One day, I was driving into work listening to the book The Wisdom of Crowds. The book was nothing if not convincing about the power of a group of experts, appropriately isolated, to pick the correct answer more often than a single or pair of experts. So - I figured if all of us blogger-types got together and created our own Power Rankings, we'd be able to put together a pretty good offering that fairly accurately reflects the state of the league.
When I got home, I sent out a request to those bloggers - some of whom decided to actually speak to me, and voila! the Blogger's Power Rankings was born. We'll be coming at you from various host sites all season long, giving you the insight(maybe), witty comments(sometimes), and overall rankings for all the teams in the league.
This week, our distinguished contributers are: 3 Shades of Blue, At the Hive, BrewHoop, BulletsForever, Bright Side of the Sun, CelticsBlog, The Dream Shake, Empty The Bench, Hardwood Paroxysm, HoopsAddict, Indy Cornrows, LakersNation, Queen City Hoops, Raptors HQ, Sixers4Guidos, SLC Dunk, True Blue Jazz, and last, but not least, the TwolvesBlog
So here goes - our Collective Wisdom, such as it is:
1. Boston Celtics
- To the victor goes the spoils. - Indy Cornrows, speaking for most
- What's with Tony Allen claiming to be better than James Posey? - HoopsAddict
- I see no reason to doubt them. It would take a LOT for that defense to even become ordinary. - Hornets247
2. Los Angeles Lakers
- Will never trade Lamar Odom because Phil Jackson needs a weed buddy. - Bullets Forever
- Show me, Bynum. I'm willing to be swayed. - Indy Cornrows
- If Bynum is healthy, 60+ wins could be easy. - Empty the Bench
3. New Orleans Hornets
- Definitely the best team to ever play in NO - The Dream Shake
- Only a Deron Williams injury puts them above the Jazz for now - SLC Dunk
- CP3 leads a strong group of role players forced into starting jobs. Is there a more overrated team in the NBA? - True Blue Jazz
- DeronWilliamsIsNotBetterThanChrisPaul. DeronWilliamsIsNotBetterThanChrisPaul. - Bullets Forever
4. Utah Jazz
- They need a sense of urgency this season... - Empty the Bench
- Apparently, Okur is in the best shape of his life - LakersNation
- A deep team that returns 13 players from last year...oh, and they have Deron Williams. - True Blue Jazz
- Is this ranking based on potential or past...putting the Jazz this high is a nod to last year. They did not improve over the summer - Bright Side of the Sun
5. Detroit Pistons
- Number of games it'll take for this group to tune out Michael Curry: 14. - Bullets Forever
- My gut tells me the vets will rally around Michael Curry. - HoopsAddict
6. Houston Rockets
- Scary Potential. Scary Injury History. - Hornets247
- Crazy, unhealthy, no identity. 55 wins? - Raptors HQ
- Damn, damn good. I am a believer. - Sixers4Guidos
7. Cleveland Cavaliers
- Why do people continue to sleep on King James? I should probably rank them higher but I want to see how Mo Williams meshes with his new teammates. - HoopsAddict, Ranking the Cavs 7th along with the rest of us
8. San Antonio Spurs
- Gregg Popovich is secretly Kenny Rogers. - Bullets Forever
- Austin Powers: "Why won't you die?" - SLC Dunk
- Yawn...at least we didn't put them 1st. - True Blue Jazz
9. Philadelphia 76ers
- Overhyped - Raptors HQ
- On the rise (understatement). It's up to Cheeks - Sixers4Guidos
10. Portland Trail Blazers
- Most fun to watch? - Raptors HQ
- Can't wait to watch this team. Playoffs bound definitely - Sixers4Guidos
11. Orlando Magic
- I just don't believe in Magic - Bright Side of the Sun
- Still a PG away, but I have Howard as next MVP - Sixers4Guidos
12. Phoenix Suns
- Insert old/fat Shaq joke here - LakersNation
- They'll never win a title with Nash at PG - Empty the Bench
13. Dallas Mavericks
- Dirk + J-Ho + Kidd = 13th - Bright Side of the Sun
- Is the window closed? No, but watch your fingers or they'll get slammed after this season. - True Blue Jazz
14. Toronto Raptors
- Watch out for the MOB (Moon, O'Neal and Bosh)! - HoopsAddict
- Calderon for Prime Minister! - Hornets247
15. Washington Wizards
- I hate Agent Zero - True Blue Jazz
- Gilbert - biggest. theif. ever. - Bright Side of the Sun
16. Denver Nuggets
- Do you think George Karl ever goes home at night and says to himself, "Damn, I miss the 2001/02 Bucks?" - Bullets Forever
- They suck - The Dream Shake
17. Chicago Bulls
- A riddle. Who knows. Really - Sixers4Guidos
- A collection of solid players that lack Genius. - Hornets247
18. Miami Heat
- They don't have the team they had a few years ago even if their top 2 is better - The Dream Shake
- Everybody loves Wade again. - SLC Dunk
19. Indiana Pacers
- Jim O'Brien's petition to add a four-point line failed. - Bullets Forever
- We're solidly into "meh" territory... - Empty the Bench
- Um, they should probably be lower. - SLC Dunk
20. Atlanta Hawks
- Marvin Williams is ready to break out - Empty the Bench
- Owership issues are killing them. - Raptors HQ
21. Minnesota Timberwolves
- These Wolves are going to surprise a lot of people - LakersNation, ranking them 15th.
