NBA Power Rankings Week 3: Heat #1, Blazers Jump Up to #3
Here are my Power Rankings for the NBA for Week 3 of the NBA Season. Enjoy.
(+/-) 1. Miami Heat (7-1): A couple of close wins over the Bobcats and Wolves did look a bit concerning, but beating the Hawks last night without D-Wade and LeBron James has to feel very good for the Heat.
(+1) 2. Chicago Bulls (6-1): Losing to the Warriors really seemed to wake this team up, because since then, they’ve looked very dominant. The only thing that still needs to pick up is Boozer’s scoring. 13.4 points per game isn’t gonna cut it.
(+5) 3. Portland Trailblazers (5-1): I wasn’t sure what to make of them until they won on the road against the Thunder and then at home against the Lakers. I think it’s safe to say these guys are going to be a tough out come playoff time. Giving the Thunder all they can handle. The key to their season is getting home court advantage. If they can find a way to win their division and get home court advantage for at least a couple rounds, they could win the whole west. It’s early yet, but right now the Blazers look very good.
(-2) 4. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-2): James Harden is looking like the 6th man of the year right now. Almost matching the production of Russel Westbrook. Their bench is gonna have to really step up if they wanna handle the depth of Portland.
(+/-) 5. Boston Celtics (4-3): Celtics are starting to get it rolling, having won 4 in a row. Look out for the C’s.
(+6) 6. San Antonio Spurs (5-2): The loss of Manu Ginobili will hurt them in the short term, but resting his legs could prove to be beneficial come playoff time. The Spurs will once again be right there in the mix as a sleeper team out west.
(+3) 7. Orlando Magic (5-2): Shaquille O’Neal said that “Dwight Howard should take it personal that we don’t consider the Orlando Magic an elite team in the East”. I agree with Shaq. If Dwight Howard gets 28 points and 20 rebounds every night, there’s no reason the Magic can’t make a run out east.
(+6) 8.Denver Nuggets (5-2): They seem to have gotten better from the Melo trade. Interesting to see if they keep it going. If Danilo Gallinari doesn’t miss a wide open layup, they’re probably 6-1. That Kenneth Faried dunk was also a potential sign of things to come.
(+4) 9. Los Angeles Clippers (3-2): Little early to know where exactly these guys are going to end up, but I do expect this team to get better as they play more. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Chauncey Billups, Caron Butler, and a young DeAndre Jordan. This team could really do some damage come playoff time.
(-6) 10. Los Angeles Lakers (4-4): They are truly a darkhorse to win the west. I don’t see it happening, but if Andrew Bynum has a breakout season and stays healthy, they got a shot.
(+4) 11. Indiana Pacers (4-2): The key to this team making the next jump is whether or not David West stays healthy. If he’s healthy, then they got a chance to make some noise.
(-3) 12. Atlanta Hawks (4-3): The win they had in Miami just got canceled out by their loss at home to Miami. Without Wade and LeBron, the Hawks should have won by 15 points. Instead it went 3 Overtimes and they got punished for letting Miami hang around. They got the talent to win the east, but they really need to come together and play unified. They got no #1 option, but a bunch of guys who can do that on any given night. They are a deep team with a bunch of B+ grade all stars. They can win a championship, but not if they don’t trust each other, and certainly not if they don’t have somebody step up every night.
(+12) 13. Utah Jazz (3-3): They seem to have settled after a hideous start. Largely because they’ve been at home. But they haven’t yet lost a home game. If they can become the dominant home team that they traditionally are, they just need to get so that they show up on the road. Lots of talk about what to do with Al Jefferson as they have Kanter and Favors. I’d say keep Jefferson. They could benefit from having a vet like Jefferson around. They aren’t ready to take the full load down low anyways.
(+6) 14. Philadelphia 76ers (3-2): Jodie Meeks has to get it going for this team. If he gets rolling, it’ll be like another player has joined the team. He is virtually non-existent right now. One thing that is a plus, is all 5 of their games have been road games against Western Conference teams. Going 3-2 on a west coast road trip is a nice way to start the year. They get 4 straight games at home after this road trip starting tonight against the Pistons. They could be 7-2 after those 4 games. Philly is dangerous.
(-4) 15. Memphis Grizzlies (3-3): Darrell Arthur is out for the year, and now Zach Randolph is out for 2 months with a knee injury. Not looking good for the Grizz. Injuries could cost this team a good playoff seed or even a playoff spot. Rudy Gay needs to step it up.
(-9) 16. Dallas Mavericks (3-5): Mark Cuban was griping about not getting a game in DC to allow a trip to the White House to see President Obama. They are still doing a victory lap after winning the title. I just wonder when they are gonna wake up and realize they need to defend their title. But maybe they don’t want to.
(-11) 17. New York Knicks (2-4): Back-to-back home losses to the Bobcats and Raptors is alarming.
(+10) 18. Toronto Raptors (3-3): Numbers don’t lie, these guys have won 2 games in a row, and Andrea Bargnani is averaging 24 points per game. DeMar DeRozan is averaging 18.5 points per game. They got a ways to go, but I like what I’m seeing from the Raptors.
(+2) 19. Charlotte Bobcats (2-4): They don’t have the record that reflects this, but this team is bringing an A-grade effort every night. They are young without a real start to center themselves around, but they don’t seem to be losing because of laziness. The blowout loss to the Heat was a reflection of how serious the Heat took them on the second go around.
(+6) 20. Cleveland Cavaliers (3-3): Yes they are young, yes they are starting over, and yes I like their young players. Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Omri Casspi, etc. Nice young crew of guys. Expect them to be a playoff team in 3 years or less.
(+2) 21. Phoenix Suns (2-4): Nash keeps them moderately competitive, but don’t expect a playoff berth from these guys. The team is in rebuilding mode for sure.
(-5) 22. Golden State Warriors (2-4): The whole to success in Oakland is going to be the health of Stephen Curry. If he’s healthy they’re a threat to maybe sneak in the playoffs. If he’s not healthy, this team will disappear into the back closet of the western conference.
(-1) 23. Sacramento Kings (3-5): Let’s see if firing Paul Westphal will make a difference. They responded to the news with a win. That’s a good sign. Keith Smart is running the show for now.
(-6) 24. Milwaukee Bucks (2-4): Matt Harpring said “I like their Players, but not the way that they play”. Something to that effect. I agree. On paper they look good, but the way that they play is settling for too many jump shots, and not enough ball movement. This team needs to change their philosophy, which might mean they need a new coach.
(-9) 25. New Orleans Hornets (2-4): Eric Gordon has only played 2 games. Let’s see if they pick it up with him healthy.
(-2) 26. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-4): They’re heading in the right direction. Kevin Love is the best PF in the NBA, and they may soon have the best distributing PG in the West. Give them some time. I expect that they leap ahead of several teams before the seasons end.
(-8) 27. Houston Rockets (2-4): That impressive win over the Spurs indicated that they may be better than expected. But now I don’t know what to think.
(+2) 28. Detroit Pistons (2-4): Rip Hamilton got a standing ovation from half the building in Detroit. The other half of the building was empty.
(-2) 29. New Jersey Nets (1-6): Every day that goes by further convinces me that they the Nets are managed by a bunch of clowns.
(-1) 30. Washington Wizards (0-6): John Wall has to want out.
NBA Power Rankings Week 3
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