Power poll: Picking the Spurs to repeat
By Stan McNeal - SportingNews Apr 18, 10:06 am EDT
Congratulations, Doc. You, too, K.G., Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and the rest of the Celtics. You are the Power Poll’s regular season champion. Great job. Check is in the mail.
Now what does finishing No. 1 in the regular season earn the Celtics in the Poll’s playoff rankings. How about No. 2?
Let’s explain. Without question, this is the deepest playoff field the Poll can remember, and the Poll has been following the NBA since BN (before Nike). No fewer than seven teams have a legitimate shot of taking home the big trophy. The space between No. 1 and No. 2 is so tight it’s more like No. 1 and No. 1.1.
Another thing: These rankings are not based on the regular season. They’re not based on who’s played best the past week. They’re not based on who has the best player, the most tattoos or resides in the city with the best restaurants. These rankings are based on a team’s chances of winning it all. That’s what the season is down to now, right? Finally.
Onto the rankings.
1. Spurs. Was their sluggish finish due to resting regulars (Tim Duncan played less than 30 minutes a game in April) or are the defending champs overrated? Poll obviously believes the former since Spurs are our pick to repeat.
2. Celtics. With home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and the easiest road to the Finals, why aren’t the Celtics No. 1? Simple. Poll can’t pick against Duncan, Gregg Popovich or the experience that comes with winning the championship.
3. Pistons. Four months ago, the Poll liked them to beat the Celtics. Two months ago the Poll started doubting. One month ago, the Poll changed its mind. The Celtics kept getting better, and the Pistons sort of leveled out. At least that’s the Poll’s take. We should find out in the Eastern Conference finals.
4. Suns. Mike D’Antoni insisted the Suns were good enough to win the title last year. So why did they make the Shaq trade? Because D’Antoni knows this year’s West champ will have to be better than last year’s. After two months with Shaq, the Suns might be.
5. Lakers. Not even Kobe is good enough to get through the West without Andrew Bynum near full strength.
6. Jazz. If they could play all their games at home, they would be No. 1. But they don’t have home-court advantage for even the first round.
7. Mavericks. One scout tells the Poll these guys are playing as well as anyone going into the playoffs. That’s not good news for the Hornets.
8. Hornets. This season’s experience will make them stronger next season. But this season’s experience would have lasted longer if they had matched up against the Nuggets in the first round.
9. Cavaliers. Sorry, LeBron. Poll does not believe you can carry the Cavs past the Celtics and the Pistons.
10. Magic. Dwight Howard has taken the step from star to superstar. To win the Finals, he’ll need to take another step. Maybe next year.
11. Rockets. At some point, the Rockets have to wear down without Yao. The Poll says that will be sooner than later. Of course, the Poll has been saying that for weeks.
12. Wizards. Gilbert, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison form a formidable trio. But so do Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. And Garnett, Pierce and Allen … and Nash, Amare and Shaq … and Kobe, Lamar and Pau and … you get the idea.
13. Nuggets. Allen Iverson has led a much lesser team to the Finals. Of course, he was leading that team through the East.
14. Raptors. The most disappointing season of any playoff team.
15. Sixers. Finishing on a four-game losing streak doesn’t inspire confidence in their chances to upset Pistons.
16. Hawks. OK, so you can make the playoffs with a 37-45 record. Doing anything in them, well, that’s just not going to happen.
Stan McNeal is
By Stan McNeal - SportingNews Apr 18, 10:06 am EDT
Congratulations, Doc. You, too, K.G., Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and the rest of the Celtics. You are the Power Poll’s regular season champion. Great job. Check is in the mail.
Now what does finishing No. 1 in the regular season earn the Celtics in the Poll’s playoff rankings. How about No. 2?
Let’s explain. Without question, this is the deepest playoff field the Poll can remember, and the Poll has been following the NBA since BN (before Nike). No fewer than seven teams have a legitimate shot of taking home the big trophy. The space between No. 1 and No. 2 is so tight it’s more like No. 1 and No. 1.1.
Another thing: These rankings are not based on the regular season. They’re not based on who’s played best the past week. They’re not based on who has the best player, the most tattoos or resides in the city with the best restaurants. These rankings are based on a team’s chances of winning it all. That’s what the season is down to now, right? Finally.
Onto the rankings.
1. Spurs. Was their sluggish finish due to resting regulars (Tim Duncan played less than 30 minutes a game in April) or are the defending champs overrated? Poll obviously believes the former since Spurs are our pick to repeat.
2. Celtics. With home-court advantage throughout the playoffs and the easiest road to the Finals, why aren’t the Celtics No. 1? Simple. Poll can’t pick against Duncan, Gregg Popovich or the experience that comes with winning the championship.
3. Pistons. Four months ago, the Poll liked them to beat the Celtics. Two months ago the Poll started doubting. One month ago, the Poll changed its mind. The Celtics kept getting better, and the Pistons sort of leveled out. At least that’s the Poll’s take. We should find out in the Eastern Conference finals.
4. Suns. Mike D’Antoni insisted the Suns were good enough to win the title last year. So why did they make the Shaq trade? Because D’Antoni knows this year’s West champ will have to be better than last year’s. After two months with Shaq, the Suns might be.
5. Lakers. Not even Kobe is good enough to get through the West without Andrew Bynum near full strength.
6. Jazz. If they could play all their games at home, they would be No. 1. But they don’t have home-court advantage for even the first round.
7. Mavericks. One scout tells the Poll these guys are playing as well as anyone going into the playoffs. That’s not good news for the Hornets.
8. Hornets. This season’s experience will make them stronger next season. But this season’s experience would have lasted longer if they had matched up against the Nuggets in the first round.
9. Cavaliers. Sorry, LeBron. Poll does not believe you can carry the Cavs past the Celtics and the Pistons.
10. Magic. Dwight Howard has taken the step from star to superstar. To win the Finals, he’ll need to take another step. Maybe next year.
11. Rockets. At some point, the Rockets have to wear down without Yao. The Poll says that will be sooner than later. Of course, the Poll has been saying that for weeks.
12. Wizards. Gilbert, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison form a formidable trio. But so do Duncan, Ginobili and Parker. And Garnett, Pierce and Allen … and Nash, Amare and Shaq … and Kobe, Lamar and Pau and … you get the idea.
13. Nuggets. Allen Iverson has led a much lesser team to the Finals. Of course, he was leading that team through the East.
14. Raptors. The most disappointing season of any playoff team.
15. Sixers. Finishing on a four-game losing streak doesn’t inspire confidence in their chances to upset Pistons.
16. Hawks. OK, so you can make the playoffs with a 37-45 record. Doing anything in them, well, that’s just not going to happen.
Stan McNeal is