NBA Power Rankings 1/19

(Picture from http://www.asianweek.com/)

So now that I am fully invested in the NBA season because college football has ended, and the NFL has had a crazy amount of dud playoff games I want to have a weekly post that you the reader can influence. I want to do a week by week NBA Power Rankings based on play, my personal opinion, and you the fans. We have already got some emails asking who the elite teams are, so keep those coming in. I also ask for NBA fans, and readers alike to email themanchise@gmail.com with your top five teams and your opinions will also influence these posts from here on out (and if you have no life as I do give me some sort of reasoning and I will be sure to add those to the post). So please, fellow "Manchisers" give me your feedback!

1. Los Angeles Lakers- This was tough considering how well the Cavs had played lately, but after I looked at some numbers the Lakers had it all the way (so allow me to break this down). The Lakers have played 41 games and The Flowing Spaniard has only played in 24 of those. Add in Ron Artest missing five games, and Kobe dealing with a frustrated back and splinted finger and it is remarkable this team hasn't fallen apart. With all of these injuries, the Lakers still have the best record in the NBA while playing the tenth toughest schedule. They have the best player in the league, and when completely healthy, this team is dangerous because of the balance they have with any five on the floor.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers- I can already sense that the "Witnesses" are not going to love this selection. But hear me out. 1. The Cav's are still looking to wheel and deal (something the Lakers and other elite teams are not doing unless it really helps their team) and upgrade to a Stephen Jackson/Trevor Ariza type. Mike Brown and LeBron still need a guy that can lock down perimeter scorers, and hit big time three's. 2. Their current strength of schedule is ranked 24th on ESPN, and they are 31-11 (losing to Boston, Toronto, Houston, Dallas, Denver and Utah to name a few). These teams are the cream of the crop, the best of the East and West, and the Cavs can't put them away. Lebron, who is second in scoring with 29.6 per game, is doing it all but I still can't help but wonder what would be if he were the one working with Hakeem Olajuwon or a David Robinson or Patrick Ewing on post moves in the off season. The kid still has the better part of his prime left to play, but if he worked on his post game (like, cough, cough Kobe Bryant cough, cough) and his foot work down low, the Cav's would not have needed a Shaq and could have spent the money elsewhere
3. Dallas Mavericks- The Mavs have the second hardest strength of schedule with quality wins over the Lakers, Utah, Boston, OKC, San Antonio, Cleveland, and Denver. They are currently 27-14, and have a roster with players that can go off for 30 at any moment. They are third in the league with 16.2 assists per game (showing that Kidd can still deliver the ball to Dirk who is dropping 25.4 a game and looks better than he did in 2006). They are second in the West which is something to write home about considering that the difference between the second seed and the eighth seed are four games.

4. Atlanta Hawks- Over Boston? Over the Magic? Yes and Yes. I had the luxury to see this team live against my Chicago Bulls, and god can they can score! They ended up blowing the game, but they had a 20 point lead in the first quarter. They are holding their opponents to 97.37 points per game (11th in the NBA) while averaging 102.82 points (a +5.45 ratio, which is 5th). Joe Johnson is keeping this team in the hunt, while Joe Smith has had some shaky games (a trend I think might be on the up and up considering Smith has scored 18 and 20 the past two games). Throw in "Mr. Ice in his Veins" Jamal Crawford, a maturing Al Horford, Marvin Williams, and Mike Bibby and that is a team that can score in bunches.

5. Boston Celtics- The Big Three plus 'Sheed have not looked as good as many thought this season. Sheed is over weight and looks like Antoine Walker back in the day, Rondo wants to be treated like the All-Star he is, yet KG continues to bark orders at him and Perkins.  But this team is still second in the East with a 27-12 record. They have lost two in a row but KG, Allen, and PP are still The Big Three, and with a healthy and active KG that team will continue to be successful (atleast until LeBron gives Delonte West twenty million dollars to shoot out his knee caps). He is the emotional leader on and off the court, and if he can somehow light a fire under 'Sheed's ass, look out for this team.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder- Kevin Durant is one spectacular player to watch. His creamsicle shoes are delightfully tasteful. He leads the team in points (29.1 which is good for third in the league), blocks (.85 per game), steals (1.32), and rebounds (7.1 per games). Russell Westbrook, the second year point guard out of UCLA, is second in scoring with 16.1 per game, but that isn't even the best part of this kids game. He also dishes out 7.5 assists per game which is good enough for 8th in the league (not bad for a second year point guard). Add Thabo Sefolosha, Nick Collison, Jeff Green and James Harden and this team is full of rising young stars. The Thunder are like the high school basketball team that started all freshmen and sophomores against Varsity teams. Then suddenly they get an amazing transfer student and the rest of the young kids grow around him. Before you know it senior year rolls around and they are demolishing teams left and right because they were playing against better opponents while other kids their age were playing on the freshmen B squad.

