Back in September, I wrote a blog post ranking each team, 1 through 30, and made a few playoff predictions. My top 10 teams were Boston, L.A. Lakers, Houston, New Orleans, Detroit, Cleveland, Utah, San Antonio, Philadelphia and Phoenix, respectively
I also predicted a Lakers-Cavs finals.
(See: http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/253915-nba-2008-2009-preseason-rankings-updated)
Well, with less than 20 games left to go in the regular season, some things held true. A Lakers-Cavs finals is still a real possibility. However, teams like Detroit, Philly and Phoenix have clearly fallen out of the Top 10.
As we enter the home stretch of the 2008-09 season, with the best three months of NBA basketball officially underway, I figure it's a good time to revisit my Power Rankings and playoff predictions.
1. Los Angeles Lakers (52-13): Combined 6-1 against Spurs (2-1), Cavs (2-0) and Celtics (2-0).
2. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-13): If both teams keep pace, sole home loss to Lakers will be difference in home court advantage.
3. Orlando Magic (47-17): Without Jameer Nelson, doubtful Magic can keep up with in East.
4. Boston Celtics (49-16): Until KG returns healthy, Celts will be in dogfight for No. 2 seed.
5. Utah Jazz (41-24): Team inspired by death of owner, Jazz peaking at right time.
6. San Antonio Spurs (43-21): Good enough to make conference finals, but will they be healthy enough to beat Lakers?
7. Miami Heat (35-29): Which season was a fluke? 2006 title year or 2008 clunker year?
8. Houston Rockets (42-24): Again showing they are a better team without T-Mac.
9. New Orleans Hornets (40-23): Need to leapfrog Houston to avoid first round date with Utah.
10. Denver Nuggets (41-25): Chauncey Billups is playoff czar, but will Carmelo Anthony get his head straight in time?
11. Dallas Mavericks (40-25): Big push in last 17 games can get Mavs out of first-round date with Lakers or Spurs.
12. Atlanta Hawks (37-28): Wins over Miami, New Orleans, Utah and one-point loss to Cleveland in past two weeks.
13. Portland Trailblazers (40-24): Showing they really do not need Greg Oden.
14. Detroit Pistons (32-31): With AI and 'Sheed coming off books, Pistons will contend -- in 2009 free agency.
15. Charlotte Bobcats (28-36): Larry Brown doing in Charlotte what he should've done in New York.
16. Philadelphia 76ers (31-31): Yeesh! Guaranteed to face Boston, Cleveland or Orlando in first-round.
17. Milwaukee Bucks (30-37): Probably will miss the playoffs without Michael Redd.
18. Chicago Bulls (29-36): Bulls finally get memo to disband current nucleus.
19. New Jersey Nets (28-36): Probably stuck with Vince Carter through summer of 2010.
20. Phoenix Suns (34-31): It's not that Stoudamire is gone. GM Kerr just assembled the wrong cast of players.
21. Indiana Pacers (28-38): Somehow managed to give top 5 teams a run for their money.
22. New York Knicks (27-37): One more summer, Knicks fans! One more summer ...
23. Golden State Warriors (22-42): How is Don Nelson still an NBA coach?
24. Toronto Raptors (23-42): Barely beating out Suns for Most Disappointing Team of '09.
25. Oklahoma City Thunder (18-47): Team will challenge West's 8-spot next season.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves (19-45): Could've been best of the worst if Al Jefferson didn't go down.
