ESPN's Power Rankings

It has the Blazers at 8th. I've never liked Marc Stein's rankings, but they're from a large site.

over 2 years ago poster 17 comments 1 recs |

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I call B.S.

Marc Stein is lazy. Looks like something to print out ant put up in the locker room as extra motivation.

by DonkeyShins on Sep 25, 2009 10:41 AM PDT reply actions

Another “Ranking” overrates the Mavs offseason. Sure they traded for a “sexy” name, but Marion has been horrible since he left Phx, and he plays the same role and position as Howard does for the Mavs.

Mavs Roster
PGs: Kidd, Barea
SGs: Terry, Carroll
SFs: Howard, Marion, Ross, Williams
PFs: Dirk, Gooden, Thomas, Humphries, Jawai, Singleton
Cs: Dampier

So they are thin at Center and PG, to postions which their starters are 36 and 34 years old. Since Dirk will play close to 40 mins a night, their other power forwards are going to be playing out of postion at center. With Terry being their changeup off the bench, will Carroll really start at shooting guard? Or will they play Howard or Marion out of postion and start one of them there? Anyone really believe Howard or Marion at the age of 31 can defend other shooting guards?

My best guess is that their rotation is going to be Kidd, Terry, Barea, Howard, Marion, Dirk, Dampier, and either Gooden or Thomas. That is not enough to be a top 10 team in the NBA this season. I would rank them below Atlanta, Portland, fighting with New Orleans, the Suns, and the Jazz.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Sep 25, 2009 10:56 AM PDT reply actions

The Mavs won't play with traditional positions for quite some time this year

Howard will start at shooting guard. Dirk will finish at center. Ross is a totally underrated perimeter defender who will help more than people think. The point guard rotation is strong also with Beaubois. And trades are coming down the line to trim the roster, latest at the deadline. And Dampier is the best expiring/unguaranteed contract in the league. That’s their best starting point in recent memory.

I would say they are top 10, but it’s hard to come up with a ranking there before we have seen any games.

"I think he can still play" - Kevin Pritchard on Juwan Howard

by Norsktroll on Sep 25, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions

so what your saying is...

Point 1)Howard playing out of postion is a good thing.
Point 2)Ross will get enough playing time behind Marion and Howard to contribute.
Point 3)A rookie drafted 25th overall, makes their PG situation “strong”.
Point 4)And a trade or two which won’t be made until 1/3 of the season is over will trim this roster.
Point 5)And their only legit center will be traded, leaving them with Dirk to play center.

and to wrap it all up, you feel that points 1-5 are all good things?

I guess we just disagree.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Sep 25, 2009 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Howard is both a SG and a SF. He has played that position before, like Martell or Nic he tends to the 2 not the 4. Marion is behind his prime but a big improvement over what they had last year when they reached the second round. Positions don’t matter much on the Mavs the way their offense and defense is designed. Last year they successfully played even tiny lineups with Barea 1, Terry 2, Kidd 3, Singleton 4, Dirk 5. Beaubois won’t play much, but was one of the top players in Europe and in summer league so I guess he will be better than the washed up backups of years past. I hated the Kidd trade, but he works in the system. Their PG situation is at least not worse than ours. Ross will get backup minutes, and he is better than Wright. A trade will likely happen before the season starts to trim the roster down to 15. Another one will happen later, and even if it takes until next summer you can be sure Cuban won’t let the Erick Dampier Expiring/Unguaranteed Contract go to his bank account the way Allen did if he can match salary up to 17 million or so with it.

"I think he can still play" - Kevin Pritchard on Juwan Howard

by Norsktroll on Sep 25, 2009 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Isn't Jawai a 5?

Last time I checked, he was pushing 3 bills easy.

Also, Dirk plays at 5 a lot during crunch time and he is a legit 7 footer. He might not be a glass cleaner or a good defender, but he’s passable at both..which is more than I can say about Aldridge (due to his poor defensive rebounding).

Still, we’re better than both the Mavs and the Rich Creamies. Except we always lose to the Mavs head to head for some reason…

by xedubx on Sep 25, 2009 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't see the logic in how Denver improved this off season.

Lost Kleiza, and basically a push in replacing Jones with Afflalo.

"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."

by Arby on Sep 25, 2009 11:47 AM PDT reply actions

Yeah

and you have to ask, how many of their players are going to improve? Is Billups going to be any better than last year? Is Melo? Birdman? Nene? Hard for me to see a whole lot of improvement in their current players.

I do think they got a nice pickup at backup PG, and Smith might take a step forward this year. But it seems to me you get better one of two ways — by bringing in better players at your weak spots, or by internal improvement as your young players get better. I just don’t see a lot of reason to expect big improvements, and they have guys who could decline. Perhaps if you’re a Nuggets fan you are counting on Billups being there through training camp as giving you a boost. Perhaps.

They’ll be good, but I don’t think they are top 5 this year.

"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue

by jscot on Sep 25, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I think the biggest improvement

for the Nuggets will be a complete year with Billups. He really makes this team go, and for most of last year, they were learning on the go with him. Now they will have a full training camp to work him into their team. I don’t expect them to win 60 games, but I don’t see them falling off and only winning 45 either.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Sep 25, 2009 12:56 PM PDT up reply actions

And a better backup to Billups

And like Nene benefitted from more playing time after Camby was shipped out, I suppose Balkman will benefit a lot from Kleiza being gone.

"I think he can still play" - Kevin Pritchard on Juwan Howard

by Norsktroll on Sep 25, 2009 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions

The most important thing about this is you guys need to VOTE/RANK the Blazers #1

We have 4 number 1 votes and LA has 24 we can beat that. get to ranking!!!!

and rec this so blazersedgians see it and vote.

by tevisthe4th on Sep 25, 2009 12:57 PM PDT reply actions

and by this I mean the fanshot

by tevisthe4th on Sep 25, 2009 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Milwaukee is ranked to low as well.

29th? Please. If Bogut and Redd are both injured the entire year, then I’d buy it. But they’re better than the Kings, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, and possibly both the Knicks and the Nets. I’d bring them up to a solid 24 that to start the year.

μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευε.

Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by T Darkstar on Sep 25, 2009 1:39 PM PDT reply actions

Suns over the Jazz and Hornets....

um….

"Goals are good. Plans are better." -Ben.

by Sabonis4Ever on Sep 25, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Interesting...

The Power Ranking does not take into account any improvement by the rookies or the return of Martell Webster which will strengthen the depth of the team. I do not consider Denver better.

by KA-Oregon on Sep 25, 2009 4:44 PM PDT reply actions

Chad Ford is an even bigger moran than Steiny Mo when it comes to power rankings. Hawks over Blazers? Sure

My top 10? 1. Lakers 2. Spurs 3. Magic 4. Cavs 5. Celtics 6. Blazers 7. Jazz 8. Mavs 9. Hawks 10. Nuggets

"I think he can still play" - Kevin Pritchard on Juwan Howard

by Norsktroll on Sep 26, 2009 1:48 AM PDT reply actions

Looks pretty reasonable to me

Cavs could be higher, but we don’t know how the experiment will work. Celtics could be higher if healthy and they haven’t started to lose a step yet. Spurs could be lower if they struggle with injuries again, and could even pass the L@kers if everything goes well for them.

Blazers could be higher in the regular season, but sixth is about right as far as post-season favorites. Kind of hard for me to read the Mavs and Hawks, but I think you have them in the right general area. I think you are right to put the Jazz higher than the Nuggets and behind Portland. All the big name pundits like the Nugs after last year’s playoffs, but I’m skeptical. They could be a top five team, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue

by jscot on Sep 26, 2009 6:02 AM PDT up reply actions