Create your own rankings

Who do YOU think is the best team in the NBA right now? Who's your top 10? Justify your reasoning.

My list:
1. Boston - Tough schedule, battled injuries, playing great D.
2. San Antonio - Playing great, could and will get better on D, but played a less difficult schedule than some teams have
3. Dallas - Same as SA, but not as tough defensively
4. New York - Playing surprisingly well, and have had a a lot of road games and a tough schedule
5. Chicago - Were just beginning to look like the team I predicted they'd be at the start of the season. Having Boozer back helps. Losing Noah hurts.
6. Lakers - Showed flashes of their brilliance but wildly inconsistent.
7. Heat - Starting to play to the hype but only against inferior teams. We'll see if they ever learn to not fold under pressure of good teams.
8. Utah - They are just one of the best coached, most well-oiled machines around. Kind of like SA.
9. Milwaukee - Their recent wins against some top teams, and their scare in SA, should give them some respect in my mind
10. Orlando - They were looking decent but weak before the trade, and I predict blowing their team up will bite them in the ass. I think they're in trouble.

My List:
1. Boston - They have a big 5 now.. especially when shaq comes back from his weekly vacations. When you've got a team of 3 perenial superstars, a pg who gets assists even by accident, a rested C who plays actually 32 games a season, and a leprechaun you're bound to be a threat.. especially in the Leastern conference

2. Dallas - They are currently on a league leading win streak, and they've twice shown the LeWaboshes that this is a man's game. The only other team to beat the LeWaboshes twice this season is Boston and look at where they're ranked.

3. San Antonio - I like to claim that i personally went to watch these guys during their preseason open practice and I left the arena with high hopes. My hopes weren't this high however, I only rank them at # 3 because of their loss to Dallas. They would've been ranked higher if orlando showed they were still a good team but instead they left san antonio looking like boise state after the virginia tech victory in week 3.

4. Miami - After a weak, severely sub par start to the season by any team with 3 concurrent superstars' standards, the LeWaboshes had a 9 game winning streak which meant they were actually starting to play like a team with 3 superstars. That is until they lost to the mavs, but the mavs are a good team........ that doesn't have 3 superstars. See the conundrum here? I'm still going to be nice and ranked them above the...

5. Lakers - Because with a cheesecake schedule like the one they've had so far, they should be undefeated. Considering the roster the lakers have, which had the media sold from day one that they are the best team in the west, it's nearly impossible to lose to a depleted milwaukee roster where their best guy out there was a dwarf. Regardless, they should round up the top 5 of dangerous teams in the NBA, thanks to the talent on their squad.

6. Chicago - They are ranked this high right now but i expect them to plummet in the next couple of weeks to come after losing both Noah and Gooden to injury. Derrick Rose is playing well enough to be considered an MVP and their team is well structured around him. When coach Thibodeaux realizes that Keith Bogans sucks, they may actually improve their upside. They look like a seasoned Oklahoma City Thunder but that's just it. Without an experienced and healthy forward in Boozer, this team won't be touching anyone's top ten by then end of the season.

7. Nuggets - A lot of people don't want to put them this high on their top 10 and understandably so. Their star player is doing a great job of screaming ''I want to leave this team" without screaming "I want to leave this team". They seem to have everything under control though as they're still winning games only having 9 losses. They have beat the lakers and chicago and their other match against dallas was a 1 point loss.

8. Magic - Despite their latest downward spiral, I can't leave them out of the top ten, especially with their steroid injected roster. Their best player is still Dwight Howard but what i like about this new team is that when Dwight gets his 6 fouls in the first quarter, they can switch to a whole different team with the rest of their stars. Orlando also still has their shooters.. infact they virtually have the same team that made a run to the finals except for Marcin Gortat except they added Arenas and Richardson. Rashard Lewis was atrocious.

9. Thunder - They're still in the single digits with losses but I put them below orlando because they don't have as much fire power. Even though Kevin Durant is a beast, he's starting to feel the effects from playing ball for the past one year, even during offseason. Westbrook will soon follow suit. By the end of the season, Oklahoma would probably forget they have a team.

