Pre-Season Power Rankings
2005/2006 NBA Power RankingsChris Wallace
It’s often hard to make the preseason power rankings. The moves that have taken place are impossible to judge until the season starts in earnest.
1. San Antonio Spurs – Wow, talk about lucky. Not only did the Spurs win the O’Brien, they also won the Finley sweepstakes. As with most champs, Spurs biggest vulnerability is themselves.
2.Detroit Pistons – The Pistons have the best starting lineup in the NBA. The bench is a different story. This season for the Pistons hangs on bench production from young players like Delfino, Darko (yes I said Darko) and Evans.
3. Miami Heat – Additions of Walker, Williams and Posey to Shaq and a healthy Wade should give even the Pistons and Spurs all they can handle. The question becomes personalities. Can Walker really defer? Can Williams really run a consistent offense? The Heats future is in its own hands
4. Indiana Pacers – Like the top three, tons of talent. Artest needs to decide if he wants to play NBA basketball. Reggie’s departure will actually benefit some of the young Pacers that used Reggie as life support in fourth quarters. It is now O’neal time at Conseco Field House.
5. Phoenix Suns – Will the Suns still run teams out of the gym? Yes, but not with the same regularity as last year. They are however, a much better defensive team with the additions of Raja Bell and Thomas.
6. Cleveland Cavilers – Lebron and Z are back with additions Hughes, Marshall and Jones. If Lebron is the real deal, we need to see it this year. The Cavs have rounded up players other teams have given up on and this may add the needed chip on the shoulder.
7.Rockets – Yao and McGrady are key for the Rockets success. Many questions still remain for the back court. Rockets should make the playoffs, but are still pretenders in the championship hunt.
8.Dallas Mavericks – Finley’s departure may actually benefit the Mavs. They have young talent that should be able to develop and fill the gap. Not the talent pool they were a few years ago, but still one of the deepest teams in the league.
9.Denver Nuggets – Great players everywhere but shooting guard. A trade for Pierce would make the Nuggets a serious threat. I can see the Nuggs going deep into the second round.
10.New Jersey Nets – Kidd, Carter and Jefferson are the best 1-3 combo in the league. Nets will be destroyed in the post though. They still haven’t replaced Martin. Not a serious threat in the East unless they make a trade.
11. Kings – Peja, Bibby and Miller are all all-star caliber players. However, I think that losing Webber for Abdur-Rahim is a downgrade. I also think letting Mobley go and getting Wells is a downgrade as well. I could be wrong, but this is looking like the worst Kings team since before Vlade and C Webb first became Kings.
12.Seattle – Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis are back with a great collection of role players. Look for about the same results as last year.
13. Chicago Bulls – The star crossed Bulls seemed to be pulling it all together and Eddy Curry goes down with a heart condition. Look for Ben Gordon to improve even more.
14. Memphis Grizzlies – Grizz enter this season missing many of the role players that have made them solid. Most likely another 50 win season and first round exit in the playoffs.
15.Philadelphia 76ers – While AI is always the story in the City of Brotherly Love, free agent pick up Lee Nailon may actually be the cog that makes this year’s version of the Sixers better. He can score, which Philly badly needs off of the bench.
16.Milwaukee Bucks – Going out on a limb on this one. TJ Ford will be back to pass to Bogut. Add in Redd’s resigning and the Bucks can scare some teams in the East. Make the playoffs? No, but should be a fun team to watch.
17.Minnesota Timberwolves – KG and Marko need to have great years for anyone to even notice that the T-Wolves still exist.
18.Orlando Magic – Dwight Howard is the real deal. The biggest needs are front court help and sorting out the back court roles. Talent is there, needs someone to sort it out.
19. Washington Wizards – A bad sign with losing Hughes and Butler is a poor replacement. Wiz will be lucky to be playing after the regular season ends.
20. Golden State Warriors - Baron Davis and J Rich look to energize a program that last had “glory days” around a decade ago. Things never seem to go right for the Warriors, but as any hardcore Warriors fan will tell you; this might be their year to right the ship.
21. New York Knicks – Only ranked this high because Larry Brown’s presence should be good enough for some wins.
22. Boston Celtics – See the Knicks ranking and replace Brown’s name with Paul Pierce’s.
23. Utah Jazz – AK-47 is healthy and ready to mow down the competition. The question becomes whether or not Okur and Boozer live up to the expectations that come with their respective contracts.
24. LA Clippers – Sam I Am will come with a chip on his shoulder the size of Shaq’s grocery bill. If Cassell stays healthy, he and Mobley should beat the Lakers out as LA’s best team.
25. LA Lakers – Note to Phil Jackson, just remember round about February, you asked for this.
26. Atlanta Hawks – Enter the three Js. No not the three Js from the mid 1990s of Dallas, but Josh Smith, Josh Childress and Joe Johnson. The Hawks have one of the most talented and athletic back courts in the league. It may not translate into wins, but they should be fun to watch.
27. Portland Trailblazers – The most dysfunctional team in the NBA. At least we’ll get to see what Sebastian can do with some serious playing time.
28. Toronto Raptors – The cancer left Toronto and became suddenly harmless in New Jersey. Question is, who do the Raps blame now that VC is gone?
29. Charlotte Bobcats – Youth and inexperience cost them last year. This year? More of the same.
30. New Orleans Hornets – Lost B-Diddy and will now have to rely on guys like PJ Brown and Jamal Magloire. Yes, it will be a long season.
1 Comments:
The Jazz sould be in the top ten!!!
They have not been healthy for 2 seasons and they had a 500 year. Their additions should land thenm deep in a playoff run, " just like the Suns a couple years back."
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