NBA Power Rankings: Early Season Eastern Conference Rankings

A lot is changing in the East.

The Indiana Pacers and Philadelphia 76ers are on the rise while the Knicks and Celtics seem to have regressed.

The two teams that remain the same are the class of the East, the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. 

How does everyone else stack up?

Here is the first installment of the power rankings for the Eastern Conference. 

1. Chicago Bulls (10-2)

It's hard to differentiate between the Heat and Bulls, especially when each teams only two losses came at the hands of Atlanta and Golden State. 

Chicago gets the top spot because of a higher quality of wins (both L.A. teams, Atlanta, Orlando) as opposed to Miami's wins vs. Dallas, Boston, Atlanta, Indiana. 

Then again, can you get much closer?

As you can probably surmise, it's all semantics at this point.

These are the two best teams in the East and probably the league.

At the moment, the Heat and Bulls are heavy favorites to meet in the conference championship. 

2. Miami Heat (8-3)

Miami was playing great basketball until they've tripped up and lost their first two games on a five game Western Conference road trip. 

Still, the Heat are first in the league in assists and eighth in rebounds.

More importantly, Miami is showing they now have quality and depth beyond their big three. This was demonstrated during a gritty overtime win against Atlanta without superstars LeBron James or Dwyane Wade.

Last year's team would have certainly folded. This year, Miami is out to prove otherwise.

Expect Miami to rebound after a rare two-game slide. 

3. Indiana Pacers (7-3)

The Philadelphia 76ers have a legitimate case for being third in the East considering they beat the Pacers earlier this week, but here is why Indiana deserves the spot more.

First, they played the 76ers tough in Philadelphia without their best player in Danny Granger and their key reserve George Hill.

Secondly, the Pacers are still 7-3 with Granger almost seven points below his average and mired in the worst slump of his career.

Third, the Pacers have better players:

Collison vs. Holiday—advantage Sixers

George vs. Meeks—advantage Pacers

Granger vs. Iguodala—advantage Pacers

West vs. Brand—advantage Pacers

Hibbert vs. Hawes—advantage Pacers

Most importantly, Indiana is one of the most balanced teams in the league. An impressive seven players are averaging double figures in scoring and four players are averaging five rebounds per game or more. 

4. Philadelphia 76ers (7-3)

The Sixers are one of the surprise and feel-good stories of the year so far. 

Philly is first in the league in points allowed, second in rebounds and third in scoring per game.

Can it last?

Wednesday at New York was a good example.

After a six-game win streak against rather mediocre competition, the Sixers struggled to score against the a non-existent Knicks defense in what was one of their first true road tests of the season.

Still, at the this point in the season, Doug Collins has to be a favorite to win Coach of the Year for the turnaround he has engineered. 

If the Sixers can keep up the hot start, they will be a tough out come playoff time. Right now, though, that's still a big "if."

5. Orlando Magic (7-3)

After the first four teams, the differences between the remaining playoff contenders are a bit murkier. 

Orlando is completely reliant on a soon-to-depart Dwight Howard. 

Atlanta rode three wins over New Jersey, a win against Charlotte and a victory over the hapless Washington Wizards to a 7-4 start.

The Knicks depend on two players for about half of their scoring and a third of their rebounds.

Meanwhile, after a tough loss to Dallas, Boston is a game under .500

So, who is the best of the rest? 

Orlando.

As long as Howard remains in Disney World, the Magic will be a team to be reckoned with.

Ryan Anderson is having a career year at the moment and Redick, Richardson and Turkoglu provide scoring from the wing.

The problem?

When one player leads a team in: scoring, rebounds, steals, blocks and field goal percentage, that team is in serious trouble. 

Nevertheless, at 7-3, with two of their three losses coming to Oklahoma and Chicago, the Magic are in good position for the moment and are hanging tough.

6. Atlanta Hawks (7-4)

Critics of the Hawks should give them a pass for their loss to a quality Pacers on Wednesday. Especially when you consider Atlanta was coming off seven games in 10 days and that Horford hardly played because of an injury and Marvin Williams never suited up. 

Add in series splits with Miami and Chicago, and there are positive signs for the Hawks.

That being said, Atlanta is still way too erratic for the talent they have. If they want to compete with the East's elite, they have to hit the boards and rebound the ball.