10. Jazz - Utah only has 9 losses but they are against quality opponents.. well most of them.. It's no secret by now they have this knack of letting you beat them senseless thru out the entire game, then they decide to to come back and beat their opposition in the final 2 minutes. If they can display consistency the whole game, maybe they'd be ranked higher.

1.Boston
2.Dallas
3.San Antonio
4.Miami
5.Chicago
6.LAL
7.Oklahoma City
8.Houston
9.Portland
10.New York
11.Utah
12.Denver
13.Philadelphia
14.Atlanta
15.Milwaukee
16.Phoenix
17.LAC
18.Indiana
19.Memphis
20.New Jersey
21.Detroit
22.Toronto
23.New Orleans
24.Charlotte
25.Golden State
26.Orlando
27.Washington
28.Minnesota
29.Cleveland
30.Sacramento

My rankings are based on if the playoffs started today:
1. Lakers - they are healthy, just coasting through the holiday season obviosly but if playoffs started today that's the team to beat.
2. Mavericks - the scariest team to face if playoffs started today, but due to their less than stellar playoff history, they can't be #1
3. Celtics - They are a lock for East Finalists but IMO they would fall to LA or Mavs
4. Spurs - They have best record in the league but still IMO not playing close to their potential, especially on D. Blair is not ready for the playoffs, neither is Splitter, we can't win in the playoffs with them playing poorly.
5. Jazz - they are tough but cannot be called contenders
6. Heat - neither can the Heat be called contenders
7. Magic - too many new players to be a conteder today. But they have the talent to advance in the playoffs.
8. Thunder - they're ok
9. Bulls - would be my #2 in the east if Noah was not injured
10. Knicks - can compete with anyone, but D'antoni's game only goes so far.

1-Boston, they have had tough schedule, have had lots of injuries but are still playing well, their D is also great.
2. San Antonio, have played great so far, but their D needs to improve
3. Mavericks, they have been very hot as of late, unstopable, beating many contenders
4. Lakers- They are playing well, but have had a cupcake schedule, but have not had Bynum most of the season.
5. Chicago- Despite not having Boozer for a while, they have been winning, and playing very solid, whenever this team is healthy they can be very dangerous
6.New York- They started the season poorly, but have picked it up dramatically
7.Thunder- I dont know much about them this season, but nice record
8. jazz.Same as THunder, solid record, playing well on road then usual
9-Heat, they are pretenders, they will not get anywhere with Z as their starting center and Arroyo as starting poing guard.
10- Magic, they should improve with this recent trade

Gooden is injured? And plays for the Bulls? Are you mixing him up with someone else, jimo2305?

1. Boston - Just barely short on having the league's best record. Tough schedule and have looked good. A slight knock for playing in a very weak Eastern conference, but not enough. 13 game win streak is damn nice though.

2. Dallas - They're really gelling right now. They'll be tough this year no matter the circumstance.

3. San Antonio - 'Nuff said about this. League best record but not as tough of a schedule as the above 2.

4. New York - Playing about as well as can be imagined and are destined to go down from here. Still, impressive so far. I'm high on them now, and they might do well in the playoffs since they play out East, but they're still not ready for the big time.

5. Miami - Not totally convinced just yet. They look great but haven't convinced me against stiff competition yet. A narrow loss to Dallas would have made a big difference had it instead been a W.

6. Utah - They have played a lot of good teams really well. Most of their losses are against legit competition. They have a knack for knocking off really good teams.

7. L.A. Lakers - Defending champs. Only one win against a team above .500 (Chicago) who they then dropped a game to a few weeks later. Just coasting in the regular season...but totally unimpressive so far.

8. Orlando - Hard to tell how this will all shake out once they start to really integrate the new pieces. Still, I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

9. OKC - A little ragged and tired maybe, but a great record in the tough west.

10. Chicago - A great record against the western conference. Losing Noah is going to hurt though.

PS: Funny how the Hornets have completely vanished after a fast start.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Supergirl

Gooden is injured? And plays for the Bulls? Are you mixing him up with someone else, jimo2305?

---

lol i meant boozer my bad.. isn't he injured?

