| 20 February 2010
I think that the best way to get back into the NBA post All Star weekend is to explore who fits where in the general scheme of things...
Ok: away with it!
1. Cleveland Cavaliers (same) - Regardless of what rumours abound, the Cavs hit the All Star break playing damn well. Added Jamison to the mix, Shaq's fitting in, and doing what he's supposed to be doing (getting into Dwight Howard's head)... the other bigs are playing well... and LeBron's being, well... LeBron. Only interest that remains is to see if Z can make his way back.
2. LA Lakers (same) - LA come out of the break with Bynum well-rested, Kobe on the mend, and doing very well without both of them prior to the ASG. Bodes well for that last stretch. Still: I need to see Bynum mentally tougher before I'll crown them as "championship material".
3. Denver Nuggets (up 1) - We're still to see if George Karl's cancer will have any impact beyond missing a few games, but make no mistake: he's crucial to this team. No big add-ons to the team via trades, and now the health of their current bigs becomes vital. Looking the goods tho'.
4. Orlando Magic (up 1) - I'm not sure how they managed it, but Orlando are - once again - flying under the radar.
5. Utah Jazz (up 3) - Where riding one helluva rollercoaster until they ran into a brickwall called the Lakers. Who'da thunk it too? Minus Kobe/Bynum... and LA torched 'em. Still... Utah match up well with most teams not wearing purple/gold. Fans won't be happy about the subtraction of Brewer. D-Will certainly isn't.
6. Boston Celtics (down 4) - What's that stench? Oh... it's Boston. Forget the win over LA (sans Kobe), the Celtics have been stinking up the place of late, and regardless of what's said, Danny Ainge has a real harrowed look. Is Nate the answer?
7. Atlanta Hawks (same) - Another team powering along, and doing so with little fanfare. Could make a bit of a splash come the playoffs.
8. Toronto Raptors (up 1) - Just quietly, the Raptors are beginning to put together a pretty good run. Fortunate too that it comes at a time when Boston finds both shoe-laces tied together!
9. Dallas Mavericks (down 3) - I'm not as enthusiastic as some about the garnering of Butler/Haywood. I still don't have Dallas as 'upper tier', tho' if those two fit in well then Dallas will make a steady climb up the rankings.
10. Oklahoma City (up 2) - OKC, definitely a team of the future with a superstar leading, and nice pieces all 'round. The only question that remains is: when does this future begin?
11. Charlotte Bobcats (same) - This team is much, much better than they appear at first glance. And Tyrus Thomas might thrive under Larry Brown.
Still... being the only team to lose to the Nets TWICE?? C'mon... really?
12. Chicago Bulls (up 3) - Chicago rid itself of Tyrus Thomas, who'd become a distraction (I bet they look at LaMarcus Aldridge ruefully!). Didn't really get much better tho'. Noah's plantar fasciitis had better get better!
13. Milwaukee Bucks (up 5) - Continuing rise. And for my money, watch Bogut... he's the impact player - more so than 1st year wunderkind Brandon Jennings. The addition of Salmons is fantastic to the Bucks, who missed an outside shooter with Redd falling further down the injury-spiral.
Ok... maybe my Australian bias coming out a bit there.
14. San Antonio Spurs (down 1) - From the Bard himself:
"Is it not strange that desire should so many years outlive performance?"
15. Memphis Grizzlies (down 5) - The Grizz have performed pretty poorly of late... but I still think they're better than their record dictates. Here for now... but should the next few weeks provide an equally anaemic time, then they could very well plummet. Can Ronnie Brewer help? Well, not to the extent of making a huge impact, but Memphis just need to get consistent - they're already good enough.16. Miami Heat (same) - Miami have to do something to add another substantial piece to the puzzle. Middling doesn't sit well on Dwyane Wade's shoulders. Nor will it... for long.
17. New Orleans Hornets (same) - Actually, the very fact that NOLA have been able to arrest their freefall whilst Chris Paul's out is impressive. Still... a franchise with a helluva lot of questions surrounding them, and not a lot to offer in the way of answers.
18. Portland Trail Blazers (down 4) - Of late the wheels have shown a propensity for falling off at Portland... but the acquisition of Camby's pretty big - if he can fit in look for the Blazers to climb between now and the next rankings.
19. Phoenix Suns (same) - "When the moon hits the sky like a big pizza-pie, it's Amare!"... Phoenix are mired in middling. It's all become about where Stoudemire will land, rather than about PHX. Just quietly, why STAT would want to leave Steve Nash is beyond me.
20. Philadelphia 76ers (up 3) - Philadelphia. I'm not sure that AI's anything resembling an 'answer' any more... but the 76ers once more revolve around Iverson.
21. Houston Rockets (down 1) - This position has as much to do with being in the middle of the West, than anything else. Kevin Martin's a damn good addition, and he'll make Houston more competitive. But pretty much everything that was done was in regards to next season and on... a wise move from the Rockets front office.
22. Indiana Pacers (same) - Is there another team in the league that has fallen from "damn good" to "damn ordinary" with less of a future than the Pacers? Nuh-uh... Indiana's become a cautionary tale.
23. LA Clippers (down 2) - The Clippers did the amazing, and inserted themselves into the mix for the FA sweepstakes this Summer. If they could land someone of note, then they could have a pretty damn nice roster next summer. Still... the Clip have often had a good roster, to no avail. Cursed?
24. Detroit Pistons (same) - I keep waiting for Joe Dumars to do something amazing, and keep being disappointed.
25. Sacramento Kings (same) - The Kings did well in the Trade period, clearing cap space and landing key Rocket Carl Landry. With Kevin Martin moving on, this team truly belongs to Tyreke Evans now.26. Minnesota Timberwolves (up 3) - Minnesota... Darko? Really?
27. New York Knicks (down 1) - New York get pretty much everything they were looking for: cap space, and then some. T-Mac will finally get to play, but make no mistake: getting McGrady is all about cap-space. Even if he DOES work out and they try to resign him, it's going to be at a HUGELY discounted price. McGrady will never, ever see that kind of money again. It's doubtful many players will.
The addition of Sergio Rodriguez wasn't bad at all, and House/Giddens/Walker don't really amount to much...
Still, it all comes down to this - they're putting all the chips on the table... but there's definitely the possibility of a high-end payout!
28. Washington Wizards (same) - "COME ON DOWN! EVERYTHING FOR SALE AT NEVER-TO-BE-REPEATED BARGAIN PRICES!!!"
29. Golden State Warriors (down 2) - Biggest problem is NOT the ever-growing injury list, but having Don Nelson as a coach. I get that Nellie's trying to get to the wins record, but some of the choices he's making late in games are truly beyond belief.
30. New Jersey Nets (same) - Abandon all hope ye who enter... but can they reach 10? I hope not (I have a bet on this...).
