Post by Biggie on Jun 3, 2012 20:35:23 GMT -5
Now that we are a third through the season at day 40, I thought I would post a power ranking for the first part of the season. We have some very dominant teams at the top of the rankings and then things are pretty close, the Western Conference is looking extremely deep this season.
1. Portland Trailblazers (27-4)
Portland is just playing really good basketball right now. They have the leagues best record in the tougher conference, they lead the league in points per game and are one of the top defensive teams. It seems like they have so many scorers to go to they couldn’t possibly have a bad game, right now with seven players averaging between 13 and 25 points led by Larry Jones. Pretty obvious number 1 in my opinion.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (26-7)
Milwaukee will likely be the team to beat in the east, I think Chicago could be a threat though. Milwaukee, like Portland, has a ton of guys who are scoring for them and they lead the league in FG percentage. They recently dealt Cowens for Rudy and went 7-1 in the following sim, so that move looks like it is working for them. One thing to point out, Portland and Milwaukee have played the most home games in the league… we will see if both teams start losing towards the second half of the season with more away games.
3. Chicago Bulls (19-6)
I really like Chicago’s team. They are easily one of the top defensive teams with Dickey blocking shots left and right and playing like one of the best big men in the league. I really think Milwaukee will have their hands full come playoff time and these two will meet in the conference finals.
4. Denver Nuggets (18-8)
Denver is looking to make the finals again and finally take home a championship. They have most of the same guys but it looks like they added some depth this year (could be wrong I was tanking and was unfamiliar with the competition last season). Skeeter is shooting ridiculous percentages right now and if that keeps up they will easily be the second seed in the West with all the talent they have. I don’t think Denver can beat Portland though, but we shall see.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (18-9)
LA has top 3 offense, and bottom 5 defense… I don’t know how much of a threat they will be in the playoffs if they don’t fix their defensive problem, they allow way too many points. If they continue to score the way they are scoring though they will be a top 8 team no matter what. I think LA should look for some cheap defensive depth and they should be ok.
6. Utah Jazz (18-9)
Jah has a very solid defensive team that is top 3 in blocks and top 3 in fewest points allowed. I think Jah should look to add another 20 point scoring option and his team could be pretty solid. Either way, they’re playing good basketball which is why I put them here at 6.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (17-10)
Philly is definitely a top 3 eastern conference team, I really like their big 3 of Foots, Carr and Gervin. They also have some very reliable scoring options off the bench in Gail and Love. They definitely could improve at their 4 and 5 positions but what they have now is good enough, but having a big who could score would help.
8. New Orleans Hornets (18-12)
I like the trade they made to acquire Washington and Smith. I think these two guys will come in a give them some good defense and consistency off the bench. New Orleans added shot blocking which they needed so this move should help them. They are one of the hotter teams in their last 10 games going 8-2 since starting 10-10.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-13)
If the west wasn’t so deep Minnesota would be ranked higher. They are a solid basketball team and are just struggling some offensively. It isn’t very good when your go to guy is shooting 42% from the field in this league. They have started playing a little better in their last 10 games though, like the Hornets after starting 10-10 are now 7-3 since.
10. Los Angeles Clippers (18-13)
Clippers get the 10th spot in the ranking even after struggling as of late. The Clippers have a pair of solid bigs who score and block shots for them in Neal and Moore, without them they wouldn’t be very good. Bristow and Clark are doing the heavy load in scoring for them. One thing this team does well is take care of the basketball, they lead the league in that category.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (14-10)
No idea how they are doing so well but I don’t expect it to continue, it looks like Insane is going to rebuild.
12. Indiana Pacers (14-10)
After a slow 8-10 start, Indiana had a 6-0 sim… I think we could be a top 10 team if we keep this kind of play up.
13. Brooklyn Nets (18-14)
Brooklyn should be better but they aren’t playing defense… losing Kermit is definitely starting to show. They did make a nice trade and acquire Cowens who should help them.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (13-12)
Like the Nets, they should be better but aren’t playing defense… they have a pretty old team and it looks as if habes is trying to make some big deals to retool his team.
15. Charlotte Bobcats (11-15)
With the Hayes injury, this is expected. Hayes is the teams best player and he misses half the season. Lucky for Charlotte… the east sucks and half of the teams are tanking.
16. San Antonio Spurs (13-16)
With Memphis starting to tank I expect Spurs to make a push into the playoffs for 8th seed, the west is very rough this season so it is unfortunate for them to have young undeveloped guys trying to win.
17. Atlanta Hawks (12-13)
Atlanta needs to get help for Mengelt, this doesn’t seem to be working. Pretty bad defensively.
18. Miami Heat (12-16)
Miami will make a push into the playoffs for the 7th or 8th seed I am sure. Definitely need to lower the amount of turnovers though.
19. Golden State Warriors (10-16)
Team isn’t shooting well and in the west conference you gotta shoot better. I think they will turn around though, if not they’ll get a lotto to help next year.
20. Houston Rockets (11-18)
They have talent to win, things just aren’t going for them. Might be worth it to just stick where you are at and get a lotto pick with how deep the West is.
