Post by Skillz on Dec 1, 2008 22:41:14 GMT -5
Mid-Season Power Rankings
By, 'Skillz
By, 'Skillz
With all-star weekend nearing and half of the season almost complete, it is time for the now annual mid-season power rankings. We received entries from twelve teams, with rankings that ranged quite a bit. Here are the rankings (1-29):
1. Los Angeles Lakers (27-7)—399 points
The Lakers were almost the consensus # 1 pick among gm’s, with seven or eight gm’s choosing the Lakers as their # 1 team, and everyone else picking them 2nd or 3rd. L.A. is as strong as ever, with Chris Paul joining the team this offseason. While the Lakers lack a real SF (Chuck Hayes doesn’t really cut it), their big 4 (Al Jefferson, Josh Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul) is about as dominant a tandem that this league has ever seen. Expect this team to coast to the finals.
2. Miami Heat (21-8)—391 points
Since winning the championship last year, the Heat have made moves to improve their future by acquiring Josh Smith and James Harden. While these might have been small downgrades, the prospect of this team being so good and so young is scary for the rest of the league. Star youngins’ Michael Gilchrist and Damien Leonard have also made substantial improvements from last year and will help the Heat solidify their depth.
3. New Jersey Nets (21-10)—374 points
After trading Chris Paul in the off-season, the Nets look as good as ever. They have the most dominant frontcourt duo in the game with Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum and also have a stud in the backcourt in Dwyane Wade. While this three-headed monster will be tough to stop, Nets PG Mike Dunleavy has been struggling and they lack a starting small forward.
4. Chicago Bulls (24-8)—368 points
Since acquiring Lebron James towards the middle of last season, the Bulls have seen nothing but wins. Led by Lebron James, the Bulls cause matchup problems with everyone in the league. They lack a true star next to Lebron, but Gerald Green and Hasheem Thabeet are very good supporting players.
***Since power polls started: Bulls have gone on a huge run, now lead the East.
5. Denver Nuggets (28-8)—334 points
Even though the Nuggets return the same players from last season, the team has impressed. While they might be old, they have arguably the best center in the game in Dwight Howard and have a stud at power forward in Fran Vazques. The rest of their team is iffy, so it is tough to see this group getting past the Lakers in the West.
6. Milwaukee Bucks (22-11)—333 points
The Bucks are back to contending after a couple of years rebuilding. Monta Ellis leads their team, but they have a quality defensive frontcourt in Al Horford and Desagna Diop and have a budding star in LaQuinton Ross. This team will be contending for a long time.
***Since power polls started: Bucks acquire Michael Beasley, now definitely in contention with a very complete lineup.
7. Philadelphia 76ers (24-16)—314 points
The Sixers core has been together for a long time by sim standards, but they have yet to really click. They are 24-16, but are stuggling for the amount of talent that is on their team. They are led by star power forward Dejaun Bair and small forward Dermar Derozan, who is having an off year. If they find the right DC, they could be a top 5 team, but that has yet to be seen.
8. New York Knicks (24-14)—311 points
The Knicks, who started the year off hot, have slowed down a lot lately. They posses the best two-man punch in the game with Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose but don’t have much help outside of that and have an awful frontcourt. They’ll need to add a big if they have serious title hopes, something that Outlawz will probably address before the trade deadline.
9. Seattle Sonics (23-9)—302 points
The Sonics are a very solid team with a great core in Ivan Chiriave, Corey Fisher, Derrick Favors and Manchu Chau. They are a top 3 team in the West, and have the pieces to overcome the Nuggets, but will have trouble matching up with the Lakers should they get into the Western Conference finals.
10. Atlanta Hawks (21-18)—271 points
The Hawks seemed to have the most inconsistent polling numbers. Two gm’s had them ranked 4th, three others had them ranked 7th or 8th, while every other GM had them ranked in the 12-17 range. While the Hawks started out slow, they have gone 20-9 since their 1-9 start and have since added key pieces in Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge.
***Since power polls started: Acquired LaMarcus Aldridge, filling their whole at power forward. The Hawks are still missing a legit SF, something they will need if they have title aspirations.
11. Dallas Mavericks (19-18)—269 points
While technically rebuilding, the Mavericks record says a lot about the West’s futility. However, it also says a lot about Michael Beasley, who has taken a shit on the league at power forward. The Mavs are not contenders, but they look to have a good future ahead of them.
***Since power polls started: Traded Michael Beasley, now fully rebuilding. This team is no longer a top 10 team, and probably doesn’t break the top 15.
12. Washington Wizards (19-19)—254 points
A consistent team that never is able to get over the hump. That won’t change this year, but they have a very nice player in Luol Deng (A B scoring); they just need to add some more to their core. I also found it interesting how almost every GM ranked the Wizards in the same spots: 12-14.
