espn power rankings

[houlana]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/powerranking?season=2010&week=5

i really don't understand what goes into factoring the power ranking seeds.
i mean, the celtics have a better record than 2 teams ranked ahead of us and we beat the cavs.

the celts have also played better as of late. i understand that he mentions that ray and sheed are struggling. but PP has picked up his game and the rest of the team has picked up for them.

I would stress more on team record and head to head match ups rather than certain players going through a slump

[nickagneta]

I don't know. Given the way they have been playing, 6th is probably about right.

[Drucci]

Yep, didn't understand this ranking too since it's supposed to be a weekly ranking... But ESPN wanted to put the Cavs in front of the C's so they found stupid arguments to do so.

I mean... here is what they say about Cleveland : "It's not exactly Hollinger-esque data, but the stat won't discourage folks who think LeBron's team always would be better off playing at a faster pace: Cleveland is 12-3 since an 0-2 start and 9-0 when it scores 100."

And about Boston : "Ray Allen is shooting 30.1 percent from long range. Sheed is 12-for-63 on 3s since sinking six 3s in Philly on Nov. 3. And Boston has given up 110 or more points three times ... after doing so just six times in '08-09."

What about the games from this week? Cleveland won in Detroit, lost to the Bobcats (!) and won against Dallas. Meanwhile, the C's won against NY, Philly, Toronto and Miami, with two of these games on the road.

So basically, they totally ignore the loss of Cleveland in Charlotte to focus on a stat which has nothing to do with last week's results, and they totally ignore the 4 games winning streak of the Celtics to focus on Ray and Sheed's shooting struggles (when they could have said that KG went almost perfect in his last two games... never mind).

I would have understand if they had compared the opponents of the two teams and said that Cleveland was more deserving because they beat a good team in the Mavs but this power ranking makes no sense, other than putting their favorite teams first, by using unrelated arguments and stats.

[PosImpos]

I don't know. Given the way they have been playing, 6th is probably about right.

Pretty much.

[vinnie]

I agree that sixth is fair based on how the team has been playing. However, a few more games like last night and I could see them get back into the top 3.

[houlana]

I agree that sixth is fair based on how the team has been playing. However, a few more games like last night and I could see them get back into the top 3.

i think 6th is fare.

but im just bothered by the reasons they are putting down for these rankings.
how many times do people say its a team sport, yet the reason for our ranking is ray and sheed's struggles?

[Fan from VT]

Remember, also, that the ESPN power rankings are done by a "committe of one:" Marc Stein. He and he alone determines the ranking, so it's based on his perception on that given week who has the most "power" in the NBA...however that is defined. I enjoy reading them, but at this point (lots of close games against bad teams and losses to bad teams too) can't really fault him for not loving the Celtics.

[MattG12]

5th would be fair with the Cavs at 6th.

[TonyTragic]

The only power rankings I like to look at on a weekly basis are futures prices from Vegas. At least there you have market forces keeping reasonable team strengths in check, and not some bored ESPN writer looking to create controversy with his selections. As of right now that would be

1. Boston 2.25:1
2. LA Lakers 2.30:1
3. Cleveland 4:1
4. Orlando: 8:1

You can get 26:1 on your money with Phoenix right now. That should tell you how strong oddsmakers who set these lines for a living and wiseguys who make a living by finding soft lines feel about the Phoenix Suns as #2.

[footey]

Am surprised more money is on the Celts than the Lakers. Shocked really.

[TonyTragic]

Am surprised more money is on the Celts than the Lakers. Shocked really.

Yeah I was too, but look at the Lakers bench. Lakers starting 5 might have a small edge over Boston but you can't play Bryant,Gasol,Bynum,Odom 48 minutes every game in a 6-7 game series. Eventually Jackson has to play his garbage bench units with the likes of Vujacic, Farmar, Powell who are only good at giving back leads the starters built. Celtics are the deepest team in the league and so far have played a tougher schedule. Also, Lakers home games are frontloaded this year--in fact they have played 12 home games(1st in the league) and only 4 away games(last in the league). They start December with a 5 game homestand... wouldn't be surprised to see 18-3 at all. It's important because I think the sharp money will be on whoever they think will end up with HCA throughout.

[CelticG1]

The only power rankings I like to look at on a weekly basis are futures prices from Vegas. At least there you have market forces keeping reasonable team strengths in check, and not some bored ESPN writer looking to create controversy with his selections. As of right now that would be

1. Boston 2.25:1
2. LA Lakers 2.30:1
3. Cleveland 4:1
4. Orlando: 8:1

You can get 26:1 on your money with Phoenix right now. That should tell you how strong oddsmakers who set these lines for a living and wiseguys who make a living by finding soft lines feel about the Phoenix Suns as #2.

I check this out too. Not a bad time to put some money on Phoenix or Dallas

[liam]

Who cares! The rankings are crap and we haven't even had enough games to figure out who's good yet. Phoenix and Orlando look like the best teams so far and neither one will make the finals!
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[houlana]

Who cares! The rankings are crap and we haven't even had enough games to figure out who's good yet. Phoenix and Orlando look like the best teams so far and neither one will make the finals!
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i hope orlando doesn't make it. but they sure can make it to the finals

[Bahku]

Cavs and Hawks ahead of the C's? That's just whack.