The Association

The Top Three

by Brett Edwards

The rankings have changed fairly dramatically this week.  With IND losing by 32 at CHA last week, and not even dropping the hammer for some revenge when they played them at home two days later, they are out this week.  We also have DAL going from off the charts to the one spot this week.  Here are the comments for each team, feel free to discuss:

1. Dallas Mavericks 
Winners of 5 straight, playing great team basketball right now.  They get the top spot for handing DET a 37-point loss which was their first of the season, and for beating San Antonio by 19 earlier this season.

2. San Antonio Spurs
Benefiting from an easy schedule and barely winning, they get the two spot this week.  Barely winning is still winning, and at 9-2 this veteran team is still getting it done.

3. Detroit Pistons
DET got caught on the second night of a back-to-back, and we pretty much expected that loss in DAL.  They should get back to their winning ways tomorrow night at home vs. DEN.

The Top Three

by Brett Edwards

Every week The Association Blog will rank the top 3 teams in the NBA. This ranking will be determined by:

1. How well the best of the best are playing, and
2. If the playoffs started today, who would win the championship?

Why only three teams, you ask? Why not rank all of the teams, so I can see where my (insert favorite perennially mediocre team here) ranks this week?

A few reasons. First, there are only 3 or 4 teams every year with a legitimate shot to win the whole thing. While I am eager to watch a meaningless Charlotte vs. Chicago game in December, there is no reason to discuss these teams' place in the league, except to say that neither one is winning the title this year.  Second, there is an inevitable skew in the rankings early in the season, where average teams build good records against inferior competition.  Finally, there are plenty of places you can go to read a meaningless league-wide ranking system, no need to rehash that here.

Now that the ground rules are set, here is the first edition of The Top Three:

1. Detroit Pistons
Can't argue with 6-0, and DET is seriously playing to prove they don't need "pound for pound" to win the title.  Veteran team with clutch players hanging around for 3 quarters then winning with clutch shots at the end.  We'll see if they can continue the intensity for 82 games.

2. Indiana Pacers
Only two losses were by two points and one point, and both were on the road, and both were winnable.  Big plus getting two early season wins over MIA, with or without Shaq.

3. San Antonio Spurs
You will realize as time goes by that I really do not like the Spurs.  They are too boring and too nice for me.  I almost vomited during the Finals with the whole Popovich/Brown love-fest.  With that out of the way, I can say that my basketball IQ tells me they are a very talented and solid team.  They should win the whole thing again, but two blowout road losses keeps them in the 3-spot this week.