13. Golden State Warriors—(16-16)—244 points
One of the best teams last year, the Warriors got off to a slow start. While they have some nice players, they are old and declining. It won’t be unlikely if they jump into the top 10 later in the year though if they get a streak going.
14. Detroit Pistons (19-15)—238 points
The surprise in the East last year, the Pistons have improved their team that had won 48 games. However, their lack of success has proved the season to be a fluke. They are, however, in tremendous shape long-term, with some awesome pieces.
***Since the power poll started: Piston's go 5-0 in their last sim, have they clicked again?
15. Utah Jazz (15-16)—204 points
The Jazz, who probably have the best young core in the league, are currently stuck between contending and rebuilding. While they could easily make a few moves and compete, they seem to be content sitting on their core and watching their great young players develop.
16. New Orleans Hornets (18-22)—187 points
A team hindered by the hard cap, the Hornets are currently over achieving, for they really only have two talented players. Blake Griffin and OJ Mayo have been huge for N.O., and if they had one more quality player, they will have a solid core on their hands.
17. Los Angeles Clippers (13-19)—180 points
Hampered by injuries, the Clippers will likely be a top 5-6 team in the West when healthy. Gilbert Arenas is still sick, and young studs Dennis Dunnigan and Chris Singleton are blossoming into two of the finest young players in the league.
***Since the power poll started: Chris Singleton is out for 48 days with an injury. So much for playoff hopes; the Clippers were 13 in the poll before the injury.
18. Memphis Grizzlies (16-15)—180 points
Speaking of overachieving, the Grizzlies started the year on a tear. They are now starting to cool off and have recently dealt their leading scorer, James Anderson, but should hang in there in the soft Western Conference.
19. Orlando Magic (13-20)—136 points
After hoping to contend at the beginning of the year, an injury to Emeka Okafor shattered this hope. The Magic have instead built a nice young core: Donatas Motiejunas, Lance Stephenson, Dexter Strickland, and 2 lotto 1sts should make the Magic a formidable team in the East for years to come.
20. Houston Rockets (15-22)—132 points
After Greg did an admirable job escaping the contract year last year, the Rockets have nothing really going. They recently acquired good, but overpaid big man Chris Bosh, but added much needed picks. They could possibly sneak into the playoffs in the West.
***Since the power poll started: Rockets acquire Thaddeus Young. Should give them a good shot to sneak into the playoffs.
21. Toronto Raptors (15-19)—127 points
A team that was initially thought to compete in the East, the Raptors have struggled in the tough Eastern Conference. They score a lot, but have the worst defense in the league. Jennings, Sidney, and Evans is a sick core, but Dj has yet to produce a title contender.
***Since the power poll started: The Raptors are starting to go on a run. There defense is still suspect, but they are putting up enough points to win lately. Still not a playoff team, but a squad that could beat you or lose to you by 50 on any given night.
22. Portland Trailblazers (12-20)—122 points
Another victim of the West being so bad is Portland, who is hovering around .500 because of the West’s futility. I’m sure they’d much rather tank and pickup a stud in the draft.
23. Phoenix Suns (14-222)—93 points
The Suns have an emerging star at point guard in Avery Bradley and a team full of scrubs. Bradley looks to be contending for an all league time, Blue just needs to add to that core.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (8-19)—73 points
A team who has unloaded everything they had and is back to basics, the Cavs rebuild centers around their picks and Senario Hillman at the moment
25. Boston Celtics (8-25)—65 points
The Celtics have been one of the worst teams in the league for a long, long time. This has not changed, but it looks like they are trying to make a move to win next year in acquiring Emeka Okafor.
***Since the power poll started: Acquired stud power forward David West, got a little bump from 27 to 25
26. SanAntonio Spurs (9-22)—59 points
While the Spurs have a killer frontcourt in DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson, the Spurs have done little to surround them.
27. Minnesota Timberwolves (10-23)—55 points
Minnesota has an awesome young core in Creamer and Rivers, but have yet to surround these two. Another top 5 1st could do the trick.
28. Indiana Pacers (10-27)—31 points
The Pacers have a very, very nice core but they have no stars. They have the pieces to make trades but are going to have to do a lot to make the playoffs next year
29. Sacramento Kings (10-27)—26 points
They traded their best piece in Josh Smith to try to compete, and they are one of the worst teams in the league. They have a lot of work to do.
***Since the power poll started: The Kings acquire James Anderson and Jordan Hill from the Hawks in exchange for LaMarcus Aldridge. Back to the basics for Sac-town.
The following gm's participated: Habes, Nova, Aaar, Dj, Don, Nanz, CJ, Play, Derwin, Galo, Eboner, Basone, (used wrong format, but attempted), jay, Andrew, Blue
