BleacherReport: NBA Power Rankings: Week 3

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/83913-nba-power-rankings-week-3/show_full

NBA Power Rankings: Week 3
by Michael Glaessner (Contributor) 0

1. Los Angeles Lakers (8-1) (1) In suffering their first loss this
year, L.A. was done in by an old Laker, as Kwame outplayed Bynum in the
pivot with a 10-10 double-double.

2. Boston Celtics (10-2) (2) The scary thing is they're capable of
playing a lot better, but probably won't until Rondo evolves into a
more complete PG.

3. Detroit Pistons (8-3) (5) Sheed and AI have already developed
awesome chemistry, as both combined for 50 and 44 in big wins over the
Lakers and Cavs, respectively.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers (9-3) (3) This is clearly the best team of the
LeBron era, but are they good enough to out-distance the Pistons in
this year's Central Division marathon ?

5. Denver Nuggets (8-4) (12) Marcus who ? As long as Kenyon and Nene
continue to dominate down low, Denver will remain in contention in the
West.

6. Orlando Magic (8-3) (10) Still don't think Dwight has teammates ?
He had a four-point effort against Charlotte and the team still won.

7. Phoenix Suns (8-4) (8) I think I have a better idea of why Shaq
guards the weak side so lightly. If he went hard every time someone
cut to the basket, he'd get hit with a lot more flagrants and
suspensions.

8. Utah Jazz (8-4) (6) If the Jazz have any more PG injuries, you know
Sloan's got Stockton's number on speed dial.

9. Portland Trail Blazers (7-5) (11) It's true he looks like he's 65
and it's true he'd look about 7'5" if he wore Lincoln's stove-top hat,
but Oden's play on the court since returning from injury has been no
joke.

10. Atlanta Hawks (7-4) (3) A four-game losing streak has taken a lot
of starch out of the Hawks' strong start, and now they must survive
injuries to Horford and Smith.

11. Houston Rockets (7-5) (7) Speaking of injuries, Houston's dealing
with plenty with Battier still on the shelf, Yao sitting out with an
ankle sprain, and TMac and Artest playing on bad ankles as well.

12. New Orleans Hornets (5-5) (9) Peja better find his shot and fast
because the Hornets are not the same team when he can't stretch
defenses.

13. Toronto Raptors (6-5) (16) I'm intrigued by the idea of starting
Bargniani, Bosh and O'Neal together, it could give Toronto a dangerous
frontcourt filled with matchup headaches.

14. San Antonio Spurs (5-6) (22) You can never count them out. Just
when we throw in the towel on the Spurs, they bounce off the mat with
three straight wins, including an inspiring comeback against Houston.

15. Dallas Mavericks (5-7) (20) I saw shades of the Mavs from two
years ago in Houston, as they run-and-gunned their way to victory on
the road.

16. Miami Heat (6-6) (14) Beasley better get in there and fight for
rebounds, Marion and Haslem are taking all of his.

17. Indiana Pacers (5-5) (13) A lot of teams must feel pretty dumb
right now for passing on Granger.

18. New York Knicks (6-5) (15) This team has a new attitude. You have
to love the fight and unwillingness to back down they showed when
Boston tried to intimidate them with trash talk.

19. Philadelphia 76ers (5-6) (17) Thaddeus is taking his game to
another level, so you know this team will be scary if Brand and his
teammates can ever develop chemistry.

20. Golden State Warriors (5-6) (19) Anthony Morrow ?? You could pull
someone off the streets and they'd score 30 in Nellie's system.

21. New Jersey Nets (4-6) (25) As long as you've got a healthy Harris
to feed those young bigs, the Nets have a lot of good things on the
horizon.

22. Chicago Bulls (5-7) (23) Nobody can take them seriously until they
sign some real big men, which they'll be able to do once Hughes's
contract expires.

23. Memphis Grizzlies (4-7) (24) Marc is like the rugged version of
Pau in every sense. You know when they went out drinking, Pau picked
up the ladies and Marc picked up the tab.

24. Sacramento Kings (5-8) (21) Just when Hawes and Thompson were
developing, Brad Miller and his stupid cornrows have to come in and
mess everything up !

25. Milwaukee Bucks (5-8) (18) Doesn't it seem like Bogut is always
involved in a tussle with another big ?

26. Charlotte Bobcats (3-7) (27) Larry is doing his best to sabotage
an already downtrodden expansion team, as if ruining the Knicks wasn't
enough.

27. Minnesota Timberwolves (2-8) (28) Every week, that Love-for-Mayo
trade is looking more and more one-sided and may seal McHale's fate as
a GM.

28. Washington Wizards (1-8) (26) It's evident that this team has
fallen and can't get off the mat, and with Arenas, Jamison and Butler
tying up all their money, rebuilding is going to be a slow and painful
process.

29. Los Angeles Clippers (2-9) (29) If this season has proven
anything, it's that Dunlevy was the guy Sterling should have fired, not
Baylor.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder (1-11) (30) Gotta love Westbrook, Durant and
Green, but they're too young to be asked to carry this joke of a team.