Pre-season Power Rankings

[Bobcats GM]

TOP 10

#1 : PHOENIX SUNS
The Kings might be the defending champions but getting rid of Artest and Dirk I think has weaken the team a little bit, but anyways the Phoenix Suns. They had the best record last year and improved in the draft picking up PF D.J. White early on in the draft. They still got Amare, Marion, Nash, Barbosa, Diaw and others. Best team in the league still in my eyes.

#2 : SACRAMENTO KINGS
The Kings will end up here for now. Artest and Dirk were stars last year that got to them to the finals and the Kings first ever NBA Championship, but both of them are gone. In enters Carmelo Anthony a young stud, and an aging Kenyon Martin. The team just doesn't seem to be as strong as it was but someone needs to knock them down. I don't expect the Kings to repeat this year we'll see how there young guys do.

#3 : HOUSTON ROCKETS
The Rockets got scoring galore on this team in my eyes. Yao and McGrady you know are a deadly 1-2 punch already. Add in Luther Head, Steve Francis, Chris Wilcox, Aaron Brooks and a couple others and this team is stacked. Real good defensive team, and a team who can put up as many points as anyone in the NBA. Watch out for this Rockets team if they click they could be holding up the Larry O'Brien trophy at seasons end.

#4 : CHARLOTTE BOBCATS
There are a lot of teams in the Eastern Conference all right there tightly packed. The Celtics, Bobcats, Hawks, and a couple others. We give the edge to the Bobcats with a lot of there young talent maturing but more importantly there good balance of inside and outside scoring threats, and some guys who can play very good defense as well. Young guard Derrick Rose is going to be very key for them this season so if Rose can have a great rookie campaign he should help this Bobcats squad get even better.

#5 : BOSTON CETLICS
Like we said the Celtics are right up there with the Bobcats and a couple other teams. KG, Allen, and Pierce all still there. Rajon Rondo is only getting better and he should become a top 15 PG in the league this season. I liked the signing of Kurt Thomas with Thomas and Big Baby Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins all at center to give them some great depth in the front court. Also, some help in the backcourt with Smush Parker and a draftee Sean Singletary. We'll see if age starts to show with these guys though.

#6 : SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs are still a great team. Duncan, Manu, and Parker. Always going to be a great defensive team under Pop. There getting older though not many younger guys on this team but when you have Tim Duncan you can go along way. Lots of people I think our writing off the Spurs this season but there going to work hard and they will be there in the end. There still t he same old Spurs, expect the same old results as well.

#7 : WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Got to like what the Wizards have done this off-season. Brad Miller and Ricky Davis were added to this squad via free agency. Also, big Kevin Love down in the post as well added in the draft. Lots of depth on this team to go around Arenas, Butler, and Jamison. If Davis and Miller, DeShawn Stevenson, and young Nick Young can step it up this can be one of the best scoring teams in the league in my eyes.

#8 : LOS ANGELES LAKERS
The Lakers got really better this off-season for sure. Larry Hughes was added to play some PG and SG to give Kobe some help. To go along with Bynum/Chandler/Odom/Walton/Crittenton. Very deep Lakers team. The Lakers haven't been this deep in a while and teams will see the results. Kobe can very well be the MVP of this team, he's going to be hungry because he knows this team has a chance to be great and go to the finals. Look for Kobe to have a monster year.

#9 : ATLANTA HAWKS
The Hawks were the biggest suprise team of last year. They were horrible early on but really turned it on at seasons end. There deep and young and all of there young guys have experience. Shelden Williams had a big season last year, Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, and the leader Joe Johnson all back and there ready to go. Acie Law IV played a really good PG last season and his development is key, if this team gets good PG play I can see this team making the Eastern Conference finals again.

#10 : NEW JERSEY NETS
The Nets quietly had probably the best off-season of any of the teams in the NBL. They made a nice trade and there team is looking really good. There solid veterans in Jermaine O'Neal, Vince Carter, and Richard Jefferson. Now add in Azubuike, Frye, Kristic, Ridnour and this team is extremely solid. Look out for this team Eastern Conference! Our sleeper team of the year right here. Don't be suprised to see these guys duking it out in the East finals or even NBL Finals.

