411's NBA Team Rankings 11.07.07: Week 1
Posted by Matt McCready on 11.07.2007
411mania.com's Matt McCready counts down all the NBA teams. Where does your favorite team rank?
Matt McCready's NBA Team Rankings Week 1
1. San Antonio Spurs - Manu Ginobili took the summer off from international competition (for once) and has looked great. Tony Parker is still incredibly young and improving while Tim 'Big Fundamental' Duncan has NOT been working on a three-point shot. Expect more of the same from the NBA's model franchise.
2. Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and the crew are out to prove that last year's first round disaster was a fluke.
3. Phoenix - They struggled against the Lakers, but Stevie and the Matrix bootband rebounded with a solid win against Cleveland without Amare Stoudamire.
4. Detroit Pistons - They've crushed every team put in front of them so far, including a good Orlando squad. They are the team to beat in the East.
5. - Boston Celtics - Proved themselves with an overtime victory against Toronto, but will Garnett, Pierce and Allen continue to play such un-godly minutes without injury? Their bench is scarier than a Hubie Brown perm and thinner than Jeff Van Gundy's combover.
6. New Orleans Hornets - They are still undefeated and will be tested with games against San Antonio and the Lakers next week. The return of Peja and the signing of MoPete have given the Hornets the outside shooting they desperately needed.
7. Houston Rockets - Their only loss came against the Mavericks. They are still adjusting going from a Jeff Van Gundy ultra conservative system to Rick Adelman's up-tempo offense. Yao and McGrady have looked spectacular so far.
8. Toronto Raptors - Annihilated New Jersey but came out flat against fellow division rival Boston. They are possibly the deepest team in the league and played all twelve men in their first game. They are built to survive the 82 game season.
9. Indiana Pacers - They're still undefeated still but there are still injury concerns for this team. The versatile Danny Granger might win the most improved player award.
10. Denver Nuggets - The explosive offensive mix of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson is nearly negated by the team's terrible defensive play. If Marcus 'Mr. Glass' Camby misses some time then this team might give up 110 points a game.
11. Los Angeles Lakers - The Kobe saga has been overshadowed by a big win against Phoenix... for now.
12. Chicago Bulls - They've started 0-3 but they're too talented to rank any lower. Every player on the team has shot the ball terribly so far. Maybe this is the team most affected by the Bryant rumours.
13. Utah Jazz - Kirilenko has shown that he'll play a team game while Deron Williams has carried over his excellent playoff performance into the regular season. Mehmet Okur has struggled big time so far.
14. Charlotte Bobcats - They squeaked out two victories and they'll have to count on the improved play of Ray Felton to continue to do so.
15. Orlando Magic - This team can go as far as their point guard play can take them. I'm looking at you Jameer Nelson.
16. Los Angeles Clippers - They are undefeated but it's highly unlikely that Chris Kaman can keep up his torrid play.
17. New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd recorded his 50th triple double against the 76ers in a big swampland win. They're no-show against Toronto has them this low.
18. Cleveland Cavaliers - They are perhaps the most overrated team in the league. Maybe LeBron wearing that Yankees hat was a sign of things to come?
19. Atlanta Hawks - Looked good in their opener and took the Pistons to the limit. There's tons of talent on this team and this year could be the one where they take the next step. Watch out Durant, Al Horford might be the rookie-of-the-year when it's all said and done.
20. New York Knicks - A loss to the Cavaliers was somewhat alleviated by a win against the woeful Timberwolves.
21. Miami Heat - This team looks lost without Dwayne Wade. They might struggle to make the playoffs.
22. Milwaukee Bucks- This team will get better as it adjusts to its new and returning (Bobby Simmons) players. Yi Jianlian seems to be improving with each game.
23. Philadelphia 76ers- Philly is a young hyper-athletic team that should improve as the year progresses. Andre Igoudala is a star on both ends of the court.
24. Memphis Grizzlies- Despite not winning a game thus far there is hope. 'Donnie' Darko Milicic gives them a dirty interior presence while Juan Carlos Navarro should put up good scoring numbers off the bench once he adjusts to the NBA style of play.
25. Washington Wizards- The team did nothing to improve their roster. Meanwhile, Etan Thomas will miss the season due to heart problems. They are a worse team then they were last year.
26. Golden State Warriors- Last year's Golden Boys might have bought into their own hype as they've started off 0-3.
27. Sacramento Kings- The injury to Mike Bibby couldn't have come at a worse time for the Kings.
28. Portland Trailblazers- This team is too young to really have an impact but at least they'll have a shot at OJ Mayo.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves - Does anybody understand the Antoine Walker trade? Or the Garnett trade for that matter...
