NBA POWER RANKINGS TODAY - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

CarlosGallan · #1 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 05:37 AM

NBA power rankings: Celtics no surprise as preseason No. 1

It's never too early to assess the state of the NBA. USA TODAY's Chris Colston takes a first look at where all 30 teams stack up in our preseason NBA power rankings.
Have a question or comment? Leave a note here or check out Colston's personal profile page.

#Team

1

Boston Celtics The NBA champs deserve the inaugural top spot. But they'll miss good luck charm James Posey.

2

Los Angeles Lakers They should be better with a healthy Andrew Bynum, but can Odom defend at small forward?

3

New Orleans Hornets Adding Posey helps. But the loss of Jannero Pargo to Moscow will hurt.

4

San Antonio Spurs When healthy, the Spurs are as good as anybody.

5

Portland Trail Blazers Already-solid team adds Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless.

6

Detroit Pistons Stuckey and Maxiell should become bigger part of the rotation.

7

Philadelphia 76ers Elton Brand gives this hustling team a dimension it previously lacked.

8

Houston Rockets Might be higher if not for Alston's off-field trouble, Artest's volatility and Yao's injury woes.

9

Cleveland Cavaliers Mo Williams gives LeBron some offensive help.

10

Orlando Magic Howard's still improving and Pietrus will help, but bench still needs work.

11

Dallas Mavericks Window is closing for NowitzKidd.

12

Utah Jazz How much more can Deron Williams improve?

13

Phoenix Suns All of a sudden, the Suns seem Methuselahesque.

14

Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler must prove they can stay healthy for a full year.

15

Toronto Raptors Impressive Olympian Bosh now has frontcourt sidekick in Jermaine O'Neal.

16

Golden State Warriors It will be interesting to see how they play without Baron.

17

Miami Heat Dwyane Wade is definitely back, and has help in Beasley and Marion.

18

Milwaukee Bucks Redd, Jefferson and Bogut have Bucks thinking playoffs.

19

Los Angeles Clippers Baron Davis and Marcus Camby are talented but have history of injuries.

20

Denver Nuggets The defense was already bad, then they gave away their best defender, Camby.

21

Atlanta Hawks A lot depends on Josh Smith's mindset. Childress loss will hurt.

22

Minnesota Timberwolves With Miller, Foye, Jefferson, Love, Wolves could make a move.

23

Charlotte Bobcats Not as good as they seem on paper.

24

Memphis Grizzlies Mayo-Gay (Gayo?) combo could be fun to watch.

25

Chicago Bulls At least Bulls fans have Michael Jordan memories.

26

Sacramento Kings At least they have Beno Udrih.

27

Indiana Pacers At least they rid themselves of the O'Neal headache.

28

Oklahoma City SuperSonics new nickname: SuperBads?

29

New Jersey Nets Already dreaming of LeBron.

30

New York Knicks What has Mike D'Antoni gotten himself into?

All pre-seasons we have dowgraded by analist,this year we have a move until 15 february to improve,but sixt position is decent for our veteran team and the improve of our rivals.
Cleveland and Sixers,we are in the same east level year with them.

Latinoking90 · #2 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 08:14 AM

Pistons > Trailblazers

Oden is still unproven. Bayless might be a beast, but still unknown.

Nemo · #3 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 09:23 AM

gotta feel sorry for da Bulls

TaShawn · #4 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 12:01 PM

Why do they only mention 2 of our bench players as justification for our ranking when we will only go as far as our starters take us?

ggazoo69 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaShawn

Why do they only mention 2 of our bench players as justification for our ranking when we will only go as far as our starters take us?

Maybe the guy is into brevity.

TaShawn · #6 (**permalink**) 08-19-2008, 01:06 PM

Philly will be interesting this year. Brand will give that hustling team a dimension that it previously lacked.

Also, O'Neal and Bosh together in Toronto? That could be sweet.

RipBillupsRJC · #7 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 10:46 PM

1. LAL
2. NOH
3. BOS
4. HOU
5. DET
6. SAS
7. CLE
8. PHI
9. UTA
10. ORL
11. DAL
12. TOR
13. PHX
14. WAS
15. ATL
16. LAC
17 - 30. Irrelevant

BillLaimbeer · #8 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaShawn

Philly will be interesting this year. Brand will give that hustling team a dimension that it previously lacked.

For Philly, signing Ratliff is the final piece (kind of like Boston adding KG last summer).

The Palace Artest · #9 (**permalink**) 08-21-2008, 11:42 PM

They still need at least one guy on the floor that can shoot consistently (they have the exact opposite problem that we do). They had Carney but he's gone too.

Honest to God, I think by the time its all said and done, they can be better than us if our FO remains content. Factor in that they has Mo Cheeks at the helm.

coynejeremy · #10 (**permalink**) 08-22-2008, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Palace Artest

They still need at least one guy on the floor that can shoot consistently (they have the exact opposite problem that we do). They had Carney but he's gone too.

Honest to God, I think by the time its all said and done, they can be better than us if our FO remains content. Factor in that they has Mo Cheeks at the helm.

Mo Cheeks is a punching bag when the team is playing poorly. You only say that because they finished the season strong.