- Optimistic? Yes, most definitely. - Empty the Bench, ranking them 21st.
22. Sacramento Kings
- This is Kenny Thomas' year. Book it. - Bullets Forever
- Can Kevin Martin sacrifice Quality for Quantity? - Hornets247
23. Milwaukee Bucks
- New identity. Same results. - Raptors HQ
- Look for Scott Skiles to motivate his team to play tough defense this year. The improved focus on the defensive end will mean the Bucks will be competitive every night and might just sneak into the playoffs. - HoopsAddict
24. Los Angeles Clippers
- Now that B Diddy has his big contract extension, what's motivating him to stay healthy? Those pictures of Davis and Jessica Alba on the beach would send shivers down my spine if I were a Clippers fan. - Empty the Bench
- Baron and Kaman should be better then this and on another team they would be. But it's still the Clippers so... -Bright Side of the Sun
25. Golden State Warriors
- Moped - Bright Side of the Sun . . . And almost everyone else too.
- And just like that, mediocrity sets back in - Empty the Bench
26. Charlotte Bobcats
- Why couldn't Jordan suck this bad in 97-98? - SLC Dunk
- C'mon now, Adam Morrison is back! - Hornets247
27. New Jersey Nets
- Jersey gets no respect. Until they earn it. - Bright Side of the Sun
- VC mails it in quicker than UPS. - Raptors HQ
28. Memphis Grizzlies
- OJ Mayo, welcome to hell. - Raptors HQ
- Potential what, exactly? - Hornets247
29. New York Knicks
- The guidoest team in the NBA will suck, I'm sorry - Sixers4Guidos
- At least Nate Robinson can dunk. - Hornets247
30. Oklahoma City Thunder
- Where are the Sonics on this list? Am I missing something? - SLC Dunk
As is to be expected, there are a series of tiers that formed as a result of the ranking. The difference between the Wizards and Nuggets was only 0.01. Five teams were within .5 of one another. I think these tiers tell us something important too - so here they are:
Tier 1: Favorites
Celtics, Lakers
Tier 2: Contenders
Hornets, Jazz, Pistons
Tier 3: If Things Go Just Right
Rockets, Cavaliers, Spurs
Tier 4: Going Up . . . or Down . . or Nowhere
76ers, Blazers, Magic, Suns, Mavericks, Raptors
Tier 5: These Teams are Messed UP
Wizards, Nuggets, Bulls, Heat
Tier 6: Mediocrity
Pacers, Hawks, Timberwolves, Kings, Bucks, Clippers, Warriors, Bobcats
Tier 7: Bad, Really Bad
Nets, Knicks, Grizzlies
Tier 8: Ugh
Thunder
Got something to say? Comment away!
17 super-fantastic comments post your own
ticktock6
10/27/08 09:16 PM
Jazz fans drinkin the harsh haterade this year.
hornetshype.com #1
StefanC
10/27/08 10:16 PM
I agree. I've grown to hate Jazz fans just as much as Laker fans over the years.
Just to restate the statement everyone here abides and lives by:
Chris Paul is better than Deron Williams!
#2
fsumatthunter
10/27/08 10:21 PM
I really don't understand the argument the other way. Not that PER is by any means perfect, but CP3's was higher than D-Will's when he was a rookie. They always bring up the head to head, and Deron's size advantage. Meh
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #3
Ryan Schwan
10/27/08 10:31 PM
I think Jazz Fans and Hornets Fans will have to wage the Deron v. CP3 War by proxy - since Paul and Williams refuse to feed it.
