NBA Power Rankings

NBA POWER RANKINGS

First power rankings of the season, based off of last year's accomplishments, off-season movement, and pre-season play.

1. Boston Celtics: The Defending Champs stay there until they screw up bad enough to lose it.
2. Los Angeles Lakers: The return of Andrew Bynum will make the Lake-Show even tougher.
3. Houston Rockets: Adding Ron Artest... either going to be amazing or terrible. Lets see how he gets along with Houston fans and T-Mac. Over-under; people Artest will punch this year- 3.
4. New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul will challenge for league MVP again. He and Chandler have amazing chemistry.
5. Detroit Pistons: Window of opportunity closing fast for this veteran team. Stucky seems to be the only flash they have coming in after the geriatrics leave. Still not sold on Maxiell.
6. Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron is eyeing real estate elsewhere if the Cavs cant win. NOW.
7. Utah Jazz: Big hole at 2-guard prevents this team from moving forward.
8. San Antonio Spurs: Trio of Duncan, Ginobli and Parker still scary good, but aging as well.
9. Orlando Magic: Much deeper than last year, More playmakers added. Great cast in Mickey's backyard.
10. Phoenix Suns: May be last hurrah for Steve Nash, Shaquille O'Neal.
11. Dallas Mavericks: Can Rick Carlisle put this team over the top?
12. Toronto Raptors: Perhaps best frontcourt in East with (healthy) Jermaine O'Neal and Chris Bosh.
13. Philadelphia 76ers: Signing of Elton Brand makes them much better.
14. Portland Trailblazers: Should round out West playoffs with (healthy) Greg Oden, and a young, tough team.
15. Washington Wizards: Agent Zero and Antawn Jamison should have jumped ship. They'll pay for staying, but they'll GET paid for staying as well. it's all about the Benjamins, baby.
16. Indiana Pacers: Rebuilding for the Pacers, they could sneak into the playoffs with solid performances.
17. Atlanta Hawks: They linger, but should be better for as young as they are.
18. Denver Nuggets: Can the Nuggets score 130 a game again this year and still lose?
19. Golden State Warriors: Losing Baron Davis was a big blow.
20. Los Angeles Clippers: Losing Elton Brand was a bigger blow.
21. Chicago Bulls: I have no clue what they're doing in Chicago. It must be nice to just not really care. Get rid of Gordon.
22. Miami Heat: Wade couldn't do it without Shaq, but he has Beasley and Marion now.
23. Minnesota Timberwolves: Kevin Love will be a draft bust as soon as everyone sees the wuss he is, and Ol' Al will be fending for himself again.
24. Sacramento Kings: They will be scary in two or three years. They're going nowhere this year.
25. Charlotte Bobcats: Lots of cap space screams LeBron bid in 2010 - go go gadget Michael Jordan!
26. New Jersey Nets: Trading Jefferson? Ouch. I want to say Yi is overrated, but he isn't. Just isn't that good yet...
27. Milwaukee Bucks: Michael Redd and R. Jeff are scoring machines. A little more help makes these guys real good.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: They may look nice, and have a new home, but life is going to be tough for Durant and crew.
29. Memphis Grizzlies: These guys are going to get laughed at in the West.
30. New York Knicks: How about a season without one of the following: Sexual harassment charges, locker room drama, and 50 plus losses.

Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

Week 5 Power Rankings

So were a quarter through this fresh NFL season, and we starting to see some tendencies developing, good and bad; some surprise wins and losses, and there’s still a boatload of pissed off Patriot fans. Here’s my Power Rankings through the first 4 games.

