Name your top 10 on new season power rankings.
Assume that the remaining unsigned free agents won't impact much of anything.
Feel free to explain some or all of your rankings.
BE REALISTIC.
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Name your top 10 on new season power rankings.
Assume that the remaining unsigned free agents won't impact much of anything.
Feel free to explain some or all of your rankings.
BE REALISTIC.
1. Miami- They're the Champs
2. Dallas- Runners Up
3. Phoenix- Retooled and Amare's back
4. San Antonio- Nice young new additions
5. Cleveland- LeBron has improved and the team has too.
6. LA Lakers- Kobe finally has some help and this team should be a lot better than last year.
7. Chicago- Should be an entertaining defensive squad
8. Detroit- You can't write them off.
9. Houston- Yao, TMac and now Battier. Should be impressive if healthy
10. LA Clippers- Have basically the same roster, but they're all older.
1. Miami-Default
2. Dallas-Default
3. San Antonio-Assuming the tram is healthy, they have a 50% chance of winning it this year.
4. Phoenix-Could rise of fall on this list depending on Amare.
5. New Jersey-Could very well be higher or possibly lower, depending on how the bench plays out. Also have a chance to come out of the east *hopes the Shaq curse on the Nets ends*
6. Detroit-I don't think the lost of Ben Wallace will cripple them as much as everyone says.
7. Houston-Once again, could really rise on the list, Shane Battier is the perfect role player for Tmac and Yao, actually...not sure why I didn't put them above the Nets or Detroit, probably because I'm a Nets' homer.
8. Clevland-LeBron can do almost everything, but no one can carry a team alone. We'll see how well the Larry Hughes signing plays out.
9. Clippers-As Cassell gets older, Livingston presumably gets better.
10. This spot can be taken by so many teams
10A. Grizzlies-would have been an easy choice, but with Pau Gasol injured...not sure if they'll make it through the season.
10B. Kings-The championship window closed a while ago, is the playoff window starting to close?
10C. Bulls-Just as I thought the departure of Ben Wallace wouldn't kill the Pistons, I don't think it will turn the Bulls into a top 10 team. I could very well be wrong though.
10D. Nuggets-Kmart, Nene, Camby...who knows how much time these big men will see.
Other outside possibilities, Magic and Lakers.
1 - Phoneix - Add Amare and keep the core for a second year.
2 - Dallas - I don't like Dallas but they re-tooled and got better.
3 - Miami - Champs But they aren't a great regular season team
4 - San Antonio - There trio of players in second to none when it come to winning.
5 - Cleveland - LeBron. Maybe a healthy season for Hughes and Varejao.
6 - Clippers - Still lookig for Maggette to be traded but great team Cassel will win he always does.
7 - Detriot - They aren't the last yrs Pistons but in the East are a 50 win team
8 - Chicago - Could end up higher but we haven't seen them play together yet.
9 - Houston - Yao and TMac will win 50 games. Health is always a risk
10 - New Jersey - Kidd.Carter.Richardson In the East will finish in the top 4.
[QUOTE=Tail Gate]1. Miami- They're the Champs
2. Dallas- Runners Up
3. Phoenix- Retooled and Amare's back
4. San Antonio- Nice young new additions
5. Cleveland- LeBron has improved and the team has too.
[B]6. LA Lakers- Kobe finally has some help and this team should be a lot better than last year.[/B]
7. Chicago- Should be an entertaining defensive squad
8. Detroit- You can't write them off.
9. Houston- Yao, TMac and now Battier. Should be impressive if healthy
10. LA Clippers- Have basically the same roster, but they're all older.[/QUOTE]
:roll:
So what now, Lakers are gonna land a 5th seed in the West?
[QUOTE=Tail Gate]1. Miami- They're the Champs
2. Dallas- Runners Up
3. Phoenix- Retooled and Amare's back
4. San Antonio- Nice young new additions
5. Cleveland- LeBron has improved and the team has too.
6. LA Lakers- Kobe finally has some help and this team should be a lot better than last year.
7. Chicago- Should be an entertaining defensive squad
8. Detroit- You can't write them off.
9. Houston- Yao, TMac and now Battier. Should be impressive if healthy
10. LA Clippers- Have basically the same roster, but they're all older.[/QUOTE]
that sounds pretty good. maybe switch clev with det
[QUOTE=JSub]:roll:
So what now, Lakers are gonna land a 5th seed in the West?[/QUOTE]
yes they will.
1st-Heat, duh
2nd-Suns, Amare returns, MVP, MIP, they deserve it...
3rd-Mavs, Nice off-season along with a nice playoffs... yeah...
4th-Cavs, LeBron leads team USA to 3rd (only)...
5th-Spurs, Never count them out...
6th-Clips, Nice playoff run locks their 6th spot...
7th-Chicago, Signing Big Ben and they are favourites this season...
8th-Orlando, YES! Orlando, after losing Steve Franchise they almost made Playoffs, plus JJ Reddick, Dwight Howard, Darko...
9th-Hornets, Incredible off-season, made them playoffs contenders again...
10th-Detroit, They did win the most games last season...
I'm telling you all, put the Kings on your top 10. They're definitely better than a lot of teams i see on your lists up there. Just look at the talent on that team and how they ended the season with Artest. But it's your opinion, so choose w/e you want. Here's how i got it:
1. Miami
2. Dallas
3. Phoenix
4. San Antonio
5. Chicago
6. Detroit
7. Clippers
8. Sacramento
9. Cleveland
10. Houston
1. Dallas
2. San Antonio
3. Miami
4. Phoenix
5. Detroit
6. Lakers
7. Clippers
8. Cavs
9. Nets
10. Bulls
1Miami- obvious
2Dallas- obvious
3San Antonio-obvious, but Duncan and Manu should be better, and with TPs improvements they could be number 1.
4Phx- their window with Nash's breaking down body is coming to a close soon enough, but they'll be good next year. But still all offense. IT DOESN'T WORK. But they've been close 2 years in a row. They'll atleast threaten in the 2nd round
5Detroit- Will be a better offensive team and still a top defensive squad, they just need to stay with Skip, and stop rebelling
6. Houston- if Healthy they are gonna be a force
7. New Jersey- Veteran squad with 3 allstar quality players and good defensively. Just need Kristic to be better. And shooting, and they got House, so.
8. Denver- They need to stay healthy, well atleast relatively. And find more shooting depth, but if JR pans out, which he should. They should be a very well rounded team with 2 good wing players (one a superstar), very good pg, and maybe the best 4/5 situation in the league
9. Chicago- haven't bought into the hype. They dont have a scoring big man. Maybe Tyrus can contribute. They were already a good defensive team, I don't see how getting a better Chandler, but with less offense is going to help.
10. Cleveland- They can move up this list by proving that they can defend all season long
I don't see a reason why Chicago is above New Jersey. Hell, I don't even think they're better than Detroit.
1. [B]San Antonio[/B] - They can't win 2 in a row, but they're very good at coming back and winning one. Manu and Duncan being healthy will impact the team more then people think.
2. [B]Miami[/B] - Defending champs. Getting older & older though, and faced arguably the weakest of the West's big 3.
3. [B]Phoenix[/B] - WCF two years in a row, injuries both years shut down dreams of rings. Amare coming back is huge. If they stay healthy they are my favorites to win it all.
4. [B]Dallas[/B] - They've made a lot of lateral trades, I think the only reason they got to the Finals last year was because of Phoenix and San Antonio's injury problems. Still pulled off gutty wins against both teams, the Mavs go as far as Dirk will take them.
5. [B]Detroit[/B] - Losing Ben Wallace was big, but Nazr will help and McDyess should get a more prominent role improving the overall offense. I don't think they'll contend with the lost defensive presence, but they are the team I imagine facing Miami in the ECF.
6. [B]Houston[/B] - T-mac & Yao are the best inside-outside combo in the NBA at this point, if healthy. Battier was a good pick-up, Head and Alston shined at times last season, they are still horribly thin up front.
7. [B]Denver[/B] - It's all about health, losing Leonard one year and Nene the next they still were 45+ wins. JR Smith helps their outside shooting woes and Melo has never looked better.
8. [B]Cleveland[/B] - They were one rebound away from the ECF. Larry Hughes's health is a big concern, they were a much better team with him last year. The emergance of Verajo and to a lesser extent Pavlovic gives them added depth.
9. [B]New Jersey[/B] - The trio + Kristic is enough to be a top Eastern team. Marcus Williams is a great pick-up, should give Kidd enough in the tank to go all-out when it matters.
10. [B]Chicago[/B] - They will be the best defensive team in the leauge, but still have no go-to-scorer. Should have trouble winning close games. Could pull some major upset in the slowed-down playoffs though.
God damnit I forgot the Clippers. Put them somewhere in the 7-10 range.
[B]Clippers[/B] - Elton Brand easily had his best year, Cassel/Mobley proved great signings, Livingston had his best year, Maggette seemed to accept his new role. I'm not sure if they will get much better, but last year they were good enough to beat Denver and push the Suns to 7, albeit both teams were injured.
1. San Antonio
2. Dallas
3. Miami
4. Phoenix
5. Detroit
6. LA Clippers
7. Cleveland
8. Denver
9. Chicago
10. New Jersey
Phoenix - Amare's back, replaced Thomas w/ Jones, and everybody else has a full season in the system.
Dallas - Young guys get better. Old guys not too old.
San Antonio - Not too worried about Duncan's foot after WCFinals.
Miami - Ought to have improved chemistry, but age is a factor.
Detroit - Offensive improvement ought to soften defensive slide post-Ben.
Houston - If the back-gods are good to TMac.
Cleveland - The Nets didn't get the big they needed. The Cavs should be better with a healthy Hughes.
Nets - Run JRV
Clips - Unless Cassell ages significantly over the summer.
Bulls - Young cats get better. Old guys need to do what they do.
If TMac's back-gods continue to curse him, slide everybody below the Rockets up a notch and add Denver to the end mostly on account of Melo getting better.
1. Miami
2. Dallas
3. Phoenix
4. San Antonio
5. Cleveland
6. Chicago
7. LA Clippers
8. Detroit
9. Memphis
10. Denver
Miami-There the champs and you can
1. Miami-Champs
2. Dallas westeron conference champs
3. San Antonion-always a threat with duncan manu and TP. Any team with duncan is awesome.
4. LAC-will be better 2nd time around with what they got
5. Phoenix-i think will lose to SA or Dallas in 2nd round. Amare wont be 100% and wont be dominant. Dallas can just switch around damp and diop on suns and no biggie. Nash's body is depleting. No defense=nothing
6. Cleveland-go as far as lebron will take them
7. Nets-krstic will be better
8. Chicago-new add-ons guards will be more experienced
9. Detroit
10.- SAC kings
zombies post is exactly as mine would be.....
what are u talking about the lakers r still not that good. they wont make the playoffs hornets, kings , houston are much better
1. San Antonio
2. Dallas
3. Miami
4. Bulls
5. Phoenix
6. Sacramento
7. Clippers
8. Cavs
9. Hornets
10.Houston
1. San Antonio - Best team, title or not.
2. Dallas - Dirk will be better again.
3. Miami - Champs, Shaq being a bit worse is the reason for 3rd mostly.
4. Phoenix - Amare could knock them down if he has the Ewing effect(or Webber if you prefer).
5. Detroit - Will simply be a more offensive team, something they were going to last year anyway.
6. Clippers - Depends on how much Shaun improves and Sam declines. But they should be better.
7. Sacramento - Rock solid team.
8. Cleveland - LeBron stays healthy anyway.
9. Indiana - If they can stay healthy finally at least.
10. Denver - If they can stay healthy.
Houston jump straight to 6th if Tmac shows up but I dont expect him to based on last year. Chicago, New Orleans and Minny are the borderline teams. Lakers also possibly.
Toronto will be the big mover if Mitchell uses Ford right.
[QUOTE=WoGiTaLiA1]1. San Antonio - Best team, title or not.
2. Dallas - Dirk will be better again.
3. Miami - Champs, Shaq being a bit worse is the reason for 3rd mostly.
4. Phoenix - Amare could knock them down if he has the Ewing effect(or Webber if you prefer).
5. Detroit - Will simply be a more offensive team, something they were going to last year anyway.
6. Clippers - Depends on how much Shaun improves and Sam declines. But they should be better.
7. Sacramento - Rock solid team.
8. Cleveland - LeBron stays healthy anyway.
9. Indiana - If they can stay healthy finally at least.
10. Denver - If they can stay healthy.
Houston jump straight to 6th if Tmac shows up but I dont expect him to based on last year. Chicago, New Orleans and Minny are the borderline teams. Lakers also possibly.
Toronto will be the big mover if Mitchell uses Ford right.[/QUOTE]
The Nets aren't even a borderline team?
