Post by Miami Heat on Apr 13, 2008 16:21:06 GMT -5
Rim Rocker 08/09 Power Rankings
1. Detroit Pistons: No one has more talent than the Pistons, plain and simple. Despite GM Black Mamba being kicked out for cheating this team is still awesome, has gotten way deeper since last year and shored there only weakness, which was no Center. If Detroit stays healthy and plays as a team they should win the Championship no question.
2. Phoenix Suns: After going with his original team for the most part in Year 1, the Suns GM has improved his roster and now earns the #2 spot. If Adding Baron Davis, Ray Allen, and Rasheed Wallace for Amare Stoudamire, Steve Nash, and Andrew Bogut isn't enough the Suns now have one of the best benches in the league as well.
3. Houston Rockets: The Houston rockets head in the 2008- 2009 season with the star power of Dwayne Wade and Caron Butler. If Butler and Wade can communicate with Point Guard Mike Bibby this team could be very, very good and contend for the top title in the west.
4. Dallas Mavericks: With the same team as last year, just add Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson and take out Rasheed Wallace and Devin Harris the Mavs look to repeat as WCF Champs in 08/09. A much deeper bench will help them do this and they are better than last year but other teams have gotten better as well. It should be interesting to see if the Mavs can repeat.
5. Seattle Supersonics: From worst to first? Is this the case for the now powerhouse Sonics who are looking to deal TJ Ford for a pass first point guard. This team has enough star power in Shaq, Gasol and Durant to compete for the west title but will Ricky Davis be able to put in the points that this team needs to win?
6. Boston Celtics: Despite the cap woes the Celtics are still an elite team in this league. Made one trade that Sent Pierce and Miller to the Warriors for Mike D, Hasslem, and Rashard Lewis. More depth on this squad this year but seems like everyone they have plays the 3 or the 4 spot. Celtics need to make a few trades to get back in form but still have the value.
7. Miami Heat: Amare and Melo are looking for the eastern conference title, will it happen? It all depends on their teammates and new point guard Stephen Marbury. This team has a few weak spots but GM Charles Boen will find a way to fill up the Shooting Guard woes and find a center for this team, look out Eastern Conference.
8. Atlanta Hawks: The former Hawks GM vanished and let an elite team in the East go to crap. Childress now a Grizzle and Smith now an INDIANA PACER BABY!!!!! The Hawks appeared to be on the fall. New GM Grassy has made the team look better, but the Heat and Bobcats have caught up and are looking to take the SE Division Champs Crown.
9. Charlotte Bobcats: A storybook ending will have the Bobcats resigning Chris Paul at the end of the year after holding the NBA Championship in his hand. This team has the chance to do that if Center Spencer Hawes and SG JR Smith can keep up with Gerald Wallace and Emeka Okafor. JR Smith has looked mighty fine in this preseason tournament so watch out.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves: First of all let me say it, YIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! Okay now that that is out of the way the T-wolves GM has done a great job of building this team in the last 2 years. People in Minnesota are saying Kevin Who? Bringing in Deron Williams and signing Luol Deng to help Al Jefferson has made them a contender in the West. The question is how good Rashard Mccants and YIIIIIII can be at their respective PF and SG spots.
11. Denver Nuggets: One of the best teams in the league, but very underrated. They only have 8 players on their roster but every one of those players is a talented player. Tim Duncan and Steve Nash is a dream team that can only be found in a sim league. Look for Andrew Bogut's high fiving teammates as he gets to the line in this league because he should be there a lot with the double teams from Duncan.
12. Utah Jazz: This team is a dark horse team in the league. Carlos Boozer now has the help of Ben Wallace, Larry Hughes, and 1st Overall Pick Michael Beasley of Kansas State. Hughes and Wallace are seen as has beens, Beasley is unproven, and most would say Telfair was a never was. If they can play together then they should be able to make the playoffs. I would think Paul Milsap should start or be traded; he is too good to be a backup.
13. San Antonio Spurs: The Spurs are led by a talented core with Dirk at center, but will this experiment work with a bunch of talented centers in the game? Can Dirk maintain the physical strength to get through the season? Jose Calderon and Danny Granger should help take some of the pressure off of him to get the pressure off of him. This team is led by a talented bench as well, possibly the game's best bench.
14. Orlando Magic: Tony Parker is the leader of this team after he was traded for Vince Carter in the offseason. It's just what he always wanted but could life without Timmy be harder than he thinks? There is lots of talent around him in Orlando including Forward Hedo T, Guard Ben Gordon, and Center Al Hortford but can Parker lead them? Jury is still out on this team.
