NBA Power Rankings for Debate

[Rummpd]

I have at times criticized others, perhaps, very inappropriately for rankings as a "Spurs homer" = so take your shot at me "got rugged shoulders":

12/5/04:


The Only Real Deal

1. Spurs - Surging true only super-power of league left = this week will get Sonic monkey off back and make it definitive

The Enigma's are they this good?

2. Sonics - hot shooting beginning to fade and/or refs. wising up to thuggery inside with that BigFoot Fortson and others in middle?
3. Suns - becoming the most dangerous team to Spurs!

Surging and Potentially Scary in West:

4. Kings - in my view the 2nd most scary team out West - seem to be overcoming early disharmony, Webber maybe accepting 2nd star role better?
5. Wolves - still with some teeth and fangs and a guy named KG.
6. _Allas: just because of the singular brilliance of Dirk a threat in any series or game, but rest of team not as strong as previous years. Dampier in non-contract year is a friggin joke. Some good kids, 2 years will be dangerous group.

Back to the Eastern New Powers and a Hanger on:

7. Cleveland - King James' crown may actually be golden after all and big Z also significant reason for surge.
8. Disneyland Lives: give Hill, the Franchise, Mobley etc. their due well done start and way to go!
9. Heart Transplant Award: Pacers - never under-estimate the "heart of a near champion"
10. Heat - Someone turned on the air conditioner on this team - whats up with them?
11. Pistons - Despite record, survived injuries and DON'T UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF TRUE CHAMPIONS. Giving some calls against Spurs but impressed by not rolling over as _llas and others did to very strong Spurs. Still biggest threat to Spurs who in many ways they resemble so much = TEAM.

What's left, pretenders to anything perhaps.

12. Washington = surprisingly tough, getting over the wasted Jordan comeback years in dual role?
13. Clippers - just want to rile LakerFan but may well be better than that other team in glitter town.
14. Blazers - most enigmatic team in league still.
15. Lakers - give Kobe his due, leader of an interesting and enigmatic right in the middle of the pack team where even his triple doubles invite controversy. Waiting for a Mailman delivery by X-Mas (how convenient for ratings if he comes back early) to comeback to surge them to perhaps, 10. However, don't be misled this team playing soft schedule and everyone wants to thump the golden boys = still on track for 45-47 game season max.

Faders, dissapointments, and no ways in *
*ll going anywhere now.

16. Houston: showed something perhaps last few games but still racous smell emiting out of oil country for their talent period.
17. Denver - Carmello with on the off court problems, Martin as expected not the answer, coach like lost women's high school coach.. An enigma = should fire coach but who the heck to bring in - Jackson likes West and would have some talent, but wait = not a lock would not accept.
18. Grizz - Wrong hire in my view, soft coach for a soft team.

Patron saint of lost causes:

19. Boston - Pierce is wasted on this team and fighting with coach in games - at least he has some competetive fire.
20. Knicks - the Fan (660) New York betting the days until Isiah on sidelines. Houston Crawford controversy heating up.
21. Jazz - how fast this team has fallen, Sloan about ready to strap on own shoes.
22. 76er's friggin East still talking about winning division and with AI sometimes unselfish at point could make a run in weak group.
23. Bobcats - DESERVE THIS FOR ONE WEEK ONLY - 3 in a row I believe - whats up with that? Okafur that you non-believers in a very smart man that plays with heart.

Special AWARD Enigma out in the "GARDEN STATE"

24. Nets - with Jason coming back and Mourning could surge to say 12-15. But no more playoff series wins - Dear God make Mr. Kidd, his pretty wife (spare the kid please) suffer through this for a long, long time in this cesshole of a franchise. At same time, free Mourning to more appropriate role as long as not to _Allas, Lakers, Jazz, Wolves, or Grizz etc. in West.


How do you rank the league's trash?

25. Bucks - perhaps, too low and will comeback up fast when healthy sometime this year
26. *Bulls extra gold star for not bringing joy to LakerFan
27. Non Golden State takes a step back, poor Fisher etc.
28 Altanta - how can this team stay this bad for so long!
29 New Orleans = welcome to the real league, BD, and your dismal future.

MadDoc :smokin :smokin

[Jimcs50]

I think you can put the "D" back in Dallas....you are being a little ignorant here. Dallas is playing pretty good D this year.

[Rummpd]

Really? Boy the Spurs really had trouble with _allas's Defense and McGrady had a 40+ in regulation alone vs. them. Only Dirk's offensive brilliance and some pretty good defense by him alone helped them that game.

Mav's defense overall still very much 2nd rate among the good teams (Spurs, Wolves, Pistons, Pacers even without Artest etc.).

Still deserve the name _allas! Even though they are a threat of sorts if they get hot as they also make their FTs.

MadDoc :smokin

[RobinsontoDuncan]

i think also you have to put the jazz higher, i cant see them tanking the season, but they havent been as good as they were earlier.

