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2006 NBA Mock Draft

1.Toronto Raptors – Andrea Bargnani(Italy) 7-0 225lbs SF/PF

Bargnani has shown the ability to rebound against good competition in Europe and has gotten a lot of time at a young age, which doesn't always happen for such a young prospect. Bargnani needs to gain weight and strength. His low-post game is pretty underdeveloped and he avoids contact. On the offensive side he prefers going one-on-one and can score in many ways: shooting from outside, finishing a fast-break or on low-post moves. He's even adept at beating his defender off the dribble due to his great ball-handling skills including dribbling through his legs and behind the back. He runs the court very well with good speed and quickness despite his size. The circumstantial evidence that GM Bryan Colangelo might select Bargnani is strong: He has (a) heavily scouted Bargnani the past two years, (cool.gif been one of his Bargnani's biggest fans for a while, © shown when at Phoenix that he is very open to international players and (d) been in the process of wooing Bargnani's boss, Benetton GM Maurizio Gherardini, to the Raptors.

2.Chicago Bulls- Tyrus Thomas(LSU) 6-9 229lbs PF

Thomas is a "freak" athlete. He has great hops, is extremely long and is one of the quickest jumpers in the college game. He is a high-flyer and incredibly explosive around the rim. In college, if the ball was thrown anywhere up near the rim, he got it. Plays with great intensity, has an edge to him. Feathery touch out to 12-15 feet, and good handles for a big man because he was a point guard till he had a growth sprut. He is weak physically and needs to gain more strength for the NBA game. He is not only a shot-blocker but he is a shot-changer. You have to know where he is at all times. He is very active defensively and is very dangerous as a weak-side help man coming to block the shot. He is solid defensively, works at it and looks like he has been well-schooled. Great upside he will go in the top 1-3 picks in the draft.

3.Charlotte Bobcats- LaMarcus Aldridge(Texas) 6-10 240lbs PF

Aldridge has a tremendous upside because of his great length, excellent reach and athleticism. He runs the floor every time in transition, both on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. He is very active on missed shots; and he goes to the glass. He's a little weak in his upper body and hands going for rebounds. Will improve with added strength. Big-time shot-blocker, very active defensively. Appears to have quick enough feet, to be able to make rotations in defensive assignments. Must develop a killer instinct, more intensity. Clearly Aldridge needs to get stronger, but scouts believe that the rest of the package is there. Scouts are still debating whether Aldridge or LSU's Tyrus Thomas is the best power forward in the draft.

4.Portland Trailblazers- Adam Morrison(Gonzaga) 6-8 205lbs SF

Old school right down to the stripes on the socks, incredibly competitive. Morrison is a pure scorer who can put points on the board in a lot of different ways. He is excellent at attacking the basket one-on-one with his length and is fearless finishing around the rim. He is very good at digging the baseline going left and rising up for the jumper. He has a very high release point on his jumper and never has a problem getting it off. He loves to use the spin move to go to his jumper when he gets deep in the paint. He is very cagey and will use head fakes and pump fakes to get his defender off the floor and draw fouls. Defense will be the real question for Morrison in the NBA. He must improve his feet and lateral quickness to guard at his position. He understands how to guard his man in college -- how much space to give depending on his speed and has good length to use defending. However, in the NBA he will be facing tremendous scorers at the wing position, and he must be able to guard them on the perimeter. He could go as high as Charlotte at No. 3 or Portland at No. 4. If he doesn't get picked there, there's a possibility he slides all the way to Houston at No. 8 or Seattle at No. 10.

5.Atlanta Hawks- Patrick O’Bryant(Bradley) 7-0 250lbs C/PF

Classic late bloomer, still getting used to his body and learning what he's capable of. Big-time rebounder and shot blocker who projects as a true center in the pros. Long arms (7-foot-5 wingspan) and a good frame combined with solid athleticism have scouts intrigued. Very mobile for a big guy. Improving offensive player who has shown some decent post moves. Scouts wonder a little about his toughness and his commitment to the game. O'Bryant is a project who is still developing and may be two years away from being a real contributor in the NBA. In a draft supposedly devoid of centers, i cant see to many teams passing on O'Bryant, espically when the top five teams could all use help upfront.

