My NBA Power Rankings

Unlike most power ranking sites, I will do it separately for each conference. My rational is based on imagining that every team in each conference plays every other team in the conference an infinite number of times and rank the teams based on outcome. Obviously I can't watch every game every night, but i have seen every box score this year so I think I have a good idea of what's going on.

Eastern Conference:
1) Boston Celtics - Have no bench as their two "reliable" guys are eddie house and glenn david. Marbury would be a great addition, yet the starters are the best in the NBA. This year it has been allen and rondo carrying the club as opposed to garnett and pierce showing how powerful the starters really are.

2) Orlando Magic - 2 words, Dwight Howard. Although he's not a first option offensively, his presence is that of a HOF center. Orlando just set the record for 3' in a game with 23 thanks to open looks for Lewis, Turkolu, and the much improved Jammer Nelson 51%. Pietrus should return soon and give them more depth and a great perimeter defender.

3) Cleveland Cavaliers - 2 words, LeBron James. Best point differential in NBA due to emphasis on defense. However, unless LeBron channels his inner Jordan in the playoffs, they will be exposed for lack of talent around LeBron come the playoffs.

4) Atlanta Hawks - Lost some of the defensive edge they had finishing last year and beginning of this. Joe Johnson has regressed mainly due to increased shot totals. Mike Bibby is having his best year since the Kings glory days, however the team is still too young and short on the bench to compete for the pennant(wait wrong sport)

5) Philadelphia 76ers - This team in on fire right now. Iguandala is red hot after a slow start and the rest of the starters are solid, consistent performers. Respect Andre Miller. The bench is mainly composed of grinders(good in basketball) and the flair or Louis Willaims. Once Brand is back in shape, this team can contend with the Hawks.

6) Miami Heat - The team in greatly improved from last year, but is still short on number of top players. Wade must carry the team every night, hence him leading the league in scoring. This is reminiscent of great scoring seasons of Kobe on bad Laker teams and T-Mac on bad Magic teams. Chalmers was a great 2nd rounder and Dequan Cook is becoming one of the best 6th men in the league, but the inconsistency and decreasing playing time for marion and beasely is holding this team back.

7) Detroit Pistons - 2 words, Rasheed Wallace. He embraces everything that is wrong with this team. They just don't have the will and fire power to maintain their "Detroit Basketball" style. Wallace is too high to care. He's a freakishly talented 7 footer who take 10 3-pointers a game calls it a day. Replacing Billups with Iverson basically ended their chance of competing this year. With Hamilton now on the bench for the all world Amir Johnson, their only upside is Rodney Stuckey who is showing to be the best player on the team.

8) Milwaukee Bucks - Scott Skiles does what he does. He has put together a solid roster with upside. Redd has improved in January much like Iguandala. The combo of jefferson and vilanueva give them big, skilled scorers. And they have their share of grinders up front with bogut and Luc Richard. Should slide into the playoffs especially with more production comes from 1st rounder Joe Alexander

9) Chicago Bulls - My judgment is skewed on this team so the ranking may be way off. They are pitiful to watch. Their center is Aaron Gray. However, when the team in healthy with gooden, Hinrich, and deng on the court, the Bulls are still competitive against the average teams in the league. God bless Derrick Rose. There is hope

10) Charlotte Bobcats - This team depends on their defense to win games and they have been doing that much more often after the Boris Diaw/Raja Bell trade. Gerald Wallace is an efficient SG. Anyone who didnt this Augustine was big enough to play in the NBA was wrong. This guy can shoot and gets to the line at a Dwight Howard rate.

11) New Jersey Nets - This team has overachieved thus far and I expect them to fall off quickly. Vince Carter is still half man, half amazing, half the time. Devin Harris and Brooke Lopez are the only keepers. They need to clean house including Lawrence Frank.

12) Toronto Raptors - By far the most disappointing team. The problem is squarly on the coaching. Firing Mitchell as the right move, hiring Triano was not. This team is the 5th most talented in the East according to my observation. They have size, depth, shooting, but no direction. Hopefully they can turn it around and challenge for the 8th seed.

13) New York Knicks - I have never been a fan of the D'Antoni system. I dont understand how letting 30% 3-point shooters fire at will and playing 7 guys 40 minutes each every game is suppost to equal wins. It kinda worked in phoenix, but Amare and Nash work in Phoenix. The knicks are in better shape than last year, but thats not saying much. David Lee and Chandler are keepers but the rest need to go before LeBron comes to town

14) Indiana Pacers - Another team with no direction. They play absolutely no defense and hope to outscore some lowly team every now and then. The assembly of this team makes no sense. Danny Granger has to carry the team every game like Wade, except he has even less talent around him. Lets face it, the team is just too white to be any good.

15) Washington Wizards - Worst team in the NBA. Their only chance of winning comes when jamison and butler each go for 30+, which happens about 20% of the time, hence their 20% winning percentage. The rest of the team is garbage. I used to this Blatche had upside, but he makes tyrus thomas look like a polished player. Nick Young looks like the goods, but another guard isnt what the team needs.