21. Detroit Pistons (9-13)
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-17)
23. Boston Celtics (11-18)
24. New York Knicks (10-18)
25. Washington Wizards (9-20)
26. Dallas Mavericks (10-18)
27. Toronto Raptors (7-16)
28. Orlando Magic (6-19)
29. Phoenix Suns (3-29)
1. Portland Trailblazers (27-4)
Portland is just playing really good basketball right now. They have the leagues best record in the tougher conference, they lead the league in points per game and are one of the top defensive teams. It seems like they have so many scorers to go to they couldn’t possibly have a bad game, right now with seven players averaging between 13 and 25 points led by Larry Jones. Pretty obvious number 1 in my opinion.
2. Milwaukee Bucks (26-7)
Milwaukee will likely be the team to beat in the east, I think Chicago could be a threat though. Milwaukee, like Portland, has a ton of guys who are scoring for them and they lead the league in FG percentage. They recently dealt Cowens for Rudy and went 7-1 in the following sim, so that move looks like it is working for them. One thing to point out, Portland and Milwaukee have played the most home games in the league… we will see if both teams start losing towards the second half of the season with more away games.
3. Chicago Bulls (19-6)
I really like Chicago’s team. They are easily one of the top defensive teams with Dickey blocking shots left and right and playing like one of the best big men in the league. I really think Milwaukee will have their hands full come playoff time and these two will meet in the conference finals.
4. Denver Nuggets (18-8)
Denver is looking to make the finals again and finally take home a championship. They have most of the same guys but it looks like they added some depth this year (could be wrong I was tanking and was unfamiliar with the competition last season). Skeeter is shooting ridiculous percentages right now and if that keeps up they will easily be the second seed in the West with all the talent they have. I don’t think Denver can beat Portland though, but we shall see.
5. Los Angeles Lakers (18-9)
LA has top 3 offense, and bottom 5 defense… I don’t know how much of a threat they will be in the playoffs if they don’t fix their defensive problem, they allow way too many points. If they continue to score the way they are scoring though they will be a top 8 team no matter what. I think LA should look for some cheap defensive depth and they should be ok.
6. Utah Jazz (18-9)
Jah has a very solid defensive team that is top 3 in blocks and top 3 in fewest points allowed. I think Jah should look to add another 20 point scoring option and his team could be pretty solid. Either way, they’re playing good basketball which is why I put them here at 6.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (17-10)
Philly is definitely a top 3 eastern conference team, I really like their big 3 of Foots, Carr and Gervin. They also have some very reliable scoring options off the bench in Gail and Love. They definitely could improve at their 4 and 5 positions but what they have now is good enough, but having a big who could score would help.
8. New Orleans Hornets (18-12)
I like the trade they made to acquire Washington and Smith. I think these two guys will come in a give them some good defense and consistency off the bench. New Orleans added shot blocking which they needed so this move should help them. They are one of the hotter teams in their last 10 games going 8-2 since starting 10-10.
9. Minnesota Timberwolves (17-13)
If the west wasn’t so deep Minnesota would be ranked higher. They are a solid basketball team and are just struggling some offensively. It isn’t very good when your go to guy is shooting 42% from the field in this league. They have started playing a little better in their last 10 games though, like the Hornets after starting 10-10 are now 7-3 since.
10. Los Angeles Clippers (18-13)
Clippers get the 10th spot in the ranking even after struggling as of late. The Clippers have a pair of solid bigs who score and block shots for them in Neal and Moore, without them they wouldn’t be very good. Bristow and Clark are doing the heavy load in scoring for them. One thing this team does well is take care of the basketball, they lead the league in that category.
11. Memphis Grizzlies (14-10)
No idea how they are doing so well but I don’t expect it to continue, it looks like Insane is going to rebuild.
12. Indiana Pacers (14-10)
After a slow 8-10 start, Indiana had a 6-0 sim… I think we could be a top 10 team if we keep this kind of play up.
13. Brooklyn Nets (18-14)
Brooklyn should be better but they aren’t playing defense… losing Kermit is definitely starting to show. They did make a nice trade and acquire Cowens who should help them.
14. Oklahoma City Thunder (13-12)
Like the Nets, they should be better but aren’t playing defense… they have a pretty old team and it looks as if habes is trying to make some big deals to retool his team.
15. Charlotte Bobcats (11-15)
With the Hayes injury, this is expected. Hayes is the teams best player and he misses half the season. Lucky for Charlotte… the east sucks and half of the teams are tanking.
16. San Antonio Spurs (13-16)
With Memphis starting to tank I expect Spurs to make a push into the playoffs for 8th seed, the west is very rough this season so it is unfortunate for them to have young undeveloped guys trying to win.
17. Atlanta Hawks (12-13)
Atlanta needs to get help for Mengelt, this doesn’t seem to be working. Pretty bad defensively.
18. Miami Heat (12-16)
Miami will make a push into the playoffs for the 7th or 8th seed I am sure. Definitely need to lower the amount of turnovers though.
19. Golden State Warriors (10-16)
Team isn’t shooting well and in the west conference you gotta shoot better. I think they will turn around though, if not they’ll get a lotto to help next year.
20. Houston Rockets (11-18)
They have talent to win, things just aren’t going for them. Might be worth it to just stick where you are at and get a lotto pick with how deep the West is.
21. Detroit Pistons (9-13)
22. Cleveland Cavaliers (10-17)
23. Boston Celtics (11-18)
24. New York Knicks (10-18)
25. Washington Wizards (9-20)
26. Dallas Mavericks (10-18)
27. Toronto Raptors (7-16)
28. Orlando Magic (6-19)
29. Phoenix Suns (3-29)