6.Minnesota Timberwolves- Rudy Gay(UConn) 6-9 222lbs SF

He does just about everything well, has all the tools but he's still has a long way to go before he figures out how to use them. Rudy is a top notch athlete, good defender, slasher, nice mid-range game but at times seems to lose focus. Scouts had Rudy Gay at the top of their boards all season but a poor ncaa tournment has hurt his stock. The wolves get a steal here because Gay is probally top 2 on talent. KG will find a way to light a fire under him to play at a high level all the time, not just flashes of greatness. Could go as high at the Bobcats at No. 3. Probably won't slip past the Timberwolves at No. 6.

7.Boston Celtics- Brandon Roy(Washington) 6-5 195lbs SG/PG

Roy may have been the most complete player in college basketball last season. He has great height, length and athleticism for the guard position. He did not play the point for Washington, but that may be his best position at the next level. Roy has excellent quickness, and is wiry strong. A bit of a tweener, he's more comfortable playing a point forward position. He lacks the jaw-dropping athleticism or the flair for the dramatic that some of the other top prospects possess. But is there a more complete guard in the draft? His NBA readiness will boost his stock too. He could go as high as Portland at No. 4 or the Hawks at No. 5.

8.Houston Rockets- Randy Foye(Villanova) 6-4 205lbs PG/SG

Has persevered through a rough upbringing (losing both parents young) and shows great hunger and toughness because of it. Foye is aggressive, gritty and very athletic -- a nice combination in any guard. He's a warrior with great competitive instincts. His shot has improved dramatically over his four years at Villanova and he possesses enough ball-handling skills to play point guard at least part time in the pros. To top it off, he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the country. Some consider him more of a combo than a true point guard, isn't a natural at setting the table and running the show as a point guard but has shown improvement in that area. He could go as high as Atlanta at No. 5, the Timberwovles at No. 6 but wont slip past the Warriors at No. 9.

9.Golden St. Warriors- Rodney Carney(Memphis) 6-7 205lbs SF

Carney, one of the most athletic players in the draft, is a human highlight film. With his length, size and athletic ability, he can score in many different ways. He has good size for his position and good one-on-one ability to raise up on his defender and get his shot off against almost anyone. Needs to add strength, put time in the weight room and bulk up some, can be prone to taking bad shots at times. Some team will fall in love with his combination of athleticism and shooting ability in individual workouts, but the tale of the tape is going to be overcome. He could go as high as Houston at No. 8, Orlando at No. 11 or could slip to New Orleans at No. 15.

10.Seattle Supersonics- Shelden Williams(Duke) 6-9 250lbs PF

Burly power forward with a no nonsense approach, hard worker who has developed a reputation as a great kid. One of the best rebounders and shot blockers in college basketball. A beast in the paint. A solid scorer with his back to the basket. Great strength and, despite his bulk, is actually pretty explosive. Has improved his perimeter shooting and can hit a jumper from 10 feet out. Scouts wish Williams was another inch or two taller. Not a great athlete, especially laterally. Scouts don't see him as having much upside. Could go as high as Houston at No. 8, Seattle at No. 10 or could slip to Indiana at No. 17.

11.Orlando Magic- Ronnie Brewer(Arkansas) 6-7 220lbs SG

A childhood water slide accident left him with a small bone protruding from his triceps area which has created an abnormal shooting form. Brewer is long, athletic and a very versatile wing player. One or the most explosive players in college, Brewer has the ability to take over games with his athleticism and a motor that never stops. He can handle the basketball and be a secondary ball-handler if needed. He is a good passer, which allowed him to play a lot of point guard last season. Compares favorably with Andre Iguodala with his high energy level. Brewer can get after people on defense. He tries to control the game on both ends of the floor, which you don't see in a lot of college players these days. That said, he has confidence in his shot and at times can make them. Brewer needs a lot of work in this area at the next level. Could go as high as Houston at No. 8, Seattle at No. 10 or Orlando at No. 11.

12.NO/OK City Hornets- Cedric Simmons(NC State) 6-10 235lbs PF/C

Simmons is a tall, wiry, athletic big man who has excellent length and can run the floor. A big-time athlete with a body that's beginning to fill out. Unbelievable shot blocker. Explosive leaper. Excellent rebounder. Long arms (has a 7-foot-4 wingspan) give him a chance to be a center in the pros. Has put on quite a bit of muscle. Shows a lot of toughness in the paint, especially on the defensive end. Great in the open court. Still developing offensively, lacks any real go-to moves. No real shooting touch to speak of. Gets most of his points via dunks. Could go as high as New Orleans at No. 12, Philadelphia at No. 13 or as low as Indiana at No. 18.