Wherever the Hawks end up, if they can get a few issues sorted out, they will be a nightmare first-round matchup. 

7. New York Knicks (6-4)

The Knicks are riding a nice little four game win streak, until you consider that three of those victories came against Washington, Charlotte and Detroit. 

Furthermore, Carmelo and A'mare are carrying a roster that just doesn't have the necessary talent to adequately support the two superstars.

Tyson Chandler has been OK, but the Knicks are still a player or two short from becoming a legitimate contender. 

If it doesn't happen at the trade deadline, it's hard to see New York being able to hold up down the stretch. 

8. Boston Celtics (4-5)

Fortunately for the Celtics, there is still a lot of time for them to turn their 4-5 record around.

Even better, the drop-off of contending teams means nobody is nipping at their heels.

Their bench is dangerously thin, their starting five is looking old and their trademark consistency has been far more volatile than in years past.

Is it panic time in Beantown? Certainly not. But the Celtics need to get it going or they could be facing mighty Miami in the first round.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (4-5)

Unfortunately for Dan Gilbert, Miami is a little bit further long in the quest to who wins the championship first. 

That being said, Cleveland should be pleased with their progress.

Predicted to finish in the back of the pack, the Cavs would currently be tied for the final playoff spot in the East if they were to begin today.

Much of their early success is due to the play of rookie first-round pick, Kyrie Irving who is averaging 15.6 points and 5.1 assists per game.

The Cavs are surprisingly balanced and playing with great intensity and determination, scrapping their way to four early wins. That is something Cavs fans can get excited about. 

10. Toronto Raptors (4-7)

Andrea Bargnani is having his best year to date, going for 30 points in three games while also averaging a career high in rebounds at 6.2 rebounds per game.

Jose Calderon and Amir Johnson are also playing well and yet still the Raptors are three games under .500. 

DeMar DeRozan has to get going. If he can play at the level he is capable of and one that he was playing at last season, the Raptors can be competitive. 

While Bargnani has been a stud this season, he can only carry the team so far.

11. Milwaukee Bucks (3-6)

It's amazing what Bogut can do. After missing several games for person reasons, Bogut came back to lift the Bucks over the San Antonio Spurs. 

As long as Bogut is anchoring the center spot, the Bucks' play should improve.

Dunleavy being out will set them back, but if Milwaukee wants any chance of competing for a playoff spot, they will need to prove they can overcome a lot of adversity.

Thankfully, there is a lot of basketball ahead. 

12. New Jersey Nets (2-9)

No team in the league has been more disappointing than the New Jersey Nets. There is absolutely no excuse for the Nets to be 2-9. 

Even without Brook Lopez, it's unfathomable that a Deron Williams-led team could be so incompetent offensively. 

With MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries, Anthony Morrow and of course Deron Williams, the Nets should be able to weather the storm until Brook Lopez returns, but right now, nothing is clicking under Avery Johnson, whose seat is getting warmer with each loss. 

13. Detroit Pistons (2-8)

I realize this is a rebuilding year for Detroit, but with Greg Monroe (not to mention Ben Gordon, Rodney Stuckey and Brandon Knight), they should be better than 2-8.

This season has so far been an unmitigated disaster.

Stuckey has missed some time this year due to injuries, but even with him, the team has trouble scoring and rebounding. 

14. Charlotte Bobcats (2-8)

It's the beginning of another tough season in Charlotte.

You'd think with seven guys scoring in double figures and being third in the league in rebounding that the Bobcats would be somewhere in the middle of the pack.

However, Charlotte finds itself fighting to stay above Washington and avoid the embarrassment of having the worst record in the NBA. 

I can't figure it out...apparently neither can Paul Silas

15. Washington Wizards (1-9)

After eight consecutive losses, at least Washington is finally on the board.

The one win was short-lived, as Washington was back to its losing ways after being throttled by Chicago.

The Wizards' measly 64 points should tell you everything about Washington's woes.

John Wall is going to need more help in the nations capital before the Wizards will be able to turn their mess of a season around.

Washington has strong leadership with Ted Leonsis at the helm and a city that is surprisingly sports crazy. 

At least D.C. has the Hoyas.