Every Tuesday during the regular season, Talkhoops.net will update the power rankings based on team production, record, record from the previous week, injuries to the team, and overall talent on the team. If your team has dropped siginificantly from week to week then you probably are rooting for a pretty bad team. If your team is shooting up the power rankings towards the top spot, then you are probably either rooting for a pretty good team or jumping on the bandwagon of one.
The rankings are based solely on the opinions of Zach Harper and Brandon Gallawa. If you happen to disagree, you can email Zach and Brandon and let them know how dumb they are by sending an email to theweeklyfix@talkhoops.net. If you think that Zach and Brandon are geniuses with their rankings and want to stroke their egos, email them at theweeklyfix@talkhoops.net.
Remember to check back for updated rankings every Tuesday morning when the regular season begins.
2007-2008 NBA Power Rankings: Week 23 Rankings |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rank |
Rank |
Team |
Significant Move |
Week |
Rec. |
Comment |
 |
01 |
Deron Williams contract extension |
N/A |
54-28 |
The Jazz upgraded from Jason Hart to Brevin Knight at the backup point guard position and kept the rest of the roster as-is. Jerry Sloan is in the best position of his career to get his first Coach of the Year award and his first NBA title. And that's saying a lot. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
02 |
Drafted Bill Walker to replace James Posey |
N/A |
66-16 |
More of the same this year. A lot of wins. Staggering defensive stats. Solid performances by the Boston Three Party. The concerns are health (Allen and Garnett are a year older) and a lack of depth (bench is filled with question marks). - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
03 |
Andrew Bynum's knee is 100% healthy |
N/A |
57-25 |
This is easily the deepest team and arguably the most talented with the best coach. So why aren't they #1? Despite bringing back an allegedly healthy Andrew Bynum, this team showed to not have much mental toughness in the Finals. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
04 |
Signed James Posey to a four-year deal |
N/A |
56-26 |
The best point guard in the league in Chris Paul. Great defensive team. The addition of James Posey and the development of Julian Wright should be huge. Tyson Chandler is the most underrated center in the league. If healthy look for them in the Western Conference finals. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
05 |
Re-signed Kurt Thomas and Michael Finley |
N/A |
56-26 |
The keys to this team being a title contender are staying healthy and hitting their peak when April comes. Tim Duncan is still one of the best players in the league and is nowhere near a decline. If Manu stays healthy and the bench steps up, they'll be there. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
06 |
Signed Kwame Brown to be backup center |
N/A |
59-23 |
The most consistent Eastern Conference team will once again win their division and a lot of games in the process. Everyone is a year older, but that is a good thing in the case of players like Jason Maxiell and Rodney Stuckey. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
07 |
Traded for Maurice Williams |
N/A |
45-37 |
It's nice to analyze the acquisition of Mo Williams and this is definitely the deepest team that LeBron has ever played on. But Cleveland winning a title will come down to how well LeBron James plays in the playoffs. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
08 |
Traded for Ron Artest |
N/A |
55-27 |
Injuries are always a huge concern with the Rockets, but this is the deepest team they have fielded in the past 5 seasons. The addition of Artest takes pressure off of Tracy McGrady. It moves Battier to the sixth man where he will be deadly. If Yao gets hurt then all bets are off. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
09 |
Traded for Jermaine O'Neal |
N/A |
41-41 |
This is my favorite "sleeper team" heading into this season. As long as Jermaine O'Neal is healthy, this team will be a top squad in the East. But if they want to make the ECF, Roko Ukic will have to be a very competent backup to Calderon. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
10 |
Signed DeSagana Diop to four-year deal |
N/A |
51-31 |
A full season playing with Jason Kidd will benefit the team. Rick Carlisle is a very good defensive coach which should improve an already good defensive team. The emergence of Brandon Bass as a super-sub to compliment Jason Terry off the bench could be a huge factor in the Mavs’ success. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
11 |
Signed Elton Brand |
N/A |
40-42 |
This team is not a serious contender until they address their lack of outside shooting. Willie Green and Lou Williams are the best shooters on this team and that's not a compliment. But this team should be really good defensively and can dominate the boards. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
12 |
Hired Terry Porter as head coach |
N/A |
55-27 |
I feel bad for Terry Porter. He finally gets a head coaching job, but it is on a team whose window has just about closed. Barbosa, Barnes and Diaw give them depth for the inevitable injury, but those aren’t names that strike fear in the heart of their opponents. This is the beginning of the end for the Suns. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
13 |
Greg Oden's knee is 100% healthy |
N/A |
41-41 |
This is the team with some of the highest expectations in the league and yet they didn't make the playoffs last season. Greg Oden has a chance to dominate this league and if he does, Blazers fans will get what they haven't had in 30 years. A championship. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
