| T.E.N Sports NBA Power Rankings | | | | may be enough to even get a rise out of Vin Baker. |
| 1. Detroit Pistons. Not only are the Bad Boys are | | | | 16. Golden State Warriors. Speedy Claxton and Derek |
| coming back with the same starting cast that won | | | | Fisher can handle an offence. Look for Murphy and |
| the championship, but they have improved their | | | | Dunleavy to bounce back from an off-year, as they |
| support cast. They may not win the most games this | | | | will need to step up and help Foyle at center as they |
| year, but they have the best bet (at the start of | | | | replace the departed Dampier. Richardson is their |
| the season) to win the last. | | | | main go-to guy, and he should continue to get points |
| 2. Indiana Pacers. They lost to the Pistons in the | | | | at SG. In addition to Fisher, this team has strong |
| Eastern finals. With another year under their belts, | | | | veteran leadership from Clifford Robinson, Dale Davis |
| and the addition of Stephan Jackson from the | | | | and Calbert Cheaney. |
| Hawks, they may take advantage if some of the | | | | 17. Portland Trail Blazers. Should Golden State falter, |
| Bad Boys end up suspended (assuming Artest can | | | | Portland will be there to take their place. Zach |
| keep his own cool). | | | | Randolph is the undisputed #1 of this team, and they |
| 3. San Antonio Spurs. Spurs will start the year third | | | | still have Abdur-Rahim coming off the bench! Damon |
| on our lists, only because a much stronger Western | | | | Stoudamire can lead this offence, and Theo Ratliff is |
| Conference will shave a few wins off their total this | | | | equally adapt on the defensive side of the game. |
| year. Both Ginobili and Parker are improving, while | | | | Throw in Ruben Patterson, and you have a team |
| newly acquired Barry can be used to replace either in | | | | that can surprise quite a few teams out there. |
| the event of a cold streak. | | | | 18. Philadelphia 76ers. No player has more guts than |
| 4. Phoenix Suns. Imagine a Maverick team that can | | | | Allen Iverson. You need to break both his arms for |
| bang the boards for rebounds. Nash must be drooling | | | | him to stay on the bench. The problem is, Allen plays |
| to work this high-octane offence with Amare | | | | like he needs both arms broken. No matter how cold |
| Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson. And | | | | his shooting is, he will not stop. I do not understand |
| don't worry about Nash tiring himself out. This time, | | | | why they just don't surround Iverson with a center, |
| he has the other free-agent acquisition in Quentin | | | | and 3 power forwards. The 76ers apparently thought |
| Richardson to take care of business while he catches | | | | that giving Allen a 2nd option on offence by way of |
| his breath. | | | | Glenn Robinson, he might pass the ball a little more. |
| 5. Sacramento Kings. Well, we have to start this | | | | Nope. |
| season with what we see on paper. With that | | | | 19. Los Angeles Clippers. We will be taking a chance |
| philosophy, the Kings round up the last of the elite | | | | with the Clippers. If the Lakers start off slow out of |
| class of teams this year. At the same time, they are | | | | the gate, that may be all the incentive the Clippers |
| a segway into the holes found in the rest of the | | | | need to finally get some respect in L.A. They are |
| league. How will Stojakovic play not that his best | | | | now the ONLY team in L.A to have 2 legit 20 point a |
| friend (Vlade Divac) is wearing a Laker jersey again? | | | | game guys in Brand and Maggette. Kittles brings |
| Can Webber actually play a full season? Only a | | | | leadership and a winning attitute, while Kaman and |
| breakdown can take this team out of the elite 5. | | | | Jaric are now entering their 2nd and 3rd years |
| 6. Minnesota Timberwolves. Okay, so they have the | | | | respectively. Depth may be an issue over an 82 |
| most dominant player in the game in K.G (that's right, | | | | game season however. |
| I said it!). If age and injury to do factor in too | | | | 20. Bucks. Michael Redd took his place as a star |
| greatly, Spreewell and Cassell, with a return to form | | | | player last year, to the surprise of many, but there is |
| from Szczerbiak could lead this team to their first | | | | no reason wny that should not continue again this |
