1 (1) Spurs 59-23 We repeat: Spurs won't win 70 because they generally start slow and because Pop won't waste energy letting them chase a number. But make no mistake: This is S.A.'s deepest team ever. 2 (4) Pacers 44-38 Still struggling to believe that Penthouse is going with Artest on its cover, but at least you can tell your wife or girlfriend (for once) that you're buying it to read it. 3 (2) Pistons 54-28 This risk was avoided last season thanks to Indiana's suspension-induced drop, but the Pistons -- not the biggest fans of the regular season -- would be wise to remember that finishing second in the division means you can't be seeded higher than No. 4. 4 (6) Rockets 51-31 Houstonians are obviously hurting right now, but there are worse playoff fates than getting swept in the championship round. T-Mac knows that all too well . . . but has never been better positioned to change his postseason fortunes. 5 (5) Heat 59-23 Sounds like there's someone else (besides us) for Heat fans to hate. Says 'Sheed: ''With a team like that, I wouldn't have changed nothing. They took us to a Game 7, I mean, why change that team?'' 6 (7) Nuggets 49-33 'Melo insists he'll be an All-Star this February. If Denver lives up to all these lofty expectations, he's a lock. 7 (8) Mavericks 58-24 If it's basically the same team as last season, as previously noted in this cyberspace, something else hasn't changed. Dirk is always Dirk, but Dallas still isn't sure what it'll get at PG and C. 8 (3) Suns 62-20 No, not a misprint: I'm still picking Phoenix to win the Pacific, even without Amare. But his absence means that the Spurs will now run virtually unopposed in the West. 9 (12) Nets 42-40 Did You Know time: Nets were 29-10 when Krstic scored at least 10. More evidence that the young center, who's expected to bump up that ppg, might be the real key here. 10 (9) Cavaliers 42-40 Everyone knows they'll be better. Question is, how much better will Cavs be on the road? For their sake, hopefully much, much better than 12-29. 11 (10) Kings 50-32 Adelman's under some pressure, as always, but so is Petrie (to a degree). The GM who's banking on Bonzi and Reef has to convince Peja (contract year) to stay. 12 (11) Grizzlies 45-37 Except for Toronto, perhaps no team took the Magloire trade harder than Memphis. Jerry West, by all accounts, wanted the big man badly. 13 (15) Bucks 30-52 Without Magloire, Simmons has to play lots of PF. With Magloire, Simmons as a four is now just for occasional small ball change-ups, which is a better way to use him. 14 (14) Wizards 45-37 That first-round comeback over Chicago obviously made an impression. Several of our pundits expect the Bulls to take a backward step and the Wiz to maintain their playoff status. 15 (16) Lakers 34-48 The 24/7 focus is naturally on Phil and Kobe. But a successful season probably depends more on Phil reaching Kwame and Kwame not folding when Kobe chides him. 16 (13) Warriors 34-48 Excellent points from my man Bucher. Everyone comparing the Warriors to last season's Suns overlooks the fact that Phoenix had better shooters and more athletic bigs. 17 (18) SuperSonics 52-30 As great as Ray was in '04-05, Seattle's frontcourt rotation was a huge key last season. Evans and Collison are still there, but James is gone and Fortson and Radmanovic don't sound happy. 18 (19) Timberwolves 44-38 If the Wolves want to shame experts who dare to suggest that KG will miss the playoffs two years in a row, they can start by doing a little better than 0-3 on the road against Hawks, Bobcats and Raps, as seen in '04-05. 19 (22) 76ers 43-39 Iverson and Webber really could have used a smooth start and haven't had one. As a fan of both, I'm still rooting for them to surprise us. 20 (17) Knicks 33-49 Upon reflection . . . maybe the bottom of the East's playoff ladder isn't any more wide open that the bottom of the West's. I see at least seven teams definitely ahead of Larry's Knicks. At least seven. 21 (20) Bulls 47-35 It doesn't help Chicago's cause that the toughest division in basketball -- yes, tougher even than the Southwest -- just got tougher with Milwaukee swindling Magloire from New Orleans. 22 (23) Jazz 26-56 Golden State is getting lots of Sleeper O' The West pub, but perhaps that team will wind up being Utah. There are major questions at PG, true, but the frontcourt still catches your eye when you read the names: Kirilenko, Boozer, Okur. 23 (21) Celtics 45-37 The challenge with Boston, at least for us, is coming up with comments that don't mention the possibility of a Pierce trade. So far, we're 0-for-2. 24 (25) Clippers 37-45 Major downer. Livingston is the Clipper we wanted to watch most and now you have to start wondering whether he'll always be dealing with injuries. 