http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2005&week=1 Here's the top 10 where the Rockets are at # 9. I think thats about right where we stand right now, hopefully we will gradually move up. 1 (5) Pacers 3-0 Injuries? Pacers (Jermaine specifically) apparently don't even know that they're banged up. And Artest? Looking great after a summer of innuendo and trade rumors. 2 (9) Jazz 3-0 In midseason form already, Jazz wastes no time making us look foolish for even suggesting that the PG injuries (Arroyo and Lopez) would slow these guys down. 3 (3) Heat 3-0 An FYI, from Shaq: Dwayne Wade is now known as Flash. It really was Dwyane's World in Week 1, true, but Shaq's still in charge of passing out nicknames. 4 (1) Pistons 2-1 Took Toronto lightly (bad) and didn't even deny it (worse). Hence the drop of three slots, and a stern warning, because complacency might be Pistons' biggest enemy this season. 5 (2) Spurs 2-1 Another team, like Detroit, that should never slip below Utah. But, like Detroit, Spurs took a road game lightly (Seattle) and got embarrassed. 6 (4) Timberwolves 2-1 This much we know already: KG looks as serious as ever, and Wolves vs. Nuggets in a playoff rematch (fingers crossed) would be serious fun. 7 (12) Mavericks 3-0 Mavs have even surprised themselves with so much early continuity. And with their depth, you can be sure that Dallas will keep winning if it keeps holding teams to 92.3 ppg. A lot. 8 (11) Suns 3-0 It only took a week for Suns to supplant Orlando as the league's unofficial bandwagon team. They're scoring freely and racking up fans just as quickly. 9 (7) Rockets 2-2 Perilously close to the first 0-3 start in JVG's coaching career, Rockets eventually emerged from a four games-in-five nights stretch with some style. 10 (24) Raptors 3-0 Vinsanity and his Raps had a dream week worthy of a massive jump . . . apart from that court ruling which mandates a payment of nearly $5 million to VC's former agent.
Phoenix has got to be the most over-hyped team in the league beating Atlanta, Philly (who looks awful) and New Jersey to go 3-0. If anything, Toronto should be ahead of them given the quality wins to start 3-0. People just like Phoenix because they can score, but that just makes them a paper tiger like they always have been. When you can't defend, you will suck no matter what your regular season record ends up being.
Toronto has been impressive. Wins over Detroit, Houston and Portland. Can't complain about Houston getting no love, though. Only .500 team in top 10.
Yeah and the Rockets and the Lakers are the only two teams to have played four games thus far...and we are both 2-2
Similar to what Jeff said, in addition to current record and team performance, they should also consider what teams they've played. IMHO, the team that has had the best success with a difficult starting schedule would be Dallas, then Utah, then Detroit, then Rockets. It's really hard for me to see Indy and Miami ranked so high considering the Eastern teams that they've played against. -- droxford
Thats a good point. I think us and Sacramento by far had the toughes premier week opening scedule considering its on the road and the quality team we had to face. We should be lucky and fortunate to sit at 2-2 considering Sact. is at 0-3, so I'm pretty happy.
In total agreement here...none of the teams that Phoenix beat have a winning record. Talk about an easy start...look at their next two games...Chicago and then Clevland...I really hope that Clevland smacks them up.
I really sympathize with Sac. They've had an even harder schedule than us, and against important Western teams. -- droxford
F 'em! But yeah, it's tough to get too angry over a .500 record after those first four games. Detroit, Sac and Memphis have always been tough for us and Toronto has been catching everyone off guard. After the China trip, we could just as easily have started the season like the Queens.
im pretty happy with our record right now.. it seems like we have been playing better each game and as long as I see some type of improvement im a happy camper. With the quality of teams we have been playing and our record so far im quite impressed. I was one of the people expecting to go 1 - 3 . J
I think the Suns could be decent during the regular season...Dallas has done it in the past with a psycho offense. And Phoenix has a little bit more inside (and a little less outside) with Amare. So they'll be decent...but out in the 1st round. Raps did 2 huge things. Got a point (Alston is surprising me still...he's solid), and moved Bosh over to the 4. They essentially have 3 good players in the lineup now--Alston, Carter back from injury, and a different Bosh cause he was out of position all last yaer. In the East, I think they're either the 4 or 5 seed, make the 2nd round, and have a decent shot at upsetting whoever they get there to make it to the conf. finals.
Yeah, I don't think the Raptors are fluke at all. If Loren Woods can provide quality starts, they'll be pretty strong in the east compartively.
Um? Am I the only believer in a Win is a Win is a Win? Whether there first few opponets are quality or not, it just shows they are starting the season off on the right foot and taking care of those who need to be taken care of, it is way to early in the season to say who is a pretender or a contender.
Raptors are immensely under-rated. Alston Carter Rose Bosh Woods Marshall Peterson L Murray Palacio Bonner Araujo A Williams J Moiso There, an extremely capable starting lineup, and a bench, including a top-notch 6th man in Marshall, who would be starting on many teams, and a few shooters, who can light it up on any given night, namely Peterson, and L Murray. Also a great spark plug so far, found in Palacio, whose been solid. The main difference in this year's Raptor's team is their coach, whose inputted a great system, exploiting their speed and skill, particularly in their starting lineup, which includes five players, who can all run the court smoothly.
if Raptors players manage to all stay healthly this season... there's no reason why they shouldn't be the #3 seed in the East given their division. This would basically get them past the first round... with the possibility of getting through the second round as well in the playoffs. Of course... it really all depends on Vince...
At best this is a 40 some win east team that compete for that 4 spot in the east palyoff. They are getting all the breaks right now. I caught the end of raptor vs blazers game. Randolph was killing, I mean murdering down low. Lucky, Carter made that shot. Soon the league is going to figure out how to play the Raptors. I just dont see them going too far. Mark my words. Carter's health is another conern. The real surprising team to me is the Wizards.