JUST OUTSIDE THE TOP 10, SLEEPER TEAMS!
11. CHICAGO BULLS: These are still the Bulls but there not really great at anything. They drafted more front court help when they didn't need it, and no one is a great inside pressence. That is going to hurt them.

12. DENVER NUGGETS: The team on paper is super solid but im really scared about there age. Lots of guys on this team who might be taking a step back instead of forward. We'll see how they do, otherwise this team could be a top 5 team if they don't show there age.

13. NEW YORK KNICKS: The Knicks pretty much stole away one of the best young big men in the game in Dwight Howard. Him and Curry down low is going to be sick to watch. Expect these guys to have a big year ONLY if there forwards can play good ball.

14. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: The Cavs are pretty much the same team. They added Darrell Arthur but I'm not sure of how much of an impact he will make. LeBron is there but it's pretty much the same team that went out in a 1st round exit last season.

15. MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES: O.J. Mayo could be here to save the day. He gets added to a great team Gasol, Gay, Warrick, Miller, Conley Jr. Very solid young team here, if Mayo can come in and contribute like his talent shows they can go places. They also are a very good defensive team. Expect these guys to be battling for a playoff spot in the West!

If your not on this list, your team needs to step it up! Good luck to everyone this season.

[Swishand1]

A team with Allen Iverson, Dirk Nowtizki, Marcus Camby, JR smith and Ron Artest at 12th =0!!!

[Bobcats GM]

read the explanation =0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nets]

I agree with the analysis on the Nuggets. They are looking for a couple guys 33 and 34 (Camby and Iverson) to be a big part of the game and that is always a gamble since they can get hurt or just begin to decline.

I had that problem when Vince Carter went down last year, it ended my season due to a lack of depth.

I also see a lack of low post scoring. Artest and Iverson seem to be the best inside scorers and I am sure it is not due to post scoring so this team could be in trouble if their jump shot is off.

I kind of see them like the real life Mavericks. They could kill you with a lot of points. They have a couple of stoppers that can kill you with defense but if they get in a slower game against a Yao Ming or Tim Duncan then they could falter.

IMO - easily a playoff team but maybe not built for the playoffs.

On a final note, not many teams have a true inside presence which is why a team like the Knicks can sneak up on people as the league's weakness is their strenght with two post players in Curry and Howard.

[nets]

I am also not sure that I agree with the Suns being the best team.

Steven Nash is huge on that team as they have no other true point guard. With Nash being 35, this is another team that may go the way one super star goes.

PS

I don't see Barbaso is a replacement to Steve. In 36 minutes last year he averaged under 3 assists. This guy looks to be the SG replacement in a year or two.

[gvlakers]

I hope to prove you wrong that I will be the 5th best team in the West.... if so then I consider this offseason a failure

[Bobcats GM]

TY Nets

Barbosa yeah but if he gets some ATC help on passing that will cure that.

Dont sleep on those Nets either guys

[Sonics GM]

there 5-1 right now. not a bad start

[Swishand1]

nets said:

I agree with the analysis on the Nuggets. They are looking for a couple guys 33 and 34 (Camby and Iverson) to be a big part of the game and that is always a gamble since they can get hurt or just begin to decline.

I had that problem when Vince Carter went down last year, it ended my season due to a lack of depth.

I also see a lack of low post scoring. Artest and Iverson seem to be the best inside scorers and I am sure it is not due to post scoring so this team could be in trouble if their jump shot is off.

I kind of see them like the real life Mavericks. They could kill you with a lot of points. They have a couple of stoppers that can kill you with defense but if they get in a slower game against a Yao Ming or Tim Duncan then they could falter.

IMO - easily a playoff team but maybe not built for the playoffs.

On a final note, not many teams have a true inside presence which is why a team like the Knicks can sneak up on people as the league's weakness is their strenght with two post players in Curry and Howard.

no team is perfect but the nuggets have one of the best def and scoring averages thus their very good record

[Bobcats GM]

yeah they have suprised me, i thought they'd decline a little but they've done well.