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POWER RANKINGS
Current Team Previous
1 Detroit Pistons 3
The defending champs have a chance to be even better with a full season of Rasheed Wallace and the addition of Antonio McDyess.
2 San Antonio Spurs 1
Nobody gains more from the movement of O'Neal than the Spurs, not to mention the addition of multi-skilled Brent Barry.
3 Minnesota Timberwolves 2
Going six games into the 2004 conference finals with MVP Kevin Garnett was ground-breaking. Can they take the next step?
4 Sacramento Kings 6
Letting Vlade Divac go in favor of Greg Ostertag could hurt, but if they finally stay healthy, they could win the West.
5 Indiana Pacers 4
By dealing Al Harrington for Stephen Jackson, they helped the backcourt and hurt the frontcourt. It will be interesting.
6 Houston Rockets 11
Tracy McGrady joins forces with Yao Ming, but they still need a point guard and some help at power forward.
7 Miami Heat 12
Adding O'Neal changes the face of the entire league, but nowhere more than where he landed. They need more. Is Karl Malone coming?
8 Denver Nuggets 9
Adding Kenyon Martin to Marcus Camby, Nene and Carmelo Anthony has them loaded up front. Does 'Melo slide back to guard?
9 Memphis Grizzlies 7
Last year's surprise with 50 victories, they added free-agent forward Brian Cardinal. Without anything else, can they do 50 again?
10 Dallas Mavericks 8
Losing Steve Nash to free agency while retaining other high-priced players hurts. More deals have to come.
11 Los Angeles Lakers 5
Now we'll see how far Kobe Bryant can carry this team without his Big Bro', Shaq. Lamar Odom really is the key.
12 Utah Jazz 13
Adding Okur, Boozer, Snyder and Humphries make the Jazz the big offseason winner so far. Sloan deserved this big play.
13 Portland Trail Blazers 14
They still need to make a move with Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but adding Nick Van Exel gives them quality depth.
14 Philadelphia 76ers 23
Hiring Jim O'Brien as coach and moving Allen Iverson to point guard makes them infinitely more interesting.
15 Milwaukee Bucks 15
They need young T.J. Ford healthy and with blossoming Michael Redd, coach Terry Porter has them on the right track.
16 New York Knicks 16
Team president Isiah Thomas has been trying to acquire athletes to no avail, with Jamal Crawford the present focus.
17 New Orleans Hornets 18
OK, Byron Scott is the coach, but it still doesn't resolve what's up with Jamal Mashburn. In fact, what is up?
18 New Jersey Nets 10
Having unloaded Kenyon Martin for draft picks and getting shut down trying to get Abdur-Rahim, do they trade Jason Kidd?
19 Boston Celtics 20
Danny Ainge keeps adding athletic players, and they surprised a lot of people keeping Mark Blount. They should be better.
20 Phoenix Suns 22
Lots of exceptional young talent, they need a good start to avoid a repeat of last season's disastrous loss of confidence.
21 Cleveland Cavaliers 19
The stunning loss of Boozer has been masked briefly with Eric Snow and Drew Gooden. They're still a playoff contender.
22 Seattle SuperSonics 21
They lost a lot of glue in the backcourt with Barry's exit, and they still lack a significant inside presence.
23 Toronto Raptors 25
They overpaid Rafer Alston, but they needed a point guard. More important is the constant upheaval that has Vince Carter wanting out.
24 Washington Wizards 27
They are loaded with young talent, and Antawn Jamison was a great move. Can they make the playoffs?
25 Golden State Warriors 17
Chris Mullin stunned the basketball world hiring Stanford's Mike Montgomery. Are they doomed to the lottery for the 11th year running?
26 Los Angeles Clippers 26
Yes, they made a valiant attempt to sign Bryant, but does that really matter? They need to keep Quentin Richardson.
27 Orlando Magic 29
John Weisbrod has rebuilt this team for Johnny Davis with teen prodigy Dwight Howard and Steve Francis. Will it work?
28 Chicago Bulls 28
The whole world is waiting for John Paxson to being the dismantling again. Crawford's exit will begin the process.
29 Atlanta Hawks 24
The Hawks are this year's example of the "cap room fallacy." They have plenty of cap space and no players. What's the point?
30 Charlotte Bobcats 30
Bernie Bickerstaff got off to a great start by drafting Emeka Okafor; now he has to put players around him to win occasionally.
