Post by Haberino on Jul 6, 2011 13:47:39 GMT -5
1. New York Knicks
A system team designed to dominate where it's strong, Skillz pushed his team over the top by plugging some of his weak spots. He knew his backcourt would provide amazing offense, but with two C+ or worse defenders starting, he needed to dominate elsewhere defensively. He put together elite shotblockers and rebounders, and got some of the best perimeter defenders around in Amir Otemzel and Dexter Rider. It's working in a big way, although the offense will take a bit of a hit with Tristan Wesley gone. I think that awakens a bit of a latent cause for concern: what happens if Francis or Cook gets hurt or shut down? The Knicks have more than enough offense with those two getting big minutes, but whereas Wesley could've been a great backup plan, you've go to wonder if the complementary pieces (Rider, Otemzel, their bigs) can keep pace with some of the deeper lineups out there.
2. Chicago Bulls
Look out. I didn't think the Knicks had a chance to catch the Bulls, who feature one of the best offenses BBS has ever seen. Play's been patient with guys like McCracken and Purnell Jackson, and they've come through in major ways. The Bulls, without making a move, turned an average backcourt into perhaps the league's best. While they still rebound and block shots, the defense would seem to be far worse than we're accustomed to seeing from Chicago. Not so fast, though: this is likely a result of Chicago's ridiculous pace. They rank in the top five in opponents' field goal percentage, and are tops in opponents' percentage from beyond the arc. The Bulls are willing to let opponents take a lot of shots because they know nobody can beat them at their game, but that's also a game that teams like New York and Oklahoma City love to play. Should make for some fun playoff matchups.
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder have enjoyed a bit of a surprise season thus far. They poured points into their building blocks and landed a star in the draft, and it's worked out in a big way. But surprise or not, there's no doubting they're legit. They're tops in the league in both FG and 3pFG%, and among the best in the league in shotblocking, steals, and turnovers. They also sport one of the league's top rebounding margins. But their identity is a huge question mark with the addition of former franchise player Ray McCallum. Some question whether or not this was a move guided merely by sentimentality. Why send Bradley Cooper, the league's most efficient scorer, to the bench? The team's outside focused offense was built for guys like Marcus Jay and Bradley Cooper, and it was thriving. McCallum is a downgrade in that department, but he will also help the team lower its turnovers, and improve its defense and rebounding. However, there is a definitely logjam, and the Thunder don't have all that much time to figure out what works. Their flexibility with their lineups is a huge plus, but not if it interferes with the model that's made them so successful. Meanwhile, what Oklahoma City really wanted to do was turn its plethora of perimeter pieces into a star forward or center, and they've struck out so far. Could come back to haunt them against the likes of Gola, O'Mara and Dickerson.
4. Houston Rockets
Surprised? So am I. How do the Rockets do it? Their backcourt studs are gone. Nobody on the team averages 10 rebounds a night, yet they manage 58 per game. Just three guys average greater than 16 points a night (none of whom exceed 24.1), and yet they do 115 points a night. Well, Houston's pieces just seem to come together pefectly. They have no standouts aside from Christian Gola (who, to be fair, is emerging as one of the best bigs in BBS), but they do 10 blocks, just 10 turnovers, rebound and defend among the best, and what else can you say - it just adds up. Wayne Worthington deserves some acknowledgement for his ridiculously good contributions considering his ratings. Great shotblocking and scoring. Same for Xavier Russell. Houston has a lot of no name pieces who may not have the great individual value, but it's come together for something special.
5. New Jersey Nets
If John Wall hadn't missed half New Jersey's game to this point, they might be higher up on this list. They have four guys I consider bona fide superstars, and a fifth starter who's as efficient as they come. Alf's enjoying a spike in his shotblocking, Stephen Flint has become probably the best big in BBS, and when Wall gets back, I expect NJ's offense to be much improved. If their bench were even average, I'd say New Jersey could take Chicago in a playoff series. For now, I think they have a good chance against NY or either of the Western Conference teams ahead of them, but the Bulls would be a tough matchup.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
The Wolves clearly aren't a regular season team, but for my money, they're way better than their neighbors in the standings. They have the three superstars, a very good fourth contributor, and yeah, little else after that. But their defense remains superb. Sort mindboggling that they don't get more out of Quentin Derrick and Sean O'Mara offensively, and you'd have to think there's a depth chart with which they could score more than 109 points a night, but that core is still formidable, and they're a matchup nightmare in the postseason if things click. The West remains weak, so you've go to think this team could pull of another finals run.
7. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavs are very much an incomplete team, but they're talented. Cam Adams has taken a big step back this season, with ugly percentages, a bad assist-to-turnover ratio, and low steals. For some reason, Justin Ferguson has seen his minutes reduced when he looks like he could make their offense a lot better than it currently is. The Mavs don't have the bigs to defend with the best of them, but they have a lot of unique, well-rounded scorer, and I think they have a chance to pull off a playoff upset if they face Houston in the second round. Long term: their defense is really, really bad, and if they want to commit to that, the only guy who can get them the pieces if Quincy, so either they overhaul or they try to maximize their offense.
8. Phoenix Suns
A buzz team not so long ago, the Suns aren't much these days. Schayes and Knight are a nice duo, but nice duos don't make contenders, and the Suns have a bunch of mismatched pieces, bad defenders, and even that duo isn't what it once was. Knight's clearly regressed, especially in the midrange department, and he's never dominated opposing point guards because he just doesn't defend very well. There's really, really good news for Phoenix, though: the Lakers are giving them a mid-lotto pick in a nice draft, and if they place this right, Phoenix could be really nice soon.
9. San Antonio Spurs
Don't at all believe in this team, but they're winning. They do fucking 4.4 blocks a night, can't rebound, and for that they have one of the worst defenses in the league. Rakeem Christmas should help, but he and Harrow are old, and the Spurs have quality youth, but I can't see their core going anywhere. I'm sure their young guys all have nice value, so maybe their move in the offseason is to acquire the best vets possible and try to contend in a weak West. I don't think it will be all that hard, and I'm always impressed when new GMs build teams on their own and assert themselves atop the standings.
10. Charlotte Bobcats
The Bobcats are playing better of late. HF has all but squandered what looked like a really good thing. Harris and Favors are nowhere near the players they used to be, and they're another team with a lot of offensive firepower and very little on the defensive end. That's especially true in their backcourt. I don't really see this team going anywhere any time soon, and to be honest I have no idea what HF can do to change that. Doubt he can get his picks back without having to move Barker, and I think building around a franchise PG is fools' gold in this league. There are just so, so many guys who can give you great production at that position.