[QUOTE]The Nets aren't even a borderline team?[/QUOTE]
My bad, I knew I was forgetting someone. Most certainly borderline. Could very easily be top 5 by the years end if they catch a few breaks.
It's cool, I was just wondering the reasoning.
1. San Antonio
2. Dallas
3. Miami
4. Phx
5. LA Clippers
6. Chicago
7. Cleveland
8. Detroit
9. Denver
10. NO/Oklahoma City
As much as I love KOBE please be realistic about the Lakers. If they can even get to the playoffs it will be a bonus.
gotta love laker fans.
1. Heat
2. Mavericks
3. Spurs
4. Suns
5. Pistons
6. Nets
7. Cavaliers
8. Clippers
9. Nuggets
10. Sacramento
a lot of you guys are basing your assertions off "well this year so and so is healthy and we've added so and so and we've trade so and so"
please wait until the season starts before hyping up your team like that. wait until results come before talking.
Lakers at 5?
Magic at 7?
puhhlleaseeee
Notice how Laker fans include the Lakers in the top 10. Not only that, but they put them in the middle!!! Four, five, or six...please!!!
:wtf:
1. Indiana
2. Phoenix
3. Dallas
4. Cleveland
5. Detroit
6. San Antonio
7. Miami
8. Clippers
9. New Jersey
10. Nuggets
Pacers are going to be a sleeper team this year. With the addition of Al Harrington, not to mention 6 key players who can play new west coast offense, I really feel that this is going to be the team to contend with. People may think I am crazy now, but watch. Phoenix would be number one, but I still don't think that they will have enough defense to go with there offense. I don't see Dallas getting over the hump, Miami is just going to be out of gas by resigning all of their borderline retirees. Again mark my words, the Pacers will be the team to beat!
1. Dallas - Better bench, different role players
2. Miami - Older, less determined Shaq
3. San Antonio - Tim Duncan, Manu, Parker and Pop
4. New Jersey - Going to get better as the season develops
5. Indiana - The addition of All Harrington helps
6. L.A. Lakers - you can't count out Phil Jax
7. Chicago - Better defensively
8. Phoenix - Would be higher, but no quality backup for Nash. Amare has to play to his best potential
9. Sacramento - After the trade for Artest, one of the best teams - no backup to Bibby
10. Detroit - Can they withstand losing Ben Wallace?
Others on the horizon - L.A. Clips, Houston, Orlando, Denver, Golden State, Washington.
Some of you may scoff at the Lakers - but Phil Jax has never missed the playoffs. Even with Pippen and a bunch of scrubs manning the hill while Jordan played baseball. L.A. is better than a lot of people give credit for.
:cheers:
1. Phoenix - I just think they have too much fire power, great leadership from Nash and with Amare back are going to be a force down low as well
2. Miami - Shaq is basically a non factor. It is Dwyane Wade that places them here
3. Dallas - Still an unbelievably talented team that probably could have won the finals last year
4. Cleveland - And I am the biggest Lebron James hater in the world
5. Sacramento - A talented team that made a good coaching change. Ron Artest must play the full season, they won't miss Bonzi, he was only playing for a contract in the playoffs
6. San Antonio - Seems funny having them this low, I am sure they will surprise me
7. Chicago - Scott Skiles is the best coach in the NBA, just give him some talent
8. Detroit - Loss of Ben Wallace as anchor of defense and team leader hurts, still a talented team though. I don't like coaching situation as far as playoffs are concerned, but regular season will be fine
9. New Jersey - Will rack up plenty of regular season wins in weak Atlantic division
10. Denver - Carmelo Anthony really played well in the Olympics. I don't much like his supporting cast on this team, however.
