gives you a chance.
#22.
Sacramento Kings, 17-22
Deron Williams: 28-4-8.
#23.
Los Angeles Clippers, 18-23
Luol Deng has the talent of an absolute stud and is living up to it.
#24.
Golden State Warriors, 14-23
The young group in Golden State continue to lose but their good years are ahead of them.
#25.
Seattle Sonics, 14-21
Seattle has gotten great production again from Delonte West and Andrea Bargnani continues to become more impressive.
#26.
New York Knicks, 12-26
New York is headed in the right direction, and has a great off-season to look forward to.
#27.
New Jersey Nets, 12-34
New Jersey has shed a lot of cap room and has a lot of draft picks, including their own which will be a high one.
#28.
Minnesota Timberwolves, 6-27
The Twolves have some projects that need to pan out over time and help these developed players win some games.
#29.
Philadelphia 76ers, 6-34[/color]
Good talent, and it will be added to and it will improve.
#1.
Los Angeles Lakers, 26-9The Lakers are easily the most impressive team in the league performance-wise thus far. They have a very impressive starting 5, led by Shawn Marion. Jason Terry and Leandro Barbosa have given team fits as they can create in many ways, with speed on top. Of course you can’t leave out Emeka Okafor’s defensive presence in the middle, as this has given this team an outstanding defense.
#2.
Toronto Raptors, 27-13Toronto has led their conference for a while now. Chris Bosh and Vince Carter make for a dominant duo. What makes Toronto special is their perfect compliment of role players. Ben Wallace is great in the middle, Jose Calderon is the ideal pass-first point guard, and Lamar Odom is ideal as it gets for a SF as he has all the tools. The Raptors are the team to beat in the east.
#3.
Cleveland Cavaliers, 26-13LeBron James. Damn. There are no limits for this team because of the 23 year old, future hall of fame forward. Between he and Baron Davis, this offense can be unstoppable at times, and their defense is not to shabby either.
#4.
San Antonio Spurs, 23-15The star power in San Antonio is great, but they have been taking it easy to say the least in the first half of the season. You expect more from this group, yet as long as they hang around they are still deadly. Manu Ginobili and the legend that is Shaquille O’Neal have played nicely this year.
#5.
Chicago Bulls, 28-17The Bulls are really the wildcard in the east, as they have the most talent of any team. Elton Brand, dominant. Tracy McGrady dominant. Paul Pierce, awesome. The Bulls will try to stay healthy and get hot at the right time in the second half.
#6.
Portland Blazers, 22-13Portland has been impressive in an underachieving conference. Ray Allen and Brandon Roy have been as advertised. This team has almost everything you need to win so forgive me for slighting them. They’ll be in it, but need to prove they are this great for a whole season at least.
#7.
Memphis Grizzlies, 23-11This team has been the breakthrough of the league so far. I have to say I was wrong in saying it would be all on Durant, as Chauncey Billups and Marcus Camby have made a great impact. Memphis has great things to look forward to and will be a threat the whole way.
#8.
Milwaukee Bucks, 22-16Milwaukee has been nice but also has struggled to find the game plan that can make them outstanding. Their players have been great, particularly Chris Paul who is a dark horse to win the MVP award. The Bucks have almost everything you need for a playoff run, and it will be interesting to see how they do in the end.
#9.
Boston Celtics, 26-19Another division leader disrespected here… though more of a credit to other teams. Kevin Garnett has been nothing short of perfect this season. The rest of the offense needs to help more, but it doesn’t look as though Gerald Green is quite ready this year so perhaps a trade will go down.
#10.
Houston Rockets, 21-17Houston is a dangerous squad, and of course Yao and Wade says it all. Their supporting cast will need to do better - they need more reliable offensive production. The Rockets will always be a threat but they need to add to be a true contender.
#11.
Utah Jazz, 22-23The Jazz get a bit of a pass, because Bryant has played 5 of their 45 games. This is an awfully scary team with Kobe though, obviously, and if Devin Harris can continue to just play his role than this team can go all the way.
#12.
New Orleans Hornets, 20-16It’s easy to question their center but the Hornets have been successful regardless. Ron Artest, Josh Howard and Charlie Villanueva have really given this team a lot of ways to win.
#13.
Atlanta Hawks, 23-18Atlanta is a well-managed team with a lot of talent. Despite not being strong in important areas, they have been a winning team for the past couple seasons and they’ll only get better in time. If they can make it farther than they did last year it would mean a great deal for that team.
#14.
Denver Nuggets, 19-16Denver could be in serious trouble, because they’re on a downslide and wish Steve Nash out until about day 90, the Nuggets could be in catch-up mode and maybe not even make the playoffs. With Nash in there, he, Carmelo Anthony and Pau Gasol make a great trio. So far though, it has been a disappointing season.
#15.
Phoenix Suns, 20-17The Suns continue to display one of the toughest teams in the league. They attack and they’re good at it, and as a result they have a playoff seed right now. Amare Stoudemire is dominating everyone. This team will be a very dangerous opponent if Andrew Bynum is re-signed and continues his development. Tony Parker has been great as well.
#16.
Indiana Pacers, 24-23After a hot start the Pacers are fading and headed for the lotto, however they have shown great signs and with another year of development they are potentially unstoppable.
#17.
Dallas Mavericks, 21-24After the great season they had in 08, this year the Mavs have struggled big time to find their winning ways of the past. It’s hard to blame any of the players, but collectively their defense just has not been the same and that will have to be improved for Dallas to make the post-season.
#18.
Miami Heat, 20-18For the Heat to hang around .500 as they have this season, is pretty impressive. They have a nice, young nucleus. Michael Beasley is really the future of this club, so it will be interesting to see how he develops over time.
#19.
Detroit Pistons, 20-21Allen Iverson and the Pistons have been competitive but not as much as they’d like. While the team has a collection of good players, they’ve struggled to improve the front-line. This team needs to make deals, though the attempt has been there.
#20.
Orlando Magic, 22-20Orlando has been playing great of late but still need to prove they can stay this good. They have a lot of good players but no great ones. Their point per game differential doesn’t exactly make them look impressive but they’re winning and that is what matters.
#21.
Washington Wizards, 21-26Time is going to start running out on the Wizards’ season. They have hung in there and Jason Kidd always gives you a chance.
#22.
Sacramento Kings, 17-22Deron Williams: 28-4-8.
#23.
Los Angeles Clippers, 18-23Luol Deng has the talent of an absolute stud and is living up to it.
#24.
Golden State Warriors, 14-23The young group in Golden State continue to lose but their good years are ahead of them.
#25.
Seattle Sonics, 14-21Seattle has gotten great production again from Delonte West and Andrea Bargnani continues to become more impressive.
#26.
New York Knicks, 12-26New York is headed in the right direction, and has a great off-season to look forward to.
#27.
New Jersey Nets, 12-34New Jersey has shed a lot of cap room and has a lot of draft picks, including their own which will be a high one.
#28.
Minnesota Timberwolves, 6-27The Twolves have some projects that need to pan out over time and help these developed players win some games.
#29.
Philadelphia 76ers, 6-34[/color]Good talent, and it will be added to and it will improve.