13.Philadelphia 76ers- Marcus Williams(UConn) 6-3 205lbs PG

A pure point guard with good size and good strength for the position. Doesn't have blazing speed and quickness but has the uncanny ability to break people down off the dribble, creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. One of the main things Williams needs to work on is his turnovers, oftentimes he turns the ball over after drive in the lane while trying to feed teammates. A below average NBA athlete. Has struggled to keep off the weight over the years. Defensively he'll struggle with his lateral quickness. Questions about his work ethic follow his conditioning concerns. Off-the-court questions haunt him. Does he have too much baggage? Could go as high as Atlanta at No. 5 or Houston at No. 8. Could slip to Philadelphia at No. 13.

14.Utah Jazz- J.J Redick(Duke) 6-4 190lbs SG

One of the two or three best pure shooters in the country. His shooting mechanics are flawless, and he possesses very deep range on his jumper. Doesn't have great size or athleticism for the 2 at the next level, doesn't possess the ball handling or passing skills to run the point. Combine that with a lack of of lateral quickness, and scouts aren't sure exactly how his game will translate at the next level. Even though Redick seems to have diversified his game greatly this season, scouts seriously wonder if he'll be able to get to the rim and create his own shot off the dribble at the next level. He could go as high as Houston at No. 8, Orlando at No. 11, Utah at No. 14, or Indiana at No. 17.

15.NO/OK City Hornets- Shawne Williams(Memphis) 6-9 225lbs SF

Two words come to mind when people watch Williams: Upside and potential. Early in the season, he was considered one of the nation's top perimeter talents. He slumped later in the season, and that cooled off his stock considerably. Has tremendous versatility, at 6-9 Shawne can play from the 1-thru-4 positions. Will need to develop better defensive technique, more intensity, must add strength and conditioning. Williams' bad shot selection, questionable work ethic and the tendency to disappear for huge stretches have hurt his draft stock this season. He is a long-armed small forward with NBA 3-point range. He can spot up or come off screens and knock down shots with the best of them. Williams is a very athletic player who one day could be a very potent offensive basketball player. He has drawn comparisons to Walt Williams and Steve Smith. He could go as high as Orlando at No. 11 or slip to the Knicks at No. 20.

16.Chicago Bulls- Mardy Collins(Temple) 6-6 205lbs SG/PG

At 6-6 he's got the ability to run the show from the point guard position, doesn't try to be too flashy or make spectacular plays, keeps it simple and effective. He struggles shooting the ball from everywhere on the floor. He has trouble defensively against small, quick point guards. Isn't a great NBA athlete. Good defender coming out of the Temple system which emphasizes defense, great at anticipating passes, ball hawking style. Could still go as high as Chicago at No. 16, but could slide all the way to Cavs at No. 25 or the Lakers at No. 26.

17.Indiana Pacers- Tiago Splitter(Brazil) 7-0 240lbs PF

Splitter's got an NBA body, though he still needs to make it stronger. Most scouts agree that his defense is ahead of his offense right now. He's an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. He has excellent mobility and great foot work for a player his size. He already has more international experience than Nene and Anderson combined. What position does he play? Probably power forward, but he needs to improve his inside scoring if that's the case. A little more strength is needed for him to make the transition to the center. Splitter is one of the best big men in the draft but serious questions about whether an NBA team will be able to buy him out of his contract with TAU (there's currently no NBA buyout provision in his contract) has hurt his stock. Could go as high as No. 7 to the Celtics. Likely to withdraw from the draft before the June 17th deadline.

18.Washington Wizards- Hilton Armstrong(Uconn) 6-11 235lbs C/PF

Not very polished on the offensive end, partly due to the fact that he only averaged 10, 10 and 12 minutes per game his first three years. He's long and athletic. Armstrong is an explosive leaper with excellent shot-blocking timing. He hustles up and down the floor and plays with a lot of enthusiasm. Good rebounder. Below average court awareness, gets caught making mistakes in defensive switch-offs, lacks the killer edge, consistency. Can he stay focused enough to play this hard every night? Could go as high as the Jazz at No. 14 or could slip to the Suns at No. 21.

