Post by Martinez on Apr 23, 2012 9:47:18 GMT -5
I would have loved to do a full Power Rankings, but honestly when I got to about 8 the talent level of teams dropped off significantly. There's the top 3, 4-7, and then everyone else. I will probably do a league wide ranking come trade deadline as I'm sure many teams will have either improved or gotten much worse by then.
1. Orlando Magic - Team Record 19-5 - PPG 117.3 - OPPG 96.8
Notes:Hands down favorite at this stage, impressive on both ends of the court. Bingo Smith has become one of the most dominant players in all of BBS history, with 40ppg 10rpg 2spg 4bpg and and impressive percentages with 48%, 90%, and 50% from the field, free throw line and 3pt range.
Unfortunately for Orlando a string of untimely injuries and/or perhaps bad strategies have led them to early exits in each of the past two playoffs after being the favorites. They've been to the finals twice in the past four seasons but came up empty both times. I have a feeling this will be there year barring any injuries.
2. Indiana Pacers - Team Record:17-4 - PPG: 118.2 - OPPG: 108.1
Notes:The Pacers are the surprise team of the season. Rick Barry has been playing lights out for them with 30ppg and 50% from the field. The re-signing of Willis Reed was huge for them and a big need for a team desperate to make the playoffs this year or face potential firing.
Defensively, the Pacers seem mediocre compared to the Orlando Magic but then again everyone does compared to them. The Pacers are top 10 in majority of all relevant defensive categories. A good mixture of offense and strong defense is what makes them incredibly dangerous. GM Biggie is known for making incoherent boneheaded moves all the time so we'll see if they can keep the momentum going through playoffs.
3.Oklahoma City Thunder - Team Record: 16-7 - PPG:115.6 - OPPG: 109
Notes: The defending champions have not lost significant pieces from last year's title team and in fact some say may even be stronger than last season. Led by solid strong play from Larry Jones, Jon McGlockin, and Chet Walker the Thunder are early favorites to come out of the West again. While I do not believe they have what it takes to the face the Magic if the two do eventually meet in the finals, they are still favorites to challenge.
It'll be interesting to see if the Thunder keep this nucleus in tact considering they've been looking to move a variosu amount of their pieces since as early as the start of the season. If they do stay put, we'd be hard pressed to see another team come out of the West.
4. Los Angeles Clippers - Team Record: 15-8 - PPG: 117.4 - OPPG: 112.6
Notes: Many will question the Clippers being ranked number four here, just as many questioned their off-season but currently the Clippers numbers are hard to argue. Sitting at 15-8 with very good numbers and exception play from their big men Lloyd Neal and Gene Moore between the two big men they are averaging 35ppg, 22rpg, and an impressive 8bpg between the two, both are also shooting a very respectable number from the field. If both continue their strong play it will be very hard to stop.
Clippers biggest concern is the lack of a go to scorer. Archie Clark has been phenomenal this season already recording 3 triple-doubles, but one questions his ability to be the go-to guy. Clippers management is working hard to find a big time scorer to compliment the team and if they do the Clippers will surprise quite a few a people come playoff time.
5. New York Knicks- Team Record: 13-7 - PPG:113.5 - OPPG: 110.7
Notes:Outside of the top 3, it's a crapshoot as perhaps 4-8 are all equally balanced. The Knicks as a whole do not look very dangerous but have nonetheless been winning. Led by strong play from Dan Issel putting up nearly 30ppg and 10rpg and rising star PG Calvin Murphy 18ppg 10apg and 2spg.
I don't see the Knicks making much noise unless they make another move or two. Right now, again, outside of the top 3 in Indiana, Orlando, and Thunder there really doesn't seem to be many contenders.
6. Houston Rockets - Team Record: 17-10 - PPG:120.6 - OPPG: 117.5
Notes:The Houston Rockets always seem to be in the mix in the regular season but seem to fade away come playoff time. The Rockets have a huge logjam at the 1 and 2 positions with Gail Goodrich, Dick Van Arsdale, Louie Dampier, and Clem Haskins. If the Rockets ever make a move to get a big man they may compete but right now a lack of any relevant big man hurts.
Leroy Ellis and Caldwell Jones are both very good defensive bigs but neither are elite and neither can score efficiently. The Rockets are beneficiaries of a very week division as I wouldn't see them being this good in any other division despite that they are still in better off shape then the next few teams.
7.San Antonio Spurs- Team Record: 10-5 - PPG: 119.6 - OPPG: 115.9
Notes: This marks yet another return of former GM Blue to BBS. Could the third time be the charm? Right now he's off to a very quiet start but an efficient one leading the Spurs to an above .500 record.
