Post by cjmjones008 on May 25, 2009 9:52:17 GMT -5
1. Milwaukee Bucks- 135
The Bucks were probably the hottest team leading up to the trade deadline. They only lost 5 games in the previous 40+ days. They allow the second least points per game and are the only team that averages more than 10 steals and blocks per game. Sylvester Rollins has emerged as the star they have lacked the past two seasons. Reggie Yates has been playing the best he ever has for the Bucks. Austin Brock has played his best ball ever this season. Everything seems to be lined up for the Bucks. However, the teams they have struggled against are in the East (only 3 losses to Western teams all season).
2. Minnesota Timberwolves- 118
The midseason number one team really fell off in the second half. They have suffered a few minor injuries to key players, but nothing that should have derailed this team. I still believe Eamon O’Callaghan is a good enough PG to win with in the regular season, but gives you littler chance against elite PGs in the playoffs. Duck is one of the five best players in the league. Bynum and Dwight are still very good, but due to their age this is likely the last run for the Wolves in awhile. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them lose to the Rebels in Round 2.
3. Los Angeles Lakers- 117
Nanz did a great job of keeping this team a title contender with the hard cap trouble he faced entering this season. I didn’t like the Brandon Issel trade for him, but it did give them most offensive firepower in the league. LQR getting injured makes a possible early upset much more likely, but Davidson is too good to let that happen (at least for the first round). If they can hold out until LQR is back I think they will once again win the West.
4. Boston Celtics- 104
Maybe Kevin Durant was worth what Ebener was wanting? He has taken the Celtics to a level they have never seen in bbs. The Nets and Pistons have had key injuries which is probably the only real reason for the Celtics #2 seeding in the East. I don’t think any team with Dermarr Derozan as their second leading scorer has a legit shot at even a conference title.
5. New Jersey Nets- 101
The Nets would have been close to a 60 win team if it wasn’t for the injuries to Jeremiah Gress and Daniel Orton. Orton has been the most underrated player in the league for at least three seasons. He was a key addition in the trade with the Jazz. Gress is a great player to have at PG, but he is the Nets only real option at PG. Henry did play well there last season for the Jazz, but the Nets need him to be more of a scorer. Their backcourt is a defensive liability and they are depending on out sizing the opposition. It could very well work, but if a team runs the right DC they could have the Nets in a tight spot.
6. Phoenix Suns- 84
No offense to blue or the Suns, but this team winning 55 games is great evidence that the West was awful this season. Note that I thought the Raptors had no chance when they won the title as well. The Suns do have the makings of a good team with a mix of great defenders and good scorers, but they are lacking true star that can take them far in the playoffs. Omar Rickards is a sick scorer and Devereux St. Cloud is always a mismatch at PG, but I don’t think the Suns have enough talent to beat any of the leagues heavyweights in a 7 game series.
7. Detroit Pistons- 81
This Pistons team has really surprised me. I still think they have some glaring holes, but they can obviously compete and win with them. Neither of their starting big men would start on a few teams, but they are great at what they are asked to do. Derrick Rose is still a top three PG. Not having a big time scorer or rebounder in their starting lineup will be tough to overcome, but a deep run is definitely possible.
8. Philadelphia 76ers- 74
The DeJuan Blair trade definitely shook up the league. Most of these ballots were submitted before this trade was processed so the 76ers are definitely lower than they should be. I think Maniac is putting a little two much stock in Mancini, but Hahn Owens was nothing special either. The 76ers have no wing depth. Otherwise, they are sick. They have four 20-point scorers, two 3+ block bigs, three A+ outside shooters, two of the best rebounders in the league, and possibly the most efficient PG. I really feel like they could be the team to beat at this point, but they will face the Nets and probably the Bucks in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
9. Utah Jazz- 68
This team died with the DeJuan Blair trade. I don’t really know why Andrew would jump on it. I realize Blair is 34, but he didn’t get anything of substantial value in return when he could have at least got something from a CY team in the offseason. I’m not looking up who they play in the first round but if the Jazz win then the other team sucks.
10. Toronto Raptors- 49
The Raptors were the champs two years ago and still have a great core intact. They have a lot of depth and scoring. Trey Donovan missed 40 games this year. He isn’t a great player by any means, but he is the only PG on the Raptors roster. They matchup great against the Celtics and I can easily see an upset occurring. Maybe CC will be smart and move Durant to SF! I doubt it.
