NBA Week 1 Power Rankings – The Good, Bad and Ugly

With one full week of NBA hoops officially done, it’s time to make up the NBA power rankings, where I’ll give faithful BetUS NBA hoops head the inside scoop on who’s hot, who’s not and everything in between.

With a full slate of exciting NBA action taking place in the bettor-friendly BetUS NBA sportsbook tonight and almost every night for the next seven months, let me get busy.

Week 1 NBA Power Rankings:

1. Boston Celtics 4-0
   Simply put, the Celtics are on a mission to show everyone that, with Kevin Garnett back in the lineup – and bolstered by their new additions, they are the team to beat in either conference.
2. Orlando Magic 3-0
   I keep telling people the Magic are going to meet the C’s in the Eastern Conference Finals and so far, that’s exactly what they’ve shown.
3. Denver Nuggets 3-0
   Carmelo Anthony must have been hanging out with ‘Blues Brothers’ John Belushi and Dan Akryod or something because he’s clearly ‘on a mission from God.’ The Nuggets star has been the league’s MVP of the first week.
4. Phoenix Suns 3-0
   The Suns are looking good as they’ve gotten back to their run and gun style that makes Steve Nash the game’s best point guard. Don’t sleep either; this team has some shot-makers though the names have changed.
5. Miami Heat 3-0
   For now, D-Wade and company are riding high. However, you know how that old saying goes, ‘Riding high in April, shot down in May.’ I expect the Heat to fall back to earth at some point soon.
6. Dallas Mavericks 2-1
   After losing their season opener at home to the revamped Wizards, the Mavericks pounded Kobe and Co. in L.A. This team has plenty of talent, but I still wonder if they need to go ‘see the Wizard’ and get some heart.
7. Los Angeles Lakers 2-1
   So what L.A. is ranked just seventh right now – they’ll clearly be in the race to retain their conference and league titles later on.
8. San Antonio Spurs 2-1
   I’ve predicted a Spurs conference finals matchup against L.A. and I suspect this team is going to get much better as the season progresses.
    
   Washington Wizards 2-1
   Go ahead and laugh if you want. The Wizards have some serious ballers now in the form of Randy Foye and Mike Miller - not to mention their own ‘Big Three’ in Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison whenever he returns. BTW, what’s gotten into backup center Andray Blatche?
9. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1
   I keep saying this team has some serious future potential with Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Jeff Green and James Harden. Oh and Nenad Kristic has still ‘got game’ I see.
10. Philadelphia 76ers 2-1
    Eddie Jordan has got Philly playing his brand of basketball. I’m starting to think Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams and Marreese Speights are going to form a fine future (current?) trio for the Sixers.
11. Atlanta Hawks 2-1
    I love Joe Johnson and Al Horford, but athletic head cases, Josh Smith and Marvin Williams don’t need to be on the same team with their dizzying, now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t, disappearing acts.
12. Houston Rockets 3-1
    The Rockets have a budding star in point guard Aaron Brooks and apparently, Trevor Ariza does have more game than he ever showed in L.A. where he was pretty good in a complimentary role.
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 2-2
    Adding an aging (and still lazy) Shaq, along with Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon, clearly aren’t and likely won’t ever, make the Cavaliers better, duh!
14. Utah Jazz 1-2
    The Jazz will always ‘get theirs’ with talented players like Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap, but I just don’t see a lot of team unity with this team.
15. Portland Trail Blazers 2-2
    Nate McMillan has Andre Miller and he’s starting Steve Blake instead? Talk about bone-headed moves.
16. Charlotte Bobcats 2-2
    Larry Brown’s ballclub could contend for a playoff berth in the weak Eastern Conference apparently.
17. Milwaukee Bucks 1-1
    I like Brandon Jennings a lot. I keep telling people he reminds me of a young and very raw Nate Archibald with ‘Tiny’s’ offensive acumen or jump shot at this point of his young career.
18. Chicago Bulls 1-2
    I like the young Bulls, but you can not lose a clutch scorer of Ben Gordon’s stature and not feel it. Now Derrick Rose has a bit more pressure on him to score the ball.
19. Toronto Raptors 1-2
    Chris Bosh already has a train ticket on the ‘Free Agent Express’ out of Toronto following this season NBA hoops heads.
20. Detroit Pistons 1-2
    Ben Gordon is a proven scorer while Charlie Villanueva is a solid big man, but not outstanding. This teams problem is that it has no identity whatsoever at this point and Rodney Stuckey has steadily regressed since his fine rookie season two years ago.
21. New Orleans Hornets 1-3
    Chris Paul is going to have a bad back by mid-season carrying his group of mostly underachieving teammates.
22. Memphis Grizzlies 1-3
    O.J. Mayo is clearly a special player and I like young point guard Mike Conley Jr. However, Zach Randolph is still a selfish gunner that plays zero defense and Allen Iverson is already bit**ing about playing time after just one game with the Grizz.
23. Los Angeles Clippers 1-4
    Eric Gordon is explosive at the two guard spot, but veteran point guard Baron Davis has already quit on this team after just one week. Wow!
24. New York Knicks 1-3
    Same old Knicks … We shoot the rock in seven seconds or less – and lose by halftime ninety percent of the time.
25. Sacramento Kings 1-3
    Shooting Kevin Martin is a flat-out all-star and rookie point guard Tyreke Evans is gifted in a big way. Now, Evans needs to get back on the floor after suffering a sprained ankle in Week 1.
26. Minnesota Timberwolves 1-3
    Al Jefferson is struggling in his return from a torn ACL and the rest of the Timberwolves, excluding rookie point guard Johnny Flynn are mostly dogs.
27. Indiana Pacers 0-2
    Blossoming superstar forward Danny Granger needs help – like really, really, bad.
28. New Jersey Nets 0-4
    I like the Nets’ young core of talent, but something is amiss here.
29. Golden State Warriors 0-2
    The Warriors are a bunch of selfish gunners – just the way Don Nelson coaches his team to play.