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This was on the Portland Board. USA Today ranks all 30 NBA teams. Blazers #5, and the Jazz #12. I think both teams are top 10. What do you think?

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/power-rankings.htm?csp=34

It's USA Today, who cares what they think? Phili, Cleveland, Orlando, Portland, Houston, Dallas all are rated too high...

Great rankings, the Mavericks, Magic, and Portland are all certainly better. And there is no doubt that the Hornets, Cavs, and Sixers are likely to be better.



But they do have good analysis of why they think the Jazz are all of a sudden a mediocre team, and why they have them as the 7th best team in the West...

"How much more can Deron Williams improve?"

Looking at next season's success, i'd say they are overrated.

But if I were ranking rosters, top to bottom, with the future considered...My top 10 would look like this
1 - LA Lakers
2 - Utah Jazz (get the nod over the Hornets with the 2010 knicks pick)
3 - New Orleans Hornets
4 - San Antonio Spurs (even though they are older)
5 - Portland Trailblazers
6 - Boston Celtics (stars will be gone in 3 years tops)
7 - Houston Rockets
8 - Detroit Pistons
9 - Cleveland Cavs
10 - Philadelphia 76ers/Toronto Raptors (tie)

Horrible power rankings. We're should at least be in the top 6-7 imo.

Portland is a top 15 team, not top 10.......yet. I'm not buying into their young team yet, you guys are depending on 3 ROOKIES. And 2 of your rookies play the hardest positions in basketball (PG and C).


As for Utah being at 12 one of the commets said it best "oh well it IS USA today"

If it makes you feel any better, they have the Clippers ahead of the Nuggets.

^^^

That does make me feel better.

Portland is a top 15 team, not top 10.......yet. I'm not buying into their young team yet, you guys are depending on 3 ROOKIES. And 2 of your rookies play the hardest positions in basketball (PG and C).


As for Utah being at 12 one of the commets said it best "oh well it IS USA today"

They are rookies, but still improvements over who they replaced from last year. Rudy > Bayless >> Jack. And there's nothing wrong with Oden's knee. He'll demand a lot of double teams this year. Also Rudy, and Oden aren't your typical rookies. Rudy has tonz of international experience, including being the second highest scorer on the Spanish Olympic team. And Oden has been studying NBA centers for a year now, as well as training, and getting accustomed to the NBA lifestyle.

The Blazers will definitely be better this year. Oden will really help them out, especially with his defense and rebounding, but also with his ability to score in the paint, and Fernandez and Bayless should make solid contributions. I think that they're a playoff team this year and they could be truly dominant in the future if everything pans out.
That being said, the Jazz won 54 games last year. They were 38-12 after going 16-16 in their first 32 games and I highly, highly doubt they will start off so poorly this year. Deron, Brewer, Millsap, C.J. and Price are all very young and should be better this year, Boozer is in a contract year, Korver should be better with (almost) a full season and a training camp with this team under his belt, the backup point guard position looks better and Memo probably won't be injured and struggle for the first two or three months of the season like he did last year. When you consider all of that, I see no reason to believe that the Jazz, health permitting, will not win at least 55 games this year. The Blazers might win 45-50, but the Jazz will win the division and will once again be one of the top teams in the league.

Portland will be in the mix. I don't know why they get no respect here. You've got a great young team. For sure I fear them more than Denver and GS. It's a love/hate thing for me.

GOBlazers wrote:

Portland is a top 15 team, not top 10.......yet. I'm not buying into their young team yet, you guys are depending on 3 ROOKIES. And 2 of your rookies play the hardest positions in basketball (PG and C).


As for Utah being at 12 one of the commets said it best "oh well it IS USA today"

They are rookies, but still improvements over who they replaced from last year. Rudy > Bayless >> Jack. And there's nothing wrong with Oden's knee. He'll demand a lot of double teams this year. Also Rudy, and Oden aren't your typical rookies. Rudy has tonz of international experience, including being the second highest scorer on the Spanish Olympic team. And Oden has been studying NBA centers for a year now, as well as training, and getting accustomed to the NBA lifestyle.

Speculation is fun isn't it? You blazer fans have gotten extremely talented at it.

Blazers have a nice looking roster, but they still need to prove that they can play together.

I hate these dumb ass rankings that seem like more of a popularity contest.

Why should Houston be ranked higher than the team that ended the season for them 2 years running?
Detroit? I think utah has had there number.
Phili? what have they done the last couple years? Brand is a nice addition.

I would put Utah in the top 5.

^^^ Your right, the Blazers are full of potential, but no one knows if they will fulfill it. I think they will, though it will take time. No offense, but I think Utah being top 5 is a stretch, given that they had the 8th best record last season. I'm going by record, not how teams match up against eachother (otherwise portland would outrank you, IMO). Of the teams that outplayed you over the season, I think Phoenix has the best chance of dropping off.

I'm hoping for a first round matchup of Utah and Portland (3 VS 6)

It's a great time to be a Blazers fan. They have all the potential in the world, and should be hopeful about their future.

But that doesn't change the fact that they've yet to prove anything. I'll happily give them their props when/if they do, though.

GOBlazers wrote:^^^ Your right, the Blazers are full of potential, but no one knows if they will fulfill it. I think they will, though it will take time. No offense, but I think Utah being top 5 is a stretch, given that they had the 8th best record last season. I'm going by record, not how teams match up against eachother (otherwise portland would outrank you, IMO). Of the teams that outplayed you over the season, I think Phoenix has the best chance of dropping off.

I'm hoping for a first round matchup of Utah and Portland (3 VS 6)

Although I think that the only teams in the league that are clearly better than the Jazz are the Celtics, Lakers, and possibly the Rockets, if they stay healthy and sane, and that the Jazz have a great chance of finishing with a top five record this year, I do agree with you on a few different counts. First of all, I also tend to believe that the Blazers will fulfill (or mostly fulfill) their massive potential. I also agree that we do not match up well against Portland and I'm hoping that we don't win 55-60 games and get a top three seed only to be matched up with the Blazers in the first round. I'm not saying we couldn't win that series, but there's a lot of other teams I'd rather play.

This is absolutely rediculous. The blazers have potential but it is still unrealized potential. I hope they do good as I'm sick of seeing SA, PHO, and HOU. As for the Jazz ranking that low... it is standard for this time of year. The Jazz always "will suck" but come the end of the year we make the playoffs and do what we do. I don't feel Boston will be as good this year. I don't feel the drive will be as high for the big 3. I do feel LA is the team to beat as much as I hate saying that. I just hope the Jazz take the season serious and start winning the easy and on the road games. We are definately top 5 though.

This stupid artilce was all over the local sports radio shows here in Portland and most everyone agreed on at least 2 points:

1. Utah is way low on this poll - why would they be worse next year??
2. Portland is way overrated - Portland being the 7th or 8th seed in the West works for most of us.

I rank teams by what they have proven, not by potential alone. I will give Portland props when and if they prove they deserve them. Do they have some good players, yes....but have those players proven themselves as a top 10 NBA team.... I think not.

The Jazz on the other hand have been playing outstanding basketball the past couple of years, and have shown why they should be considered amongst basketballs elite.

I guess only time will tell.

BballFanAddict wrote:This stupid artilce was all over the local sports radio shows here in Portland and most everyone agreed on at least 2 points:

1. Utah is way low on this poll - why would they be worse next year??
2. Portland is way overrated - Portland being the 7th or 8th seed in the West works for most of us.

That sounds pretty reasonable.

2, 3 years down the road? Well, let's just say that I hope Oden proves to be a bust. But that's pretty unlikely.