19.Sacramento Kings- Guillermo Diaz(Miami) 6-3 190lbs SG/PG

A converted volleyball player with phenomenal athleticism, rumored to have a 50-inch vertical jump. What position does he play? Size-wise, he's a point guard, but scouts aren't convinced he has the skills to play the point full time in the pros. He's raw. Doesn't have the basketball experience of most prospects. He still plays out of control and tries to do too much. Very competitive player, smart player, tough mentally, doesn’t get rattled easily. Diaz is a very explosive scorer, both on deep shots and off the dribble. He is a tough guy to cover. With his strong body and athleticism, he might be able to be a post-up point guard, as well. Could go as high as the Kings at No. 19 or the Lakers at No. 26.

20.New York Knicks- Shannon Brown(Mich. St) 6-3 190lbs SG/PG

He is built like a tank, plays good defense and is a phenomenal athlete. Very quick, true highlight-film waiting to happen on the fastbreaks, he is just as likely to rise up and dunk on the defense in a half-court setting. Huge hands. Strong. His ball handling has improved. At times becomes lax on the defensive end when he is not totally entrapped in the game. Is he a great athlete or a basketball player? Could go as high as Indiana at No. 17, Sacramento at No. 19 or as low as the Lakers at No. 26.

21.Phoenix Suns- Mouhamed Saer Sene(Senegal) 7-0 232lbs C

An absolutely jaw dropping physical specimen with his combination of size, length, strength, athleticism and mobility. Big time athelte with a freakish 7-foot-8 wingspan. Aggressive defender who can dominate on the boards and by blocking shots. Good agility. Great in the open floor. Only began playing basketball in 2003 so he's still learning the game. Still very raw offensively. Most of his points come from dunks and offensive rebounds. Whatever team drafts him must put a lot of time into his development. He could make great use of the NBDL for the first year. With the lack of quality big men in this draft, Sene could be the beneficiary. He has a big upside, and if he gets with the right team and gets the correct tutelage he could have a nice career. Could go as high as Utah at No. 14 or Phoenix at No. 21.

22.New Jersey Nets- Rajon Rondo(Kentucky) 6-2 171lbs PG

Rondo has wonderful tools. A lightning quick point guard with the ability to penetrate seemingliy at will. Rondo was at one point considered one of the top five prospects in the draft. But after a very cool stretch which included losing his starting job and bouts of inconsistent shooting, Rondo's stock has taken a little bit of a hit. Rondo has a fatal flaw that really hurts his draft stock. Rondo can't shoot. Has passing skills, but has been unable to show them in Kentucky thanks in part to the lack of talent in the supporting cast. Rondo's draft stock is still pretty volatile. He may have the widest range of anyone in the draft. Look at him to go as high as Atlanta at No. 5 or Boston at No. 7. If he doesn't go there, could slip down all the way to the Suns at No. 21 or the Nets at No. 22.

23.New Jersey Nets- Alexander Johnson(Florida State) 6-9 230lbs PF

An excellent athlete who improved upon his mobility in the past year by shedding 20 plus pounds. He's got the body, toughness, skills and athleticism to be an excellent NBA four. Scouts say Johnson possesses a 40-inch vertical which is pretty amazing for a big guy. Older than the average junior at 23 years of age. Scouts question his size (he stands about 6-foot-9 in shoes) in part because he possesses just an average wingspan. But his explosiveness off the floor makes up for some of that. Other scouts wonder if he'll continue to keep himself in shape after making the NBA. His weight loss dramatically improved his game. Can he keep it off? A sleeper. Could go as high as the Nets at No. 22, the Mavs at No. 28 or the Rockets at No. 32.

24.Memphis Grizzlies- Aaron Gray(Pittsburgh) 7-0 270lbs C

Gray is a legit 7-footer, and he has the girth (he weighs in at 270) to handle the middle full time. He's an excellent rebounder, especially on the offensive boards. Late bloomer who showed incredible improvement in his junior season. Struggles coordinating his feet on drives to the basket and in transition, lacks great touch and range on his shot. FG% far below where it needs to be for a center. He's not a very good athlete, and weight has been an issue in the past. Experience is also an issue. He's still on the first round bubble, but draft night size usually wins, so this may be a little high for Gray and the Grizzlies need a center.

25.Cleveland Cavaliers- Jordan Farmar(UCLA) 6-2 180lbs PG

Farmar led a talented UCLA team to the NCAA title game this spring. He is a floor general who has a very good understanding of the game. He has good size and basketball IQ, but he commits a lot of turnovers and can be very reckless with the basketball. Has a bag of tricks offensively with a nasty crossover and good ability to pull up for shots when open. Not a stellar perimeter shooter. He struggled from the college 3-point line, and NBA defenders will sag or double off him and go under most of his pick-and-rolls, making it even tougher for him to get into the lane. Still, given the lack of great point guards in the draft, he's solidly in the first round. He could go as high as No. 23 to the Nets, No. 25 to the Cavs or No. 26 to the Lakers.

