1.Miami Heat (4-1)
The Celtics are considered
the best bet to meet the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. However, the
Heat put them away rather easily on their opening night. The next game was
against the New York Knicks which was the team that Heat put away in the
playoffs rather easily in the first round, the Heat lost. Overall, though after
five games the Heat look strong with Ray Allen already shooting just under 60%
from not only the field , but the 3 point line as well! Yikes
2. New York Knicks (3-0)
What if I told you the
Knicks added five new players who were 35 and older, didn’t have Amar’e Stoudemire
& are undefeated for the first time since the 1999-2000 season (ended the
season 50-32 & third in the conference) would you believe me? Well, they
are. Strong defense, great passing & Carmelo leading by example has really
made the difference. Let’s see if it holds up though….
3.San Antonio Spurs (4-1)
As far as we know, the sun will come out
tomorrow, the USA still has Barack as president for the next 4 years & the
Spurs are a team that will get the job done all season long. Doesn’t matter if
they are getting older, injured or whatever may happen, this team will have a
winning season. However, the playoffs have shown a different story. Till then,
Spurs are still a team to not take lightly at all.
4. Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
4. Dallas Mavericks (4-1)
Owner Mark Cuban
envisioned opening this season with either Deron Williams or Dwight Howard in a
Mavs uniform, perhaps even both! However, it was not to be , but the Mavs kept working
the phones. They added a great young guard in O.J. Mayo, a nice point guard in
Darren Collison & other fine pieces with Elton Brand, Chris Kaman among
others. With Dirk Nowitzki out till about mid-December after knee surgery, the
Mavs have been an early surprise. Having the Bobcats & Raptors early in the
schedule kind of helped, ya think?
5. Memphis Grizzlies (3-1)
5. Memphis Grizzlies (3-1)
An easy first week has
helped the Grizz get to a good start though we must give credit as not all
teams beat the teams they’re “supposed to win”. The Grizzlies are fourth overall
in scoring with a defense that ranks 10th overall. A nice start, but
upcoming games against the Knicks, Heat & Thunder will give us a better
idea of what this team is about.
6.Chicago Bulls (3-1)
6.Chicago Bulls (3-1)
No Derrick Rose? No
problem! While the Bulls have also been given an easy start to the year, you
can’t help but think they deserve it. Starting off the year with Kirk Hinrich
at the point instead of their top 5 player is not the best feeling. However,
the Bulls are forging ahead. With the Thunder, T-Wolves & Celtics in the
next week, we will see how this team holds up.
7. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-1)
Other than a mind-boggling blow
out loss to the Raptors, the Wolves have looked solid. An easy first week with
victories over teams like the Kings & Magic have them sitting on top of the
Northwest division. Time & some tougher competition against the Bulls & Mavericks this week will tell us more about this team.7. Minnesota Timberwolves (3-1)
8. Los Angeles Clippers (3-2)
The Clippers continue to be a real tease
for any NBA fan. They have one of the best, if not the best, point guards
running their team, an exciting franchise player in Blake Griffin, one of the
last centers left in the NBA in DeAndre Jordan & added some nice pieces in
the off-season with new players Jamal Crawford, Matt Barnes, Grant Hill &
Lamar Odom. Yet, they lose to the Cavs & Warriors while giving San Antonio
Spurs their first loss. Only the first week, but consistency is the next step
for this team.
9. Golden State Warriors (3-2)
9. Golden State Warriors (3-2)
Coach Mark Jackson is in
year 2 of his coaching career & while the Warriors continue to score (6th
in the league) in a frantic pace, they are actually out-rebounding their
opponents. They beat the Clippers then lost to the lowly Sacramento Kings. The
Warriors need a good finish to the season, especially Mark Jackson.
10. Atlanta Hawks (2-1)
The Hawks started the
season with three tough opponents and ended up with 2 wins. Point guard Jeff
Teague continues to show that last season was no fluke as he averages 15 ppg
with 6 assists while shooting just under 55%. This coming week has the Clippers
and Heat on the agenda, but with the Hawks number one in steals thus far in the
season, the Hawks may still be up there on the power rankings for a ling tome
to come.
11. Milwaukee Bucks (2-1)
11. Milwaukee Bucks (2-1)
After opening the season
with a win on the road against Boston, the Bucks have a 2-1 record in their
first week. The question of whether the small backcourt of Brandon Jennings
& Monte Ellis can work out for a full season will need about 30 games for a
clearer answer. So far, a good start.
12. Boston Celtics (2-2)
12. Boston Celtics (2-2)
The Celtics lost Ray Allen to their hated
rival the Miami Heat & despite adding Jason Terry, re-signing a healthy
Jeff Green & other pieces added. They are 21st in scoring (96
ppg) & 23rd in points allowed (99.8). If not for two wins
against the lowly Washington Wizard, they could be lower. They probably should
be lower.