30. Seattle Supersonics- Kurt Thomas probably misses being in Phoenix.
1. San Antonio Spurs - Manu Ginobili took the summer off from international competition (for once) and has looked great. Tony Parker is still incredibly young and improving while Tim 'Big Fundamental' Duncan has NOT been working on a three-point shot. Expect more of the same from the NBA's model franchise.
2. Dallas Mavericks - Dirk Nowitzki, Josh Howard and the crew are out to prove that last year's first round disaster was a fluke.
3. Phoenix - They struggled against the Lakers, but Stevie and the Matrix bootband rebounded with a solid win against Cleveland without Amare Stoudamire.
4. Detroit Pistons - They've crushed every team put in front of them so far, including a good Orlando squad. They are the team to beat in the East.
5. - Boston Celtics - Proved themselves with an overtime victory against Toronto, but will Garnett, Pierce and Allen continue to play such un-godly minutes without injury? Their bench is scarier than a Hubie Brown perm and thinner than Jeff Van Gundy's combover.
6. New Orleans Hornets - They are still undefeated and will be tested with games against San Antonio and the Lakers next week. The return of Peja and the signing of MoPete have given the Hornets the outside shooting they desperately needed.
7. Houston Rockets - Their only loss came against the Mavericks. They are still adjusting going from a Jeff Van Gundy ultra conservative system to Rick Adelman's up-tempo offense. Yao and McGrady have looked spectacular so far.
8. Toronto Raptors - Annihilated New Jersey but came out flat against fellow division rival Boston. They are possibly the deepest team in the league and played all twelve men in their first game. They are built to survive the 82 game season.
9. Indiana Pacers - They're still undefeated still but there are still injury concerns for this team. The versatile Danny Granger might win the most improved player award.
10. Denver Nuggets - The explosive offensive mix of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson is nearly negated by the team's terrible defensive play. If Marcus 'Mr. Glass' Camby misses some time then this team might give up 110 points a game.
11. Los Angeles Lakers - The Kobe saga has been overshadowed by a big win against Phoenix... for now.
12. Chicago Bulls - They've started 0-3 but they're too talented to rank any lower. Every player on the team has shot the ball terribly so far. Maybe this is the team most affected by the Bryant rumours.
13. Utah Jazz - Kirilenko has shown that he'll play a team game while Deron Williams has carried over his excellent playoff performance into the regular season. Mehmet Okur has struggled big time so far.
14. Charlotte Bobcats - They squeaked out two victories and they'll have to count on the improved play of Ray Felton to continue to do so.
15. Orlando Magic - This team can go as far as their point guard play can take them. I'm looking at you Jameer Nelson.
16. Los Angeles Clippers - They are undefeated but it's highly unlikely that Chris Kaman can keep up his torrid play.
17. New Jersey Nets - Jason Kidd recorded his 50th triple double against the 76ers in a big swampland win. They're no-show against Toronto has them this low.
18. Cleveland Cavaliers - They are perhaps the most overrated team in the league. Maybe LeBron wearing that Yankees hat was a sign of things to come?
19. Atlanta Hawks - Looked good in their opener and took the Pistons to the limit. There's tons of talent on this team and this year could be the one where they take the next step. Watch out Durant, Al Horford might be the rookie-of-the-year when it's all said and done.
20. New York Knicks - A loss to the Cavaliers was somewhat alleviated by a win against the woeful Timberwolves.
21. Miami Heat - This team looks lost without Dwayne Wade. They might struggle to make the playoffs.
22. Milwaukee Bucks- This team will get better as it adjusts to its new and returning (Bobby Simmons) players. Yi Jianlian seems to be improving with each game.
23. Philadelphia 76ers- Philly is a young hyper-athletic team that should improve as the year progresses. Andre Igoudala is a star on both ends of the court.
24. Memphis Grizzlies- Despite not winning a game thus far there is hope. 'Donnie' Darko Milicic gives them a dirty interior presence while Juan Carlos Navarro should put up good scoring numbers off the bench once he adjusts to the NBA style of play.
25. Washington Wizards- The team did nothing to improve their roster. Meanwhile, Etan Thomas will miss the season due to heart problems. They are a worse team then they were last year.
26. Golden State Warriors- Last year's Golden Boys might have bought into their own hype as they've started off 0-3.
27. Sacramento Kings- The injury to Mike Bibby couldn't have come at a worse time for the Kings.
28. Portland Trailblazers- This team is too young to really have an impact but at least they'll have a shot at OJ Mayo.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves - Does anybody understand the Antoine Walker trade? Or the Garnett trade for that matter... 
30. Seattle Supersonics- Kurt Thomas probably misses being in Phoenix.