7. Orlando Magic- I for one still think they should have kept Hedo because of his natural ability to score. He could hit the three and on the very next play blow past a defender for an easy dunk. Hedo created a complete mismatch for most teams. But since that isn't the reality, let me explain why I have a hard time fitting Orlando in my top 5. It seems (and yes I watch these games on TV) as if they don't have a true leader like say a Kobe Bryant or KG. They have arguably the best 12 man roster in the NBA, but as I said before, they lack a true emotional leader. With the Vince trade, it seems as if they changed from the happy/loving Magic from a year ago and turned into an over-pressured squad that is still suffering from their hangover from last years Finals loss. At the same time the Magic are still 26-15 and have Dwight Howard (who is averaging a double double) and Rashard Lewis. But where is the guy that can take over games late in the season? I don't see it. Will they trade away for that guy? Will they trade away for a veteran that can be a leader? I don't know. But what I do know is that Sam Perkins and 'Sheed are Superman's kryptonite, which is why I think a healthy Celtics team beats this Magic team with anything big on the line.

8. Denver Nuggets- The Nuggets have won three games in a row, and are third in the West right now with a 26-14 overall record. Needless to say, Carmelo is leading the league in scoring at 30 a game and Ty Lawson has been a gigantic spark plug for this team.  Chauncey Billups is doing what he has done consistently over his career, coming up huge in big momemts. J.R. Smith, Nene. and Kenyon Martin are playing well together and the Birdman is redefining what it means to be a role player. The only reason why I have them at eight is because they have really bad losses to Sacramento (twice), Phili, Detroit, Minnesota, LAC, and Miami. I think when the Nuggets see they are playing a "bad" team they stroll of the bus thinking they already have a W in the win column.  They mail it in during those games but can turn it on when they play the best in the East and West. This team should never lose to Detroit or Minnesota, ever and can easily move up my rankings.

9. Utah Jazz- The Utah two headed monster of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer are playing just as well as any two person tandem out there. They both are averaging almost 20 points per game while Williams has 9.6 assists per game, and Boozer is averaging 10.6 rebounds a game. They are essentially playing with eight guys a game (give or take a few B.S. minutes here and there from Kyle Korver, Eric Maynor, and Ronnie Price). This worries me a little bit later in the season because of the minutes these main guys are playing. Utah has the 4th hardest schedule and an overall record of 23-18.

10. San Antonio Spurs- Duncan looks old and doesn't demand a double team anymore, Manu isn't throwing himself down the lane like he used to, and the Richard Jefferson contract seems like it might hurt the Spurs a couple years down the line. Would I want to play this team in the playoffs? Hell No. Even though they have their flaws, it is still the Spurs, and they demand some sort of respect (even if it's not as much as they used to get). The Spurs too have a pretty easy schedule (23rd overall) but are still 4th in the West with a 25-15 record. The West is young, and the Spurs are old but they have enough to get to the playoffs and a I wouldn't be surprised if they went on a tear at the end of the season (like they always do!).

So there are my Top Ten, and since this post is already long, I am going to write the rest of the Power Rankings and only add "Why" on certain occasions.

11. Memphis Grizzlies (22-18)- Biggest surprise so far? This team would have the fifth seed in the East if in fact they played in that conference. Basketball has been rejuvenated in Memphis, and I guess maybe Iverson would have plagued this team.

12. Houston Rockets (23-18)- Hardest schedule, no Yao, no McGrady and are still 7th in the West.

13. Phoenix Suns- Nash has not missed a beat. The guy has played and his shooting is outrageous. Nash has been so clutch. His field goal percentage, three point percentage and free throw percentage are at the highest they have ever been for his acclaimed career. They don't have a bench, but Amare is finally looking like Amare. They also have the 5th hardest schedule and hold a 24-18 record and the 6th seed in the West.

14. Charlotte Bobcats (20-19)

15. Portland Trail Blazers (25-17)

16. Toronto Raptors (21-20)

17. New Orleans Hornets (21-19)- Need to make some sort of move, and Okafor is a joke, he never helped at all.

18. Miami Heat (20-19)- Wade is 5th in the NBA in scoring and has revived Jermaine O'Neal's corpse.

19. Chicago Bulls (18-21)- Come on BOSH! And I still want the Bulls to tank the rest of the season, but that's just me.

20. Milwaukee Bucks (16-23)

21. New York Knicks (17-24)- After throwing up four East teams in a row I realized how poor this conference is. 

22. Los Angeles Clippers (18-22)

23. Sacramento Kings (15-25)- Another surprise! Tyreke Evans' team leading 20.8 points per game has shocked me. If this team had Kevin Martin, Sacramento fans think they could have contended (and Vlade Divac is in line to be the next Governor of California right?).

24. Washington Wizards (14-26)

25. Indiana Pacers (14-26)

26. Detroit Pistons (14-26)

27. Philadelphia 76ers (13-27)

28. Golden State Warriors (12-27)

29. Minnesota Timberwolves (9-33)

30. New Jersey Nets (3-37)