1. New York Giants (4-0) – I know, they should have been here since the beginning of the season. They are the defending champs, but lets remember, they have had a few nail-biters, and those are the ones that will make you or break you.
2. Tennessee Titans (4-0) – for the first time in franchise history, the Titans are unbeaten through a quarter of the season. The tandem rushing has never looked better, and any team giving up only 11 points a game is in amazing shape.
3. Buffalo Bills (4-0) – Buffalo is about to get really rowdy, now that the Patriots have already been counted down, and they are in a relatively weak division. Bills fans are in great shape, and it’s only going to get better.
4. Washington Redskins (3-1) – That tough DB core finally looked good against the ‘Boys last week, and LaRon Landry is already a feared player only a few years into his career.
5. Dallas Cowboys (3-1) – Losing a battle at home to a division rival is painful. Losing a battle at home to a division rival, while only handing the ball off 11 times to one of the leagues best tandems is just plain dumb. I would be pretty upset if I was Felix Jones or MB3 right now.
6. Carolina Panthers (3-1) – The Moose is resurrected, and that’s exactly what they wanted in Carolina. Ken Lucas gets a game ball from Steve Smith, and everyone loses their mind. How about, lets not kick the crap out of our own players anymore, and you can keep your own game ball.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) – Winning. Very, very sloppily winning. But still winning.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) – I have a bias towards Earnest Graham, because I attended school with him. With a few more handoffs and games like he has had so far this year, even with teams gunning for him, you too will all have “E-Geesus” biases as well.
9. New England Patriots (3-1) – The New England Matt Cassel’s are still in the top 10. Not a bad place to be when losing your franchise player.
10. Denver Broncos (3-1) – John Elway’s playbook? Oh Jay, Denver fans will be dancing in the streets; or puking in their living rooms.
11. Philadelphia Eagles (2-2) – I like DeSean Jackson. I really do. So, my friend, this note is for you – relax, take it slow. You are amazing, let it come to you. Your only mistakes on the year have been dumb, thoughtless goofs. You’re better than that.
12. Green Bay Packers (2-2) – Oh, Aaron… an injury is what you wanted the least, buddy. Get better. Fast.
13. San Diego Chargers (2-2) – The first series of the game might have been the biggest bonehead move of the year to this point, but I don’t think the Chargers are ready to drop yet.
14. New Orleans Saints (2-2) – Can we run the ball? PLEASE? Brees is going to throw out his arm and is on track to break Marino’s pass yards in a season record.
15. Chicago Bears (2-2) – I had a hard time putting these guys anywhere on this list. Their offense is still putrid, but their defense is outstanding when it commits.
16. Baltimore Ravens (2-1) – Quietly, deep inside, they’re calling out for “The Air.”
17. New York Jets (2-2) – A 2 point conversion was un-needed and ill-advised. What goes around comes around guys. Brett might be learning that playbook, huh?
18. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2) – A barnburner with Houston last week, and they too allowed a score on every drive. I guess if you get tired of playing defense, as long as you can score every time you touch the ball, you’ll be ok. Maybe if we combine this highly vaulted defense with the offense we saw in the 4th quarter last week…
19. Indianapolis Colts (1-2) – Indy is thanking everything that is holy for the Bye this week. Peyton will right the ship. It’s only a matter of time.
20. Minnesota Vikings (1-3) – Frerotte couldn’t even last a whole game. Henderson goes down, and the Titans show the Vikings how bad life sucks when Peterson gets shut down. Minnesota is looking mighty depressing.
21. San Francisco 49ers (2-2) – Martz said J.T. O’Sullivan is the best QB he has ever had, I guess that means he has forgotten “The Greatest Show on Turf” orchestrator, Kurt Warner. Sad.
22. Miami Dolphins (1-2) – When you have the week off and everyone else sucks it up, you get to move up the ladder. Congrats, Sparano.
23. Atlanta Falcons (2-2) – I guess Michael Turner flips a coin before each game to see how he is going to play that day; amazing, or terrible. Jerious Norwood is making his chances count every week though.
24. Arizona Cardinals (2-2) – Ken Whisenhunt: Don’t send a marquee player into the middle with less than a minute left in a 100% losing effort. You win the Moron of the Week award. Anquan, prayers are with you, get back soon.
25. Seattle Seahawks (1-3) – Super Bowl MVP back in the lineup this week, but will Deion Branch himself be able to help this stagnant team?
26. Kansas City Chiefs (1-3) – Awesome win against a tough Denver team, but even that was messy.
27. Cleveland Browns (1-3) – Narrowly beat out Fitzpatrick in the “Battle for Ohio Mediocrity.” Derek Anderson is playing like Derek Anderson. Didn’t I predict this?
28. Houston Texans (0-3) – Where is this stingy defense that you have drafted a player to in the first round the last 3 years? Texans allowed a score on EVERY POSSESSION to the Jags in the 4th quarter last week.
29. Cincinnati Bengals (0-4) – Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the answer here. Neither is anything else the Bengals have been doing.
30. Detroit Lions (0-3) – Matt Millen is gone, and a new angel gets its wings. FINALLY.
31. St. Louis Rams (0-4) – The resurgence of Jim Haslett, missing since his New Orleans stint, and names Bulger the QB for the rest of the year. Anyone else getting a kick out of this?
32. Oakland Raiders (1-3) – Al Davis and his Tracksuit Mafia have done it again. Not only did this team NOT need anymore drama, but now they have to deal with their owner looking like a moron on national TV. By the way, watch that interview again, if you can. He never blinked. 5 head coaches since 2002. How can you expect to win with a new coach every year?