Post by repole on Sept 14, 2005 15:00:25 GMT -5
1. Washington Wizards
Record: 16-4
Comments: Anyone who doesn't think the Wizards are the best team in the league is stupid. Not only are they defending champions, but they also hold the best record in the league. A tremendous offense and very good defense means this team is going no where anytime soon. Antonio Daniels is a perfect example of what this team stands for, and is probably the most under-rated player in the league. His 8-1 assist to turn over ratio must be record breaking.
2. Milwuake Bucks
Record: 14-6
Comments: The second best defense in the league and a top 10 offense make the Bucks a dangerous team. They're loaded with big names, and personally I think they could be doing a bit better. The loss of Gadzuric in the frontcourt is going to kill them, as they have very little depth up there. Shawn Marion scoring 22 points per game isn't as good as it looks. Shooting .401 from the field means he's hurting the team offensivly taking that many shots.
3. Pheonix Suns
Record: 13-4
Comments: The Suns have been playing better than I expected. I didn't expect them to be a bad team, I just didn't see them as true contendors. The Gasol Wade dou has looked great, as well as the overall team defense, but the Suns lack a third scorer. To me Kurt Thomas should be starting over the low shot percentage shooting of Andrew Bogut. 12 points in 25 mpg for Kurt to me makes him a solid 3rd option, and better than anything they currently have. Camby is also struggling from the field, but he makes up for it defensivly, unlike Bogut. I don't know how long the Suns will keep it up at this pace, but they look like a contender to me.
4. Miami Heat
Record: 14-6
Comments: Here's a simple formula for you all; Shaq + Vince = Wins. Shaq and Vince have both been playing very good (though Shaq along with Crawford missed some time), but Miller, Rip, and Odom are all shooting at a percentage lower than they should. I also don't get why Shaq isn't getting the ball more, he should be scoring 30 a game. Overall the Heat are a great team, but i'm not convinced Odom is a power forward yet. If they were to add another big time post presence, they'd truly be dominant.
5. Utah Jazz
Record: 8-2
Comments: The Jazz haven't played many games, but in the ones they have they've looked great. With the league's best defense and a roster loaded with talent the Jazz shouldn't be going anywhere but up. Losses against the sub-.500 Hawks and Kings don't look as bad when you beat the Bucks as the Jazz did.
6. Minnesota Timberwolves
Record: 10-3
Comments: A great start for the Timberwovles has them atop their division. Currently all the Wolves players seem to be playing at their best, as even guys like Chris Andersen are shooting 54% from the field. KG is putting up 28 11 and 4, while Ginobili pitches in with 19 6 and 4 forming a very deadly dou. Though a very good team, I'm not sure how long the Wolves will stay this high with a poor defense and so many players playing as good as they ever have at this point. Certainly a top 10 team, I see them ending up around 8 by the end of the year.
7. Houston Rockets
Record: 10-5
Comments: At 10-5 the former Western Conference Champions have been a bit of a dissapointment thus far. Tmac, Yao, and JWill have been playing very well, while Stro has struggled a bit offensivly. This team is in desperate need of a SF though, starting DeMarr Johnson is pretty bad. They could also use some depth in a position other than point guard. At this point the Rockets are a small forward away from being dominant, but that may be hard to find.
8. Portland Trailblazers
Record: 9-5
Comments: The injury to Billups is really going to hurt this team, and a drop out of the top 10 wouldn't be particularily surpring. Zoran Planinic has filled in very well in the six games the Blazers have been without Chauncy, but how long that will last is up in the air. Theo Ratliff has been amazing, averaging nearly 9 10 and 4 while shooting 57%. Ratliff's explosion offensivly makes up for Big Z's poor field goal percentage, for now. At this point the Blazers are on pretty shaky ground with a few players over achieving and Billups out right now.
10-20 will come later if i get me hw done
.... i swear on my life tommorow they'll be 1-29...or maybe i'll just do the full sim 3 ones?