26.L.A. Lakers- Kyle Lowry(Villanova) 6-0 185lbs PG

Lowry is built like an NFL defensive back, with huge shoulders, a thick chest and big calves. He's strong, physical and explosive. He's a blur on the floor and it's clear he's going to be a nightmare in the NBA on the defensive end. His heart and passion for the game put him on an elite level rarely seen in today's spoiled basketball players. His temper and his ability to keep his emotions in check could prevent him from being a heady floor leader if he allows his emotions to get the best of him. Could go as high as Philadelphia at No. 13 or could slip to New Jersey at No. 23 or Cleveland at No. 25, the Lakers would be doing backflips if he falls to them at 26.

27.Phoenix Suns- Marcus Vinicius(Brazil) 6-9 235lbs SF

Has all the fundaments of the game, can pass, dribble, play post-up, penetrate the boards and his ball-handling is very strong for a men of his size. His handle has improved to the point that he's currently playing point guard full time for his team in Brazil. In the past, scouts have been concerned about his lack of strength and some major defensive shortcomings. In previous seasons, his lack of strength affected his ability to play in the paint and finish around the basket. However, Vinicius has bulked to 235 over the past year. Several scouts, after seeing him in Brazil, are projecting him as a potential point forward in the pros. He's got the raw tools to be a legit prospect. He could go as high as the Nets at No. 21, the Nets at No. 23 or the Cavs at No. 25.

28.Dallas Mavericks- Thabo Sefolosha(Switzerland) 6-6 215lbs SG/SF

Sefolosha is a lean 6-foot-6 athletic swingman who excels in the open floor. He's an excellent ball handler and passer who has really improved his shot over the past season. Tends to use his athleticism to his advantage, maybe too much, which he wont be able to do against American players. He still needs to work on his shooting off the dribble and needs to continue to add strength, but add his name to a list of international players teams are intrigued by for the late first round. Tradition says a few teams late in the draft won't want a rookie on their roster and would prefer to develop their asset in Europe. Sefolosha is the type of player who will get a long look in that type of situation. Could go to a team like the Lakers at No. 26 or the Knicks at No. 29.

29.New York Knicks- Josh Boone(UConn) 6-10 237lbs PF/C

Not a superstar prospect, his upside is limited somewhat by his offensive shortcomings, needs to develop better offensive post moves. Boone has all the tools to be a great power forward in the pros. He runs the floor, blocks shots, rebounds on both ends of the floor, plays the game with great energy and is starting to figure out how to finish around the basket on the offensive end of the floor. Does Boone really like to play? Some at UConn wonder whether he has the drive, both on and off the court, to ever become a great player. May still be a first rounder because of his size, but his play hasn't warranted such a high selection. The Hot rumor is the Knicks made a promise to Boone that they would draft him in the first round if he were still on the board.

30.Portland Trailblazers- Olexsiy Pecherov(Ukraine) 6-11 222lbs PF/C

Pecherov is one of the more intriguing big men in this year's draft. He finally has seen a lot of time in with Paris Racing, his first-division team in France. He has a lot of ability and good length and frame for a kid 21 years old. In addition, he can run the floor well for a big man. Not the classic banger of a power forward, lacks a great back to the basket game. Very skilled big man who can play both inside and out. Decent athlete. Excellent shooter. Has the ability to put the ball on the floor though that seems to be somewhat diminished as he's filling out. Has developed into an excellent rebounder. He will be a work in progress and will take some time to develop, but most big men in this league develop late. He could turn out to be similar to Nenad Krstic of the New Jersey Nets. The Nets held the rights to Krstic for a couple of years while he developed his game while playing for Partizan of the Serbian league. Pecherov could go as high as the Bulls at No. 16 or as low as the Blazers at No. 30.

