Post by ib4 on Jul 9, 2010 13:11:40 GMT -5
SSBL POWER RANKINGS
Based on standings for the most part with some analysis
1.
Los Angeles Lakers (45-21)The Lakers are loaded with talent, headlined by the dynamic duo of Shaq and Kobe. They are hands-down the team to beat in SSBL. They rank 1st in the league in PPG, 3rd in RPG, 1st in APG, 2nd in SPG, 1st in BPG, 1st in FG%, and 1st in oTOPG. The team is also tied for 1st in point differential at 8.0. Schmaranz did a great job of surrounding Kobe and Shaq with Cliff, Rod, and Chewing, and I don’t see how this team can be upset by any other team in the playoffs. Well played, sir.
2.
Miami Heat (43-22)Can we pencil in Alonzo Mourning as the MVP? Averaging 27/13/3/3.4 blks.. Shawn made two big trades earlier in the season in which the Heat acquired Grant Hill and Derrick Coleman, solidifying the starting lineup for a very balanced Miami team. They are Top 5 in RPG, BPG, FG%, 3P%, oPPG. With their stellar defense, they are also outscoring the opposition by 8.0 PPG. Also boast the best home record up to this point in the season. If Shawn decides to “special inject” PJ Brown, that will really help their bench come playoff time.
3.
Philadelphia 76ers (42-25)Acquiring Karl Malone earlier in the season has taken a load off of young Allen Iverson. The duo averages 53.5 PPG together, highest of any two teammates in the league. Big Theo holds down the middle with a quiet 10/10/3. They are currently two games back behind their Atlantic Division rivals, the Miami Heat.
4.
Sacramento Kings (40-24)The Kings are a high-scoring team led by All-Star MVP Chris Webber. He’s averaging a beastly 27/12/3/2 as the Kings fight for the top spot against the Lakers out west. The Kings also have 5 players scoring double figures a night, so you know C-Webb is getting his help. The Kings as a team are Top 3 in PPG, BPG, and FG%.
5.
San Antonio Spurs (40-25)The Midwest Division leading Spurs are running away with the #2 seed on West, thanks to all the shitty Midwest teams. The Nuggets are a whopping 8.0 GB them, with an under .500 record. Pretty smooth sailing for Brandon, who has been somewhat MIA this season, but also hasn’t really had to do anything with the stock roster of the Twin Towers, DRob and Timmy who average a combined 48 PPG and 23 RPG. Duncan can challenge Zo and CWebb for MVP, should be interesting.
6.
Portland Trailblazers (40-25)It sucks to be in the same division as the Lakers and Kings, but the Blazers are right on their Trail (get it??). They are tied in the W-L column with the Spurs, however recently went just 4-6 in their last 10 games. However, balanced scoring from Finley, Stack, Brandon, Sabonis, and BGrant has kept them high in the standings, and we can’t forget about their 6th man, the Plastic Man, Stacey Augmon. The Blazers rank in the Top 5 in team RPG, APG, FT%. The only thing I’d say they lack is a monster shot blocker, a la Theo Ratliff or Pat Ewing.
7.
Detroit Pistons (39-26)The Pistons are a team that, quite honestly, has surprised me so far. They are led by their All-Star Jamal Mashburn who is averaging 21/6/2 shooting an impressive 48% from the floor. The young Rasheed Wallace is providing some additional scoring help. However, I feel like they are a PG away from being an even better team. Lindsey Hunter has been decent so far, but his high A/TO ratio could be of some concern. Also, Dumars is now playing off the bench, but I would be starting him over Kittles IMHO.
8.
Phoenix Suns (37-26)The Suns lead the league in rebounding…leading rebounder: Will Perdue, 8.3 RPG…huh? The statistic is correct, since every single guy is crashing the board on any given play. All-star Jason Kidd leads this team with an impressive 18/6/10 and is one of the best rebounding guards in the SSBL. JR Rider is benefiting from playing beside Kidd with 17 PPG in under 30 minutes per…pretty good. Bob Horry has been lighting it up and spreading the floor too. The Suns lack interior banging, however, as well as a mean shot blocker. Theo Ratliff needs to be on every team.
9.
Indiana Pacers (40-30)The outside focused Pacers are Top 5 in PPG, limiting TOPG, 3P%. No surprise that they shoot many 3’s a game with Nash, Rice, and Spike Lee’s best friend Reggie Miller. My favorite Dutchman has been decent for them downlow, but someone teach Smits how to block a shot. Theo Ratliff? Anyways, the Pacers had some really good recent sims, going 9-1 in their last 10 games and rising in the East standings. Nice. They just need some defenders.
10.
Milwaukee Bucks (37-29)The Bucks are 2nd in PPG and 2nd in 3P%. Just like the Pacers, they are loaded up with shooters…namely, Ray Allen, Glenn Robinson, Dell Curry, Keith Van Horn, and David Wesley. Big Ervin Johnson (no, not Magic) holds down the middle but I feel that PF is their weakness…I don’t know if KVH is best suited as a PF, Gilliam has shared time at PF too. Inside scoring in general, I’d say, would be an area for improvement. I’m not doubting them though, I think they will cause some trouble for a lot of teams down the road.
11.
