Featured Gallery, Hit List, Latest News / Jan 31, 2011 / 3:30 pm

Dime NBA Power Ranking: The Last Team You Want To Play Against

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Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan (photo. adidas)

10. Atlanta Hawks (30-18) — Joe Johnson probably won’t get any MVP votes at the end of the day, but he is as valuable to his team as anybody in the League. In January he averaged 26.0 points on 50% shooting from the field while the Hawks went 9-4.

9. New Orleans Hornets (31-18) — Defense wins, and the Hornets currently have the 2nd-best defense in the League. Emeka Okafor and David West protecting the rim allows Chris Paul and Trevor Ariza to gamble for steals.

8. Dallas Mavericks (31-15) — Following tune-up wins over the Nets, Clippers and Rockets, the Mavs seemed to find their swagger in Saturday’s win over the Hawks. Jason Terry is averaging 20.3 points in his last three games, and handed out 11 dimes against Atlanta.

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (30-17) — Running a two-man offense with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook is working now, but what happens in a seven-game series when the opponent can adjust from game to game? A third option needs to step up, whether it’s James Harden or Jeff Green.

6. Orlando Magic (31-17) — We already know their style does work well enough to make the Finals, and Dwight Howard has never been better. So why couldn’t they go all the way?

5. Chicago Bulls (33-14) — The silver lining is that Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah’s legs will be fresh down the stretch. But then how will Derrick Rose hold up after having to carry the team since Opening Night?

4. Los Angeles Lakers (33-15) — Even the most cocky L.A. fans have to be getting a little concerned that the Lakers can’t seem to beat any elite opponents. The Celtics, Spurs, Heat and Mavs have all beat L.A. convincingly in their most recent meeting.

3. Miami Heat (33-14) — Take away two or three points per game (26.1 ppg), and LeBron is putting up pretty much the exact same numbers he put up in each of his last two MVP seasons.

2. San Antonio Spurs (40-7) — No team is playing better basketball right now, but the Spurs have proven to be vulnerable in the playoffs recently even when they are healthy. Tim Duncan is either doing an excellent job of pacing himself, or he really can’t take over at will anymore. I lean towards “A,” but it could be “B.”

1. Boston Celtics (36-11) — The No. 1 defense in the League, the No. 1 playmaking point guard in the League, the No. 1 shooter in the League, arguably the most reliable clutch scorer in the League, and they just got their best 1-on-1 post defender back from injury. The C’s are built to beat anybody when it matters most.

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  • That’s What’s Up

    Spurs are nice.
    I like that squad.

  • http://www.mmajunkie.com rangerjohn

    how can you say the spurs have shown to be vulnerable in the playoffs even when healthy? they have not been healthy. they played one series last year with the big 3 mostly healthy and that series was almost to easy. the second series manu was busted up and parker was still only half way back from his leg issues and still had his plantar fasciatis. all this on top of a shell of RJ playing.

    bottom line, nobody knows what the healthy spurs will look like in the playoffs. i also lean toward “A”

  • http://www.chess.com smoove chips

    accurate an assessment as any. that last laker loss still stinks.need some rocket and spur deoderant !

  • http://www.dimemag.com panchitoooo

    with the lakers constantly getting players back from injury its hard to say where they are at as a team. they still havent gelled yet since bynums return and at times artest seem uninterested in the game.
    for me in a 7 games series it all comes down to coaching and since popavich is a proven winner i wouldnt want to seem him on the opposite sides bench calling out plays.
    2nd has got to be boston just cause their pure talent as a team, i really dont feel that Doc does much more than player management with so many veterens on that team it almost runs itself.
    heat cant seem to win any close games cause they dont know how to finish as a whole unit yet, guess thats what happens when your asking yourself constantly should i take the shot or someone else. both lebron and wade didnt have that problem last year…

  • dagwaller

    I think the Spurs scare me more than any other team right now. But I like your list, Austin – isn’t this what “Power Rankings” should be every week?

  • Mike Mihalow

    “No. 1 playmaking point guard in the League”
    This is a matter of opinion, unfortunately, like the rest of this article. And the rest of this site.

  • That’s What’s Up

    Mike Mishallow

  • http://www.haywoodplanning.com D.H.

    @6

    Can you point me to a site that isn’t based on opinion. The one site that rules them all. The site that knows who’s gonna win the championship & MVP. I would love to meet their robotic writers who show zero bias and can see into the future. What a site it must be…

  • http://www.mmajunkie.com rangerjohn

    all sites are based on opinion, its just that some are not very good at hiding the bias. it is no secret that the people at dime love them some lebron, some kobe some chris paul and some rondo. they are warming up to a couple of others.

  • http://dimemag.com panchitoooo

    its whoever sends them more stuff…lol

  • http://Slamonline.com Caboose

    8. It would have to be a Tim Duncan publication…

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