Post by Clifford "Poop" Harris on Apr 4, 2010 18:48:57 GMT -5
UOSLR Power Rankings
1. Indiana Pacers: 16-3
PPG: 117.2 PAPG: 97.9
The best team in every way so far this season. The defending champs have come out of the gates steaming on their way to leading the league in both point per game and points allowed per game. They might be fielding the best 1-2-3 punch in the league in Redd, Hamilton and Carmelo as they alone combine for 71.3 ppg and have led this team to the best record in the league. The Pacers are undoubtedly the favorites to win the title once again.
2. San Antonio Spurs: 20-6
PPG: 114.5 PAPG: 103.3
Not the best defensive team, but they can go out and score with the best of them. They have 4 players pitching in 19+ ppg with three of them contributing 23+ppg. I'm not sure there's another team in the league who can match up 1-4 with the Spurs. Their top 4 scorers account for 80% of their total scoring. This could be a cause for concern in the long run, but there's a lot of room for error when you have Dirk, Devin, Milsap and Ginobili.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers: 16-4
PPG: 110.5 PAPG: 101.9
The Cavaliers have been in tact for a couple seasons already and it's nice to see their young talent finally develop. After a mediocre season last year, they went on a deep run into the Conference finals where they eventually lost to the Pacers. They came into the year with high expectations and they have failed to disappoint. Despite losing Larry Hughes to Free Agency, the Cavs have picked up right where they left off and are among the favorites in the East.
4. New Jersey Nets: 14-6
PPG: 116.7 PAPG: 107.5
The most balanced attack in the league is 2nd in the league in scoring despite losing Al Jefferson during the off-season. They are well below average defensively which could cost them if they want to make it to the Finals, but they should be one of the best teams throughout the regular season. Their ability to rely on more than one person to score could take them very far as they have no one getting more that 25 ppg and five getting 15+ppg.
5. Utah Jazz: 21-7
PPG: 107.9 PAPG: 104.2
I considered putting the Jazz top 3, but they just haven't been performing at the best level as consistently. They're coming off a win against the Cavaliers, but they've also had some terrible losses so far this year. I have no idea how they're 14 games over .500 with only a +3 ppg on the season. Wouldn't be surprised if they were out of the top 10 by the time the season is over.
6. Los Angeles Clippers: 16-8
PPG: 114.5 PAPG: 104.8
I think the Clippers will go up these rankings as the season goes along. They're outscoring their opponents by double digits on a daily basis and it won't be long 'till they start winning the close games they've been losing. They have considerable talent with Arenas and Ming, if Granger ever develops into a an all star watch out. Expect this team to hover around top 4 in the West for the remainder of the season.
7. Milwaukee Bucks: 16-11
PPG: 104.5 PAPG: 102.2
The Bucks don't exactly have an overwhelming amount of talent but it seems like they've found a bunch of parts that fit well together. They aren't blowing away the competition but they're getting the job done, so far at least. It's going to be interesting to see whether they keep winning the close games and maintain their position in the standings. If Ronnie Fields continues his surprising offensive production and Eddie Griffin keeps dominating on defense, this team should be fine. They aren't spectacular, but they're nice and solid.
8. Vancouver Grizzlies: 13-7
PPG: 108.3 PAPG: 101.7
And now we reach some of the disappointing teams. The Grizzlies are performing below expectations, but i wouldn't be surprised if they ended up with 55+ wins once again. Other than Duncan being out for a few games, everything else seems to be fine with the Grizz so expect them to get on a little run pretty soon. Wade and Duncan could be the best 1-2 punch in the league so don't expect them to stay in the middle of the western playoff race for too long.