New York Knicks (38-30)Not entirely sure what Dave is trying to do as they traded Garden favorite Patrick Ewing earlier in the season, but the Knicks are actually a decent team without the big gorilla. Ewing’s departure has freed up more playing time for youngsters Marcus Camby and Joe Smith, who are showing promise. Slash was also unable to unload Sprewell and Houston, but they are playing their hearts out in NY as the Knicks recently went 8-2. Could they mimic the RL ’98 Knicks as a low seed upsetting everyone in the playoffs to get to the finals? MMT…
12.
Orlando Magic (35-28)After acquiring Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo from the Hawks for All Star Nick Anderson, I decided to make some recent moves to add some shooters, in Steve Smith and Chris Mullin. I’m also really diggin DA at Point, though I wanted to use Penny at PG this season, but oh well.
13.
Boston Celtics (33-29)Jebly where are you? Your team needs some GMing if they want to be anything more than a .500 team. Even if he is MIA for the rest of the season, they still have a young core in Pierce and Walker. They also need some interior presence and scoring. Battie is alright, still young though.
14.
Chicago Bulls (34-31)It sucks when the MVP retires, because the following season will suck. I guess the Bulls are going through what the RL Cavs will go through next season (hehe). With MJ out of the picture, the stock roster Bulls are relying on Brent Barry for all the scoring, yikes. The Bulls, however, are barely getting by with Barry and Kukoc running the show. It’s okay though, coop assured me that he’ll check the boards and post DCs all the time even if he doesn’t comment on anything else or discuss anything.
15.
Toronto Raptors (35-35)Aha, here we are, middle of the PRs where I don’t have to go into too much detail about stats and what not. The Raptors, though, are very interesting and have a very promising future with TMac and VC, cousin teammates. They are lotto bound for now, though not too far behind the Celtics in a competitive Eastern Conference.
16.
Cleveland Cavaliers (29-30)Shawn Kemp is throwing down monsterous dunks, but some mediocre sims as of late have brought the Cavaliers down in the standings as they are currently un-seeded in the East. Detlef has been helping him out, but other guys need to step up their game, ahem ahem Anderson, Person….
17.
Denver Nuggets (31-32)The team is underachieving and with a trio of McDyess, MitchRich, and Billups, you’d expect some better production. Let’s see if the Nuggets can pull it together with these last two sims.
18.
Utah Jazz (31-36)Hey Fid, the Jazz are in the playoffs because the MIDWEST SUCKS. Haha, even trading Malone and Stockton doesn’t equate to a lotto team if you got the big O still in town! I think if the Jazz kept the best PG-PF connection around this year, they would battle the Spurs for the 1st in the Midwest Division.
19.
Houston Rockets (28-35)The biggest disappointment so far, hands-down. New Rockets GM “Boricua” has such a great opportunity to get some help around Dream, Sir Charles, and Pippen, but instead he went on vacation right before the deadline. This team should be a power house but is instead a below .500 team yet still currently the #8 seed, who knows if they’ll remain there without a good PG.
20.
Los Angeles Clippers (27-34)Olowokandi and Wright are their future big men, but the Clippers are looking for a SG or PG for sure in this up-coming draft.
21.
Atlanta Hawks (29-38) Trading Mutumbo was a big step for the Hawks rebuild as they currently own 3 1sts in 2001. But at least they still have their own pick this year. They’ll have some extra cap to work with as well when Ike Austin and Jon Barry come off the books this offseason. Nick Anderson should also draw some teams’ attention. The former All-Star wasn’t pleased with the trade and may be looking to push for a trade either before the deadline or in the offseason.
22.
Seattle Supersonics (25-38)Gary Payton is the best PG in the league, but is on one of the worst teams in the league. They either need to surround their star with help or trade him to make him happy
23.
Wizards lack a lot of things…namely a good PG, a good SG, and inside scoring. Ben Wallace should be around for a while, but I wouldn’t consider him a cornerstone to build a franchise around. Luca loves rebuilding, doesn’t he…
24.
Golden State Warriors (23-38)They have some guys in the twighlight of their career in John Starks and Moggsy Bogues, but Jamison looks like a promising Forward that the Warriors can build around.
25.
Charlotte Hornets (24-40)The Hornets are in bad shape financially with a bad record and many multi-year contracts on the books. They have been shopping Campbell and Fox hard, but haven’t struck any deals yet. At least JWill and Peja look promising…
26.
Minnesota Timberwolves (23-40)The Twolves started out the season awarding Stephen “what have I accomplished” Jackson with a very generous $34 M contract. So far, Jackson has shot the ball pretty well, but the young combo of KG and SJax isn’t getting it down up in Minny. They’ll need to re-sign KG this offseason, but if he bails, that would be really funny.
27.
New Jersey Nets (17-9)The worst team in the East, the New Jersey Nets barely get any fans to come out to see them in the Meadowlands, despite Stephon Marbury’s impressive year. The All Star is averaging 24 PPG and 7.7 APG (who the hell is he passing to?) but an awful 4 TOPG. Marbury needs some help. Look for the Nets to draft a big man. Or are they set on the infamous Mark Blount!?!?
28.
Vancouver Grizzlies (22-44)SAR is having a great year. Bibby is an up and coming PG. Afro will have a decision to make on Big Country Reeves in the offseason. They are in good position for the future and their pick should be a very high lotto one.
29.
Dallas Mavericks (12-14)Nick has done a good job in the rebuild process for Dallas, keeping his favorite player Dirk Nowitzki and surrounding him with young guys like JO, Harrington, and Mobley. Not to mention his pick should go #1. Great job tanking there, greygoose.
2000