27. Memphis Grizzlies (16-47): Certainly glad they traded for O.J. Mayo.
28. Washington Wizards (15-50): Certainly glad they are not the Kings.
29. Sacramento Kings (14-50): Certainly glad they are not the Clippers.
30. Los Angeles Clippers (15-49): Certainly glad they weren't relegated to Antartican Basketball League.
PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS: (based on standings on March 13)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
First Round
1. L.A. Lakers vs. 8. Dallas Mavericks (Lakers win, 4-0)
2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Denver Nuggets (Spurs win, 4-3)
3. Houston Rockets vs. 6. Portland Trailblazers (Blazers win, 4-2)
4. Utah Jazz vs. 5. New Orleans Hornets (Jazz win, 4-3)
Second Round
1. Lakers vs. 4. Jazz (Lakers win, 4-1)
2. Spurs vs. 6. Blazers (Spurs win, 4-2)
Conference Finals
1. Lakers vs. 2. Spurs (Lakers win, 4-2)
EASTERN CONFERENCE
First Round
1. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 8. Milwaukee Bucks (Cavs win, 4-0)
2. Boston Celtics vs. 7. Philadelphia 76ers (Celtics win, 4-1)
3. Orlando Magic vs. 6. Detroit Pistons (Magic win, 4-1)
4. Atlanta Hawks vs. 5. Miami Heat (Heat win, 4-3)
Second Round
1. Cavs vs. 5. Heat (Cavs win, 4-2)
2. Celtics vs. 3. Orlando (Celtics win, 4-3)
Confernence Finals
1. Cavs vs. 2. Celtics (Cavs win, 4-3)
NBA FINALS
1. Lakers vs. 1. Cavs
Lakers win, 4-3
Anne V
Kim Cloutier
Sled Hockey
Heisman Moments: Closest Finishes
Comments (6) Add A Comment
As much as love that you put the Heat as #7, I don't think we are better than Houston, New Orleans, Denver, or Dallas. We might be playing good basketball thanks to Wade, but I see them under those four teams at #11. But, thanks for the respect
MiamiSportsGen
Miami , FL
Total Comments (58)
Well, in defense of Miami, I do believe in a 7-game series, the Heat can at least beat Dallas and Houston. Denver - depends which Carmelo shows up. Maybe I should put New Orleans slightly higher -- but so far, they seem to be struggling from the sophomore jinx. They have yet to show me they can beat San Antonio in the playoffs (like last season).
You pretty much said it -- the Heat are playing good ball because of Wade. He's a top 5 player and can take over a game or playoff series. The No. 7 ranking is more an ode to how good Wade really is.
parimalrohit
Cypress , CA
Total Comments (14)
Let me get this right, Portland is #13 (totally horrible ranking) but will win the first round series?
Favrefan
Bellingham, WA
Total Comments (3640)
Easy to explain:
(a) There is very little difference between teams ranked between 8 and 13;
(b) Upsets do happen in the NBA Playoffs;
(c) Even though I rank Houston higher than Portland, I do believe the Blazers match up best with the Rockets and beat them in a 7-game series. (Playoffs are all about match-ups).
(d) Since when did a lower ranking guarantee playoff failure?
parimalrohit
Cypress , CA
Total Comments (14)
Cavs wont get out of the second round. They are playing a perimeter oriented offense. LBJ is taking way too many three's. They don't have any true low post players. There are other better shooting teams than the cavs and the way they are just getting my average teams is a sign of trouble.
I like the Cavs and watch them all the time. but the truth is, they take way too many jumpers and LBJ takes way too many three's.
internalwar
Total Comments (33)
Fair assessment of the Cavs. Obviously, I think they can make the Finals. If they play the Heat in the second round, it's actually an even match-up. The Cavs may not have a low-post threat, but neither do the Heat.
The only team who can exploit the Cavs lack of a low-post threat is Boston or Orlando. If Cavs keep up at their current pace, they will have home-court advantage in the East (maybe in the Finals, too, if the Lakers remain on cruise control). Having home-court will definitely help the Cavs out.
The Celts, I wonder if they have too many miles traveled. Plus, injuries are starting to creep up. If KG isn't healthy, then I don't see the Celts getting passed the second round, either. KG is the life-blood of the Celts championship hopes.
With Orlando, I like them a lot and I think Dwight Howard is a beast. But without Jameer Nelson, I think their road to the finals is tough. Rafer Alston is doing his part to hold fort, though.
So while the Cavs have its share of deficiencies, well, so do the other teams.
parimalrohit
Cypress , CA
Total Comments (14)
Comment
Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.