Elite...oh how i wish we could emerge with another "twin towers" before duncan retires...Screw you splitter.....
Depends what your definition of "elite" is. For me, it's still only the Celtics and the Lakers and then everybody else. I wouldn't even put Cleveland in that class yet despite how great they've been playing. ESPN said that in their 11 game win streak, only one team they've faced had a winning record. But, they're definitely in that next tear after Boston and LA.
I admit I had my doubts about the Spurs this season, and they've been playing much, much better as they've gotten healthy. But, I'd still hesitate to put them in the class of the Celtics and the Lakers. Right now, they're probably in the same category as Houston, New Orleans, Orlando, and Dallas. But, they could easily move up if they gain some steam.
And, of course, as a couple have mentioned, there's no doubt about their status over the past decade. But, that's pretty much understood.
Celtics
-------
Lakers
Cavs
-------
Spurs
Nuggets
Rockets
Hornets
Utah
As of now i think thats the contending teams. That could and probably will change as the season goes on, but right now i think Boston is a little better than everyone else, and LA and the Cavs still a notch above the others there who all have or have had a combination of injuries and trades.
Blazers
Magic
Suns
Mavs
Pistons
The rest are good teams but to me arent real contenders.
Spurs not elite=Mavs elite
We are the 2009 Champions
If elite means the Lakers or Boston then no we are not. Anyone who believes we are is just a cheerleader cheering on their team. But as for the Cavs, we can beat them. Right now with this Roster. Even thou their Bigs are the reason why they're having so much success right now. Our bigs can still out play them. Our Bigs still dont have a clue compared to the Lakers and C's.
Uh...Denver is elite?? Hahahahahahahaha
Brad Miller.What big are they going to be able to get?
That's the problem..I have with everybody wanting a big.
There's isn't anyone out there of substance we can get!!!!
If LeBron gets any help at all, they're in the finals last year. This year, he has Mo Williams to take a little of the scoring/creating burden off of him. It's over for the East. Mark it down.
The Celtics own the East. Not Lebron or Mo is gonna do anything to stop the Celtics. They Marked it down last season. They Marked it down this season. And they're putting alot of Marks on the Easts opponents behinds again.
JamStone- The Cavs have played a tougher schedule than the Lakers so far, based on the records they've played..also, the Lakers played the Mavs twice without Howard, and Phoenix twice without key starters..
the Celtics are on their own level..followed by the Cavs and Lakers on the next level..
a healthy Spurs team is there with New Orleans, Utah and maybe Denver..we're easily better than anybody else..
stats are irrelevant right now, since we haven't been healthy for most of the year..this would be the equivalent of Boston losing Pierce and Allen, LA losing Gasol and Bynum, NO losing West and Chandler..it would obviously make a huge difference..
What big are they going to be able to get?
That's the problem..I have with everybody wanting a big.
There's isn't anyone out there of substance we can get!!!!
Camby
We are the 2009 champions
Is not just a matter of being elite or not. We have Bruce, Mike, Tim, Manu, Tony.. a lot of players (together) that "been there done that". Except for the C's and the Lakers there's no other team who can claim something like that. Therefore, right now, there are only 3 truly elite teams in the league, and the champion's gonna be one of those.
I disagree with this ranking. We would absolutely dismantle Cleveland. Just because they can rack up some easy wins against bad teams doesn't mean they can hang with back-to-backs against playoff-bound teams like we've done lately. In fact, as I write this, Atlanta is up by 2 in the 4th quarter against them; the same Atlanta team we just defeated.
Here are my tiers, based on game observation (no Hollinger-like stats):
1. Celtics/Lakers
2. Utah/New Orleans
3. Portland/Denver/Detroit/San Antonio/Houston
5. Cleveland/Orlando/Atlanta/Dallas/Phoenix
I'm not going off records, of course. Here's my reasoning:
The Celtics' defense is of legendary quality. I think they're on pace to win 60-70 games with that system.
The Lakers have too much top-shelf talent to slip for long periods. They'll also have a great (probably 1) seed with HCA throughout the playoffs. Their coaching is solid and Phil knows how to navigate a regular season with ease.