1 Celtics
2 Spurs
3 Mavericks
4 Heat
5 Lakers
6 Thunder
7 Jazz
8 Bulls

Spurs definitely in third. No way Lakers are above the Spurs with 8 losses, especially after just getting embarrassed on their home floor by a banged up Milwaukee.

The Mavs and Celts are ahead of the Spurs. After the Mavs just won at Miami and Orlando on back to backs, wow, that's impressive...I don't care if Orlando hasn't been able to practice yet.

Top Five:

1. Lakers - If the playoffs started today, they will be the hardest to beat in a seven game series. Stacked as ever.
2. Boston - Deep as hell, exceeded my expectations and has a monster frontline. Age doesn't seem to be an issue with the Big 3.
3. Dallas - Also pretty deep, much improved defensively with Chandler and Dirk hasn't missed a beat.
4. Spurs - Still a piece or two away from being true contenders. Must improve defensively and get a reliable defensive big to plug some holes. Can't see the Spurs winning if they have to go up against the frontlines of Dallas, Lakers, and Boston with only Duncan (can't cover the paint indefinitely), Blair (pretty bad on defense), Mcdyess (good defense but questionable due to age and size), and Bonner (just no).
5. Heat - People can doubt them but when the playoffs roll around, this team will perform.

I put the Spurs ahead of the Mavs ever so slightly. Better overall and conference record. Higher seeding at this point and Spurs have a better home record. Plus, the Spurs whipped their ass in the playoffs. Spurs have to get the W on the 30th though.

WACK! SPURS NO. 1 IN MY BOOK :nutkick::sombrero: YEAH IM A HOMER. :jack

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JR21

WACK! SPURS NO. 1 IN MY BOOK :nutkick::sombrero: YEAH IM A HOMER. :jack

---

hahahah :lol

1.Dallas
2.Boston
3.San Antonio
4 Lakers
5.Heat
6 Oklahoma City
7. Jazz
8. Bulls
9. Hornets
10. Knicks

1. Boston
2. Dallas
3. San Antonio
4. Chicago
5. Los Angeles
6. Miami
7. OKC
8. Utah
9. Orlando
10. Atlanta

Celts, Dallas and Spurs all pretty close really

1. San Antonio (best record)

2. Doesn't matter

1. Mavs (Dirk, newlook defense)
2. Celts (deep, deep and deep)
3. Spurs (Healthy Big 3)
4. Lakers (best starting 5)
5. Heat (best strating 3 and worst starting 2)
6. Bulls (sexy young)
7. Magic (to be determined)
8. Thunder (weak frontcourt)
9. Jazz (good but not great)
10. Knicks (waiting for Melo)

Honorable mention: Nuggets, Hawks and Blazzers

Boston
Dallas
SanAntonio
Chicago
LA
NewYork
OKC
Utah
Orlando
Atlanta

Boston
San Antonio
Dallas

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DMC

1. San Antonio (best record)

2. Doesn't matter

---

This is pathetic. You speak as if the team with the best record is always the best overall team. Not to mention a team capable of winning a championship. How many teams have we seen come out with the best regular season record only to get knocked out in the playoffs.

Celtics: Really clicking right now. Scary thing is that Rondo has been hurt, and to a lesser extent JO and SO.
Lakers: Im from LA and honestly, they're notorious for getting torched for the 1st 3 quarters only to pull out a victory in the 4th. There were times they didn't look great last year either, they might be guilty of the attempting to "coast" during the regular season.
Spurs: Don't think I need to say much here. Most of us are aware of our strength and weaknesses.
Mavericks: Not going to lie, I still havnet watched them play in person (I even missed our game vs. them) so I'm basing this ranking on their record, chatter, Tyson Chandler (I think his defense is underrated, maybe its not anymore).

Celtics
Lakers
Spurs
Mavericks
Heat
Bulls
Knicks



no other teams matter

1) Heat
2) Heat
3) Mavs
4) Boston

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by angelbelow

This is pathetic. You speak as if the team with the best record is always the best overall team. Not to mention a team capable of winning a championship. How many teams have we seen come out with the best regular season record only to get knocked out in the playoffs.

---

u mad?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DMC

u mad?

---

:p: