SpursQuake

Week 3 Exclusive Power Rankings. What do you think? Feedback Welcome.

1. Detroit Pistons – The Pistons are still the only team with one loss. It will be interesting to see how they respond in their next game.

2. Dallas Mavericks – Shelling of the Pistons and Spurs put them into serious talk about a title for the first time since Nash left. The Mavs seem to be on a roll despite inconsistent play from some positions. They are deep enough to overcome the erratic play.

3. San Antonio Spurs – Are already rounding into championship form again, barring injury, it’s hard to see another Western Conference team make the finals.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Winning is now coming with regularity for this once lowly franchise. This team is challenging all preseason assertions that the elite teams in
the East ended after Miami, Detroit and Indy.

5. L.A. Clippers – The sum of the team is finally equal to its parts. The Clipps are getting solid contributions from the bench. When Livingston comes back from his back injury, this team will only become better.

6. Indiana Pacers – Hard to rank them this high, but their record dictates it. It seems that Reggie is missed more than anyone would have guessed. Can Rick Carlisle get them all on the same page like they were pre-brawl? This team is still tattooed with the effects of November 2004.

7. Philadelphia 76ers – C-Webb may just prove to be the lethal 2 punch the Sixers have been searching for since Jerry Stackhouse. Webber appears to be almost, if not totally, back from his injury. This team has stars and depth; it appears that they have finally added maturity by not panicking after the 0-3 start.

8. Memphis Grizzlies – Gasol is a total beast this year. Typical Grizzlies, team effort and a deep rotation make the Grizzlies hard to stop on any given night.

9. Milwaukee Bucks – This team is loaded with talent. The solid starting rotation is backed by a decent bench. Bucks have lost a few in the last week, but I don’t think it will be a trend.

10. Golden State Warriors – Warriors season all hinges on injuries. If there is any such thing as bad luck, the Warriors always seem to get it. Hopefully this is the year they make it back to the post season, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.

11. Denver Nuggets – Injury ridden team will have a hard time making any noise come playoff time…..if they even make the playoffs at all. Marcus Camby is playing the best ball of his career to keep the Nuggs in it, but can he do this all year?

12. Miami Heat – Shaq’s absence should not have the Heat reeling like this. Zo has taken up the rebounding and shot blocking slack and most of the scoring absence. The Heat are a better team than what their record has indicated so far, but if they want home court they need to get it in gear.

13. Minnesota Timberwolves – Bye bye KG? If Garnett is dealt, the Wolves need to really do something with the new cap space in the off season. My money is on KG staying in Minny.

14. Phoenix Suns – Barbosa was really pouring in the points…..until he was injured. Marion and Nash need to get this team to the playoffs in the hope Amare will be back and healthy enough to help them do something.

15. New Jersey Nets – Lack of depth is what hurts. This team is going nowhere fast without a trade for some bench players.

16. Washington Wizards – If only they could keep some of the points from blow out wins for other nights. Inconsistent play will have to be remedied for the Wizz to turn around a long losing trend.

17. Seattle Supersonics – Team has kind of turned it around since the shaky start. They need to sort out the front court if they want to compete night in and night out. Players’ complaining about floor time is nothing new to the NBA, neither are losing seasons.

18. Chicago Bulls – Chandler got the money and proceeded to do nothing more to earn it. Think the Bulls wish they had kept Eddy instead?

19. Boston Celtics – Play teams tough but there still isn’t enough firepower around PP to win.

20. Sacramento Kings – So close in so many games this year. It’s time for some new offensive set in Sac town.

21. New Orleans Hornets – Chris Paul will get the ROY award if he keeps this up. Unbelievable that Desmond Mason doesn’t play much.

22. L.A. Lakers – Kobe is a great player, it’s to bad the NBA isn’t one on one ball.

23. Utah Jazz – I’ve said it before, injuries are killing the Jazz’s season. This is a good team with everyone healthy. It’s a sad day when your best front court players are Mehmet Okur and Greg Ostertag.

24. Orlando Magic – At least Dwight Howard should get some help from their high draft position this summer.

25. Portland Trailblazers – You get the sense that Portland’s rebuilding won’t work. Not because the young pieces aren’t there, but because the vets on the team are working against them.

26. New York Knicks – Marbury and Brown on the same team? Brilliant! This should entertain all season.

27. Houston Rockets – My biggest disappointment of the year. Houston should have enough depth to win a few with Tmac out. McGrady’s back is the litmus test for this team every game.

28. Charlotte Bobcats – This team may lose a lot of games, but they play hard every night. Young talent makes this team one of the more promising of the next few years.

29. Toronto Raptors – They should thank their lucky stars everyone will focus on Atlanta being the only winless team so far.

30. Atlanta Hawks – Hmm, take a team and have five swingmen in Johnson, Childress, Smith, Williams and Harrington. No real point guard and Pachulia as your best front court option it’s going to get ugly. Hawks need a trade for a point guard in a big way.

This Weeks Exclusive Power Rankings are in. Take a look.

1. Detroit Pistons – The Detroit Pistons are kicking butt and taking names. Scary that this offense was likely here the whole time. Guess sometimes it doesn’t pay to play, “the right way.”

2. San Antonio – Last week I said Duncan had lost a step from previous years. I stand corrected. Team is rolling and newly acquired Michael Finley hasn’t even been the factor you know he can be.

3. LA Clippers – So far the shocker of the year. Sam Cassell has brought a sense of confidence to the perennially lowly Clipps. If this can be maintained remains to be seen.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Lebron finally has some help in the mistake by the lake. Barring injury, the Cavs should challenge for the fourth seed in the playoffs.

5. Milwaukee Bucks – The comeback from TJ Ford had been great, but Mo Williams play has been under the radar so far. The Bucks often feature a 3 guard attack that can score in bunches. The front court is legit as well with 4 solid big men clogging the paint.

6. Indiana Pacers – The two losses so far have basically been a result of this team’s greatest weakness, weak mental play. The little things always seem to cost the Pacers when the game is on the line.

7. Dallas Mavericks – Winning record on the road and unbeaten at home so far. This Mavs team is one of the deepest teams in NBA history. Their bench features 4 or 5 players that would start on most other teams.

8. Washington Wizards – Gilbert Arenas is the spark plug in this scoring machine. If the Wizards can keep scoring like this playoffs are a given.

9. Golden State Warriors – While Dunleavy has been a real disappointment so far, the rest of the Warriors have stepped up a notch. Baron Davis appears to be healthy and motivated. As long as injury history, which has never been kind to the Warriors, doesn’t repeat itself, GS should make a May run.

10. Philadelphia 76ers – After a horrible start Philly is showing some real fortitude. And this without starting center Samuel Dalembert. The real story behind Philly is C-Webb and AI coexisting. You get the sense that for the first time since the 2001 finals run, AI trusts his teammates.

11. Memphis Grizzlies – Pau Gasol is showing he really is a top 5 power forward. The Grizzlies are getting it done as usual, a lot of team work and sharing the ball. Eddie Jones has integrated well and looks like the player he was a few years ago.

12. Miami Heat – Are showing that Shaq isn’t required for this to be a winning team, however he is required for them to be a great team. Mourning is doing a nice job in his absence, but he doesn’t alter the game like Shaq does.

13. Chicago Bulls – Everywhere you look on this team you see good players, but no great ones…...yet. The Bulls are in the toughest division in the NBA and will have to really fight to stay in the race.


14. New Jersey Nets – Carter, Kidd and Jefferson are all having a good year but this team still lacks depth. If two of the stars are having off nights at the same time they will have a hard time winning.

15. Phoenix Suns – Nash and company have lost some real heartbreakers. Games they would not have lost with a healthy Amare. Suns just need to keep the ship afloat until he returns. Players like Jones, Barbosa and Diaw have made strides in their personal development as players this year. It can only help for the Suns to have some depth.


16. Utah Jazz – AK’s injury doesn’t bode well for the Jazz. Okur needs to be more consistent in AK and Boozer’s absences. He has followed high powered games with some very lackluster performances.


17. Boston Celtics – Sophomores and rookies are playing well. Paul Pierce, is well, Paul Pierce. The real surprise thus far has been Ricky Davis. Is this really the same guy that missed a shot on purpose to get a triple double? So far his unselfish and smart play has really helped take some of the load off Pierce.


18. Orlando Magic – The Magic get the nod here because of the way they’ve turned around their season and won on the road. After a horrendous opening, they’ve managed to somewhat right the ship. Dwight Howard needs to be the number one offensive option with Francis penetrating and dishing. Grant Hill can’t get back soon enough for this offensively starved team.


19. Houston Rockets – Yao is 7’6” tall. How on earth can he have games with less than 5 rebounds? Until he shows some aggression on the glass, the Rockets will struggle.

20. LA Lakers – Note to Kobe, the next time Andre Iguodola guards you, pass the ball instead of jacking up bad shots all night. Kobe’s biggest weakness is his stubborn refusal to share the ball when he feels personally challenged by a team. Kobe can score, board and dish, but until he trusts his team to do their jobs, Phil can kiss any title hopes goodbye.


