'93 Power Rankings

[Oregon Ownage]

Preseason Ranking
http://www.ducksattack.com/forum/viewto ... 23&t=38609

1st Ranking
http://www.ducksattack.com/forum/viewto ... 23&t=38655

2nd Ranking
http://www.ducksattack.com/forum/viewto ... 23&t=38689

3rd Ranking
http://www.ducksattack.com/forum/viewto ... 23&t=38719

How did teams end up compared to the preseason rankings?

East

1. Celtics
Depth could become an issue with injuries but full strength, they have the best squad in the East entering the season

Verdict - Spot on, best record in the league

2. Pacers
Team is deep and suited for an inside offense which could see Robinson make a case for MVP this year. Wouldn't be surprised if they end up with the #1 seed

Verdict - Took awhile but they found their way to the 2 seed. Unfortunately, injuries derailed their season

3. Nets
Similar to the Celtics where injuries and lack of depth could derail their season but they have the makings of a team getting to the finals

Verdict - Another team that started slowly but still ended up as the 3 seed and a trip to the Conf. Finals

4. Cavaliers
Lost quality vet depth this past off-season but with Hakeem and Ewing, they look set in a weak Central division

Verdict - For 3/4th of the season, they looked to be a lotto team but snuck into the playoffs before falling out due to a Hakeem injury

5. Bucks
Best of the rest are the Bucks. Gill & Smith are a very good 1/2 scoring punch and a potential all-league defender, they could sneak into a 4 seed

Verdict - Disappointing as the team finished as the 8th seed but Gill established himself this year

6. Bulls
Until they show their age, the Bulls will still be able to compete in sprints with the best teams. Top of the roster is very good but the bench is severely lacking and that will hurt them over the course of the season.

Verdict - Lack of depth and injuries were brutal but they ended up around this range

7. 76ers
Losing Divac is a huge blow for their defense so alot if expected of Dele & Babic to fill his shoes. How well they do, will determine their potential

Verdict - Over-performed as the 4 seed. Switched their offense during the season and it helped to maximize Tarpley scoring output

8. Magic
Will this be the season the Magic get back into the playoffs? The young players are developed but do they all work together?

Verdict - They miss out on the playoffs again. Team has many question marks for the off-season

9. Hornets
Wildcard team for me where I cant see them finishing below any of the teams ranked below but wouldnt be shocked if they make a play for the 6th seed should their pieces play nice together. I like what the Hornets are building.

Verdict - Another team that just couldnt get going. Slightly disappointing finishing as the 11 seed in the East

10. Bullets
Kenny Anderson was ROY last season so with another off-season of growth and with quality players in Richmond & Daugherty, the Bullets could hang around the playoff mix but a lack of talent around them will be their downfall.

Verdict - Right where I placed them at the start of the season in the 10th spot. Need to make a move to take the next step though

11. Hawks
Not bad enough to get a top lottery pick in recent seasons, the Hawks are stuck in a purgatory of decent players and that has caused them to stay around this range for too many seasons. Whats their plan moving forward?

Verdict - Question is still unanswered but they look many years away from competing.

12. Pistons
How will Hardaway, Spree and Mashburn play together? That will decide the ceiling and floor for this team. With much unknown, I cant place them higher but are considerable better than the teams below them.

Verdict - Seasons over performers even after selling off their veterans. Finished as the 7 seed

13. Raptors
Raptors lucked out with the #2 pick this past draft, so seeing what they have in Webber is crucial and are hoping their next pick can be top 2 again so it does not convey to the 76ers.

Verdict - Spot on for their placement for 13th in the East. They are praying to get a top 2 pick again

14. Heat
Season is build around Penny and having him develop. Not much winning but with Penny, they should be better than the Knicks.

Verdict - Penny stood out and Horry looks to be a good partner. Lets see what they can build alongside them.

15. Knicks
Full rebuild with only Sean Higgins providing any scoring. I expect him to be moved and once that happens, it will be a long and dark winter in the Big Apple.

