I'll probably do this every week.
PACERS: 7th in the East, 14th Overall
PACERS: 7th in the East, 14th Overall
2008-09 Power Rankings: Week 1 | ||||
RANK (LAST WK) | TEAM | REC. | COMMENT | |
1 (2) | Lakers | 3-0 | The Lakers' average margin of victory is down to 21.7 ppg after they could squeak out only a seven-point win Saturday night at Denver. That qualifies as the closest thing to a flaw we've seen during L.A.'s flashy start. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Lakers fifth | See Lakers chart | |
2 (3) | Hornets | 3-0 | We were kidding when we talked up that 7-0 preseason, but a 3-0 start is the real deal. Especially because the Hornets opened on the road, played Phoenix and Cleveland next and didn't have Chandler for two of the W's. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Hornets 13th | See Hornets chart | |
3 (1) | Celtics | 2-1 | This might strike you as a steep drop for the defending champs, and you might even be right. Boston's problem is that the Lakers and Hornets were that good last week … and the Celts' showing in Indy was that bad. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Celtics 16th | See Celtics chart | |
4 (6) | Rockets | 3-0 | Here's a good "Did You Know?": Houston is 19-0 in its past 19 regular-season games with a healthy Yao Ming. That's a nice little stat to spice up Tuesday's showdown pitting Yao, Ron-Ron and T-Mac against Pierce, KG and Ray Ray. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Rockets seventh | See Rockets chart | |
5 (7) | Pistons | 2-0 | Sounds as if the new coach had no issues with us for starting the new season with Detroit outside the top five. Says Michael Curry: ''We've earned the right for people to ask, 'Has this team made its last run?''' Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Pistons third | See Pistons chart | |
6 (12) | Raptors | 3-0 | You might be wondering whether a team from Canada was eligible to be recorded as the first U.S. Army Team of the Week in Power Rankings history. We promise: (Uncle) Sam Mitchell's Raps were indeed in the mix. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Raptors 27th | See Raptors chart | |
7 (9) | Jazz | 2-0 | The bad news: No word yet on a firm return date for D-Will from that ankle sprain. The good news: Utah hasn't really needed him yet and, based on a quick look at the schedule, probably won't until a Nov. 11 visit to Philly. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Jazz ninth | See Jazz chart | |
8 (11) | Suns | 2-1 | I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Rush, if you wish, to proclaim that the Suns' window has closed. I prefer to keep trying to peer into the window to see how their radical changes play out. Play it how you want. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Suns fourth | See Suns chart | |
9 (4) | Cavaliers | 1-2 | The Cavs are used to these kinds of starts. They've posted a losing record after three games in all but one of LeBron's six seasons. The new twist is LeBron's slow start shooting the ball as he adjusts to a tweaked offense. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Cavaliers 14th | See Cavs chart | |
10 (5) | Spurs | 0-2 | Memphis. New York. Even Oklahoma City. All three of those teams won a game before the Spurs did, which suggests that as good as Tony and Timmy look, we might have undersold how much they'll miss Manu. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Spurs first | See Spurs chart | |
11 (10) | Mavericks | 1-1 | Two games in is too soon to get a real read on the new Mavs. Yet it already seems safe to suggest that this team won't come close to infuriating the locals as the Cowboys have. No matter what happens. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Mavericks second | See Mavs chart | |
12 (20) | Hawks | 2-0 | The Hawks didn't just beat two teams everyone expects to see in the East's top eight at season's end. They started 2-0 for the first time since 1999. So this is your first U.S. Army Team of the Week: Hollinger's Hawks. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Hawks 29th | See Hawks chart | |
13 (8) | 76ers | 1-2 | Just three games in, Philly already has rung up two big letdowns by losing the home opener to Toronto and blowing a fat lead in Atlanta. The Sixers can only hope folks have been too drunk on Phillies Euphoria to notice. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: 76ers 20th | See 76ers chart | |
14 (22) | Pacers | 1-1 | The Celts suffered only three double-digit L's last season in their return to championship glory. This season? They already have one, thanks to the blowout party Indy threw to celebrate Danny Granger's new contract. Overall Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Pacers sixth | See Pacers chart | |
15 (17) | Bulls | 2-1 | Did any high-profile rookie out there have a better Week 1 than Derrick Rose? You have to go all the way back to MJ (Elias looked it up) for the previous Bulls rook to have a 26-point game within his first three outings as a pro. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Bulls 26th | See Bulls chart | |