| ever championship. They know it is their last year | | | | year. Van Horn is also great for regular season points, |
| together, and these hard-nosed players will want to | | | | but if he hits his cold streak, Desmond Mason can |
| end this season with a ring. | | | | easily step in. T.J Ford is a legitimate point guard, but |
| 7. Dallas Mavericks. Instead of playing team defence, | | | | his injury problems may be an issue. If so, expect |
| the Mavs figured the way to go was to add Dampier | | | | Mike James to do a decent job as his replacement. |
| at center after his breakout season with the | | | | 21. Cleveland Cavaliers. King James made everyone |
| Warriors. Despite this move, Dallas figures it's form of | | | | on the Cav's better, including Boozer, who they lost |
| defence will be to outscore the opposition into | | | | unexpectedly in free agency. There is no reason why |
| submission, with hopes that Dampier can pick up | | | | he cannot do the same thing with 3rd year prospect |
| enough boards to be the difference maker. The | | | | Drew Gooden. At SF, Ira Newble is only keeping the |
| problem with a team like the Mavericks is that they | | | | seat warm for Luke Jackson. If he can maintain the |
| cannot surprise you. Too many players will be | | | | same 3-point % he had in college (44%), he should |
| demanding the ball, and with a new point guard that | | | | really help open up the offence for Cleveland this |
| loves to score his own points, Don Nelson will have a | | | | year. |
| tough time of it this post season. | | | | 22. New Orleans Hornets. Losing Jamal Mashburn for |
| 8. Houston Rockets. T-Mac will be on a mission and | | | | the season may be a big loss for most teams, but |
| he has the perfect ensemble of role players to | | | | chances are he would have been a major problem, |
| complete it. Ward's job is simple, and he is good at it: | | | | then help, had he played this year. With Mashburn |
| Pass the ball to T-Mac. Ming and Howard, get the | | | | out, Byron Scott may be able to coach these guys |
| boards and score on 2nd hand chances. There will be | | | | into respectability. Baron Davis is insane, and Jamaal |
| a lot of him, as McGrady and Kobe will battle for the | | | | Magloire has now become a force at center. P.J |
| most shots taken in the league. Jackson's job will be | | | | Brown is dirty, and capable of manning the PF |
| to hit the open jay when McGrady is double-teamed. | | | | position. |
| 9. Miami Heat. If I thought Shaq would play a | | | | 23. Orlando Magic. It will be interesting to see if Steve |
| full-season, the Heat would be ranked higher. This | | | | Francis can maintain his 16.6 PPG without a big man |
| time, Shaq has got 2 star guards that will listen to | | | | to creation some lanes for him. Grant Hill will try and |
| him in Eddie Jones and Dwyane Wade (who has to | | | | start at SF this season (I challenge anyone to bet |
| try and avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx), and | | | | that he will play more than 60 games this season!). |
| better support at forward in Haslem and Butler than | | | | With rookie Dwight Howard also penciled in at |
| he had in L.A. Miami traded away their depth to get | | | | starter, it will be up to the reserve core of Battie and |
| him, so injuries should take it's toll during the season. | | | | Turkoglu to balance out this roster. The South East is |
| 10. Denver Nuggets. 'Melo is back for his sophomore | | | | very weak, and if Miami catches the injury bug |
| year, and this time he's got Kenyon Martin along side | | | | instead of the Magic, they may actually win their |
| him. Nene was doing the job, but Denver struck gold | | | | division. |
| with this free-agent acquisition. This may help the | | | | 24. Washington Wizards. If this isn't the season for |
| fragile Camby in the middle, but they did not improve | | | | Washington to move up the rankings and be a |
| their backcourt. Leonard can shoot, but does not play | | | | legitimate contender, than Wizards fans should give |
| D, meanwhile Boykins can give you a spark off the | | | | up and wait for the Expos. The talk right now is for |
| bench, but at 5-5, will not be giving you much help on | | | | Kwame Brown and Brendan Haywood to step up, all |
| defence. | | | | they really need to do is improve defensively and on |
