Post by Skillz on Jul 26, 2011 9:42:42 GMT -5
With so many trades and so much talk, let's try to sort out who the contenders in this coming season will be. The Magic, Hornets, and Knicks have made moves to try to bolster their title hopes, while the Bulls have kept their formula the same. The landscape looks a bit different than it did before, so let's rank the top 10.
PRE SEASON POWER RANKINGS
Just missing the cut
14. Denver Nuggets
13. Dallas Mavericks
12. Portland Trailblazers
11. Los Angeles CLippers
(no other teams worth nothing)
10. San Antonio Spurs
It's finally time for the Spurs to do something useful. With Arizin and Smith at the wings, Chipper has to make something work. Made a trade, do something. San Antonio's core is going to waste on a middling team that could be a lot better. With a trade or two, SA ccould compete for the # 2 seed in the West, because it's completely up for grabs.
Projected win total: 46
9. New Jersey Nets
I don't really know who is on the Nets team right now, so it's tough to make a judgment on them. A very good team for a number of years, New Jersey is going with a new look this year. Unfortunately, they do not have the depth they went because of hard cap problems. Still, with Flint, Parker, and Jordan, they should be a tough out. They are down in this list because the top of the East is so tough and the Nets are not on that level yet.
Projected win total: 47
8. Oklahoma City Thunder
How the mighty have fallen.....sort of. The Thunder went for the kill last season to try to repeat as champs, which unfortunately ended in a five-game loss in the conference finals. Faced with hard cap troubles, OKC had to send off a lot of its assets and were forced to retool. They still have a nice outside lineup with Ramsay-Washington-Jordan, but have a mediocre front court and average depth.
Projected win total: 48
7. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are the kings of over achieving. Essentially carrying the same team they had last year, Houston looks poised for another solid run. They are not elite, but the Christian Gola-led Rockets will give a lot of teams problems. However, the team had a mediocre TC and is by no means a dominant club.
Projected win total: 48
6. Phoenix Suns
A team with a ton of talent, the Suns are probably the second best team in the West right now. While that does not say a whole lot, Phoenix should win 50+ games this year and embark on another solid season. Knight is still a superstar and JV and Schayes are great players. For such a solid team, I'm worried that the pieces don't go too well together in Phoenix.
Projected win total: 52
5. Orlando Magic
The Magic are ranked 5th here, but a case can easily be made for them at # 2 or even # 1. From 5-1, the teams are all really debatable. Orlando has team efficiency with Bobby Cook and Omar Green in the backcourt, and they have a great big man in Bob Petit in the front court. However, Vince King is unproven at point guard, and am I crazy to say that the combination of KC Jones+Tanner Thompson might be more effective than Vince King+Omar Green? Only time will tell.
Projected win total: 55
4. New York Knicks
A completely new look from last year, the Knicks now boast a lineup with Tyrone Keane, Antonio Ramsay, JD Quincy, and John Wall. The Knicks also have arguably the most depth among the elite teams, with Lovellette and Ferguson on the bench. Unfortunately, this team still has a lot of question marks. Though its filled with star power, New York has big turnover concerns and a weakness at PG.
Projected win total: 56
3. Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee has more holes than Orlando or New York, but they are a unique team that only a few will be able to matchup with. Alf+O'Mara form one of the best front courts in league history, and Dawson and Sam Jones complement them really well. They need a shooting guard and depth, though.
Projected win total: 57
2. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls stood pat in the offseason, which is neither a good nor a bad team. Though they are still star-studded, the defending champs are not as feared as they once were. A lack of depth and Purnell Jackson's nothing TC are concerns, but as of now Chicago still has to be considered the best team in the East.
