The Sports Truth NBA Power Rankings: Suns Rise Above All
November 1st, 2006 by Steven Vinci
The NBA season is officially underway, and the Sports Truth’s hoops guru has broken down every aspect of the Eastern Conference and Western Conference in his extensive season previews.
Here, Steven Vinci rates the NBA’s 30 squads from top to bottom. He will do so every Wednesday as the season progresses, tracking the ups and downs of the contenders, the pretenders and even the New York Knicks.
Not surprisingly, the aforementioned laughingstock franchise begins the 2006-2007 season at the bottom of the Sports Truth’s NBA Power Rankings.
Meanwhile, West powers Phoenix and Dallas, along with defending champion Miami, occupy the top three positions until someone steps up. After those three, Cleveland looks poised to make a big leap, while Detroit and San Antonio still know how to win. How does the rest of the league shake out? See below:
1. Phoenix. Throw on your track shoes; Amare’s back!
2. Miami. Defending champs will turn it on in the playoffs.
3. Dallas. Mavs now know what it takes to win.
4. San Antonio. Still have Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli and Tony Parker (right).
5. Cleveland. King James is really that good.
6. Detroit. Not the same team in Detroit, they’ll have to adjust.
7. L.A. Clippers. Solid team nobody wants to play in playoffs.
8. Denver. Melo is ready to deliver.
9. Chicago. Improved with Wallace; is it enough?
10. New Jersey. Weakest of all division favorites — is Kidd running on empty?
11. Houston. McGrady and Yao must stay healthy.
12. Utah. Could surprise out West if Boozer stays healthy.
13. L.A. Lakers. Kobe’s team actually made a few moves this summer.
14. Milwaukee. Underrated squad could make a big jump.
15. Boston. Extremely young, but very talented.
16. Orlando. Dwight and Darko: A force for the next decade?
17. Golden State. Plenty of talent; can Baron Davis (right) learn to share?
18. New Orleans. Chris Paul gives them a chance.
19. Sacramento. If only they played in the East.
20. Seattle. Could be ranked too high here; terrible defensively.
21. Indiana. The talent is there, the heart is not.
22. Toronto. One year away from jumping into the top half.
23. Washington. Arenas can’t do it by himself, although he will try.
24. Philadelphia. Abandon ship! Abandon ship! Move AI while you can.
25. Memphis. Gasol’s injury takes them right out of the playoffs.
26. Charlotte. Morrison and Okafor must grow together.
27. Minnesota. KG in NY? He’s got to go somewhere.
28. Portland. My parole officer says I can’t comment on the Blazers.
29. Atlanta. Young and talented, but no leadership.
30. New York. If the Knicks released their entire team and started over, they’d be better.