15. Milwaukee Bucks: This team is led mainly by Ron Artest, thugging it, but really this team is a solid defensive team that should perform fairly well in the eastern conference. Devin Harris and Tyson Chandler were acquired via Washington along with Scorer Jamal Crawford. Rookie Roy Hibbert will start at center and look out for the twin towers in Milwaukee. This team may be the first playoff team in Milwaukee in years.
16. Chicago Bulls: After Trading Kobe Bryant, the Bulls no longer have any holes but man they don't know how to play Defense. They also have very little low post offense with a starting lineup of Terry/Redd/Pierce/Wilcox/Curry. If they can get tougher inside of get some type of inside/outside balance they may compete but until then there in for a world of hurt.
17. Cleveland Cavaliers: Lebron James is too good to be denied a spot in the top twenty and will probably end up taking this team to the playoffs. Cleveland hasn't made many deals but this team is still just as good as they are in real life. Jackson is the type of swingman LBJ has been looking for to hit the open 3. Look out for LBJ as the MVP of the league this season.
18. Indiana Pacers: The signing of Josh Smith and trading for Chris Kaman, with Jamison still in tack gives the Pacers one of the best front lines in the league. They also have a very young backcourt of Randy Foye and 6th Overall Pick Nicholas Batum. Good guard depth as well, this team maybe turns some heads this year.
19. Toronto Raptors: Is it possible for one team who just won the NBA Championship to falter this much? In this case yes, the GM traded away Chris Bosh for Allen Iverson and this team is looking less like the championship team that it was last year. They are also led by Yao Ming, but outside of that, the Raptors are looking for a different player in each position. They could turn some heads if some other position players were found
20. Golden State Warriors: "Kobe, Kobe, Kobe!" That is the new name being chanted at Oracle Arena, but after that...Brad Miller? Warriors don't have much else, though they do have lots of depth to go with Kobe. If this team can get another 80ish player or two they might compete but otherwise Kobe won't be happy in Golden State.
21. New Orleans Hornets: If a recent deal goes through the league offices, this team could receive a major jump. They dealt away Kenyon Martin and David West for Elton Brand and Chauncey Billups. This team could compete in the west, but they still have some holes to be filled. They dealt away Kevin Love to the Wizards for Marvin Williams, but I just get the feeling this team isn't done dealing yet.
22. Memphis Grizzlies: Camby and Jefferson are leading this team with youngsters Conley and Rudy Gay helping out, but this team just isn't good enough to make it into the playoffs in the powerful western conference.
23. Portland Trailblazers: With Greg Oden and Brandon Roy you know some day you will be good, but there not there yet. Lamarcus Aldridge and Rondo are nice young players and those 4 will be a nice core in the future but for now they are not a playoff team.
24. Los Angeles Clippers: Agent, Agent, Agent, these are the chants that will be heard around the city of Los Angeles now that they have dealt for him with Corey Maggette also in the lineup this team has an upside but they just don't have enough fire power down low to get the job done in the West.
25. Washington Wizards: GM Brad J. has the Wizards looking better, even though they magically made the playoffs last year. Many different looks for this team but cap space is a new luxury in Washington this year. Currently the Wizards have Kirk Hinrich and Mikel Pietrus in the back court with Andre Nocconi, Chris Webber, and Kevin Love up front. This team could he a shocker, but for now they’re going to the draft lottery.
26. LA Lakers: Dr. Bus must be crying right now, not only is this team not that good but there very slow tempo with Zach Randolph and Andrew Bynum in the post. T-mac has to carry the load for this team but with Jordan Farmar and Mike James in the back court there isn't a lot of help for him. The GM refuses to sign Rookie Nick Collison the PG from UCLA who was taken 22nd overall last year. This team needs a shakeup ASAP.
27. Philadelphia 76ers: This team is led by the Player Agent of the league, but will need some help to make the playoffs. They are a lowly bunch with some necessary need of some deals to make this team better down low. They are going to struggle to contend with that weak of a post-up game. Andre Miller may hit the free agent market next year so he'll be a key player to watch all season long.
28. Sacramento Kings: Derrick Rose, Kevin Martin, Tayshaun Prince, after that it's a huge drop off for the Kings. Derrick Rose is just amazing and they will be tough with the wingmen he has, but with nothing in the post don't bet money on the Kings going to the playoffs.
29. New York Knicks: Cap space, Cap space, Cap space. This team has lots of that, they will have to resign Lamar Odom but they will still have plenty of that. The Knicks are going to keep rebuilding and there GM knows what he is doing.
30. New Jersey Nets: This team is going to be a good one, one day, but that day is not today. OJ Mayo and Monta Ellis are going to lead this team in points but outside of that they are rather weak. This team will be competing for the first pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.