NBA Power Rankings: Miami Heat and Teams Sure to Dominate the Regular Season
You can make too much of one game, but the Heat's thorough beating of the Dallas Mavericks (trust me, the 105-94 final deficit was nothing compared to how big of a blowout that game was) just confirmed what I predicted.
LeBron James is becoming a complete player, his work in the post was stellar, and the Heat were fantastic in transition.
The Knicks eeked out a win over the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden. Carmelo Anthony put in 37 points, with 19 in the fourth quarter. Still, the Knicks interior defense allowed Rajon Rondo to get to the hoop entirely too much. His penetration keyed a comeback from 18 down. At one point, the Celtics were up double digits.
The Bulls, Clippers and Thunder should join the Heat as teams that will record at least 48 wins, which is the equivalent to a 60-win season in this abbreviated campaign.
The Bulls strong defense and depth makes them a shoo-in for a repeat performance from last year. The Clippers are almost an entirely different team. Chris Paul, Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler makes them very formidable.
Finally, in the category, the young Oklahoma City Thunder. If they can find some balance and structure from their young point guard, Russell Westbrook, they will be among the favorites in the West.
Sleeper Team:
Memphis Grizzlies - If you consider they almost reached the conference finals without Rudy Gay, there is reason to be excited in Memphis.
Here are the complete early power rankings:
1. Miami Heat
2. Chicago Bulls
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
4. Los Angeles Clippers
5. Memphis Grizzlies
6. New York Knicks
7. Los Angeles Lakers
8. Boston Celtics
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Indiana Pacers
11. Portland Trailblazers
12. Orlando Magic
13. Atlanta Hawks
14. Denver Nuggets
15. Philadelphia 76ers
16. Golden St Warriors
17. Sacramento Kings
18. Milwaukee Bucks
19. Washington Wizards
20. New Orleans Hornets
21. Utah Jazz
22. Minnesota Timberwolves
23. Phoenix Suns
24. Houston Rockets
25. Detroit Pistons
26. New Jersey Nets
27. Cleveland Cavaliers
28. Toronto Raptors
29. Charlotte Bobcats