Cleveland will come back down to earth, at least after they've played some more Western conference teams and/or faced the adversity that will come.
I think New Orleans will start to play up to their potential soon. In the meantime, they can hang with anybody as-is (just like the Spurs).
Houston just got T-Mac back and their team is getting healthy (hopefully). Utah is always up there and can beat anybody at any time. Their bench is crazy, too. More than half of their subs would be starters on other teams.
Portland and Denver have good things going as far as chemistry, but I would give the edge to Denver there since I'm not so sure Roy is all Portland needs to succeed against the Elite. Oden needs to step his so far over-hyped game up.
Orlando is fake -- a one-man show. Dallas may or may not be there in the end. It's all based on how Kidd holds up. Likewise for Phoenix and their aging PG.
Detroit is saving it's best for the playoffs again. I can already see them taking their revenge on the Cavs if they meet again. Just imagining them with an explosive offense hurts my brain.
Last edited by phxspurfan; 12-13-2008 at 10:06 PM.
This season: yet to be seen but we are on the way there.
Cleveland is an entirely different team to the one the Spurs beat in 07. The Hawks played at home against the Cavs who were on a back to back. The Spurs were on a back to back also but were at home against the Hawks. That should count for something.
Having said that, when fully healthy, i think the Spurs beat the Cavs in a 7-game series, but i would say that series goes at least 6 games. Cavs have blown out 11 straight teams by 12+ points and were 20-3, i dont care who they have played.
Also, like the previous poster pointed out, they have actually had a touger schedule than LA, and also had a better record. They also have a far superioir Defense than LA. Again, i think the Lakers would win that series but it probably goes 7.
Cavs dont get the respect they deserve, they were 2 minutes away from eliminating the Celtics on the road in last years playoffs, with LeBron shooting 35% and having zero help. Now they have a border line All-Star in Mo Williams and still have a top 5 Defense in the NBA.
Also, on what basis is Utah and NO ahead of the Spurs in your rankings?
While Cleveland is indeed different team than when the SPurs faced them in playoff past, I still think they have the same weaknesses. Even play decent defense on Ilgauskas, Mo Williams or LeBron and that team has zero offense. Is Ben Wallace going to drop 20? Or is it Varejao?
Their loadbearing pieces are playing way too many minutes for them to stay 'elite' for 82 games + the playoffs. While young, LeBron shouldn't be playing 45 minutes on the second night of a back to back (as he did tonight). I understand Coach Brown was seeing the game slip away before his eyes, but a better coach would have managed the game when it was still in the Cavs' control, or at least gotten a win f he had to play LBJ and Mo 40+. Take either one away for 2 weeks due to a sore anything and their team is in trouble.
On the NO side, they competed with the Celtics decently last Friday, and still have the pieces to take down any team. CP3 is the best PG in the game. West plays up to his compe ion, it seems, and would blow up Amare-style against the Spurs in a series, but unlike Amare the stats would actually help his team win.
On the Utah side, I think you got me there. Without Boozer, we would probably beat them, but with Boozer it would be close. Their bench is too good to ignore. I actually think they have the best bench in the league, Lakers included.
Too early to call them elite on this season. They've looked elite the last few games, but the sample size is too small. The New Orleans/Orlando BTB this week will be another good gauge, but head-to-heads with the Lakers, Celtics, and Cavs will tell us a whole lot more. After we see more of the season, the Spurs could easily be elite even if they're 10 games back in the standings or the Celtics go 78-4 or something.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter who puts up 20 game winning streaks and such during the regular season. It was only 2 years ago when Dallas destroyed the regular season and lost in the first round. See also: 2007 Patriots.
Not really. Last year LeBron had Wally Sczcerbiak in the starting line-up. It took the game of Pierce's life for them to barely beat them in 7 games. Also, the Celtics almost lost to the Hawks. They aren't a juggernaut, by any stretch of the imagination. Throw in that LeBron is pretty much a lockdown defender and an intimidator now on defense, and they are the favorites in the East. They have the best player in the league, and his supporting cast is finally stepping up.
Mental note to self: Disregard anything "phxspurfan" ever writes on this message board.
gosh i wish people would stop overrating the Jazz.
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