9. Los Angeles Lakers: 13-9
PPG: 108.6 PAPG: 102.9
Talking about disappointments, the Lakers have put themselves in an early hole to begin the season. Sitting 5 games back of the Spurs, they are going to have to go on a serious run in order to continue their string of consecutive #1 seeds. If you ask the Lakers GM, i doubt he cares though, he rather have success in the playoffs. Lebron isn't measuring up to his usual standards and unless he steps it up, i don't see the Lakers making much of a move, in the regular season at least.
10. Detroit Pistons: 13-9
PPG: 114.5 PAPG: 110.0
The Pistons seemed to be in deep trouble in the off-season. The uncertainty up top at the GM position could have set the Pistons back a few years, but the new hiring seems to have made a positive impact. They don't really have a superstar in their lineup, but they have enough good players to continue winning. The improvements of Marc Gasol and Brandon Wright have a lot to do with their new found success as they are on pace to have their first winning season in 5 seasons. Not bad for a team who had so much uncertainty surrounding it during the off-season.
11. Boston Celtics: 12-10
PPG: 105.9 PAPG: 104.5
Winner of 7 of their last 9, the Celtics look to be on their way up the standings. They made an aggressive move to acquire Garnett and it seems to be paying dividends. They're probably going to need to acquire another scorer though if they want to be in the top half of the playoff standings in the East. I don't see Vince and Garnett being enough with how high the scoring has been league-wide so far this season.
12. Toronto Raptors: 12-10
PPG: 105.1 PAPG: 103.3
Here we go from all the solid teams to mediocrity. Filled with a lot of solid veterans with one very good one, it's safe to say Raptors aren't going to contend anytime soon. It might be time to start trading some of them and set themselves up for the future. Building around Trevor Ariza seems like the way to go at this point. If his goal is to make it to 40 wins, this team will do.
13. Philadelphia 76'ers: 15-13
PPG: 103.1 PAPG: 103.6
Philadelphia made a big acquisition during the summer in Larry Hughes and I thought they would be considerably better coming into the season than they currently are. They're getting outscored by .5 ppg and there's hardly any production coming from anyone besides Deron and Larry. Despite averaging 25+ ppg throughout the season so far, Larry has been pretty inefficient so far getting about 26 ppg on 23 shots per game. No doubt, he's an asset, but they will be bubble team the whole season unless Hughes steps it up.
14. Phoenix Suns: 10-11
PPG: 106.4 PAPG: 104.6
Adding to the list of disappointments so far this season are the Suns. They aren't playing as well as they have the past couple seasons and they have more talent than their records show. It's a little premature to write them off though, they've won 6 out of their last 10 and might have found a their form of the last few years. Curry, Lewis and Odom should be enough to carry this team to a top 5 seed and maybe even into the 2nd round at the very least. Don't sleep on them yet.
15. Miami Heat: 15-17
PPG: 96 PAPG: 100.2
Doesn't look like the Heat will be making the playoffs this year. A team made up of only two real good players won't cut it in the East this season. With that being said, they made a nice move for the future in acquiring Parker, if they can surround him with two or three nice players over the next couple years they should be right in the middle of the playoff race. For now, they'll probably be a late lottery team unless they can get something for Shareef.
16. Dallas Mavericks: 12-14
PPG: 98.7 PAPG: 100.3
I'm guessing the Mavericks expected to be in a better position once they traded all their youth for win-now players. I doubt he envisioned his team struggling to even remain in the playoffs. That's what happens though when a big acquisition like Terry fails to pan out. They might have to start all over in the rebuilding pieces once again unless they can swing a move to acquire someone. It's going to be a struggle for them all season if they stand pat.
17. Houston Rockets: 10-11
PPG: 95.3 PAPG: 100.7
The Rockets have some nice young talent and I look for them to be better in the future. It's surprising to see them in the playoff race though considering their 3 best players are no older than 22. Rockets got themselves a gem when they won the lottery and took Durant, he's without a doubt the ROY and a future MVP candidate. If Deandre Jordan keeps improving like he did this off-season, this team will be scary.