Week 8 Power Rankings

1. Detroit Pistons – 70 game talk only increases with each passing victory. This team may be even better than the 04 squad that won it all.
2. Dallas Mavericks – Best road team in the West and on a roll as of late. The scary part is Dallas still hasn’t had their whole lineup healthy.
3. San Antonio Spurs – With Manu back the Spurs will look to bounce back from some uninspired play. The lackluster performance as of late is most likely a combo of no Manu and the championship “flip the switch” mentality.
4. Memphis Grizzlies – Grizzlies defense allows them to hang with anyone, but their offense needs more consistency. It’s hard to argue with a game plan that only allows 86 points per game though.
5. Phoenix Suns – Steve Nash and crew lead the NBA in scoring….again. Nash is dishing the ball with help from playmaker Boris Diaw. The Suns seem to be getting better as the season goes along. When Amare and Barbosa come back, expect the offense to get even better.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers - Beat the teams they should, but they do not have a good record against the elite teams of the NBA that they would run into during the playoffs. They often have trouble finishing close games.
7. Miami Heat – Shaq and crew are finally living up to the preseason hype. They will be greatly tested against the Piston in Auburn Hills. A win against the Pistons would be a real boost to this team.
8. New Jersey Nets – Vinsanity is playing like the VC of old. He needs to for the Nets to have a shot at anything.
9. LA Clippers – The Clipps needs to find a way to not be the Clippers of the past and fall apart. Still LA’s best team, but not by much.
10. Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks are allowing two more points per game than they’re scoring, but they amazingly still have a great record. Milwaukee fans have to love what they’ve seen from the team so far. A core of talented young players should mean things are just getting started in beer city.
11. Indiana Pacers – The Ron Artest debacle will actually help the Pacers in the long run, assuming they get a little talent back in return. In reality, Ron has barely played the last year and a half.
12. Minnesota Timberwolves – Minny has quietly put together the second best defense in the NBA. With some real close heartbreakers, this team could easily have three more wins right now.
13. Philadelphia 76ers – Sixers are rolling as of late. AI and C-Webb are providing the production you expect from players of their caliber. If they can get consistency from Korver, Dalembert and others, they should be able to catch New Jersey down the stretch.
14. Golden State Warriors – Reality check, you need to play defense to win games in the NBA. Warriors couldn’t stop Stephan A Smith from dropping 20 on them.
15. LA Lakers – Lakers have been good as of late. Kobe is getting help from his team and the triangle is finally working. Phil Jackson is proving why he’s the Zen Master.
16. Denver Nuggets – Camby could be out for weeks with surgery to repair his finger. With Nene out and K-mart hobbling, the Nuggets will be EXTREMELY thin up front.
17. New Orleans Hornets – Great young core that never gives up. If the young guys on the bench can get a little better, Hornets have a shot at finishing close to .500, which is a quantum leap compared to last year.
18. Washington Wizards – Wizards score 100 and give up 100. The result? A team well below .500 and sinking fast. Little shot discipline and weak interior defense limit this team.
19. Utah Jazz – Easily the worst offense we’ve seen from a Sloan team. Think Sloan could talk Stockton into coming out of retirement?
20. Seattle Supersonics – Sonics are simply horrid on defense. Giving up 105 points per game is inexcusable.
21. Chicago Bulls – This team is in trouble as of late. Chicago has to improve their shot selection to turn their 5 game losing streak around.
22. Orlando Magic – Grant Hill is getting into game shape. This team is a center away from being the second best team in the Southeast Division. Of course that doesn’t mean they would be above .500.
23. Boston Celtics – Not enough talent on this team to compete. Paul Pierce and a bunch of role players doesn’t get it done.
24. Sacramento Kings – Injuries abound as the Rockets and Kings battle for the title of biggest underachiever. It’s all up to Bibby and Brad Miller for the next few weeks.
25. Houston Rockets – Like the Kings, the Rockets are not a bad team when completely healthy, which is almost never.
26. Portland Trailblazers. Zach Randolph is playing the best ball of his career, but there simply isn’t enough around him to get the job done.
27. Charlotte Bobcats – Bobcats seems to be missing a piece. I can’t really put my finger on it, maybe they’re solid at all the position, but that’s all. Not good, just solid.
28. Toronto Raptors – You have to like the way they don’t give up, even if you don’t like the way they play. It seems that teams that struggle tend to have too much of this or that. The Raps seem to have too many guys that like to shoot, Mo Pete, Rose, James, and not enough guys that want to do the rest.
29. Atlanta Hawks – Hawks need to trade 2-3 small forwards away and draft some 4 year college players. My guess as to the Hawks next draft pick? A 6’7” small forward out of high school.
30. New York Knicks – Worst team in the NBA. Eddy Curry and Frye are their best players and the only thing Zeke really has to build with.