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/powerrankings/
POWER RANKINGS
Current Team Previous
1 Detroit Pistons 3
The defending champs have a chance to be even better with a full season of Rasheed Wallace and the addition of Antonio McDyess.
2 San Antonio Spurs 1
Nobody gains more from the movement of O'Neal than the Spurs, not to mention the addition of multi-skilled Brent Barry.
3 Minnesota Timberwolves 2
Going six games into the 2004 conference finals with MVP Kevin Garnett was ground-breaking. Can they take the next step?
4 Sacramento Kings 6
Letting Vlade Divac go in favor of Greg Ostertag could hurt, but if they finally stay healthy, they could win the West.
5 Indiana Pacers 4
By dealing Al Harrington for Stephen Jackson, they helped the backcourt and hurt the frontcourt. It will be interesting.
6 Houston Rockets 11
Tracy McGrady joins forces with Yao Ming, but they still need a point guard and some help at power forward.
7 Miami Heat 12
Adding O'Neal changes the face of the entire league, but nowhere more than where he landed. They need more. Is Karl Malone coming?
8 Denver Nuggets 9
Adding Kenyon Martin to Marcus Camby, Nene and Carmelo Anthony has them loaded up front. Does 'Melo slide back to guard?
9 Memphis Grizzlies 7
Last year's surprise with 50 victories, they added free-agent forward Brian Cardinal. Without anything else, can they do 50 again?
10 Dallas Mavericks 8
Losing Steve Nash to free agency while retaining other high-priced players hurts. More deals have to come.
11 Los Angeles Lakers 5
Now we'll see how far Kobe Bryant can carry this team without his Big Bro', Shaq. Lamar Odom really is the key.
12 Utah Jazz 13
Adding Okur, Boozer, Snyder and Humphries make the Jazz the big offseason winner so far. Sloan deserved this big play.
13 Portland Trail Blazers 14
They still need to make a move with Shareef Abdur-Rahim, but adding Nick Van Exel gives them quality depth.
14 Philadelphia 76ers 23
Hiring Jim O'Brien as coach and moving Allen Iverson to point guard makes them infinitely more interesting.
15 Milwaukee Bucks 15
They need young T.J. Ford healthy and with blossoming Michael Redd, coach Terry Porter has them on the right track.
16 New York Knicks 16
Team president Isiah Thomas has been trying to acquire athletes to no avail, with Jamal Crawford the present focus.
17 New Orleans Hornets 18
OK, Byron Scott is the coach, but it still doesn't resolve what's up with Jamal Mashburn. In fact, what is up?
18 New Jersey Nets 10
Having unloaded Kenyon Martin for draft picks and getting shut down trying to get Abdur-Rahim, do they trade Jason Kidd?
19 Boston Celtics 20
Danny Ainge keeps adding athletic players, and they surprised a lot of people keeping Mark Blount. They should be better.
20 Phoenix Suns 22
Lots of exceptional young talent, they need a good start to avoid a repeat of last season's disastrous loss of confidence.
21 Cleveland Cavaliers 19
The stunning loss of Boozer has been masked briefly with Eric Snow and Drew Gooden. They're still a playoff contender.
22 Seattle SuperSonics 21
They lost a lot of glue in the backcourt with Barry's exit, and they still lack a significant inside presence.
23 Toronto Raptors 25
They overpaid Rafer Alston, but they needed a point guard. More important is the constant upheaval that has Vince Carter wanting out.
24 Washington Wizards 27
They are loaded with young talent, and Antawn Jamison was a great move. Can they make the playoffs?
25 Golden State Warriors 17
Chris Mullin stunned the basketball world hiring Stanford's Mike Montgomery. Are they doomed to the lottery for the 11th year running?
26 Los Angeles Clippers 26
Yes, they made a valiant attempt to sign Bryant, but does that really matter? They need to keep Quentin Richardson.
27 Orlando Magic 29
John Weisbrod has rebuilt this team for Johnny Davis with teen prodigy Dwight Howard and Steve Francis. Will it work?
28 Chicago Bulls 28
The whole world is waiting for John Paxson to being the dismantling again. Crawford's exit will begin the process.
29 Atlanta Hawks 24
The Hawks are this year's example of the "cap room fallacy." They have plenty of cap space and no players. What's the point?
30 Charlotte Bobcats 30
Bernie Bickerstaff got off to a great start by drafting Emeka Okafor; now he has to put players around him to win occasionally.
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/powerrankings/
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