Verdict - Spot on, not much going here except seeing what the Knicks can do with Malone over the off-season


West

1. Grizzlies
Until someone can beat them they will be the top team in the West. With the arrival of Fat Lever, their offense will run smoother but an aging bigman could see them slip.

Verdict - Suns beat them for the top record in the West but they only finished 3 games back.

2. Rockets
The arrival of MJ last season produced immediate results with the Rockets finding themselves in the Finals. With a full off-season and a more complete roster, the Rockets will be gunning for that top seed

Verdict - Lottery team for more than half of the season but still ended up with the 4 seed. Fell short of my expectations

3. Suns
Elite talent across the roster will see the Suns stay as a top end team but their ceiling hinges on Shaq becoming an elite center. When that happens, watch out rest of the league.

Verdict - Team gelled perfectly and Shaq took the next step in his growth. Dangerous team for many years to come

4. Mavericks
The departure of Fat Lever stings but the Mavs will be hoping a combination of Dawkins & Brandon wont see them drop into the lower seeds. Stronger in the post should also offset the departure.

Verdict - Over performed given their roster and with many of the players heading to FA, will they keep the bad together?

5. Spurs
Jerome Lane took a step forward last season and reports from camp say he has gone up another gear. Their defense collapsed in the playoffs so shoring that up will be a priority.

Verdict - Defensive collapse from last seasons playoffs crept into this team and that held them back

6. Warriors
Starting to slowly fade into obscurity with no improvements to the starting lineup in a couple of seasons now. Danny Manning can only do so much for this team.

Verdict - Utter disappointment in Golden State. 2nd worst record in the West and the roster is looking very thin outside of Manning and Johnson

7. SuperSonics
Star scorer? Check
Elite post presence? Check
High scoring offense? Check

They check all the boxes to be a very good team but for one reason or another, it hasnt really worked out. Will it come together this season in a depressed Pacific division?

Verdict - Up and down season saw them ultimately sneak into the playoffs. At the deadline they reworked the roster but an aging squad could see more changes in the off-season

8. Clippers
Can the team finally live up to its potential and make a run in the playoffs? Make or break (atleast for me) season where if they cant make noise then should they blow it up?

Verdict - Ended up 1 game out of the playoffs with the team still lacking an identity

9. Timberwolves
I like what the Timberwolves did this off-season but are still behind the other teams in the West, not to mention a top heavy Midwest will see them struggle to make the playoffs

Verdict - Injuries to Coleman killed any hope of a competitive season in Minnesota. Like what they have built though

10. Trailblazers
Team full of youngsters and the newly acquired Duckworth, the Blazers will be improved but it might not show in the standings. Team lacks a clear #1 option and star which will hold them back.

Verdict - Over-performed as the 5 seed with a team of 6 scorers but no star scorer. Post players of Duck & Barkley make them hard to beat

11. Jazz
After many seasons competing at the top level, fans in Salt Lake wont like what they see on the court this season. An aging roster could see them slip into the lottery. The arrival of Longley should help but how much?

Verdict - Ended up as the 7 seed in a tough conference. What does the future hold though?

12. Lakers
Zo is the star of the team but Kukoc has not lived up to his potential and not much else on the roster will see another lotto pick this upcoming season

Verdict - Spot on, 3rd worst in the West. Kukoc was moved on so maximizing Zo's output will be crucial

13. Kings
Chris Gatling has showed he can score in this league but can he lead a team to the playoffs? The roster is still light but will be interesting to follow over the next couple of years

Verdict - Played well at the end of the season but are still missing many pieces

14. Nuggets
Mish mash of talent but their future looks set on collecting lotto picks so any player who has value will be dealt during the season

Verdict - Worst record in the league with no future star. They are hoping to get the top pick

[Oregon Ownage]

Jim Jackson

inside

[Oregon Ownage]

Jim Jackson

inside

Done