Week 5 Exclusive Power Rankings

1. Detroit Pistons – The Pistons showed former coach Larry Brown how to play the right way in person.

2. San Antonio Spurs – Tim Duncan has now totally shot my week 2 theory that he’s lost a step. I apologize.

3. Memphis Grizzlies – Basketball purists have to love the way the Grizz are playing. Stingiest defense in the NBA.

4. Dallas Mavericks – Jerry Stackhouse will have to earn minutes in this rotation. Several players are stepping it up in Howard and Stack’s absence.

5. LA Clippers – Did you think the Clippers would be this good? Liar, no you didn’t.

6. Indiana Pacers – This team relies too much on talent and not enough on effort. That’s why lowly teams they underestimate can sometimes get by them.

7. Golden State Warriors – This team has all the offensive and defensive weapons needed to get to the playoffs. Easily the best Warriors team since it was Hardaway to Mullin.

8. Phoenix Suns – Suns are getting a huge lift from their center…..forward….shooting guard…..um…. player Boris Diaw. Leandro Barbosa should also be back from an ankle injury in the next week. This Suns team should win 55 games.

9. Miami Heat – Alonzo has been the best center in the east so far this season. Lots of double doubles and 4 rejections in less than 30 minutes per game.

10. Cleveland Cavaliers – If the Cavs want to make a run at the Pistons in the Central, they need to win games they are supposed to and bring more effort every night.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves – KG and crew are winning on smart play and effort. Addition by subtraction is what has occurred in Minny since losing Spree and Cassell to free agency.

12. Denver Nuggets - This team must drive Nuggets fans nuts. So good, yet very inconsistent. Not your typical George Karl team.

13. Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks have played sub .500 ball since that great start. They need to let TJ Ford push the ball more.

14. Chicago Bulls - The bad news for the Bulls? They’ve only played on other team from the ultra tough Central Division so far.

15. Washington Wizards – The Wizards need to speed up their games. Teams that manage to slow the game down usually beat the Wizards.

16. Philadelphia 76ers – I can’t think of a single team in the Atlantic that belongs in the top 15. Sixers have the best shot of the bunch of actually taking a winning record to the playoffs. Philly needs more production from their shooting guard and small forward positions.

17. New Orleans Hornets – I had them pegged dead last when I made my preseason rankings. As it turns out, Chris Paul is an NBA ready baller. There is only upside to this young hornets team that is set at the skill positions for at least a few years to come.

18. Seattle Supersonics – Considering they’re giving up 5 more points per game than they’re scoring, 8-9 isn’t a bad record. If they can keep up last week’s play they should take the 6th seed in the playoffs.

19. LA Lakers – Kobe’s shot selection has been as poor as an unemployed college student. Lakers are lotto bound without Jackson pulling the reigns on Kobe. So yes, the Lakers are lotto bound.

20. New Jersey Nets - Amazing that this team with arguably the most talented guards can’t pull it together. What hurts them is a lack of a front court. Little shot blocking makes teams more likely to attack the paint without fear.

21. Orlando Magic – Magic desperately miss Francis and Hill. Teams simply deny Howard the ball or double team him. This team, like most, will do better once the stars come back from injury.

22. Boston Celtics – Another Atlantic team with great guards and no real big men.

23. Sacramento Kings – Wow, Kings have lost games by an average of .4 of a point. How do you come that close and end up so far under .500? A lack of mental toughness when the game is on the line.

24. New York Knicks – Did Larry Brown finally find a team even he can’t fix?

25. Charlotte Bobcats – Still play teams tough, but can’t seem to close games out. They need a killer instinct.

26. Utah Jazz – Worst offensive team Sloan has ever foisted on the NBA. Boozer’s return alone won’t fix this team.

27. Houston Rockets - Biggest disappointment by far this season. How do you have all that shooting and still lose? Yao Ming needs to step up and show why he’s gotten all the hype so far.

28. Portland Trailblazers – Ruben Patterson is back!!! And you ask why the excitement? Because it’s only a matter of time before the next Blazer swears at the coach, it’s a Portland thing.

29. Toronto Raptors – Be patient Raptor fans, in a few years the Raps will be getting knocked out of the first round of the playoffs with regularity.

30. Atlanta Hawks - The need a point guard. Hawks probable next move? They’ll most likely use their lotto pick up another small forward

Week 4 Exclusive Power Rankings

1. Detroit Pistons – The Pistons are almost toying with the other teams. Flip keeps talking about more bench play, only to see the starters average a lot of minutes. At some point the bench will have to contribute more or this will be a tired team come June.