18. Golden State Warriors: 10-13
PPG: 107.2 PAPG: 107.7
They are currently on the outside looking in and it has to do a lot with Howard's inability to perform up to his abilities. He's only getting 15 ppg on 38% shooting and is one of the most inefficient players in the league. There's no reason why he shouldn't be getting 20 and 10 on a nightly basis. I see him improving his play, but if he doesn't I think the Warriors will be stuck at their current position, out of the playoffs.
19. Chicago Bulls: 9-14
PPG: 99.5 PAPG: 103.5
The Bulls came away with the most prized Free Agent in the off-season in Al Jefferson. He struggled to become a consistent 3rd scorer in New Jersey, but he's become a pretty reliable 1st option for the Bulls. Expect Al Jefferson and Blake Griffin to be a force for the next Decade. It isn't their time to win yet, but it will be in the next couple years.
20. Minnesota Timberwolves: 8-10
PPG: 99.5 PAPG: 103.5
They have some pieces, just not enough to help them contend. They have one of the best PG's in Telfair and some other solid pieces. They are almost like the Knicks, except Telfair's supporting cast is considerably better and Curry looks like a nice prospect. He still has some developing to do, but Curry and Telfair could be a very good back court duo in due time.
BOTTOM NINE
21. Hawks: 8-13
PPG: 97.3 PAPG: 104.6
Nothing more than a lotto team. Expect the other teams to jump over them. They have a lot of solid players but no real future, they're kind of stuck in the middle.
22. Bullets: 7-15
PPG: 104.6 PAPG: 107.2
They have a good team, just aren't playing up to their talent level. Chris Paul hasn't improved from last season like we all thought he would, but i'd still expect the Bullets to make the playoffs despite the slow start.
23. Magic: 10-17
PPG: 96.7 PAPG: 105.2
No idea how their record isn't worse. They have been awful in most of their games and there isn't anything on their roster that screams wins. Don't get me wrong, if they assets and a nice young solid core, but their record should be a lot worse.
24. Knicks: 8-14
PPG: 102.9 PAPG: 103.2
I considered putting them further down the rankings, but the fact remains they have Amare out for only 22 more days. Once Amare gets back i see them winning considerably more. For the present, i don't see how they'll win at all w/o Amare. If there was ever a one man team, this would be it. Which is why they'll be fine once he comes back.
25. Sonics: 8-19
PPG: 101.9 PAPG 105.9
I don't know how their record is this bad, they have one of the best players in Caron and some nice role players in Mo and Brezec. Maybe they're tanking but i doubt they'll keep losing at this rate if they're only getting outscored by 4 ppg. Expect this team to be around the late lottos slots.
26. Trailblazers: 7-18
PPG: 98.3 PAPG: 103.6
I'm not sure I like them more than the Kings, but they seem to be more competitive than the Kings at this point. They're going to have to start winning soon though, the GM might get axed if he doesn't put them in a good position to start winning games next year.
27. Kings: 6-13
PPG: 104.2 PAPG: 112.8
The Kings have been pretty bad, i thought they would be much beter this season after reaching the finals last year. They're well set up for the future though, they seemed to have gotten the good end in a deal that sent Tony Parker East and saw Iguodala come in. The Kings shouldn't be sorry for long.
28. Nuggets: 8-19
PPG: 103.5 PAPG: 112
Mops. Mops. Mops. They once had a bright future with nowhere to go but up. Now, it looks like the new GM will have to do his own rebuild in hopes of bringing this team back to where they were. Deshawn and Caron are looking real good right now. Oh well.
29. Hornets
PPG: 92.4 PAPG: 107.3
The Hornets were left in disarray when Spencer left, that Dwight Howard trade seems to be really biting them in the butt right now. The main piece they received, Greg Oden, looks like nothing short of a bust. If only they had kept Howard: Rondo, Mayo and Howard would look real nice right now. What could have been. Now they'll just be looking forward to the lottery once again.