I think the two teams I feel most sorry for are the Bobcats and Bucks. It's hard to explain. They should be breaking out - but most of us Bloggers just can't see it actually happening. I think they are stuck in the Mire of Mediocrity.
www.hornets247.com #4
StefanC
10/27/08 11:14 PM
Ryan, from an NBA standard, I too agree with you about feeling sad for the Bobcats and the Bucks.
Then again, they are making millions for playing basketball. I don't really feel sorry for anybody in the league.
#5
Texas Ted
10/27/08 11:24 PM
Number of games Dwyane Wade plays this season: 58
Over/Under?
Also, "CP3 leads a strong group of role players forced into starting jobs. Is there a more overrated team in the NBA?" Damn... cold-blooded.
#6
Texas Ted
10/27/08 11:30 PM
"Then again, they are making millions for playing basketball. I don't really feel sorry for anybody in the league."
We expect our professional athletes to compete at the highest level and yearn for every win as much as we do on a day-to-day basis. We expect nothing short of perfection from them, in fact. But to then expect them to also be completely satisfied with the money they make entertaining us and nothing more is a hilarious double-standard.
#7
StefanC
10/27/08 11:34 PM
Ted, that is a hilarious double standard. I understand most of them do put a lot of work into it, and try to be the best they can be all the time. But they're still making millions solely for entertainment basically. That's how the NBA survives. Then again guys like Ron Artest, just play when they fee like it.
& that statement makes me hate the Jazz even more. Cuz David West is totally a role player right? Hmm... I reckon the man is an ALL-STAR. Fluffy baby! Never gets old to me.
#8
CB Jack of True Blue Jazz
10/28/08 12:42 AM
I will put David West in the exception list of my role player comment. I keep waiting for West to succumb to the pressures of being a Star in this league, and he refuses to fall. I can say he is almost legit for me. As for the All-Star comment? Let's just say he was lucky the game was in NO that year. We won't see a repeat. (e.g. see Stockton and Malone winning All-Star MVP when the game was played in SLC. A total mockery.)
We can all agree to disagree on the D-Will vs. CP3 rivalry. Mum is the word to these guys, so it's up to us bloggers to fuel this fire. I have tried to convince myself to follow the mainstream media and admit that Paul is better than Deron. Every time I do, Deron goes out and shows me something spectacular that makes me forget about CP3. I really think that NBA fans would come to love Deron as much as Chris if the Jazz were on TV more. I see every game so of course I am biased.
Give Jazz fans a break. We are a small market team with a fan base that is uber delusional and biased. We love our team as much as you love yours. That is what makes the NBA great.
Ryan, nice work on hosting. I love the new site.
truebluejazz.com #9
Basketball John
10/28/08 06:09 AM
First, glad to see you guys back up and running.
Maybe you need to give Matt at HP two votes to counter the two Jazz blogs voting.
slcdunk.com #10
Ryan Schwan
10/28/08 09:07 AM
We've got At the Hive and H247 to counter you. And Bullet's Forever to supply the commentary. :)
www.hornets247.com #11
stormsurge
10/28/08 09:27 AM
Jazz fans hate us because we had the Jazz first. They arent satisfied they are in Utah NOW. Kinda like hating on your gf/bf's ex because they were with them before you. Irrational, but it IS Utah....
www.stormsurgephoto.com #12
StefanC
10/28/08 04:47 PM
I guess I'm glad to hear D West is "almost legit" in your eyes. And even if you do believe his All-Star appearance was a fluke, he's still putting up numbers just as good or better than many big men who do make it to the game. I'd take David West on my team over Carlos Boozer, Tim Duncan, Pau Gasol, and many other stars in the West.
& I like stormsurge's comment about the ex girlfriend thing. New Orleans had to do nothing with this whole thing. Jazz fans themselves made us start hating them.
#13
fsumatthunter
10/28/08 07:39 PM
Small Market, not on TV enough, kinda lame arguments in the PG realm considering the Hornets market and all.
And it is not just the mainstream media. It is everyone but Jazz fans.
inthehuntwithhunter.blogspot.com #14
AndOne
10/29/08 12:33 PM
Mesh, Mo, mesh. I'm begging you . . .
blog.cleveland.com/andone #15
Scott @ WFNY
10/29/08 03:58 PM
Amen, Carolyn.
www.waitingfornextyear.com #16
mW
10/29/08 08:17 PM
Hardwood Paroxysm's "Reasons to Hate the Jazz" was not only hilarious, but dead-on. Here it is in a nutshell, folks: the Jazz are overrated. Hate that.
www.hornetshype.com #17