They haven't made many moves despite many people believing they should rebuild the team around Artis Gilmore and start over, though perhaps they are doing the right thing and riding out this season while majority of the league tanks. They have a very nice core with Gilmore, Skeeter and Hazzard.
Skeeter should net them a relatively nice package but who knows if they will get a nice package for Walt Hazzard who was signed to a very unagreabble contract extension and will be 33 years of age next season and very nearly untradeable for relatively good value.
8. Toronto Raptors - Team Record: 12-8 - PPG: 119.2 - OPPG: 113.6
Notes: The darkhorse of the field every year, the Raptors do nothing all season and sneak up on everyone come playoff time. They have a very good balanced team with Fred Carter and Edlridge Webb in the back court and then Beaty and Lacey providing some good defense in the front court. On paper the Raptors don't look very dangerous and I can't see them sneaking up on anyone three years in a row, but a key injury to a competing team here or there could see the Raptors potentially sneak into the Eastern conference finals again or even possibly another finals appearance.
9. Los Angeles Lakers- Team Record: 13-8 - PPG: 120.2 - OPPG: 113.0
Notes: Many people were left baffled when the Lakers dealt arguably one of if not the best big man in the league, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earlier in the season but the Lakers have battled injuries and perhaps in the eyes of many a bad trade to an above .500 record. Led by rookie of the year favorite Bobby Jones putting up monster numbers in his first season, the Lakers, may end up surprising people regardless.
Many questions still stand with the Lakers. Will Walt Frazier be able to be consistent come playoff time or continue to play inconsistently? Will a lack of a big man as dominant as KAJ hurt them in the playoffs? Time will tell.
10. Boston Celtics - Team Record: 11-8 - PPG:118.3 - OPPG: 109.6
Notes A very similar team to the Rockets in the sense that they very quietly sneak into the playoffs every season by having an average-good season and then quietly see an early exit of the playoffs. Unlike the Rockets though, they don't have a logjam at a position. They lack a star player despite Boston management thinking they have said player in Jim Barnett who's trade market value is incredibly overvalued by management.
Bob McAdoo has improved tremendously this season but still many question his defense and deem him a defensive liability seeing most of his minutes at the 3 position this season due to this. His lack of quickness and athleticsm though making him a tough tough matchup for quicker forwards. The Celtics need to decide what they want to do here as currently they do not have what it takes to challenge for a title this year.
1. Orlando Magic - Team Record 19-5 - PPG 117.3 - OPPG 96.8
Notes:Hands down favorite at this stage, impressive on both ends of the court. Bingo Smith has become one of the most dominant players in all of BBS history, with 40ppg 10rpg 2spg 4bpg and and impressive percentages with 48%, 90%, and 50% from the field, free throw line and 3pt range.
Unfortunately for Orlando a string of untimely injuries and/or perhaps bad strategies have led them to early exits in each of the past two playoffs after being the favorites. They've been to the finals twice in the past four seasons but came up empty both times. I have a feeling this will be there year barring any injuries.
2. Indiana Pacers - Team Record:17-4 - PPG: 118.2 - OPPG: 108.1
Notes:The Pacers are the surprise team of the season. Rick Barry has been playing lights out for them with 30ppg and 50% from the field. The re-signing of Willis Reed was huge for them and a big need for a team desperate to make the playoffs this year or face potential firing.
Defensively, the Pacers seem mediocre compared to the Orlando Magic but then again everyone does compared to them. The Pacers are top 10 in majority of all relevant defensive categories. A good mixture of offense and strong defense is what makes them incredibly dangerous. GM Biggie is known for making incoherent boneheaded moves all the time so we'll see if they can keep the momentum going through playoffs.
3.Oklahoma City Thunder - Team Record: 16-7 - PPG:115.6 - OPPG: 109
Notes: The defending champions have not lost significant pieces from last year's title team and in fact some say may even be stronger than last season. Led by solid strong play from Larry Jones, Jon McGlockin, and Chet Walker the Thunder are early favorites to come out of the West again. While I do not believe they have what it takes to the face the Magic if the two do eventually meet in the finals, they are still favorites to challenge.
It'll be interesting to see if the Thunder keep this nucleus in tact considering they've been looking to move a variosu amount of their pieces since as early as the start of the season. If they do stay put, we'd be hard pressed to see another team come out of the West.
