Power Rankings

This is my first go at my Power Rankings. I hope this will be a weekly segment, even though I realize this first entry is coming almost three weeks into the season. But at least we have a bigger sample to go by. So here we go...

1. Boston Celtics (8-1): Despite the loss of Glen Davis, Sheed's arrival has been a big part of their strong start. C's are outscoring opponents by almost 15 ppg with only loss coming vs. surprising Suns.
2. Los Angeles Lakers (7-1): 7-1 start without Gasol (and minus Bynum for 2) is enough to make you forget about needing OT to beat OKC and Houston.
3. Phoenix Suns (8-2): Leading the NBA in scoring. Nash dishing out a league-best 12 dimes per game. Only two losses coming on the road vs. last year's finals teams. Anyone think they are missing Shaquille O'Neal?
4. Cleveland Cavaliers (6-3): Early season struggles aside, the Cavs had yet to really impress until sweeping a road back-to-back over Orlando and Miami.
5. Miami Heat (6-2): Not a bad start on South Beach. Heat are supporting D-Wade's stellar (as always) play with 5 OTHER guys scoring at least 8 ppg and a stifling defense (91 ppg against).
6. Atlanta Hawks (6-2): Trading for Jamal Crawford (17.5 ppg off the bench) looks even better when the Hawks' investment in resigning Mike Bibby for $18M has produced little results (10 ppg, 4 apg).
7. Denver Nuggets (6-3): I said it in last year's playoffs and I'll say it again now - Carmelo Anthony has made the jump into the elite level of NBA stars. Melo is pouring in over 30 ppg and adding almost 7 rebounds and 2 steals per game.
8. Portland Trail Blazers (6-3): After some uninspired play, Nate McMillan seems to have decided that the offense is better served starting both Steve Blake and free agent signee Andre Miller. Since the move to a 3-guard lineup, the Blazers have won all 4 games by an average of 18 points.
9. Orlando Magic (6-3): Yes, they are 6-3, but there is concern when you're blown out not only by the Cavs (at home), but the Thunder too. Even more so when your coach is questioning the team's effort nightly.
10. San Antonio Spurs (4-3): Slow starts are nothing new to the Spurs in recent years, but injury concerns to Parker and Duncan are. That said, Spurs were able to handle Mavs minus both.
11. Dallas Mavericks (5-3): Dirk is off to a great start and Marion is looking like a good addition but it's important for them to get Josh Howard healthy. Versatile swingman was on the verge but is sidelined again with a setback to his ankle.
12. Houston Rockets (5-3): Are we ever going to see the end of the Rockets exceeding everyone's expectations? Trevor Ariza, Aaron Brooks, and Carl Landry are leading a surprisingly potent offense averaging 104 ppg.
13. Toronto Raptors (4-4): Raptors are leading the NBA in offensive efficiency and 3rd in scoring (108.1 ppg). Unfortunately, they're 27th in scoring defense (108.6). It seems Bryan Colangelo really has brought his Suns brand of basketball to Canada.
14. Detroit Pistons (4-4): Offseason acquisitions Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva lead the team in scoring, but the team still wins off its defense (86 ppg against). It will be interesting to see how new head coach John Kuester balances the backcourt minutes once Rip Hamilton returns from injury.
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (4-4): It took the Thunder 33 games to win 4 a season ago, but this team's improvement can be traced to defense, giving up 13 fewer points a game than a year ago.
16. Chicago Bulls (4-4): This team deserves to be right in the middle. They don't give up a lot of points (92.9), but they don't score many either (88.6) and they've already played 4 games decided by 3 points or fewer (and are 3-1 in those games).
17. Milwaukee Bucks (4-2): If Brandon Jennings continues to play this well (averaging 20-4-5), you can expect to see a few more potential one-and-done high schoolers make the trip to Europe to play for some cash before entering the draft.
18. Indiana Pacers (3-3): Danny Granger (nearly 25 ppg) has been as good as advertised but who would have thought his most offensive support would come from Dahntay Jones?
19. Sacramento Kings (4-4): Kings have responded to losing Kevin Martin and his 30 ppg (out 6-8 weeks) by averaging 108 points in 3-game winning streak.
20. Utah Jazz (3-5): Followed up big win vs. Spurs with home loss to Kings, 2-point win over Knicks, and a blowout loss to Celtics. Deron Williams said the team is dealing with issues of selfishness, despite his 9.9 apg being second in the NBA.
21. Philadelphia 76ers (4-4): Starting big men Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert are combining to average a putrid 15.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game between them. They also will combine to make nearly $27 million this season.
22. Charlotte Bobcats (3-5): Even with two 100-point games (both W's) under their belt, the Bobcats are still averaging a meager 83 ppg and only 77 in their 5 losses.
23. New Orleans Hornets (3-6): Whether you think the timing was right or not, it had become clear that Byron Scott's time on the Hornets bench was circling in on an end. GM Jeff Bower and Tim Floyd have got to act quickly if there's any hopes of a playoff run in the Big Easy.
24. Los Angeles Clippers (3-6): Clippers are in trouble for a long season if they can't string together some W's soon. They've only played 3 teams with winning records so far, none in November.
25. Washington Wizards (2-5): Caron Butler has scored 90 points this season and given out a grand total of FOUR assists. Sure, Arenas has the ball in his hands more but Butler is too good to have such a poor ratio.
26. Golden State Warriors (2-5): Another day, another chapter in the saga of Stephen Jackson vs. the Warriors. On top of expanding his trade demand to include every team short of the Harlem Globetrotters and his agent bashing Don Nelson, the Artist Formerly Known as Captain Jack is blaming the media for making him out to be the "bad guy in all this."
27. New York Knicks (1-8): In a system designed to thrive on PG play, Chris Duhon is doing his best to lose his starting job, shooting just 23% and scoring only 6 ppg despite being 2nd on the team in minutes played.
28. Minnesota Timberwolves (1-8): A scoring margin of -14.4 is going to do nothing to make fans forget that Ricky Rubio won't be walking through that door for at least 2-3 years.
29. Memphis Grizzlies (1-8): As much as Allen Iverson may hope, he's really about the only newsworthy thing going on in Memphis these days. Is his career over? Some say yes and if so, we may have seen the last of the brilliant, albeit rocky, career of The Answer.
30. New Jersey Nets (0-8): In hopes of finding a bright spot in their winless start, Nets' fans can enjoy for a second that the second-year tandem of Brook Lopez and Chris Douglas-Roberts are combining to average 34 points and almost 14 rebounds per game.