NBA.com's Power Rankings Week1

[omfgfcku2]

After One Week, Three Teams Look Strongest

By John Schuhmann, NBA.com
Posted Nov 2 2009 11:15AM
The word of the week is "inconsistency."
The Blazers handle the Rockets just fine at home, but can't stop them in Houston? The Raptors upset the Cavs, but can't beat the Grizzlies? The Pistons smoke those Grizzlies, but can't beat the Thunder or Bucks? And the Thunder win in Detroit, but can't make a shot against the Blazers at home?
Those kinds of results can make a difficult task of sorting out the middle of the pack in the initial Power Rankings of the 2009-10 season. Fortunately, there are a few teams that make sorting out the top and bottom pretty easy.
After six days of basketball, we've got five undefeated squads (there were seven at this time last year), but three of them clearly had better weeks than the other two. The Celtics have been crushing teams, the Magic are winning despite the absences of key players, and the Nuggets beat both of their Northwest Division rivals. So that's your top three after Week 1.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Kings, Knicks and Nets have looked pretty awful, each losing to a team that lost at least 47 games last season. And the Grizzlies are the first winner of the Worst Defensive Team in the League award. So congratulations to them.
Remember, we threw out the preseason rankings and started from scratch. We don't think the Cavs are worse than all 14 teams ahead of them, but based on their performance this past week (which included a loss to the Raptors), they belong at No. 15.

Spring Forward Team of the Week: Boston (4-0)
Fall Back Team of the Week: New Jersey (0-3)
High jumps of the week: Miami (+15), Milwaukee (+9), Phoenix (+6)
Free falls of the week: Cleveland (-13), Portland (-6), 3 teams (-5)
East vs. West: The East leads 5-4 (.556) in inter-conference games.
Pace: Possessions per 48 minutes (League Rank)
Off: Points scored per 100 possessions (League Rank)
Def: Points allowed per 100 possessions (League Rank)
The league averages through Sunday are 95.6 possessions (per team) per 48 minutes and 103.7 points scored per 100 possessions.
NBA.com's Power Rankings are just one man's opinion and are released every Monday during the season. If you've got an issue with the rankings, or have a question or comment for John Schuhmann, send him an e-mail. You can also follow him on twitter.

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[Heat-Flash]

I dont actually get these. Like why lakers are above Heat and Suns when they have 2-1? and other similar things. Like heat's either off and def ranking are better then lakers, suns are down by a small part in the defensive, but they're up on offensive and they're quite a lot in the bottom, even behind dallas.

[coutts1990]

Originally Posted by Heat-Flash

I dont actually get these. Like why lakers are above Heat and Suns when they have 2-1? and other similar things. Like heat's either off and def ranking are better then lakers, suns are down by a small part in the defensive, but they're up on offensive and they're quite a lot in the bottom, even behind dallas.

Its got a lot to do with who they play aswell.

[DaGettoMan]

Fall Back Team of the Week: New Jersey (0-3)

Just love it, ever since VC got traded they understand how bad Devin Harris is.

[omfgfcku2]

Originally Posted by Heat-Flash

I dont actually get these. Like why lakers are above Heat and Suns when they have 2-1? and other similar things. Like heat's either off and def ranking are better then lakers, suns are down by a small part in the defensive, but they're up on offensive and they're quite a lot in the bottom, even behind dallas.

Suns played the Clips, Golden State and Minny.. Clippers are 0-4, Warriors are 0-2 and 1-2 Minny.
Heat played a 0-3 Knicks, 0-2 Indy and a 1-2 Bulls

L.A. played the Clips, Mavs and Atlanta.

[Showtime8]

Boston was clearly the best in the east this week, same as the nuggets in the west. Solid ball to start the season. Lakers and Cavs seem a bit rusty yet, but getting better.

Houston surprised me this first week, specially in the win vs Portland.

[electroshock23]

King and cavs will become champions. it's time.... :-)

[King-Wade]

Im pretty pleased with Miami's ranking. I know they haven't faced the hardest teams but I still enjoy seeing them among the top teams in the NBA.

[Imadogg]

Agree with and predicted those top 2. They are looking daaamn good.

[joris]

Originally Posted by Imadogg

Agree with and predicted those top 2. They are looking daaamn good.

same here