NBA Power Rankings: Off To a Celtic Start

Previous rankings come from my earlier article:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/245700-nba-power-rankings-a-preseason-prediction

From the predictions before the preseason started.

1. Boston (3) - A 5-0 record is a lot better than some experts were predicting. A healthy Garnett is obviously helping and the addition of Rasheed Wallace is more of an upgrade than an attention hungry defender (Artest), and a worn down ultra-celebrity (Shaq). Are you listening, LA and Cleveland?

2. Orlando (5) - They do have the best POSSIBLE record, but they aren't the No. 1 team right now. They are playing some pretty darn good basketball though, and I look at their perfect preseason and so far perfect season as a good sign for the future. The 2010 champs, anyone?

3. Phoenix (21) - Phoenix needs to be playing better against Minnesota. They lost to them too much the past few years, and they were really struggling until late in the third to pull ahead. And yet, Frye an All-Star?

4. Denver (11) - Unbeaten through four games is a pretty impressive feat, and some people are already pulling out the Melo MVP signs. It's not a crazy though, Anthony is playing better ball than last year's Most Valuable Player.

5. Los Angeles (4) - Should one loss drop you this far? Maybe not, but the other teams are just too hot right now, and Ron Artest hasn't been all that he was cut out to be... which I personally predicted.

6. Miami (12) - It's encouraging that Miami is playing so well because every fan of the Heat is crossing their fingers that their precious Wade doesn't leave next year. He'd be my precious Wade too, but the point is, they're doing well.

7. San Antonio (2) - I think that the smartest move of the offseason was Richard Jefferson, and his numbers agree with me. An excellent starter to a team that looks like the old Spurs, who won't make much noise until late April-June.

8. Dallas (6) - These 30 year-olds can certainly play ball. Shawn Marion has found a nice spot on the team too, which is nice. Drew Gooden, however, has found his spot in the newspapers for an issue with a fan. Yikes.

9. Atlanta (9) - This is a team that everyone needs to start bringing up in the rankings. They are a great team. They lack that special flare player, and that top-three team reputation, but they could be and should be.

10. Cleveland (1) - The problem, Cleveland, is that you're not the team that you used to be. Your losses have been embarrassing and your wins have been over average teams. And Shaq doesn't fit in very well. Time for Stephen Jackson? Well something's got to change otherwise I'd be looking at NYC/NJ if I were LeBron.

11. Washington (15) - It's encouraging to Washington fans that the Foye/Miller trade ended up working out in their favor in the short term since the pick that they traded ended up being Ricky Rubio. It's also encouraging that they're 2-1.

12. Houston (20) - Don't look too much into the beginning of the year start for the Rockets. Lots of teams can win some games, it's the bulk 80 that count. However, good job Ariza for making yourself known in the great basketball state of Texas.

13. Portland (7) - Ah, the Blazers finally have a star point guard, and he isn't doing too well. Sorry Blazers, you thought you had the answer to all your biggest problems, didn't you?

14. Philadelphia (19) - Do they miss their point guard? Well, Andre Miller wouldn't kill them right now, but right now they're looking pretty good. Congrats to Lou Williams for becoming the 76ers' new leading scorer (although, it won't be for long).

15. Utah (8) - Not a bad start, but definitely not a great one, by anyone's standards. It's nice to see that Boozer still has a spot in their starting lineup, and that Deron Williams is averaging a double-double. The beams of light on an average start.

16. Oklahoma City (18) - Two wins to start off the season isn't bad. They're silencing this naysayer. But they need to maintain this to really start becoming a true respectable team in the NBA.

17. Charlotte (24) - Geez, can you be much more of an average team?

18. Detroit (16) -

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