2. San Antonio Spurs – Spurs won a thriller at Dallas on Thursday with Tony Parker leading the way. The Spurs could very well be challenged by Dallas the whole season.

3. Dallas Mavericks – Team is actually improving on defense this year. While no Tayshaun Prince, Josh Howard has shown the ability to slow opposing scoring guards.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers – Hughes has made a huge difference in getting Lebron better shots. Teams can no longer afford to double Lebron and leave sharpshooters Jones, Marshall and Hughes open.

5. Memphis Grizzlies – Grizzlies are the best defensive team in the NBA so far this season. This allows them to be in every game even when their offense isn’t clicking.

6. LA Clippers – The Clippers fans have to be happy with how this team has started out. They’re winning close games and not losing composure in the fourth quarter.

7. Golden State Warriors – You get the sense that Diddy and crew are playing with a chip on their shoulder and confidence. This can only mean good news for Warriors fans and bad news for opponents.

8. Indiana Pacers – This has to be the most injury plagued team over the last few seasons. It will be interesting to see what will happen if they ever get all their starters on the floor at the same time.

9. Phoenix Suns – Suns are on a four game winning streak that has showcased the role players helping the all-stars. I doubt this trend lasts though.

10. Miami Heat – The Heat can’t wait for Shaq to come back; the question is whether or not Jason Williams will remember his role once he does.

11. Minnesota Timberwolves – Great team play has helped the Twolves secure first in the Northwest…..that and the weakest division in the Western Conference.

12. Chicago Bulls – The young Bulls goes up and down as much as their players go up and down the court. Can we finally call them the adolescent Bulls?

13. Milwaukee Bucks – Loaded front court, great back court, so what’s wrong with the Bucks? Simple, they couldn’t D up your grandmother that uses a wheel chair.

14. Philadelphia 76ers – Cheeks has the Sixers in first place in the Atlantic, which isn’t anything to be proud of when you consider the rest of the division.

15. New Orleans Hornets – David West is the front runner for most improved player. Chris Paul, JR Smith and Desmond Mason ensure that enough field goal attempts are taken every night.

16. Denver Nuggets – Team is very inconsistent. You don’t know which Nuggets team will take the floor.

17. Washington Wizards – Take the Nuggets inconsistency times 2.

18. Orlando Magic – Great defense helps this offensively challenged team beat mediocre and bad teams. Good offensive teams still dispatch the Magic with little trouble

19. Sacramento Kings – Mike Bibby’s sore foot has not affected his scoring touch.
Sac has turned an abysmal start into a mediocre season so far. Kings fans expect more.

20. New Jersey Nets – Nets need front court help in the worst way. Think they’d sign Reef if they had it to do over again?

21. Seattle Supersonics – The magic is definitely gone from last year. As is the hard nose style of play. Sonics may have needed a change…..of ownership.

22. Boston – You get the feeling that Boston isn’t sure if they want to play for the 8th playoff seed or a high pick in the draft.

23. Utah Jazz – Jazz finally got AK back from injury and should show some improvement defensively.

24. LA Lakers – Phil issues an ultimatum to Smush, play team ball or hit the bench. By that does he mean pass to Kobe more?

25. Portland Trailblazers – A free agent pick up or trade could actually make this Blazers team a threat for the 8th seed.

26. New York – Frye is the real deal. New York may finally have a front court with Curry, Frye and Davis.

27. Houston Rockets – McGrady’s injury has given players like Head and Anderson chance to shine. Too bad they don’t shine as brightly as T-mac when healthy. Rockets go as far as T-mac’s back takes them.

28. Charlotte Bobcats – Team is going to have to learn to play team ball. They take turns having great nights but can’t seem to gel as a unit.

29. Atlanta Hawks – The Hawks are licking their chops at the prospect of a game against Toronto on Friday.

30. Toronto Raptors – Uninspired, apathetic and ugly. Any more questions about what I think of Toronto?

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.

In Need of Bloggers. As a new Fan Site on the web, we are currently looking for Fans to voice their opinions and give updates on the team as often as possible. We envision lots of readership in the near future but only with your help. If you have thought about creating a blog in the past, but never got around to it, or you have your own blog but have stuggled to pull in an audience..this may be the perfect setting for you. If this sounds like it interests you please email me at Combs84@sbcglobal.com and Put "(Your Team Name) Blogger" in the subject. Thanks a lot, and I hope you will consider this opportunity.

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