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  1. #1
    I'm Mavs>Spurs bitch Allanon's Avatar
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    Power Rankings: Training camp edition

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerr...n=2009&week=-1
    By Marc Stein
    ESPN.com

    You did it. You made it through the longest 23 weeks on the calendar, all of which began without a fresh batch of NBA Power Rankings.

    The drought ends with our first helping of the new season. Understandably, my rankings find the teams we last saw in the Finals in June -- the new champs from Boston and their old, humbled pals from L.A. -- occupying the top two spots. Our annual training camp edition of the rankings also has been kind to the playoff teams (most notably Houston, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Toronto) that made the biggest offseason upgrades.


    For the purposes of review, allow me to pass along my standard reminder that the season's first round of rankings measures each team's standing and outlook heading into camp. It is not -- repeat, not -- a predicted order of finish. How last season ended and how good a team is projected to be in 2008-09 are only part of the equation at this early stage. How each team fared with its summertime dealings factors in as well, along with the usual dash of totally subjective whim from the committee (of one).

    The next batch will appear Oct. 27, on the eve of opening night, after all 30 teams have had a month to show us something. You then can click here every Monday throughout the regular season for our human, thoroughly nonautomated pulse take of the league. You can rank the teams yourself or click here to comment on the first set

    2008-09 Power Rankings: Training Camp RANK (LAST WK) TEAM

    1 (1) Celtics 66-16 Slotting the defending champs here has never been more automatic, even though Posey left. Every time we hear someone ask whether they'll be hungry enough to repeat, we want to respond: Boston still has KG, right?
    2 (2) Lakers 57-25 For all the concerns -- Bynum's recovery from knee woes, Kobe insisting he doesn't need pinky surgery and doubts about Bynum, Gasol and Odom co-existing -- who in the West wouldn't trade for the Lakers' issues?
    3 (5) Hornets 56-26 You certainly can make the argument -- and I think we're leaning that way -- that the best team in the killer division that delivered four 50-win teams last season will wind up being Chris Paul's team. Concur?
    4 (6) Rockets 55-27 No team in the West made a bigger summer splash than the health-challenged Rockets did when they traded for Artest. Of course, as Yao noted last year: ''We say that every year.'' Cautious optimism is wisest.
    5 (8) Spurs 56-26 You know all about the Spurs in odd-numbered years. So dismiss them at your own peril, even if what Duncan declared last season -- ''Our biggest problem is health'' -- is a problem with Ginobili already out early.
    6 (15) Cavaliers 45-37 Although trading for Michael Redd was a nice fantasy, getting Mo Williams off the Bucks is hardly a consolation prize. He's a younger version of the Mike -- Bibby -- Cleveland tried for years to add and should give Bron help.
    7 (3) Pistons 59-23 The summer certainly would have been more fun had Joe D delivered that shake-up, but you can see why he resisted. For all that closing-window talk, the Pistons are a 59-win team whose kids are only getting better.
    8 (13) 76ers 40-42 The Sixers were the undisputed winners of the offseason, but Brand might lift last season's No. 7s only one spot. Philly can finish anywhere from No. 2 to No. 6, as can Cleveland, Detroit, Orlando and Toronto.
    9 (4) Jazz 54-28 Is this the last season for Utah's Olympic tag team to be together? With Boozer headed for free agency in the summer, that's the question D-Will and the rest of this Jazz will hear all year, no matter how good they are.
    10 (19) Raptors 41-41 I loved the Raps' gamble here. If O'Neal's knees don't hold up, the Raptors still can be a .500 team without Ford and Nesterovic. And if he does come back strong? Toronto becomes a threat to the East's beasts in Boston.
    11 (10) Mavericks 51-31 Which longtime power is straining harder to keep the window ajar? Dirk, J-Kidd and the under-fire Josh Howard in Dallas? Or their old Phoenix friends who must be equally stunned to start the new season out of the top 10?
    12 (7) Suns 55-27 If there's a more compelling mystery in the whole league than seeing what we'll get from the Suns' throwing new coach Terry Porter together with Nash, Shaq, Amare and Grant Hill, please point it out to us.
    13 (17) Trail Blazers 41-41 Has any non-playoff team for five straight seasons generated expectations like these kids? But the Blazers won't complain if managing expectations (as opposed to the health of Roy and Oden) is their biggest worry.
    14 (11) Magic 52-30 Stan Van has made folks in the Magic Kingdom forget that they were ever spurned by Billy Donovan. But Orlando didn't do much to get better in the offseason, so SVG will have to hope getting older is enough.
    15 (12) Wizards 43-39 Wiz vets like to say that, when healthy, they're right there with the East's best. Two obvious problems there: Washington is rarely healthy, and that statement is increasingly debatable in the (no misprint) improving East.
    16 (24) Bucks 26-56 Almost every one of last season's non-playoff teams in the East thinks it can break through this season. Hiring Skiles and acquiring Richard Jefferson arguably gives Milwaukee more hope than anyone in that group.
    17 (23) Bulls 33-49 Returning to the top eight when PG and coach have no experience won't be easy. A guards glut and the usual low-post void won't help. Can't be harder than winning the Rose lottery with the ninth-best chances, though.
    18 (9) Nuggets 50-32 For just the second time in club history, Denver sports a streak of five straight winning seasons. Anyone think the Camby-less Nuggets, with A.I. trade rumors constantly swirling, can play enough D to make it six?
    19 (29) Clippers 23-59 Not nearly as down on the Clips' chances as the departing Maggette, who claims homecoming king Baron Davis is "in for a rude awakening." Not ready to say this new team of newsmakers can make the playoffs, either.
    20 (14) Warriors 48-34 Q: What's worse than winning 48 games and not making the playoffs? A: Everything that has happened to the Warriors since that April heartbreak, lowlighted by Baron Davis' departure and the Ellis injury saga.

