NBA Team Rankings

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1. Los Angeles Lakers The Lakers are the returning NBA champs and have brought back their major contributers from last season. They also have the addition of Ron Artest who is going to be a defensive presence that some feel the Lakers may still lack at times. Expect another NBA Finals appearance. 2. Cleveland Cavaliers Lebron James still has the bitter taste in his mouth from losing the East Conference Finals last year and coming off an MVP season don't expect him to slow down. The addition of Shaq will pay off as you see them checking into the NBA Finals. 3. San Antonio Spurs Surprised? You shouldn't be. The Spurs still have all the major parts to be and contend for a championship. You have Tim Duncan who know how to win along with Tony Parker who is still one of the premier point guards in the NBA. This team lives and dies with their ability to stay healthy. Outside of Phil Jackson, Gregg Papovich is probably the best coach in the NBA. Expect a WCF appearance and hanging with the Lakers for 6 or 7 games. 4. Boston Celtics While they aren't getting any younger, the big three can still win and they brought extra fire power this year. The addition of Rasheed Wallace will help with their already great defense. Outside of Kevin Garnett and his knee staying intact, Rajon Rondo holds the key to the Celtics success. If he has a big year so will the Celtics. 5. Denver Nuggets Carmelo and Chauncey have become a great pair and by far were a pleasure to watch in last years playoffs. They dominated every team they came across until they ran into the Lakers. Carmelo will flirt with the MVP crown this season so expect some good things coming out of Denver. 6. Orlando Magic A very solid team, but you can't get better when you get rid of your best play maker Turkoglu and replace him with a guy like Vince Carter. He has been declining over the last two seasons and I don't see an end in sight. Plus the Magic will already have a set back when the season begins having to deal with Rashard Lewis suspension. It is going to take a while before Lewis and Carter to get on the same page. On a brighter side though they still have Dwight Howard. 7. Portland Trail Blazers Just a few short seasons ago this team was one of the worst in the NBA and seemed to have no hope in sight. With Brandon Roy, Steve Blake, and Greg Oden they have one of the best young teams in the NBA. Inexperience will be the killer since they will probably get bounced in the second round of the playoffs, but it's a step in the right direction. 8. Dallas Mavericks Dirk, Kidd, Marion, and Josh Howard. Kind of sounds like an all-star team. This team is puzzling. They have never fully recovered since they gave the series away to Miami in the championship, but expect them win there 50 games and try to contend. If they can pull it together and get the playoff blues out of their head they can definitely move up the list. 9. Atlanta Hawks They have youth, but the injury bug still lingers. It's an easy equation that if you stay healthy you can easily contend. Remember this was the team that contended with the Celtics on their way to a championship and taking them seven games. Stay healthy and good things will happen. 10. Closing out the top 10 I have to go with the Utah Jazz. Boozer and Williams need to stay healthy for this team to be taken seriously. Kirilenko is another guy who needs to step up if this team has any hope of getting a 5th seed in order to escape a beating from the Lakers, Spurs, or Nuggets. While the playoffs is a definite, an early exit in the first round is a possibility too. Remaining List 11. Phoenix Suns 12. Philadelphia 76ers 13. Toronto Raptors 14. New Orleans Hornets 15. Los Angeles Clippers 16. Miami Heat 17. Detroit Pistons 18. Chicago Bulls 19. Houston Rockets 20. Indiana Pacers 21. New York Knicks 22. Washington Wizards 23. Oklahoma Thunder 24. Golden State Warriors 25. Charlotte Bobcats 26. New Jersey Nets 27. Memphis Grizzlies 28. Milwaukee Bucks 29. Minnesota Timberwolves 30. Sacramento Kings It is going to be another exciting season filled with dreams and hopes being shattered and all the buzzer beaters you can ask for. I can't wait!!!