16 (13) | Magic | 1-2 | Perhaps the drop here should have been steeper. Based on the standards set by last season's 16-4 start, Orlando pretty much ran unopposed for the unwanted mantle of Week 1's Most Disappointing Team. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Magic 18th | See Magic chart | |
17 (14) | Trail Blazers | 1-2 | That triumphant escape at the buzzer against the fabled Spurs had to cheer you up, Blazermaniacs. Or at least temporarily distract you from the usual round-the-clock fretting about Oden and the future of the franchise. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Blazers 22nd | See Blazers chart | |
18 (15) | Nuggets | 1-2 | Iverson is no longer a team captain, has barely averaged 13 shots a game so far and holds a big expiring contract. Add up all those variables, and you really can't be surprised to be hearing A.I.'s name in trade speculation. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Nuggets 11th | See Nuggets chart | |
19 (18) | Warriors | 1-2 | Biedrins has scarfed down 10 straight double-doubles dating to last season and has averaged 16.6 ppg and 14.6 rpg in that span. Not that anyone knows it with all the Monta/Harrington/front-office drama. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Warriors 19th | See Warriors chart | |
20 (21) | Bucks | 2-2 | Two road victories this quick, irrespective of the opposition, must be regarded as big news for a team that went 7-34 outside of Milwaukee last season. But any injury to our beloved Redd, mind you, is bigger news. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Bucks 24th | See Bucks chart | |
21 (29) | Grizzlies | 1-2 | Rudy Gay's jumper to take down Orlando wasn't merely a buzzer-beating baseline dagger. Call it a history-defying J, too. The Grizzlies, remember, previously had played seven home openers in Memphis but won zero. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Grizzlies 23rd | See Grizzlies chart | |
22 (27) | Nets | 1-1 | An opening night win at Washington surprised what's left of the Nets as much as anyone. Credit team prez Rod Thorn for sugarcoating nothing when asked whether his team has any playoff hope: "On paper, probably not." Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Nets 10th | See Nets chart | |
23 (16) | Wizards | 0-2 | The Wiz still have a way to go to match the depths of last season's 0-5 start. A home loss to Jersey on opening night, however, is just not good enough for a team that prides itself on its ability to cope without Arenas. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Wizards 17th | See Wizards chart | |
24 (25) | Bobcats | 1-1 | Not sure how nostalgic Larry Brown will be for the Bobcats' games this week against the Pistons and Knicks, but it should be a tad easier to face his old teams now that he has won a game after that 0-8 preseason. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Bobcats 30th | See Bobcats chart | |
25 (26) | Knicks | 1-2 | The Knicks have little choice if they want to read about something else in this space. They'll just have to waive the untradable Marbury and eat his $21.9 million salary, else Steph will continue to be the story. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Knicks 28th | See Knicks chart | |
26 (23) | Heat | 1-2 | Not exactly a happy start for D-Wade's Heaters. The bench looks as thin as advertised, Shawn Marion has a busted nose and ugly road defeats to the likes of New York and Charlotte were particularly painful. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Heat 15th | See Heat chart | |
27 (30) | Thunder | 1-2 | Progress? As a Seattle rook, Kevin Durant had to wait nine games for win No. 1. As an Okie, KD's wait was only three games. P.J. Carlesimo spoke for everyone involved when he admitted, "Any win feels good, honestly." Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Thunder 25th | See Thunder chart | |
28 (24) | Timberwolves | 1-2 | The Wolves are supposed to be one of the league's better bad teams, if there is such a thing. Yet that's a difficult claim to make after any glee gleaned from a 1-0 start was wiped out by a fall-from-ahead loss in OKC. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Wolves 12th | See Wolves chart | |
29 (28) | Kings | 0-3 | We promised they'd be scrappy, if nothing else, but the Kings haven't even reached those modest heights on their Brad Miller-less road trip. They were swept on a back-to-back in Miami and Orlando by a combined 44 points. Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Kings eighth | See Kings chart | |
30 (19) | Clippers | 0-3 | The Clips lost to the less-rested Lakers by 38 when Baron Davis was available. What will it be like Wednesday when the Staples Center co-tenants hook up again if both Baron (hip) and Camby (heel) can't go? Power Rankings, 2002 to 2008: Clippers 21st | See Clippers chart |
Comment