[QUOTE=baller_04]what are u talking about the lakers r still not that good. they wont make the playoffs hornets, kings , houston are much better
1. San Antonio
2. Dallas
3. Miami
4. Bulls
5. Phoenix
6. Sacramento
7. Clippers
8. Cavs
9. Hornets
10.Houston[/QUOTE]
What is who talking about? If you were referring to my post I sighted examples for you unlike your post!!! point #1 the Lakers made the playoffs in a higher seed then the Kings Point #2 Houston didn
[QUOTE=Boss_Baller_34][B]1. Indiana[/B]
2. Phoenix
3. Dallas
4. Cleveland
5. Detroit
6. San Antonio
7. Miami
8. Clippers
9. New Jersey
10. Nuggets
Pacers are going to be a sleeper team this year. With the addition of Al Harrington, not to mention 6 key players who can play new west coast offense, I really feel that this is going to be the team to contend with. People may think I am crazy now, but watch. Phoenix would be number one, but I still don't think that they will have enough defense to go with there offense. I don't see Dallas getting over the hump, Miami is just going to be out of gas by resigning all of their borderline retirees. Again mark my words, the Pacers will be the team to beat![/QUOTE]
:stupid:
[QUOTE=VCDrivesAPorscheToWork]1. Heat
2. Mavericks
3. Spurs
4. Suns
5. Pistons
6. Nets
7. Cavaliers
8. Clippers
9. Nuggets
10. Sacramento
a lot of you guys are basing your assertions off "well this year so and so is healthy and we've added so and so and we've trade so and so"
please wait until the season starts before hyping up your team like that. wait until results come before talking.
Lakers at 5?
Magic at 7?
puhhlleaseeee[/QUOTE]
Was this thread not started saying to give reasons? Doesn
1. Miami - they are the champs and the team to beat...
2. San Antonio - every year people always forget about them spurs.
3. Phoenix - with Amare back, this team is going to be deadly.
4. NEW JERSEY - yes thats right NJ Nets. All the Nets needed was a shooter and back up point guard for the unbelievable Jason Kidd. They got Eddie House and Marcus Williams. If uncle cliffy can stay off the grass, nets can beat ANYBODY! And i think Jason Kidd is aware that his clock is ticking.
5.Dallas - I just dont think they have a chance against San Antonio or Phoenix. They might not even get past the Rockets!
6. Houston - Going to be great to see McGrady back, but can he finally get out of the first round!
7. Denver - This team has sooo much potential. I mean soooo much potential, but the players dont seem to get along with the coach, and vice versa!
8. Clippers - Elton Brand is a great power foward!, But I always seem to think Sam Cassel has nothing left in his tank, but then again hes always proved me wrong.
9. Cleveland - Sorry Lebron, but your team doesnt know how step up, besides you of course. I still think your amazing.
10. Detroit - Losing Ben will hurt them a good amount. No one is going to be scared of playing them anymore. No one will be scared of driving inside. There will no more bell noises, because no more blocked shots. They lost their defensive anchor!
1. Dallas- They were screwed by the refs in Game 5, Wade is not MJ. So why give him all those free throws, and that photom foul at the end. I still waiting for game 7. Mavs should come out with a mission!
2. San Atonio- Still has a great team, Duncan will have less min, Prep for the play-off, the west got better
3. Lakers- Kobe played last year with a bad knee, not this year! Brown found his purpose. Bynum will get playing time. Odom will play some point. This is the last year of Grants 15 mil contract. More money to throw around next year, so players will be stepping up. Show me da money!! And they added Vrad a younger Peja type player and farmer who was born to play da triangle.
And some rope playing defenders.
4. Chicago- This team has upgraded big. I see this team playing great D' they might be the best team in the East.:banghead:
5. Miami- Shaq has very little left, and now Wades has a ego,the NBA refs spoiled him, and now Watching wade on the USA team, complaining after every miss not getting back on D'. And hearing the other teams trash talk to him saying your not Jordon, and then Schooling him. Wade will now get the same treatment this year in the NBA.:cry:
6. Cleveland-The team will do everything they can to make him better, until James starts playing as a team and of course D' No rings for the so called King or should I say Queen.:rollingeyes:
7. Phoenix- This team has to many good players, but even with Amare's return Well if he does return considering he was not well enough for Team USA. Nash is almost done too much caring the team last year, has put too much weight on his back he might be done after this year.
8. Clippers- This team had talent every year but always failed, but last year they were pretty good. But Sam want out, wants to play for the Lakers. Unless they pick up Baby Shaq or maybe Sprewell he is gone after this year and so are there play-off chances.
9. Detroit- Losing Ben was a big lose more than they want admit, this team will fall apart. Ya they still got a great team. But the only reason they got a ring is that Stern wanted show the NBA fans that anyone can win a championship with out star player. So the refs let them get away with hard fouls. Timidating the other team. But with no Ben a big part of their D' is gone so this year more team will be attacking the inside.
