BBS 5 Inaugural Power Rankings
Aug 28, 2012 14:04:17 GMT -5
Post by Skillz on Aug 28, 2012 14:04:17 GMT -5
With the creation draft finally over, the season has gotten off to a (kind of) fast start. 15 days in, and let's rank the ten best teams in this inaugural year.
1. Boston Celtics (7-3)
Despite a relatively underwhelming start, the Celtics are clearly the best team in the league. Shaq and Duncan form a frontcourt that no other team can matchup against, and they have a solid supporting cast of guys who can defend and don't turn the ball over. Though this Celtics team is not particularly deep and can't survive fouls to Shaq/Duncan against elite teams, they have too big of a rebounding and frontcourt advantage to ever let go of this top spot.
2. Phoenix Suns (5-4)
Maybe I take some slack for this? Who knows. Let's start the talk going nice and early. The Suns have struggled to start the season, losing three games by 2 points, but dominated in a 10-2 preseason and have the most depth in the league. Oh, and they have Kobe. The point differential looks decent, they lead the league in points, and force the most turnovers in the league.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-3)
The Timberwolves have a lot going for them: Ai and Pierce might be the most dynamic wing duo in the league, and they have a legitimate third option in Chris Webber. As far as star power goes, the Timberwolves should have a real shot at the title. However, Minny has some serious concerns. Even though it's early, their point differential is shaky. They have a mediocre point guard. They have major TO problems. And to cap things off, GAME has never been known as a DC genius. This might be a team that underachieves.
4. San Antonio Spurs (11-3)
The team with the best record in the league and arguably the best backcourt int he league as well. T-Mac is a superstar and Cassell looks like a top 5 point guard as well. The team has decent depth but a mediocre front-court and does not have a ton of star power after T-Mac. I expect the Spurs to fall in the standings sooner rather than later.
5. Indiana Pacers (8-3)
To me, Indiana is the second best team in the East. Shawn Marion's rating increases make him look like a two-way star, and the 1/2 punch of VC and the Matrix should be tough to stop. Andre Miller is a solid enough point guard, and even though the Pacers don't have a great front-court, it defends well enough. The team is well-constructed for a creation draft team.
6. Detroit Pistons (9-4)
The Pistons have the best record n the East, and much like the DBW and the Celtics, it looks like Repole had a clear vision for his team. With that said, it looks like the Pistons are overachieving right now. Though they should be able to score with the best of them, nothing on their roster indicates that they should be a dominant defensive team--which they look like right now. Expect their OPPG to rise, and their win % to fall.
7. New Jersey Nets (8-5)
A big winner from the GSW trade, that Nets are benefitting from the stardom of Steve Nash. Nash is in the early MVP discussion, as he's doing 28/9 for a playoff-bound New Jersey team. With that said, the team is missing a lot. Ben Wallace and Shane Battier are awesome defensive pieces, but the Nets don't have a real second scorer to take some of the burden off of Nash.
8. Golden State Warriors (8-2)
The Warriors are 8-2, and have a good team, but I'm still dumbfounded at the Nash trade. Imagine if Golden State had Nash right about now....or turned him into something better than Camby? Camby looks mediocre, while the rest of the Warriors look really good. Billups is a top tier point guard, and the Warriors have enough depth to go around and compete in the West.
9. Portland Trailblazers (5-3)
The Blazers lack depth, but they have a sick defensive front-court with KG and Mourning and have nice scorers on the wings with Houston and Finley. The more I look at it, the more it looks like the Blazers are well constructed despite a lack of value after KG. They could pose a lot of problems to some teams in the West.
10. Sacramento Kings (8-4)
A team with a nice early record that may be deceiving. The Kings are only +4 in point differential, and have huge holes on their roster. Jason Williams is a huge liability at point guard, and other than Ray Allen, there really isn't much to talk about on the Kings roster. This could be a team that sinks quickly.
POWER RANKINGS
1. Boston Celtics (7-3)
Despite a relatively underwhelming start, the Celtics are clearly the best team in the league. Shaq and Duncan form a frontcourt that no other team can matchup against, and they have a solid supporting cast of guys who can defend and don't turn the ball over. Though this Celtics team is not particularly deep and can't survive fouls to Shaq/Duncan against elite teams, they have too big of a rebounding and frontcourt advantage to ever let go of this top spot.
2. Phoenix Suns (5-4)
Maybe I take some slack for this? Who knows. Let's start the talk going nice and early. The Suns have struggled to start the season, losing three games by 2 points, but dominated in a 10-2 preseason and have the most depth in the league. Oh, and they have Kobe. The point differential looks decent, they lead the league in points, and force the most turnovers in the league.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves (5-3)
The Timberwolves have a lot going for them: Ai and Pierce might be the most dynamic wing duo in the league, and they have a legitimate third option in Chris Webber. As far as star power goes, the Timberwolves should have a real shot at the title. However, Minny has some serious concerns. Even though it's early, their point differential is shaky. They have a mediocre point guard. They have major TO problems. And to cap things off, GAME has never been known as a DC genius. This might be a team that underachieves.
4. San Antonio Spurs (11-3)
The team with the best record in the league and arguably the best backcourt int he league as well. T-Mac is a superstar and Cassell looks like a top 5 point guard as well. The team has decent depth but a mediocre front-court and does not have a ton of star power after T-Mac. I expect the Spurs to fall in the standings sooner rather than later.
5. Indiana Pacers (8-3)
To me, Indiana is the second best team in the East. Shawn Marion's rating increases make him look like a two-way star, and the 1/2 punch of VC and the Matrix should be tough to stop. Andre Miller is a solid enough point guard, and even though the Pacers don't have a great front-court, it defends well enough. The team is well-constructed for a creation draft team.
6. Detroit Pistons (9-4)
The Pistons have the best record n the East, and much like the DBW and the Celtics, it looks like Repole had a clear vision for his team. With that said, it looks like the Pistons are overachieving right now. Though they should be able to score with the best of them, nothing on their roster indicates that they should be a dominant defensive team--which they look like right now. Expect their OPPG to rise, and their win % to fall.
7. New Jersey Nets (8-5)
A big winner from the GSW trade, that Nets are benefitting from the stardom of Steve Nash. Nash is in the early MVP discussion, as he's doing 28/9 for a playoff-bound New Jersey team. With that said, the team is missing a lot. Ben Wallace and Shane Battier are awesome defensive pieces, but the Nets don't have a real second scorer to take some of the burden off of Nash.
8. Golden State Warriors (8-2)
The Warriors are 8-2, and have a good team, but I'm still dumbfounded at the Nash trade. Imagine if Golden State had Nash right about now....or turned him into something better than Camby? Camby looks mediocre, while the rest of the Warriors look really good. Billups is a top tier point guard, and the Warriors have enough depth to go around and compete in the West.
9. Portland Trailblazers (5-3)
The Blazers lack depth, but they have a sick defensive front-court with KG and Mourning and have nice scorers on the wings with Houston and Finley. The more I look at it, the more it looks like the Blazers are well constructed despite a lack of value after KG. They could pose a lot of problems to some teams in the West.
10. Sacramento Kings (8-4)
A team with a nice early record that may be deceiving. The Kings are only +4 in point differential, and have huge holes on their roster. Jason Williams is a huge liability at point guard, and other than Ray Allen, there really isn't much to talk about on the Kings roster. This could be a team that sinks quickly.
