Post by Skillz on Feb 16, 2009 23:39:50 GMT -5
'Skillz 2018 Mid Season Power Rankings
1. Dallas Mavericks=19 points (25-12)
A contract year team, the Mavericks have surpassed all expectations and currently hold the # 1 seed in the West and the 2nd best record in the league. After acquiring arguably the best player in the league in Kevin Durant, the Mavericks now possess an unbelievable outside tandem of Brandon Roy, Xavier Henry, and Kevin Durant. Mediocre bigs could keep this team from contending for a title, but the Mavs look for real.
2. Detroit Pistons=21 points (27-12)
While anything is possible with Jay, it’s hard to imagine that he is unhappy with holding the leagues best record. At 27-12, the Pistons have a great group of players who have meshed well. Tyreke Evans leads the league in assists, James Harden has been a huge acquisition, and Dermar Derozan and Karron Thomson have been strong as well. Definitely a tough out come playoff time.
3. Los Angeles Lakers=47 points (23-13)
A struggling team who eventually found their groove, the Lakers possess the most prolific duo in the league with Michael Beasley and LQR. Complement those two with arguably the most efficient point guard in the league in Nathaniel Davidson, and other teams are having nightmares. The Lakers should be a contender this year, and could very well make it out of the West.
4. Milwaukee Bucks=48 points (24-15)
The Bucks were supposed to be rebuilding. Well, apparently not. At 24-15, the Bucks have reemerged as one of the best teams in the league. While many laughed at Derwin for trading Davidson for Duck, maybe we should have been laughing at for trading Duck! The animal (no pun intended) is putting up a league leading 35.1 points to go along with 8.9 rebounds 2.2 steals and a 49% shooting percentage. Wow.
5. Las Vegas Rebels=51 points (20-11)
The Rebels are 20-11. Even scarier is that the average age of their starting lineup is 24.2. What’s scarier than that? Well, Rebels have about 10 picks at their disposal in their next three years. Watch out.
6. Boston Celtics=57 points (21-11)
The Celtics? What? CC, in the top 10? Yup, the Celtics are 21-11 and are rolling. How? I’m not really sure. Lebron has not lost a beat, putting up ridiculous numbers, but the rest of their team is somewhat mediocre. Look for teams to expose their weaknesses/lack of depth come playoff time, but the Celtics have been a nice surprise this year.
7. San Antonio Spurs=64 points (22-16)
The Spurs? What? Allstar, in the top 10? Yup. Phrase overload, probably. If you asked me last year to name 3 Spurs players on their 30 win team I couldn’t do it. This year, with virtually the same team, the Spurs are 22-16. Pete Goodger randomly went from a marginal shot blocker to the best-shot blocker in the league, DJ Augustin rediscovered his youth, and apparently James Anderson thinks he’s Kobe. Gotta love FBB.
8. Philadelphia 76ers=67 points (22-16)
It’s hard now to determine whether the apocalypse is coming or if FBB is just stupid. CC and Allstar apparently have top 7 teams, and Maniac’s Sixers are currently 22-16, after winning almost 60 games last season. And his players went UP in TC. I have a quick fix, though: trade Blair to Memphis!
9. Orlando Magic=75 points (19-11)
The Magic play offense well, they play defense well, and Dwight Howard is a monster. 29.5/12.2/4.3 blocks on .497% shooting? I’d say he’s playing slightly under his value at 95.9 million for 3 years.
10. Memphis Grizzlies=90 points (19-20)
See, I started out with a conventional power rankings article, then started making bad jokes, then continued making bad jokes. Now I have to analyze my team. Analysis: Decent talent, poor training staff, superb GM.
-----------
Just missing the cut (and no witty analysis)
11. New York Knicks
12. Miami Heat
13. Washington Wizards
14. Indiana Pacers
15. Minnesota Timberwolves
-------
Others receiving votes (/those who voted for themselves)
Phoenix Suns
Golden State Warriors
Portland Trailblazers
------
The following GM's voted:
Jah, Martinez, Skillz, Dan, Scott, Aaron, CC, Derwin, DJ, CJ, Nanz