| 11. Los Angeles Lakers. Blah, blah, blah...Kobe...blah, blah | | | | the boards. Gilbert Arenas will also need to improve |
| blah. Put up, or shut up...yeah, we know. This team | | | | on his turnovers, but between himself, Larry Hughes, |
| will be interesting. When Divac was first in L.A, many | | | | and newly acquired Antawn Jamison should provide |
| questioned his ability. He will now return to the same | | | | the 1-2-3 punch they need. |
| criticism as he is about 2 years past his expiry date. | | | | 25. Chicago Bulls. Despite the emergence of Kirk |
| Lamar Odom may be the key #2 key for this team, | | | | Hinrich, everyone is wondering if Eddie Curry or |
| but the real factor will be to see if Caron Butler can | | | | Tyson Chandler will blossom this year, after 3 |
| fulfill the promise he showed when he first broke into | | | | disappointing seasons. People seem to have |
| the league. | | | | forgotten that these two guys are still younger than |
| 12. Memphis Grizzlies. Basically, they are the New | | | | most of the rookies starting this year. This time, |
| England Patriots of basketball. They reached 50 wins | | | | they have a full season to learn from Antonio Davis, |
| for the first time in their history due to great | | | | Othella Harrington and Mutombo and how to be a |
| coaching and T-E-A-M play. They emphasised this | | | | presence inside. Look for the Bulls to pull it together |
| point by picking up only a role-player in the | | | | by the end of the season, and make a run at |
| off-season. They will, however, need Mike Miller to | | | | respectability. |
| step it up if they don't want to get swept again in | | | | 26. Seattle SuperSonics. With Ray Allen and Rayshard |
| the play-offs. | | | | Lewis, this team may move up the rankings, but not |
| 13. Utah Jazz. The Jazz are back! If Boozer is the real | | | | much. Best change for this team would be if the |
| deal, and Arroyo continues to improve, Jazz will be a | | | | feud between Ray Allen and Kobe Bryant sparks |
| popular music in the NBA this year. With Mehmet | | | | some competitive play leading up to, and just after |
| Okur, the Jazz at least have some kind of potential | | | | their games with the Lakers. |
| at center, and Kirilenko should have another monster | | | | 27. Atlanta Hawks. This team will be interesting, if |
| season. They may start the season at unlucky 13, | | | | only to watch their 2 cornerstones develop into NBA |
| but I think they will finish higher. | | | | players. Josh Childress is a tall SG, and if he can play |
| 14. Boston Celtics. Pierce and Payton along should be | | | | defence, will cause major problems for his defence |
| enough to win the Atlantic, and they have one of | | | | match-ups. Josh Smith has been compared to |
| the better benches in the East. Ricky Davis can give | | | | Dominique Wilkins. Playing in Atlanta, that will be a |
| average 15-20, McCarty can provide quality minutes, | | | | hard image to live up to. |
| and Marcus Banks may be their point of the future. | | | | 28. New Jersey Nets. Management gave up on them, |
| Mark Blount needs to give them more boards at | | | | so why wouldn't Jason Kidd. Jefferson's dunks off a |
| center, but his FG% is crazy at 56.6%. | | | | turnover will go down this year. |
| 15. New York Knicks. They may question Marbury's | | | | 29. Raptors. The sorry, sad state of affairs brings |
| character, but there is no questioning his talent, as he | | | | shame on a franchise whose fans are crazy about |
| is arguably the best point guard in the league right | | | | basketball. Toronto is one of the most popular places |
| now. Allan Houston is the consummate marksman, | | | | to play in, simply because of the atmosphere. From |
| but if his name's can take the pounding, the newly | | | | Mighty Mouse, to Lenny Wilkins, T-Mac to Carter, it is |
| acquired Jamal Crawford can easily step up, and | | | | becoming increasingly difficult for Torontonians to |
| Penny can fill any gaps left over. K. Thomas and | | | | keep their love for the Raptors alive. |
| Mohammed will both benefit from Marbury's highlight | | | | 30. Bobcats. First year for an expansion team. If they |
| reel passes inside, with T.Thomas also taking care of | | | | beat the Raptors in the standings, I will burn my |
| business. The emotion shown by the Junk Yard Dog | | | | Raptors jersey. |