13. Oklahoma Thunder
A last second Tony Parker jumper in the opening game against the San
Antonio Spurs robbed the Thunder of a chance to win the game in overtime to push
their record to 3-1. While it did shock many to see James Harden traded away
after a nice run last year to the NBA finals, Harden’s replacement, Kevin
Martin, has done a great job so far averaging over 19 ppg while shooting over
60% from the 3 point line. As long as K-Mart can stay healthy the Thunder
should have another strong season. 13. Oklahoma Thunder
14. Philadelphia 76er’s (2-2)
Back to back losses to the
Knicks still shouldn’t take away from the 76er’s effort to maintain a solid record
until Andrew Bynum returns.
15. Portland Trailblazers (2-2)
Rookie Point Guard Damian Lillard has been
really impressive to start the season with 19 ppg & 8 ast. His shooting
percentage certainly needs to approve, fewer than 41%, & his turnovers are
a bit too high (3 to’s), but he’s done a great job thus far.
16. Houston Rockets (2-2)
Newly traded & now 80 million dollar
man, James Harden exploded for 82 points in his first 2 games, both wins.
However, the party stopped and the Rockets lost their next 2 games with Harden
hitting only 13 of 39 shots for a paltry 33%. Jeremy Lin has been solid, but “Linsanity”
has yet to emerge. Maybe he didn't unpack it yet.
17. New Orleans Hornets (2-2)
A team with a great foundation, one of the
best young coaches in the league & a franchise player in Anthony Davis
makes the Hornets future look very bright. For now, injuries are their biggest
obstacle. Not the best way to start for a team with young players. They really
need time to work on their team chemistry.
18. Orlando Magic (2-2)
Now that Dwight Howard is posing for
Hollywood & Ryan Anderson has left for bigger money and a brighter future
with the Hornets, the Magic are depleted & headed towards the draft
lottery. Second year guard E’Twaun Moore has been a nice surprise in his first
year with the Magic averaging around 14 points, 5 rebounds & 4 assists.
19. Denver Nuggets (2-3)
After
opening up with 3 losses, the Nuggets have won their last two games. This team
has the deepest roster & with George Karl at the helm to lead them, they
should have a solid year. Still have to wonder who takes the last shot during
crunch time.
20. Utah Jazz (2-3)
As
the role of the “big man” in the post dwindles down each year with more
athletic big men who can shoot, pass and bring up the ball, the Jazz still have
the old school big man. Actually, they have THREE! Al Jefferson, Paul Milsap
& Derrick Favors all make the Jazz an interesting team to keep an eye on.21. Indiana Pacers (2-3)
Unfortunately, sharpshooting leading scorer officially out for 3 months as the Pacers announced that Granger had received an injection "to treat left patellar tendinosis". The Pacers have Gerald Green & Paul George to fill those minutes, but it’s going to be a grind till Granger returns.
22. Phoenix Suns (2-3)
With three of the five starters on the Suns in their first year on the team (Michael Beasley, Goran Dragic & Luis Scola) it will take time for them to mesh. There’s a chance the Suns could make some noise, but chemistry always requires time. 77 games enough fellas?
23. Sacramento Kings (2-3)
Lost their first three, won their last two, so that’s something. DeMarcus Cousins is averaging a double-double including a 23pt , 15 rb night in a win against the Warriors. Is Jimmer a star yet?
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (2-3)
A surprise win over the Clippers, point guard Kyrie Irving avg nearly 25 pts per game in this early season and with Anderson Varejao averaging a double-double (14pts/15rbs!!) has given the Cavaliers some hope for this season. It’s going to be tough for Irving & Varejao to maintain this standard, but it’s the Cavs only hope.
25. Charlotte Bobcats (1-2)
With one win in the first week of the season, the Charlotte Bobcats are on their way to breaking last year’s painful franchise-low 7 win season.
26. Brooklyn Nets (1-2)
The Nets are now in Brooklyn. That is all
27. Los Angeles Lakers (1-4)
Imagine a team with Kobe Bryant & Dwight Howard for five games together and they have the worst record in the Western Conference. No need to imagine thus far.
28. Toronto Raptors (1-4)
Chris Bosh's last year with the Raptors, they won 40 games. In the two years since Bosh left, including the first 5 games of this season, They have won 46 games total. Think about this the next time someone tells you that Chris Bosh is "over-rated"
29.Washington Wizards (0-3)
No Nene. No John Wall. No chance
30. Detroit Pistons (0-5)
It's so cold in the D