4. Los Angeles Clippers - Team Record: 15-8 - PPG: 117.4 - OPPG: 112.6
Notes: Many will question the Clippers being ranked number four here, just as many questioned their off-season but currently the Clippers numbers are hard to argue. Sitting at 15-8 with very good numbers and exception play from their big men Lloyd Neal and Gene Moore between the two big men they are averaging 35ppg, 22rpg, and an impressive 8bpg between the two, both are also shooting a very respectable number from the field. If both continue their strong play it will be very hard to stop.
Clippers biggest concern is the lack of a go to scorer. Archie Clark has been phenomenal this season already recording 3 triple-doubles, but one questions his ability to be the go-to guy. Clippers management is working hard to find a big time scorer to compliment the team and if they do the Clippers will surprise quite a few a people come playoff time.
5. New York Knicks- Team Record: 13-7 - PPG:113.5 - OPPG: 110.7
Notes:Outside of the top 3, it's a crapshoot as perhaps 4-8 are all equally balanced. The Knicks as a whole do not look very dangerous but have nonetheless been winning. Led by strong play from Dan Issel putting up nearly 30ppg and 10rpg and rising star PG Calvin Murphy 18ppg 10apg and 2spg.
I don't see the Knicks making much noise unless they make another move or two. Right now, again, outside of the top 3 in Indiana, Orlando, and Thunder there really doesn't seem to be many contenders.
6. Houston Rockets - Team Record: 17-10 - PPG:120.6 - OPPG: 117.5
Notes:The Houston Rockets always seem to be in the mix in the regular season but seem to fade away come playoff time. The Rockets have a huge logjam at the 1 and 2 positions with Gail Goodrich, Dick Van Arsdale, Louie Dampier, and Clem Haskins. If the Rockets ever make a move to get a big man they may compete but right now a lack of any relevant big man hurts.
Leroy Ellis and Caldwell Jones are both very good defensive bigs but neither are elite and neither can score efficiently. The Rockets are beneficiaries of a very week division as I wouldn't see them being this good in any other division despite that they are still in better off shape then the next few teams.
7.San Antonio Spurs- Team Record: 10-5 - PPG: 119.6 - OPPG: 115.9
Notes: This marks yet another return of former GM Blue to BBS. Could the third time be the charm? Right now he's off to a very quiet start but an efficient one leading the Spurs to an above .500 record.
They haven't made many moves despite many people believing they should rebuild the team around Artis Gilmore and start over, though perhaps they are doing the right thing and riding out this season while majority of the league tanks. They have a very nice core with Gilmore, Skeeter and Hazzard.
Skeeter should net them a relatively nice package but who knows if they will get a nice package for Walt Hazzard who was signed to a very unagreabble contract extension and will be 33 years of age next season and very nearly untradeable for relatively good value.
8. Toronto Raptors - Team Record: 12-8 - PPG: 119.2 - OPPG: 113.6
Notes: The darkhorse of the field every year, the Raptors do nothing all season and sneak up on everyone come playoff time. They have a very good balanced team with Fred Carter and Edlridge Webb in the back court and then Beaty and Lacey providing some good defense in the front court. On paper the Raptors don't look very dangerous and I can't see them sneaking up on anyone three years in a row, but a key injury to a competing team here or there could see the Raptors potentially sneak into the Eastern conference finals again or even possibly another finals appearance.
9. Los Angeles Lakers- Team Record: 13-8 - PPG: 120.2 - OPPG: 113.0
Notes: Many people were left baffled when the Lakers dealt arguably one of if not the best big man in the league, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar earlier in the season but the Lakers have battled injuries and perhaps in the eyes of many a bad trade to an above .500 record. Led by rookie of the year favorite Bobby Jones putting up monster numbers in his first season, the Lakers, may end up surprising people regardless.
Many questions still stand with the Lakers. Will Walt Frazier be able to be consistent come playoff time or continue to play inconsistently? Will a lack of a big man as dominant as KAJ hurt them in the playoffs? Time will tell.
10. Boston Celtics - Team Record: 11-8 - PPG:118.3 - OPPG: 109.6
Notes A very similar team to the Rockets in the sense that they very quietly sneak into the playoffs every season by having an average-good season and then quietly see an early exit of the playoffs. Unlike the Rockets though, they don't have a logjam at a position. They lack a star player despite Boston management thinking they have said player in Jim Barnett who's trade market value is incredibly overvalued by management.
Bob McAdoo has improved tremendously this season but still many question his defense and deem him a defensive liability seeing most of his minutes at the 3 position this season due to this. His lack of quickness and athleticsm though making him a tough tough matchup for quicker forwards. The Celtics need to decide what they want to do here as currently they do not have what it takes to challenge for a title this year.