10.New York- Looking to much like team USA, will makes some big moves during the season. If not I would pick Houston for the 10th spot, with the combo of T-mac and Ming and a good supportings staff. But T-Mac may never be what he once was. At least not for a whole year. With that in mind if both team don't step up the 10th spot will go the team with the worst owners. The Kings, Ron Artest is a great player, but he also does not want to be there. He should had been a Laker but the Kings. Sucker the Pacers in offering Peja at the last moment. Hiding the fact that he was done, with a bad back. He may recover but thats too much to chance. And the Pacer wanted Odom or Bynum to high of a price. So they had to let him go. The Kings have a great team Bibby Miller and Artest but with owners and coach that plays a 7 men rotation all year round squeezing out everything you got then throwing you away like if you were trash. No wonder why they had notning left when it came to the play-off.:no:
People who say that the rockets are gonna be a contendar this year are loopy. The bench on that team is so thin I seen them on "intervention" the other night.
knicks at 10?
1. Dallas: They got robbed, but moving on
2. Detroit: Losing Ben hurt, but Nazr is amore conventional center and he can't possible shoot free throws worst than Ben. Don't forget this was the best team for most of 2005-2006
3. Phoenix: It's official Euroball is superior to the NBA game, theyll never make it out the west finals until they play D tho.
4. Clippers: I like their team, Depth, Two big men with offensive game, and two point guards that should both start.
5. Miami: They'd be higher if it was circa 1998. It's my opinion that with a little aid from the refs and antoine walker playing out of his mind, they overachieved in the playoffs. and where was dwayne wade's improved midrange J during the world championships?
6. San Antonio: Tim Duncan needs to show me that he is the best power forward in the game again. The rest of the team is solid, but they feed off of Tim.
7. Indiana: They should return to old form by mid season if J.O. stays healthy. All their problems in the last 2 years has only strengthened their depth.
8. Cleveland: David Wesley is a great add for them, their attempt at adding shooters around Lebron was kind of a bust take away the Washington series. I'd like to see Lebron run the point a little more with this team.
9. Denver: Carmello is going to be an MVP candidate. If Camby stays healthy this team can beat anyone, but when was the last time that happened?
10. Houston: can't put enough emphasis on the IFFFF....Tmac and Yao stay healthy. Shane Battier is great for the short run (Rudy Gay will end up as a poor mans Tmac in the long run which isnt that bad).
[B][U][U]Regular Season Power Rankings[/U][/U][/B]
1. [B]Dallas[/B] - They're always strong during the regular season, with depth and new confidence and experience from going deep into the playoffs, they should lead the league in wins.
2. [B]Miami[/B] - Despite being the champs they're an aging team, however they seemed to tap the right chemistry during their playoff run. Although with Shaq's regular season philosphy, (win enough games for the playoffs) their regular season record may go as high as 48-49 wins, enough to win the Atlantic.
3. [B]San Antonio[/B] - They still have the pieces to finish the season with the top record and win it all. Their only obstacle is sharing the same division and state as Dallas. Injuries are begining to really be a plague on this team.
4. [B]Detroit[/B] - People jumped off the Pistons bandwagon after their meltdown in the playoffs. Much like last year, these guys have yet something new to prove. Winning without Big Ben. These guys thrive on being the underdogs.
5. [B]Phoenix[/B] - Barring injuries, Nash, Marion, Amare and Co. should blaze through another 50+ win season with their refined uptempo game. Their bench is loaded with solid players.
6. [B]New Jersey[/B] - After one full season w/ Kidd, Carter, Jefferson we found that this is a team capable of winning every night. With the right chemistry formulated w/the starters, the question remains with the bench.
7. [B]Cleveland[/B] - Team gained a lot of confidence after a stong finish in the playoffs. They'll be under attack all season as east contenders will try to figure out how to dismantle them before heading into the playoffs.
8. [B]LA Clippers[/B] - Well balanced team with a clear focus on a championship, not just making the playoffs. Young gun Livingston coming up with rejuvenated swingman Tim Thomas coming off the bench.
9. [B]Sacramento[/B] - Ron Artest starts the season w/ the Kings. New coach should rejuvenate the offense. Before Artest they were horrible, they carry a similar projection the Nuggets had the year before.
10. [B]Denver[/B] - Should claim a weak Northwest division title. With Carmelo Anthony blowing up, Kenyon Martin growing up, and the rest of the team staying healthy, they should be back on course to all the high expectations that had preceded them the year before.
[B][U]On the brink of a breakout season [/U][/B](the best of the rest)
LA Lakers, Chicago, Houston, Indiana, New Orleans, Orlando