CNNSI: Rockets power ranking #9

Wow, first time in a decade I have seen a national publication more optimistic about a Houston team than I am...

I hope they are right.

 

and you're a Major Malcontent.

 

#6 in the West and ahead of Phoenix and Portland. Season unseen, I'd take that right now.

 

Pretty much what I was thinking. Leapfrogging over the Suns and the Blazers would be a major accomplishment. I think we have the talent, I just hope we can stay focused (mentally prepared) and don't have many serious injuries.

 

Based on Vegas odds, we are 6th in the west.

 

Can I just say how gratifying it is to see the Utah Jazz at #29. The only thing that would make it better is for Karl Malone to be there with them, rather than with the team ranked #1.

 

Vegas needs to compensate for all the Chinese gamblers betting on Yao leading Houston to the Championship.

 

Rockets come in at #13 on ESPN's rankings.

1 (1) Spurs 0-0 Amazingly only one NBA champion, since 1987, didn't win at least two consecutive championships. That would be Spurs, our favorites to do in 2004 what they couldn't do in 2000.
2 (5) Mavericks 0-0 'Toine trade was nice way to offset those brief October absences of Nowitzki and Finley. After long, sad hangover that followed Van Exel's departure, the mood in Mavsland has brightened considerably.
3 (2) Lakers 0-0 It's a struggle to even put them this high after Sunday's Kobe vs. Shaq spat. Then again, L.A. is meeting expectations on a daily basis ... with lots of controversy already.
4 (3) Timberwolves 0-0 Lots of teams endured injury disruptions this month, but Minny might have endured the most. Every key newcomer and holdover on Flip's team -- except KG -- has missed time.
5 (6) Kings 0-0 Out of respect for regal West, Sacramento can slip no lower for now. We won't be saying so much longer, though, if Kings have to play without Webb and Vlade.
6 (7) Pistons 0-0 Lookie here. An actual Finals contender that made it through preseason preparations quietly. As a bonus, Pistons are adept at using lack of attention as motivational fuel.
7 (4) Nets 0-0 With the games starting, perhaps Jersey will give us cause to talk about their status as East favorites, as opposed to how much J-Kidd detests move to Long Island. Or how much 'Zo didn't want Deke to go.
8 (8) Suns 0-0 It's a measure of widespread amore for Amare that so much is expected of a team that didn't get appreciably bigger. But Suns might find they liked it better when no one expected anything from them.
9 (9) Pacers 0-0 Jermaine's referring all those nagging questions about coach he thought he'd be playing for to Lamar Odom. Now it's Carlisle's turn to answer questions here.
10 (15) Trail Blazers 0-0 Injuries and off-court issues in other outposts have combined to distract the committee and vault Portland up to where West playoff teams belong. For now.
11 (10) Hornets 0-0 Exactly the sort of start Tim Floyd didn't need. A big loss (Mash) before NO even plays a game, in their last season of the easier life in the East.
12 (12) Magic 0-0 After going 1-7, no team is better placed to prove that the exhibition season is meaningless. It'd sure help if Doc could play the point, though.
13 (11) Rockets 0-0 Lucky 13th they ain't. Not the way Van's season has started with Griffingate and a loud rebuke of Stevie Franchise supposedly always swinging for HRs.
14 (13) 76ers 0-0 When I saw Sixers earier this month, they looked like a testy bunch ... and AI wasn't even with the team. Looks like Ayers will be a busy rook.
15 (17) Bulls 0-0 Computer is still trying to reject Bulls this high. Yet you'd have to say Pip has better chance of extending his personal playoff streak than Uncle Cliffy.
16 (14) Celtics 0-0 A step back? In short-term, Ainge doesn't deny it. That said, Boston's still in the East, where you're gullible enough to give Pierce-Raef-Vin Man trio a shot.