True NBA rankings - not 4 letter network or biased media

[Rummpd]

1. Pistons have to give them their due after yesterday
2. Spurs - still the best team in league by more than most give them credit for, and going to get much stronger and tougher to guard and even better defensively with a healthy Parker and the addition of K. Thomas.
3. Lakers - still over-hyped and have been beating mainly very weak teams and gave up way over a 100 to Suns - which no other good team did in last three games. Neither the soft Gasol or the often out of position Bynum can stop the top teams interior scorers when it counts. A great team like the Spurs with 4 players capable of at least slowing down Kobe (Bowen, Udoka top two + Manu and Finley) can handle the LAL with impunity (at least this year) and don't forget Spurs add Tiago Splitter next year (better defensive big than Gasol).
4. Celtics - based on season record only but will probably be falling fast.
5. Rockets - 10 straight on road is impressive and 12 overall gets them into the realm as probably the Spurs biggest true threat in W.
6. Jazz probably better than both 4 and 5 but time will tell.
7. Hornets - still a fine team
8. Cavs - watch out and per my early season prediction will be in the finals again.
9. Mavs - Mr. assist queen won't be able to do this against good teams and he and his team will be abused offensively both by quick teams and down low with the loss of Diop. Stupid trade long term and does not bide well for playoffs vs. elite guards.
10. Suns and setting - could be starting a laughable free fall.

[GrandeDavid]

1. Pistons have to give them their due after yesterday

AGREED.

2. Spurs - still the best team in league by more than most give them credit for, and going to get much stronger and tougher to guard and even better defensively with a healthy Parker and the addition of K. Thomas.

I´M A BELIEVER.

3. Lakers - still over-hyped and have been beating mainly very weak teams and gave up way over a 100 to Suns - which no other good team did in last three games. Neither the soft Gasol or the often out of position Bynum can stop the top teams interior scorers when it counts. A great team like the Spurs with 4 players capable of at least slowing down Kobe (Bowen, Udoka top two + Manu and Finley) can handle the LAL with impunity (at least this year) and don't forget Spurs add Tiago Splitter next year (better defensive big than Gasol).

I THINK THE LAKERS ARE DOING A GREAT JOB, ESPECIALLY WITHOUT BYNUM AND KOBE WITH THAT FINGER PROBLEM. I WOULD FAVOR THE SPURS IN A SERIES AT THIS POINT OVER THE LAKERS, BUT I WOULD NOT SAY WITH IMPUNITY. SPLITTER IS UNPROVEN IN THE NBA, I WOULDN´T MAKE ANY COMPARISONS TO GASOL JUST YET. GASOL IS LOOKING AWFULLY GOOD NOW THAT HE´S ON A TEAM WHERE HE´S NOT THE TOP FOCAL POINT.


4. Celtics - based on season record only but will probably be falling fast.

I HOPE SO! MY HAT´S TIPPED TO THEM SO FAR, BUT I DO NOTICE THEY´VE LOST A FEW GAMES RECENTLY. I WOULD PICK DETROIT OVER BEANTOWN IN A PLAYOFF SERIES, THOUGH.

5. Rockets - 10 straight on road is impressive and 12 overall gets them into the realm as probably the Spurs biggest true threat in W.

YEAH, COULD BE. BUT I DO LIKE THE FACT THAT KURT THOMAS IS ANOTHER BODY TO THROW AT YAO. HOPEFULLY BRUCE HAS ENOUGH IN THE GAS TANK TO HAMPER KOBE IN A SERIES.

6. Jazz probably better than both 4 and 5 but time will tell.

YES.

7. Hornets - still a fine team

YES.

8. Cavs - watch out and per my early season prediction will be in the finals again.

I GO WITH DETROIT.

9. Mavs - Mr. assist queen won't be able to do this against good teams and he and his team will be abused offensively both by quick teams and down low with the loss of Diop. Stupid trade long term and does not bide well for playoffs vs. elite guards.

I´M ALSO NOT SOLD ON THIS TRADE JUST YET. BUT AS YOU SAID ABOUT THE JAZZ, TIME WILL TELL.

10. Suns and setting - could be starting a laughable free fall.

NAH. I THINK THEY´LL PULL IT TOGETHER COME PLAYOFF TIME.