    21 (21) Bobcats 32-50 We'd normally see the Bobs as the sort of the team in line for a 10-win e after hiring a proven winner like Larry Brown. Problem is, Charlotte's roster still is badly flawed. Nor are we sure they're getting vintage Larry.

    22 (17) Hawks 37-45 Seeing Childress defect to Greece won't hurt the Hawks nearly as much as the knowledge that 37 wins ain't going to get you a playoff spot this season … and that compe ion for the No. 8 seed will be far more fierce.

    23 (16) Kings 38-44 Bobby Brown's arrival means that we'll be more into them than we've been since Henry Turner and Leon Wood were Kings. For the rest of you, it's a full-on youth movement starring Kevin Martin and little else you'll recognize.

    24 (30) Heat 15-67 It doesn't seem outlandish, even after a nosedive to the shameful depths of 15-67, to expect D-Wade, Marion and Beasley to mount a playoff push. Until you realize Coach Spoelstra has almost nothing else to work with.

    25 (20) Pacers 36-46 Maybe we should be higher on a team that finished one game shy of the playoffs. Just can't shake the feeling that Indy (a) came up way short on the O'Neal deal and (b) still lacks the right mix to play Obie's way.

    26 (25) Knicks 23-59 Donnie W. and D'Antoni have quickly restored some hope to MSG's gloomy halls, but that's a lot easier in the summer when all the focus is on them. Now the players are back to remind everyone how hard their jobs will be.

    27 (22) Nets 34-48 Ouch, ouch, ouch. After every other Atlantic team chasing Boston made a big-name snag -- Elton Brand, Jermaine O'Neal, Mike D'Antoni -- rebuilding Jersey was pegged to finish last in the East in ESPN's staff poll.

    28 (28) Timberwolves 22-60 The Wolves quietly posted a borderline respectable record of 17-26 after last season's 5-34 start to Life After KG. Yet it's tough to picture Minnesota sustaining that form over 82 games, fond as we are of Mike Miller's game.