[Rummpd]

I will give you that on Jazz (probably 16-18) but they have really fallen fast - expect them 10-14 by mid Jan though.

MadDoc

[Jimcs50]

Really? Boy the Spurs really had trouble with _allas's Defense and McGrady had a 40+ in regulation alone vs. them. Only Dirk's offensive brilliance and some pretty good defense by him alone helped them that game.

Mav's defense overall still very much 2nd rate among the good teams (Spurs, Wolves, Pistons, Pacers even without Artest etc.).

Still deserve the name _allas! Even though they are a threat of sorts if they get hot as they also make their FTs.

MadDoc :smokin

Hey, you moron, every team can have a great scorer go off on them, yes even our Spurs. There are only 3 teams, countem, that are allowing a better FG% defensively than Dallas...that is the proof that they are a good Defensive team.....numbers do not lie. You dig it?


Team-By-Team Comparison - NBA
Points FG Pct. 3PT Pct. Rebounding % Turnovers
TEAM OWN OPP DIF OWN OPP OWN OPP FT% OFF DEF TOT OWN OPP
1 Phoenix 106.9 95.7 +11.3 .473 .423 .348 .331 .745 .293 .659 .489 13.8 14.9
2 Washington 102.6 98.6 +4.0 .423 .448 .346 .335 .752 .311 .687 .491 13.7 16.7
3 Sacramento 101.1 99.1 +2.0 .446 .440 .320 .380 .819 .279 .674 .481 12.2 14.1
4 Orlando 100.6 97.9 +2.7 .438 .428 .324 .293 .785 .324 .729 .527 16.6 15.2
5 Seattle 100.2 93.1 +7.1 .451 .449 .396 .337 .800 .328 .702 .518 13.3 14.9
6 Minnesota 100.2 96.2 +4.0 .463 .434 .385 .369 .778 .299 .724 .521 13.1 12.5
7 Dallas 99.3 95.3 +4.1 .438 .423 .349 .273 .769 .297 .700 .504 14.4 15.4
8 Miami 98.5 96.3 +2.2 .467 .420 .357 .388 .658 .268 .741 .509 14.2 13.1
9 Toronto 98.2 100.4 -2.2 .437 .459 .341 .343 .744 .283 .667 .469 13.2 15.6
10 Boston 98.0 95.2 +2.8 .455 .432 .312 .305 .774 .276 .707 .495 15.4 16.1
11 Utah 97.6 96.8 +0.9 .479 .449 .319 .350 .775 .317 .713 .525 14.9 12.6
12 LA Clippers 97.1 92.5 +4.6 .483 .433 .351 .341 .776 .285 .702 .507 15.8 13.9
13 Cleveland 97.0 91.4 +5.6 .455 .426 .362 .313 .775 .288 .725 .513 14.2 14.4
14 Milwaukee 96.6 99.7 -3.1 .442 .462 .377 .327 .763 .287 .717 .499 14.5 14.4
15 New York 96.5 98.8 -2.3 .443 .474 .328 .381 .763 .287 .758 .514 14.9 14.8
16 San Antonio 96.4 84.6 +11.8 .462 .408 .331 .390 .718 .290 .736 .517 14.7 15.6
17 LA Lakers 96.3 95.6 +0.6 .441 .424 .353 .315 .773 .277 .706 .503 15.1 12.4
18 Charlotte 95.0 99.4 -4.4 .442 .466 .355 .331 .693 .309 .682 .486 14.9 15.9
19 Indiana 94.5 95.9 -1.4 .445 .454 .383 .345 .798 .255 .708 .486 16.0 14.2
20 Philadelphia 93.9 97.8 -3.9 .419 .434 .367 .326 .759 .274 .716 .489 16.1 16.8
21 Memphis 93.6 94.9 -1.3 .436 .436 .333 .325 .752 .299 .695 .496 15.6 14.7
22 Detroit 91.4 91.7 -0.3 .442 .443 .322 .392 .744 .295 .724 .512 14.4 15.4
23 Denver 91.3 92.7 -1.4 .429 .453 .358 .353 .716 .263 .741 .493 15.1 17.3
24 Portland 90.0 89.0 +1.0 .421 .437 .327 .340 .770 .315 .692 .506 13.7 14.3
25 Golden State 89.8 96.4 -6.6 .397 .456 .286 .332 .706 .258 .729 .471 13.8 15.6
26 Atlanta 89.5 102.8 -13.3 .436 .484 .321 .336 .654 .278 .721 .480 15.8 15.3
27 Chicago 89.2 99.5 -10.3 .407 .447 .318 .379 .712 .287 .718 .489 17.4 16.9
28 Houston 87.3 89.8 -2.5 .425 .423 .331 .310 .770 .242 .715 .483 14.4 12.6
29 New Orleans 86.5 94.7 -8.2 .409 .459 .278 .379 .812 .322 .724 .511 14.7 14.0
30 New Jersey 83.4 91.9 -8.5 .412 .425 .308 .348 .748 .276 .730 .505 16.5 12.9

[T Park]

Dallas?