[Pistons < Spurs]

3. Lakers - still over-hyped and have been beating mainly very weak teams and gave up way over a 100 to Suns - which no other good team did in last three games. Neither the soft Gasol or the often out of position Bynum can stop the top teams interior scorers when it counts. A great team like the Spurs with 4 players capable of at least slowing down Kobe (Bowen, Udoka top two + Manu and Finley) can handle the LAL with impunity (at least this year) and don't forget Spurs add Tiago Splitter next year (better defensive big than Gasol).

Suck it up and admit that the Lakers are for real.

Based on Stregnth of Schedule, they've had the 5th hardest schedule up to this point. The Spurs are sitting at 23.

And let's not go discrediting them because they've beaten some weaker opponents as of late (Spurs beat the Knicks, Pacers, Wizards, Bobcats and TWolves during their current streak). Take a closer look, and you'll see 11 of 12 games were on the road. 4 B2B's, and 3 stints where they played 4 games in 6 nights. Regardless of the opponents, that's still a difficult schedule to play let alone to go 11-1 in.

That's not to say that the Spurs can't beat them, or are not the better team. But to act like they're simply over hyped and not legit is just damn silly. Forget for a moment that you hate the Lakers, and give respect where it's due.

[GrandeDavid]

Yeah, the Lakers look mighty tough thus far. I can´t wait for the Spurs and Lakers to square off again this season. Detroit is looking like an ill hammer dropping across the league.

[Princess Pimp]

1. Pistons have to give them their due after yesterday
2. Spurs - still the best team in league by more than most give them credit for, and going to get much stronger and tougher to guard and even better defensively with a healthy Parker and the addition of K. Thomas.
3. Lakers - still over-hyped and have been beating mainly very weak teams and gave up way over a 100 to Suns - which no other good team did in last three games. Neither the soft Gasol or the often out of position Bynum can stop the top teams interior scorers when it counts. A great team like the Spurs with 4 players capable of at least slowing down Kobe (Bowen, Udoka top two + Manu and Finley) can handle the LAL with impunity (at least this year) and don't forget Spurs add Tiago Splitter next year (better defensive big than Gasol).
4. Celtics - based on season record only but will probably be falling fast.
5. Rockets - 10 straight on road is impressive and 12 overall gets them into the realm as probably the Spurs biggest true threat in W.
6. Jazz probably better than both 4 and 5 but time will tell.
7. Hornets - still a fine team
8. Cavs - watch out and per my early season prediction will be in the finals again.
9. Mavs - Mr. assist queen won't be able to do this against good teams and he and his team will be abused offensively both by quick teams and down low with the loss of Diop. Stupid trade long term and does not bide well for playoffs vs. elite guards.
10. Suns and setting - could be starting a laughable free fall.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

WHAT A DUMBASS!

The Lakers are still better than your old s.

[td4mvp21]

Lakers are a little over-hyped (I think the media is just way too crazy about them at this point), but I think they are for real. They are a top 4 team in the Western conference, and they've proven they can beat the Suns (a formidable Western conference power). Based on the way they've been playing, I would put them ahead of the Spurs at this point in the season, although the Spurs have been playing good as of late.

I don't think the Suns and Mavs are as far down as you put them. I don't think Phoenix is "done" and "falling". I don't think they will be as good as they were, but that's just an opinion that has yet to be justified.

[ThomasGranger]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

WHAT A DUMBASS!

The Lakers are still better than your old s.

How's that Shaq thing working out?

[GrandeDavid]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

WHAT A DUMBASS!

The Lakers are still better than your old s.

Nice mouth you´ve got. Nice education level. Try therapy, travel, try reading more. Anything.

[remingtonbo2001]

The Pistons are good, however I think the top seed is a little high. Phoenix isn't a good measuring stick right now.

The Spurs at number 2 is about right (I might put them at the 3 seed). They still have room to grow.

Really other than those 2 teams, it basically comes down to which team matches up better against their oppenent.

[JamStone]

Lakers are the best team in the league right now. Whether they can maintain that especially in playoff atmospheres remains to be seen.

[Medvedenko]

Suck it up and admit that the Lakers are for real.

Based on Stregnth of Schedule, they've had the 5th hardest schedule up to this point. The Spurs are sitting at 23.