    29 (26) Grizzlies 22-60 No one is bound to even notice in the West, but the much-maligned Grizz have assembled an intriguing group of kids: O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, even Marc Gasol. Which is why trading for Z-Bo to be the vet made no sense.

    30 (27) Thunder 20-62 The Hornets went 38-44 in OKC's only other season as an NBA city. The Thunder? Dare we say 28 wins would represent success for a group that still offers precious little to thrill those loud crowds beyond Kevin Durant?

  2. #2
    Veteran Manufan909's Avatar
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    Who is Z-Bo?

  3. #3
    NB:lol Luck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_ Fakers_Luck_The_Fakers_Lu ck_The_Fakers_Luck_The_Fa kers_ 21_Blessings's Avatar
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    Cleveland 6th?

    Bucks better than the Nuggets? Mark Stein is delusional.

  4. #4
    Can't Start Threads
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    Theres only 4 teams Im worried about. My Spurs, LA, NO and the Rockets. Those are the only ones who will either stop or not stop us from going all the way. Its a long season and there is plenty of time to make trades and changes. Hopefully they can find a way to get rid of guys like Fab, Kurt, Bonner, Jacque. Those are the guys killing minutes for nothing. By the way, thats alot of guys.

  5. #5
    jinxed for life MagnusKrauss's Avatar
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    wow! power rankings for the training camp! what's next?

    really, these guys have nothing else to do.

  6. #6
    I can change that PhotoShop's Avatar
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    Last years Power rankings had the Dallas Mavericks at #2 what does that tell you about your rankings?

  7. #7
    Veteran honestfool84's Avatar
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    phoenix at #12?
    that's a joke, right?

    seriously.
    i think phoenix would be better closer to #8..

  8. #8
    Speeding! Sissiborgo's Avatar
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    Solid list...

  9. #9
    Speeding! Sissiborgo's Avatar
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    phoenix at #12?
    that's a joke, right?

    seriously.
    i think phoenix would be better closer to #8..
    naaaa they will suck this year..

  10. #10
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    I also think Phoenix has to be top 10. Last year, they ran into the Spurs when they were relatively healthy. I have a feeling a similar outcome would have manifested if playing the Lakers healthy.

  11. #11
    I'm Mavs>Spurs bitch Allanon's Avatar
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    phoenix at #12?
    that's a joke, right?

    seriously.
    i think phoenix would be better closer to #8..
    Putting Raptors & Sixers in front of the Suns on that list is kind of crazy.

  12. #12
    33-49 Xylus's Avatar
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    I love it. When even Marc Stein--a pretty obvious Suns homer--starts counting Phoenix out, then you know the media has abandoned you. It's about ing time the world of sports journalism stopped fellating the Suns.

    We haven't had the underdog tag in years.

  13. #13
    Get Refuel! FromWayDowntown's Avatar
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    Zach Randolph, no?

  14. #14
    Ghost of Mr. K SenorSpur's Avatar
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    Every year these pundits sell Houston Rocket "Wolf tickets". Only to have buyers find out their worthless by the all-star break.

  15. #15
    Where Everything Happens The Franchise's Avatar
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    Every year these pundits sell Houston Rocket "Wolf tickets". Only to have buyers find out their worthless by the all-star break.
    I'm going to hold onto this little gem for just the right occasion.

  16. #16
    Veteran honestfool84's Avatar
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    I love it. When even Marc Stein--a pretty obvious Suns homer--starts counting Phoenix out, then you know the media has abandoned you. It's about ing time the world of sports journalism stopped fellating the Suns.

    We haven't had the underdog tag in years.

    how do you personally and unbiasedly think the suns will fare?

  17. #17
    4 WildcardManu's Avatar
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    I still say the Celtics don't deserve that spot. Bought championship.

  18. #18
    Believe. barbacoataco's Avatar
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    Strange list. Orlando, Suns and Jazz should be higher.

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