25 (24) Magic 36-46 Grant Hill has the right attitude -- ''It's better than three to six months or three to six years,'' he says -- but hearing he needs another surgery (of any kind) makes our stomachs hurt. 26 (28) Bobcats 18-64 Felton, a rookie, has guaranteed a playoff berth. Sorry, kid. Only legit guarantee we can see is that Bobcats will be playing in a better (new) building. 27 (27) Hawks 13-69 The committee can't stop thinking about the late Collier . . . and the wife and daughter who have to carry on without him. If we can't stop thinking about him, imagine how it must be for Hawks. 28 (26) Trail Blazers 27-55 This won't be like last fall, when a rocky preseason couldn't stop Nate's team from enjoying a storybook season. Nate's new team is far, far greener and will struggle as much as the latest projections suggest. 29 (29) Hornets 18-64 Let's just say that trading big for small -- and for a draft pick that probably won't even be in the lottery now -- is not how I'd want to start the season. Especially when the big is a recent former All-Star. 30 (30) Raptors 33-49 Raps' outlook isn't that bleak. Most staffers agree that they'd rank as high as second if we did power rankings for the Israeli league. Here's the link
My first thought is how can you put the Pistons in front of the Heat? Whether it's Artest or Jermaine O'Neal or Shaq, I hope someone in the East shoves an elbow into Rasheed's big mouth.
The Heat are just not that good, especially come playoff time. Aren't we talking about Jason Williams and Antoine Walker? Wasn't everyone saying how much of a cancer they both are? And Shaq is not going to be 100% come playoff time. He'll be lucky to be 60%. Remember how quickly Hakeem came off of his game. It's hard for Big Men to stay on top of their game over an entire season. I can easily picture the heat finishing 5 seed or later, and then losing in the second round.
Yeah, I think Indiana is way too high. Switch the Pacers with the Heat and I guess that's about right. The important thing is that we're #2 in the West.
The national media is too high on the Pacers. They have to prove they can stay healthy (tinsley) and that they can even stay on the floor (artest). Even if those two things happen its not like their roster is that loaded. I still think the Heat will come out of the East. #4 is right where I would rank the Rockets. Behind the Spurs, Heat, and Pistons.
Some of you guys are seriously underestimating Wade. Though nobody on the Heat will admit this publicly, he will be the superstar and Shaq will be the secondary player. Unless their team chemistry blows up (big if), the Heat will easily overcome Shaq's decline and be a championship contender.
And Houston and SA both improved big time. Overall, the SW improved much more than just adding Magloire to a weak team. That struck me as a weird thing to say too. I guess you can chalk it up to the Northeast media bias.
I agree. If not for the injury to Wade (and Shaq, and Haslem, and basically the entire Heat starting lineup), Miami is probably headed to the NBA Finals. I think they're better. I don't think Jason Williams and Antoine Walker are cancers.
If they don't get Laker-itis. I thought the Lakers would KILL two years ago, but that many starts didn't work for them. I think it remains to be seen whether Miami can come together or not. But if they do - watch out.
West has become weaker overall, but besides a fully stocked Indiana, I don't see any East team contending...
i think they are pretty right on point. i think the heat are overrated and team chemistry is going to be a problem. overall, the west is still the better conference but the east is getting closer because the teams at the top are very good but once you get past the top 5, you are going to see a sub.500 team make the playoffs. that isn't going to happen out west.
Personally I think that Miami has a big, potentially fatal flaw in having a lack of consistent perimeter shooters. If you collapse and pack the lane against the Heat, you'll be able to defend against both of their biggest weapons; Shaq's postup and Wade's penetration. Doing that would make you vulnerable, to the 3-ball but I'm not conviced that J-Will and Walker can convert 3's at a consistent clip. Personally I expect Detroit's defense to put up a very tough fight. And the Pacers have a chance because Jacivicious (sp?) will kill Williams/Shaq on the PnR. The Heat might still be able to out-talent everyone in the East, but I have my doubts.
took the words out of my mouth. chemistry issues aside, no way miami can spread the floor the way they did last year. i hope finley, ginobili and bowen get into it over minutes...
It's kind of historically interesting for the Rox to be ranked so high again -- iirc, the Rox didn't get much preseason respect in either of the championship years; I think they got more preseason love in the Barkley/He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named era...