2 games VS the Spurs there defense was nonexistent,

stats do NOT tell the whole story.

There defense is NOT improved, there defense is still the same as it was always.

Get off Cuban' s crank.

[Rummpd]

I totally agree (and Jimc50 please don't go around calling people moron, first off that is offensive term for someone like myself who works as a doctor with various "developmentally challenged" individuals).

It is early, but in the end, I believe, Dallas still is and baring a significant pickup, one by far the one of the weakest defensively defensive teams, among the good teams. Nelli will not change his stripes etc. and Dampier if anything is proving to be a stiff and at least some of their other past center stiffs could block shots. All the Spurs could drive at will and the bigs had a field day with the _allas defense. Not saying not they are not slightly improved without Nash etc. and they have some interesting and more dimensional new players but come on they are not honestly still not near the level of Spurs, Wolves, Pistons, Pacers, even without Artest. I also believe even the Kings because of their backcourt remain better defensively than _allas and that is one reason they would still spank them again in any series.

MadDoc

[Brodels]

There defense is NOT improved, there defense is still the same as it was always.

Wrong. Simply subtracting Nash, giving the younger swingmen some playing time, and adding Dampier has made their defense better.

They are noticeably better in my opinion, and the numbers back that up. They aren't anywhere near the top of the league and they will never excel at that end of the floor as long as Nellie is there, but watch some games and stop the hate.

[T Park]

adding Dampier has made their defense better

oo that imposing defense was tough the other night as the Spurs drove to the hole on Dampier no problem.


Right right.....

[Brodels]

oo that imposing defense was tough the other night as the Spurs drove to the hole on Dampier no problem.


Right right.....

If you are basing your entire opinion of the Mavs' defense on one game, let me put you on the record as saying that Brown > Manu, Beno = Parker, and Brent Barry flat out sucks.

After all, that one game proved all of those things to be true. Right?

[Nikos]

Mavericks are above average on D. Not elite, but still much better than last years team on that end.

[T Park]

brodels,

more than 1 game my friend.

Against the Rockets there D was horrible,

the 2 games against the Spurs,

other than that, its been OK.


Wow, they are a defensive juggernaut no question.

[Brodels]

brodels,

more than 1 game my friend.

Against the Rockets there D was horrible,

the 2 games against the Spurs,

other than that, its been OK.


Wow, they are a defensive juggernaut no question.

Defensive statistics don't lie. You're pointing to three games. I'm pointing to an entire season. Nodody is saying they're excellent. People are saying that they have improved on the defensive end, a statement you flat out disagree with.

I have a season's worth of games to back me up. You have three games, two of them against a team that is quite possibly the best in basketball.

[Rummpd]

Ok lets give Dallas some credit for improved defense, but in my viewpoint they are the same team as last year except worse. At the end of games now they only have Dirk to really go to without Nash.

Therefore, not a serious title threat unless their offense (which it could) goes lights out for 4 games - the other thing that makes them somewhat dangerous is their excellent FT shooting in a leage that is emphasizing more offense this year and more picky on defensive fouls. Therefore, they are a top 5-6 team and you cannot discount them from any WCT title and NBA champion chance, but I still believe that the Kings, Spurs etc. have their number and that the Spurs, Wolves/Kings are the top 3 West teams left standing end of year with perhaps the Suns also over the dAllas (we will promote them to little d for now! until they do it vs. the big guns).

Out and good discussion, MadDoc

[Jimcs50]

Rummpd, we call each other moron all the time in here, so we can get the person's attention, nothing personal intended. I could care less if you call me whatever you want, my ego is good, and I can take it.:)

OK, on to a point to that numbnuts TPark. Look at the whole year, not the games against SA. They are in top 5 in defensive FG%, that is not smoke and mirrors. These are not your father's Mavs.

[Solid D]

Pretty decent rankings, Rummpd. I would disagree with the Denver ranking. They are not good. I'd put them in the bottom 8, or so, at this rate. Their record is deceiving because they have had such an imbalance of home games, where they have a decided advantage (12 home, 4 road).

If the Sonics win Wed. on the road in SA, they deserve #1 power ranking. The Suns are playing at an amazing level. Wait until they play a good transition D team before ranking them #1 but it's difficult not listing them #1 TODAY.

[spurs_fan_in_exile]

Man, you sure bitch slapped the Jazz on those rankings. They got a tough break with AK going down, but at the end of the day Jerry Sloan almost single handedly coached a less talented team into the playoffs last year. They've stumbled, but they haven't fallen and can't get up. I would have listed all of your "faders" lower than the Jazz.