And let's not go discrediting them because they've beaten some weaker opponents as of late (Spurs beat the Knicks, Pacers, Wizards, Bobcats and TWolves during their current streak). Take a closer look, and you'll see 11 of 12 games were on the road. 4 B2B's, and 3 stints where they played 4 games in 6 nights. Regardless of the opponents, that's still a difficult schedule to play let alone to go 11-1 in.

That's not to say that the Spurs can't beat them, or are not the better team. But to act like they're simply over hyped and not legit is just damn silly. Forget for a moment that you hate the Lakers, and give respect where it's due.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Barring injuries, we'll be tough. I still put the Spurs at #1 given that TP is back and Manu is playing all NBA first team ball right now. It's going to get ugly in the playoffs. I love it. I'm glad my boys are back and starting to believe that they could win. Going 11-1 on the road is pretty dope considering we have injuries.

[hater]

RIGHT NOW lakers are #1. but that does not mean anything. last year mavs + suns were #1 and #2 and look what happened.

truth is no fan of any team in the West should be talking about their team until playoffs are done. it's too close to call

[Princess Pimp]

Spurs are out and done in the first round...

[Medvedenko]

RIGHT NOW lakers are #1. but that does not mean anything. last year mavs + suns were #1 and #2 and look what happened.

truth is no fan of any team in the West should be talking about their team until playoffs are done. it's too close to call

Exactly...it's anyones game and I believe it will come down to who's the most healthy in the West.

Rockets: Tback
Spurs: Tpark and others
Lakers: Bynum, Vlad Rad, Ariza, Mihm
Suns: Shaq

[Medvedenko]

Spurs are out and done in the first round...

Hey PP, keep it in the desert buddy......and as antogonizing as your post may be....it's still weaksauce.

[ricketts]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

WHAT A DUMBASS!

The Lakers are still better than your old s.

lets see, last time the spurs played the lakers we came from behind at the half and beat them by like 12.

last time the suns played the lakers they got blown out by 30 points in their own arena.

i know the lakers didnt have Gasoul then, but i thought you traded for shaQ so you could take care of him. looks like that went well.

[LA24]

Suck it up and admit that the Lakers are for real.

Based on Stregnth of Schedule, they've had the 5th hardest schedule up to this point. The Spurs are sitting at 23.
Forget for a moment that you hate the Lakers, and give respect where it's due.

[LA24]

Rockets: Tback
Spurs: Tpark and others
Lakers: Bynum, Vlad Rad, Ariza, Mihm
Suns: Shaq

Mihm's horrendous. I'm actually glad he's not playing.

He's done.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I'm excited to see the Spurs play the Lakers with Gasol. I'm still not sure how the two teams are going to matchup, especially in a 7-game series.

I think the Lakers leapfrogged both the Suns and Mavs with that move, but again, we haven't seen a fully integrated Shaq or Jason Kidd yet to really assess those moves either.

But Gasol just seemed to slip into the Laker lineup and start producing, and the Lakers got instantly better and didn't skip a beat. It's been pretty remarkable. I understand why Pop was p!ssed about that trade...probably for the same reason I was.

[smeagol]

Hey PP, keep it in the desert buddy......and as antogonizing as your post may be....it's still weaksauce.

[1Parker1]

Question; This isn't the NBA rankings from a biased media source, but coming from a biased Spurs fan makes it truer?

[anakha]

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

WHAT A DUMBASS!

The Lakers are still better than your old s.

Seems Louis has regressed back to his old style of trolling.

Hard to blame him, after getting reamed the past few threads:

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthre...40#post2264740

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthre...90#post2261490

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthre...51#post2254651

[remingtonbo2001]

I don't believe there is a team deserving of the #1 spot at this moment.
No team has created enough seperation to lay claim to the top spot.

[Xolotl]

I give respect to the Lakers they are playing great ball right now....I also like Utah right now I didn't think Korver would be that big of a deal going there but I was wrong but they've been playing good too....What I don't agree with are Laker fans like my brother that are just going on and on about Bynum coming back, the guy is decent but my bro is acting like hes the second coming of Jabbar...is it just me?? Am I missing something on this guy??

[itzsoweezee]

pistons are paper tigers

i hear the same about them every year

watch the cavs eliminate them from the playoffs, again

lakers are good, but the spurs beat them on the matchups. there's no way the lakers will beat the spurs with charmin-soft pau gasol as their number 2 guy.