21. Minnesota Timberwolves - The Wolves biggest problem is that KG can’t play all 48 minutes for 82 games. There are only role players on this team after KG goes to the bench. A trade for some offense would be a good start.


22. Denver Nuggets – Nene’s absence and Martin’s knee indicates that this team will get ripped apart by some of the front court heavy teams. Miller, Anthony and Camby all need to have stellar years for the Nuggs to make the playoffs. George Karl is a coach that gets the best out of players, if anyone can take this injury ridden team to the playoffs, it’s him.


23. Charlotte Bobcats – This is probably too high for them, but gritty play and depth has made the Bobcats one of the better bottom dwellers, if such a contradiction exists. Sean May is starting to show why he was drafted when the Cats already had a power forward in Okafor. May isn’t a better player than Okafor, but he is the second best big man on the team.


24. Sacramento Kings – The Kings are finally starting to gel, recent additions Wells and Reef have done well so far. The Kings may need a new offensive system though. Brad Miller is a good passing big man, but he is not Vlade or C-Webb when it comes to dishing the ball. Almost every trip down the floor, Miller stops at the top of the key and gets the ball from Bibby. Too predictable.


25. Seattle Sonics – New laid back style has not been kind to the Sonics. The front court is a mess with too many chefs in the kitchen with none of them serving gourmet. The rotation may need to be shortened to allow some players a chance to find a groove.

26. Portland Trailblazers – This team is young, inexperienced and lacks shooters. Randolph and Miles will need to be patient if they want to see some positive signs by the end of the season.

27. New Orleans – Young, young and young. This team has some talent, but when PJ Brown is your most consistent threat, you’re in trouble.


28. New York Knicks – Larry finally has some wins. The question still remains as to whether or not Marbury can thrive under LB. Knicks fans can comfort themselves in the fact that they’re still in first place…..as far as payroll is concerned.

29. Atlanta Hawks - So close so many times. It’s a sign of a young team when they can’t close out games. On a side note, someone wake up Josh Childress and tell him the season has started.


30. Toronto Raptors – My Charlie Villanueva comment was apparently off the mark. He has had great games in the last week and along with Bosh and Graham show the youth movement has some potential down the road in Toronto.

Reflections From Opening Night

I’m calling it right here, right now. The Spurs new rival in the west is no longer the Lakers but the Nuggets. These teams already didn’t like each other and I’m sure tonight didn’t do anything to help mend things between them. The game was maybe one of the most physical I’ve seen on an opening night and lived up to the hype it was receiving from the networks. Also, is it just me or do “Nick the Quick” and Finley just look like they belong in a Spurs uniform? Sorry Dallas.

If tonight is any indication of how the Spurs’ season will go then we might as well plan the next ring ceremony and start looking for a good spot on the Riverwalk, because the title is ours. Finley and Parker played lights out in the fourth quarter and Timmy played like the two-time MVP that he is. Free throw shooting was still lacking, although it could be (and has been) worse than the 76% the Spurs put up. Defensively the Spurs came out slow (blame it on the ring ceremony or the players trying to figure out Brent Barry kissing David Stern) but were able to clamp down halfway through to the first quarter. But as all championship teams do, the Spurs showed heart and determination and were able to overcome a very emotionally charged Denver team that came out firing with their best shots.

As for individual performances, it was pretty obvious that Ginobili’s thigh was bothering him, even while turning in a 10 point 4 board performance in limited minutes. Duncan (as always) had a MVP type performance with 19 points, 10 boards, 6 assists, and 4 blocks. Finley cemented himself as the Spurs sixth man after going off for 11 clutch points in the fourth quarter. Then there was Parker. I love Parker just as much as the next Spurs fan but just like the next Spurs fan I know how inconsistent he can be. Tonight he was all over the floor, letting everyone know that his knee is just fine. Parker led the team in scoring with 26 points but only had 3 assists. Parker was clutch tonight and even though his jumper looked off in the first half of the game, it looked spot on in the fourth quarter. If he can stay consistent he’ll be a lock to make his first all-star game this year. But as always with Parker that’s a big IF.

It made me happy to see the Spurs getting their rings to start the game, and the ceremony was pretty good up until the end when they had the banner on that unbelievably cheesy blinking light thing. Other than that, it was a good final touch for last season and a good way to start this one.

I’m really looking forward to this season, but I’ve got a feeling that until the new guys get a little more comfortable in the Spurs system, the Spurs may stumble just a little here in the first part of the season. But barring any injuries to Duncan look for the Spurs to pick it up and really start rolling around late Dec./early Jan.