ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night)

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ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#1 » by JordansBulls » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:03 pm

Source: ESPN

The defending champs, as always, start out at No. 1 in the opening night edition of our weekly, fully non-automated pulse check of the league,



2008-09 Power Rankings: Preseason

1. Celtics 66-16 He hasn't done too much in Charlotte, but Michael Jordan has fired up at least one Celtic amid all those doubts about Boston's hunger to repeat. Sayeth Ray Allen: ''MJ told me when you win one, you've just [been] lucky.''

2. Lakers 57-25 The Lakers were a popular choice to win it all even before Lamar Odom was shifted to sixth man. If that move works, they might even live up to such lofty billing.

3. Hornets 56-26 Too soon to say Posey's arrival is already paying off? The Hornets have already won something -- they were preseason ''champs'' at 7-0 -- and are third favorites to win it all according to the league's annual survey of GMs.

4. Cavaliers 45-37 Q: Why are folks like me making such a big deal about the Mo Williams acquisition? A: Because LeBron's Cavs took Boston to seven games in the second round without a No. 2 scorer/shooter in Williams' class.

5. Spurs 56-26 Is Pop's long, gray, unruly beard meant to mock folks who have written off the Spurs as too old? Better question: Have you considered how dangerous they might be if Manu is healed and rested come playoff time?

6. Rockets 55-27 Who knows how many games T-Mac, Yao and Ron-Ron actually play together? But I question anyone saying Artest might mess up Houston's chemistry. Mess up what? Rockets haven't won a playoff series since 1997.

7. Pistons 59-23 Who doesn't think the Pistons are slipping? In that league survey of GMs, more than half (55.6 percent) picked the team that didn't make a major offseason move over Cleveland (44.4 percent) to win the Central Division.

8. 76ers 40-42 Funny old game, isn't it? You can go to Duke, go No. 1 overall in the draft, play in major media markets with the Bulls and Clips . . . and you can still, as Elton Brand would tell you, find a whole new level of scrutiny in Philly.

9. Jazz 54-28 An early injury scare with D-Will isn't the best of starts, but he's the last guy I'd worry about in Jazz country. Far bigger question marks, to me, are Utah's suspect D and the pitfalls of having eight potential free agents.

10. Mavericks 51-31 Just thinking out loud (again): If they won 51 games last season when everyone in Mavsland was so miserable, shouldn't we hold off on all those obituaries until we see how the Mavs look (and feel) under Carlisle?


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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#2 » by Duiz » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:08 pm

I thought that the nba.com's one was incredibly accurate. I am glad the no-sense BS that ESPN, SI, Fox, and the other networks give us is done, and that nba.com's power rankings are back.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#3 » by Mufasa » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:11 pm

Cavs and Philly are too high. Did 44% of the GMs really pick Cleveland to win the Central? I can understand calling them more dangerous in the playoffs, but the division should be Detroit's by at least 5 games barring an injury.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#4 » by Don Draper » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:24 pm

4. Cavaliers 45-37 Q: Why are folks like me making such a big deal about the Mo Williams acquisition? A: Because LeBron's Cavs took Boston to seven games in the second round without a No. 2 scorer/shooter in Williams' class.


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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#5 » by CzBoobie » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:33 pm

Cavs are too low...

j/k
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#6 » by Michael Phelps » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:39 pm

Cavs too high on both NBA.com and ESPN.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#7 » by TradeMachine » Mon Oct 27, 2008 9:42 pm

11.5pts, 7.8rebs, 58% FG in 24mins is rough? What is he smokin?
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#8 » by Alex_De_Large » Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:02 pm

2008-09??? thats 2007-2008.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#9 » by Cammo101 » Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:21 pm

As usual, Orlando is being severely underrated. Some things never change.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#10 » by Gordon Bombay » Mon Oct 27, 2008 10:29 pm

CzBron wrote:Cavs are too low...

j/k


you just knew that #4 spot was going to be a hot-button issue around these parts
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#11 » by TAI8 » Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:06 am

Actually it's not that bad. I would go as far to say that it's better than decent.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#12 » by L&H_05 » Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:11 am

Well, I do see the Cavs as being one of the 4 teams left when all is said and one...

Philly is too high, way too high IMO... That team has proved absolutely nothing.. In fact, they're doing a disservice to Orlando by placing the 76ers above them... I truly feel Philly will disappoint this year based on expectations...I still think they'll get into the playoffs, but more in line with the 6th or 7th seed as opposed to a top 4 seed...
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#13 » by Michael Phelps » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:11 am

L&H_05 wrote:Well, I do see the Cavs as being one of the 4 teams left when all is said and one...

Philly is too high, way too high IMO... That team has proved absolutely nothing.. In fact, they're doing a disservice to Orlando by placing the 76ers above them... I truly feel Philly will disappoint this year based on expectations...I still think they'll get into the playoffs, but more in line with the 6th or 7th seed as opposed to a top 4 seed...


Cleveland is behind the top 4 Western conference teams.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#14 » by A.J. » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:17 am

We should be ahead of the Spurs. What have they done to improve themselves this season?
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#15 » by carrottop12 » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:21 am

^^^

LOL, Spurs>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rockets by a lot.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#16 » by A.J. » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:24 am

Batronuj wrote:^^^

LOL, Spurs>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rockets by a lot.


Maybe I should have used the green font.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#17 » by Baller 24 » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:24 am

Batronuj wrote:^^^

LOL, Spurs>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Rockets by a lot.


Oh
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#18 » by Dedicated_76ers_fan » Tue Oct 28, 2008 4:24 am

People who think Philly is too high, have not watched Thaddeus Young play. Thaddeus Young is continuing his ascend to being one of the best SF's in the game. Not only that. But defensively, the Sixers Starting lineup is one of the best in recent NBA history.

It'll take a few games to work itself out. But, Elton Brand and Dalembert make for one of the best one-two punches in the post downlow. Dalembert's main problem is that he can't guard the Howards and the Bynums who have that big upper strength. That's no longer a concern with Elton Brand, Reggie Evans and Theo Ratliff defending the post.

Blocks and Steals lead to transition points. And with Ratliff, Dalembert, Brand. The Sixers will be one of the best blocking teams in the NBA, hence improving a transition game that stunned the league for 40 wins.

The "shooting" problem has not been evidenced by the Sixers. Iguodala has shown a very good performance and so has Thaddeus Young. And Marshall and Rush provide the occasional 3 ball.

This team is very good, very deadly. And yes, it's alot more consistent then the Orlando Magic who live and die on DH12 and the 3ball.
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#19 » by L&H_05 » Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:00 am

Michael Phelps wrote:
L&H_05 wrote:Well, I do see the Cavs as being one of the 4 teams left when all is said and one...

Philly is too high, way too high IMO... That team has proved absolutely nothing.. In fact, they're doing a disservice to Orlando by placing the 76ers above them... I truly feel Philly will disappoint this year based on expectations...I still think they'll get into the playoffs, but more in line with the 6th or 7th seed as opposed to a top 4 seed...


Cleveland is behind the top 4 Western conference teams.
Well, if 4 West teams can play in the conference finals, that will make NBA history...

I look forward to seeing how that plays out...
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Re: ESPN: Power Rankings (Opening Night) 

Post#20 » by KobeFarmarEra » Tue Oct 28, 2008 5:14 am

This is power rankings. Not Cleveland gets a softball 1st round matchup against an injury plagued Washington team.

Cleveland is not a top 4 team in the league, thats jut a reality.

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