11. Las Vegas Rebels- 45
12. Houston Rockets- 38
13. Washington Wizards- 28
14. New York Knicks- 19
15. Seattle Supersonics- 11
Others Receiving Votes: Hornets (4), Cavs (4)
Voters: Dru, Greg, Dan, Nanz, Duck, DJ, CC, Jordan, Jah
The Bucks were probably the hottest team leading up to the trade deadline. They only lost 5 games in the previous 40+ days. They allow the second least points per game and are the only team that averages more than 10 steals and blocks per game. Sylvester Rollins has emerged as the star they have lacked the past two seasons. Reggie Yates has been playing the best he ever has for the Bucks. Austin Brock has played his best ball ever this season. Everything seems to be lined up for the Bucks. However, the teams they have struggled against are in the East (only 3 losses to Western teams all season).
2. Minnesota Timberwolves- 118
The midseason number one team really fell off in the second half. They have suffered a few minor injuries to key players, but nothing that should have derailed this team. I still believe Eamon O’Callaghan is a good enough PG to win with in the regular season, but gives you littler chance against elite PGs in the playoffs. Duck is one of the five best players in the league. Bynum and Dwight are still very good, but due to their age this is likely the last run for the Wolves in awhile. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them lose to the Rebels in Round 2.
3. Los Angeles Lakers- 117
Nanz did a great job of keeping this team a title contender with the hard cap trouble he faced entering this season. I didn’t like the Brandon Issel trade for him, but it did give them most offensive firepower in the league. LQR getting injured makes a possible early upset much more likely, but Davidson is too good to let that happen (at least for the first round). If they can hold out until LQR is back I think they will once again win the West.
4. Boston Celtics- 104
Maybe Kevin Durant was worth what Ebener was wanting? He has taken the Celtics to a level they have never seen in bbs. The Nets and Pistons have had key injuries which is probably the only real reason for the Celtics #2 seeding in the East. I don’t think any team with Dermarr Derozan as their second leading scorer has a legit shot at even a conference title.
5. New Jersey Nets- 101
The Nets would have been close to a 60 win team if it wasn’t for the injuries to Jeremiah Gress and Daniel Orton. Orton has been the most underrated player in the league for at least three seasons. He was a key addition in the trade with the Jazz. Gress is a great player to have at PG, but he is the Nets only real option at PG. Henry did play well there last season for the Jazz, but the Nets need him to be more of a scorer. Their backcourt is a defensive liability and they are depending on out sizing the opposition. It could very well work, but if a team runs the right DC they could have the Nets in a tight spot.
6. Phoenix Suns- 84
No offense to blue or the Suns, but this team winning 55 games is great evidence that the West was awful this season. Note that I thought the Raptors had no chance when they won the title as well. The Suns do have the makings of a good team with a mix of great defenders and good scorers, but they are lacking true star that can take them far in the playoffs. Omar Rickards is a sick scorer and Devereux St. Cloud is always a mismatch at PG, but I don’t think the Suns have enough talent to beat any of the leagues heavyweights in a 7 game series.
7. Detroit Pistons- 81
This Pistons team has really surprised me. I still think they have some glaring holes, but they can obviously compete and win with them. Neither of their starting big men would start on a few teams, but they are great at what they are asked to do. Derrick Rose is still a top three PG. Not having a big time scorer or rebounder in their starting lineup will be tough to overcome, but a deep run is definitely possible.
8. Philadelphia 76ers- 74
The DeJuan Blair trade definitely shook up the league. Most of these ballots were submitted before this trade was processed so the 76ers are definitely lower than they should be. I think Maniac is putting a little two much stock in Mancini, but Hahn Owens was nothing special either. The 76ers have no wing depth. Otherwise, they are sick. They have four 20-point scorers, two 3+ block bigs, three A+ outside shooters, two of the best rebounders in the league, and possibly the most efficient PG. I really feel like they could be the team to beat at this point, but they will face the Nets and probably the Bucks in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
9. Utah Jazz- 68
This team died with the DeJuan Blair trade. I don’t really know why Andrew would jump on it. I realize Blair is 34, but he didn’t get anything of substantial value in return when he could have at least got something from a CY team in the offseason. I’m not looking up who they play in the first round but if the Jazz win then the other team sucks.
10. Toronto Raptors- 49
The Raptors were the champs two years ago and still have a great core intact. They have a lot of depth and scoring. Trey Donovan missed 40 games this year. He isn’t a great player by any means, but he is the only PG on the Raptors roster. They matchup great against the Celtics and I can easily see an upset occurring. Maybe CC will be smart and move Durant to SF! I doubt it.
11. Las Vegas Rebels- 45
12. Houston Rockets- 38
13. Washington Wizards- 28
14. New York Knicks- 19
15. Seattle Supersonics- 11
Others Receiving Votes: Hornets (4), Cavs (4)
Voters: Dru, Greg, Dan, Nanz, Duck, DJ, CC, Jordan, Jah