14 |
Signed Mickael Pietrus |
N/A |
52-30 |
Dwight Howard has developed into a monster in the post. Now he needs to refine his game. Look for Hedo Turkoglu to show that last season was not a fluke. If they can get consistent rebounds from someone other than Howard and find a reliable 6th and 7th man, they can contend in the East. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
15 |
Traded Marcus Camby to Clippers |
N/A |
50-32 |
Giving your only line of defense away from a future second round pick so that you can save some money is never going to get you closer to a championship. The Nuggets may absolutely hate themselves for making that deal in a month. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
16 |
Drafted Michael Beasley with 2nd pick |
N/A |
15-67 |
This pick is making a few assumptions about the Heat. Dwayne Wade stays healthy because he is the third best player in the league. Shawn Marion doesn’t pout about being the second banana. Pat Riley tells Michael Beasley he lives in North Dakota, and there are no parties to go to. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
17 |
Signed Baron Davis; Traded for Marcus Camby |
N/A |
23-59 |
Adding Marcus Camby and Baron Davis is a dicey move. They are insanely talented but also have a long history of injury problems. If these two can stay on the court and mesh well with their new teammates then this is a playoff team. If not..... - Zach Harper |
|
 |
18 |
Traded for T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack |
N/A |
36-46 |
One thing is for sure, these guys will score in bunches. The addition of T.J. Ford and Jarrett Jack to replace Jamaal Tinsley will only solidify that. Like the Nuggets in the West, the Pacers will score a lot of points but stop no one. They also don’t have a reliable rebounder outside of Jeff Foster. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
19 |
Re-signed Josh Smith |
N/A |
37-45 |
Was last season a complete fluke? Will Josh Smith's attitude improve with his new contract? If the East is better this year, can this team make the playoffs? Can Marvin Williams leap to the next level? These questions determine their success this year. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
20 |
Hired Larry Brown to be head coach |
N/A |
32-50 |
The presence of Larry Brown is going to make a world of difference for this club. They have some talented pieces that (if healthy) could make some noise in the East. Brown should be able to get a maximum effort from his players. - Brandon Gallawa | |
 |
21 |
Gilbert Arenas had knee surgery |
N/A |
43-39 |
Gilbert Arenas is out for a couple of months. Brendan Haywood is out for 4 to 6 months. Antawn Jamison just injured himself. Will this team ever be relatively healthy so we can see what they are fully capable of? Just one year? - Zach Harper |
|
 |
22 |
Drafted Derrick Rose with 1st pick |
N/A |
33-49 |
They will be much improved over last year, and how can they not be? With expectations lowered and no distractions of contract negotiations and potential trades, the Bulls will show the improvements they should have shown last year. The big question is will their defense improve under Del Negro. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
23 |
Traded away Ron Artest |
N/A |
38-44 |
This team can finally focus on rebuilding and becoming a force in the West again. With Artest and Bibby gone, they now can emphasize the youth movement and figure out who to build around. The Kings are stockpiling young talent, which means Petrie could make a big splash any day now. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
24 |
Signed Corey Maggette; Re-signed Monta Ellis |
N/A |
48-34 |
A team that has its offensive focal point out for the first few months of the season is starting off on the wrong foot. Corey Maggette is a good player, but he won’t off-set the production lost from Baron Davis’ departure. Nellie may get frustrated and quit this year. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
25 |
Traded for O.J. Mayo |
N/A |
22-60 |
This team is extremely thin in the frontcourt and very deep with youth in the backcourt. O.J. Mayo has the potential to be a star in this league but if he can't get this team to win in the next three years, will it really matter? - Zach Harper |
|
 |
26 |
Hired Mike D'Antoni as head coach |
N/A |
23-59 |
Mike D’Antoni doesn’t have Steve Nash anymore. He also doesn’t Amare, Marion, Bell, or Barbosa. Not only that, but their biggest weakness was the defense, and D’Antoni has never been know as a defensive guru. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
27 |
Traded for Kevin Love |
N/A |
22-60 |
Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! Fire Kevin McHale! - Zach Harper |
|
 |
28 |
Traded for Richard Jefferson |
N/A |
26-56 |
Their team once again looks good on paper, but they will still end up with a losing record. They were the worst defensive teams in the league last year as far as opp. fg %. Skiles is a defensive minded coach, but you have to have the personnel for it to work. - Brandon Gallawa |
|
 |
29 |
Moved to OKC |
N/A |
20-62 |
An old franchise with a brand new look (as long as you've never seen the Knicks unis). The Thunder are still not nearly talented enough to compete in the West but they are headed in the right direction. - Zach Harper |
|
 |
30 |
Traded for Yi Jianlin |
N/A |
34-48 |
The Nets may end up with more wins than the Thunder, but there is no way they are better than the Thunder this year. They don’t have any great defenders or defensive plan. Lawrence Frank should be fired after or during this season. - Brandon Gallawa |
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