Projected win total: 57
1. New Orleans Hornets
Though I predict the Hornets to win far more games than the Bulls, Bucks, Magic, or Knicks, it is not because I think New Orleans is that much better. It's because the West is that much worse. The Hornets will have no competition during the regular season and during the first three rounds of the playoffs. Dean Hollis and Rickey Francis are dynamic together, and the Hornets bolstered their team by adding Tanner Thompson. As of now, the best team in the league
Projected in total: 63
PRE SEASON POWER RANKINGS
Just missing the cut
14. Denver Nuggets
13. Dallas Mavericks
12. Portland Trailblazers
11. Los Angeles CLippers
(no other teams worth nothing)
10. San Antonio Spurs
It's finally time for the Spurs to do something useful. With Arizin and Smith at the wings, Chipper has to make something work. Made a trade, do something. San Antonio's core is going to waste on a middling team that could be a lot better. With a trade or two, SA ccould compete for the # 2 seed in the West, because it's completely up for grabs.
Projected win total: 46
9. New Jersey Nets
I don't really know who is on the Nets team right now, so it's tough to make a judgment on them. A very good team for a number of years, New Jersey is going with a new look this year. Unfortunately, they do not have the depth they went because of hard cap problems. Still, with Flint, Parker, and Jordan, they should be a tough out. They are down in this list because the top of the East is so tough and the Nets are not on that level yet.
Projected win total: 47
8. Oklahoma City Thunder
How the mighty have fallen.....sort of. The Thunder went for the kill last season to try to repeat as champs, which unfortunately ended in a five-game loss in the conference finals. Faced with hard cap troubles, OKC had to send off a lot of its assets and were forced to retool. They still have a nice outside lineup with Ramsay-Washington-Jordan, but have a mediocre front court and average depth.
Projected win total: 48
7. Houston Rockets
The Rockets are the kings of over achieving. Essentially carrying the same team they had last year, Houston looks poised for another solid run. They are not elite, but the Christian Gola-led Rockets will give a lot of teams problems. However, the team had a mediocre TC and is by no means a dominant club.
Projected win total: 48
6. Phoenix Suns
A team with a ton of talent, the Suns are probably the second best team in the West right now. While that does not say a whole lot, Phoenix should win 50+ games this year and embark on another solid season. Knight is still a superstar and JV and Schayes are great players. For such a solid team, I'm worried that the pieces don't go too well together in Phoenix.
Projected win total: 52
5. Orlando Magic
The Magic are ranked 5th here, but a case can easily be made for them at # 2 or even # 1. From 5-1, the teams are all really debatable. Orlando has team efficiency with Bobby Cook and Omar Green in the backcourt, and they have a great big man in Bob Petit in the front court. However, Vince King is unproven at point guard, and am I crazy to say that the combination of KC Jones+Tanner Thompson might be more effective than Vince King+Omar Green? Only time will tell.
Projected win total: 55
4. New York Knicks
A completely new look from last year, the Knicks now boast a lineup with Tyrone Keane, Antonio Ramsay, JD Quincy, and John Wall. The Knicks also have arguably the most depth among the elite teams, with Lovellette and Ferguson on the bench. Unfortunately, this team still has a lot of question marks. Though its filled with star power, New York has big turnover concerns and a weakness at PG.
Projected win total: 56
3. Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee has more holes than Orlando or New York, but they are a unique team that only a few will be able to matchup with. Alf+O'Mara form one of the best front courts in league history, and Dawson and Sam Jones complement them really well. They need a shooting guard and depth, though.
Projected win total: 57
2. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls stood pat in the offseason, which is neither a good nor a bad team. Though they are still star-studded, the defending champs are not as feared as they once were. A lack of depth and Purnell Jackson's nothing TC are concerns, but as of now Chicago still has to be considered the best team in the East.
Projected win total: 57
1. New Orleans Hornets
Though I predict the Hornets to win far more games than the Bulls, Bucks, Magic, or Knicks, it is not because I think New Orleans is that much better. It's because the West is that much worse. The Hornets will have no competition during the regular season and during the first three rounds of the playoffs. Dean Hollis and Rickey Francis are dynamic together, and the Hornets bolstered their team by adding Tanner Thompson. As of now, the best team in the league
Projected in total: 63
