Version 2.0 has run its course, so we need a new thread!

The playoff race is in full effect, and a few teams have a shot at clinching playoff berths this week. The race in the West is really heating up, as it looks like the top 8 teams may need 50 wins to get in yet again.

Here are my updated Power Rankings:

1. Cleveland- They avoided the loss bug that plagued the other "Big 3" teams on Sunday, and they are in form to take at least the top seed in the East, if not homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.
2. L.A. Lakers- Two tough losses for the Lakers in the first stretch of the season where it seems as if they missed Andrew Bynum. They've got an easy week to beef up their win total before 10 of 13 on the road.
3. Boston- Clobbering Phoenix and Denver while losing to the Clippers and Pistons shows that this team is not quite the juggernaut without KG.
4. Orlando- The Jameer Nelson injury likely ended their title hopes, but they have built a seemingly insurmountable lead over the 4th seeded team. Rafer Alston should at least help them win a round in the playoffs.
5. Utah- The hottest team in the league after running up 8 straight victories. They've finally gotten healthy, and look to pose the biggest threat to the Lakers outside of San Antonio for the Western Conference title.
6. San Antonio- Tim Duncan has looked a bit rusty since his return, and with the Spurs also down Manu Ginobli, their hold on the number 2 seed is tenuous.
7. Houston- They haven't missed Tracy McGrady one bit. Scola is a dirty bitch, but he's effective.
8. Portland- They've held their own without Greg Oden. The glaring thing with Portland is the disparity between their performances at home and on the road, but that's to be expected with a young team. A playoff appearance would be sensational for them.
9. New Orleans- They've eked out some very close games of late, but every win in the West is precious. It seems the almost-trade of Tyson Chandler has sparked him to perform better.
10. Denver- Don't look now, but Portland and Utah are breathing down their necks for Northwest Division supremacy. They face both this week.
11. Phoenix- Shaq has turned back the clock to ring up some huge performances that have kept the Suns afloat while they are without Nash and Stoudemire. The 8th seed isn't out of reach, but this team doesn't look like it can get past the first round.
12. Dallas- They couldn't have asked for Jason Terry to return soon enough. Still, it will be a struggle to make the playoffs, and the loss to Oklahoma City won't help matters.
13. Atlanta- They've consistently performed all season and seem locked into the number 4 seed. Can they win a round this year after taking Boston to Game 7 last year?
14. Miami- Up and down it goes for the Heat. Wade has been an absolute beast, and he's had to be to keep them above water.
15. Philadelphia- This season has to be considered somewhat of a disappointment given the preseason hype and the underperformance of Elton Brand. Still, they look like they're a lock for the playoffs.
16. Milwaukee- They were supposed to wilt without Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut, but Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva have stepped up to keep the Bucks in the playoff hunt.
17. Chicago- They've performed fairly well since becoming the winners of the trade deadline. If their new roster can gel, they'll likely be in the playoffs.
18. Detroit- Their season looked lost after having lost 8 straight, but they turned it around and beat Orlando and Boston on the road. The key? No Allen Iverson.
19. Indiana- The most puzzling team in the league, Indiana has beaten the Lakers, Celtics, Cavaliers, Magic and Nuggets, but have lost to many bottom-dwellers. Like Milwaukee, they were supposed to fold without their best players (Danny Granger and Mike Dunleavy), but they're amazingly still in the hunt.
20. Charlotte- This is a new team since the arrival of Boris Diaw and Raja Bell from Phoenix. They've beaten up on some weak teams on the road, but it's helped them to stay within striking distance.
21. New Jersey- That Devin Harris shot may have saved their season. Could they make a playoff run?
22. New York- Entertaining for sure, and majorly improved from last year, the Knicks still don't seem to have the ability to compete on a nightly basis in order to make the playoffs.
23. Toronto- A tough stretch of games upcoming will likely end their playoff hopes. Will Chris Bosh stick around?
24. Golden State- The notion of resting one seasoned vet each game in order to give minutes to young guys signals that this season is a wash for the Warriors. It won't hurt their draft position, either.
25. Oklahoma City- The most improved team within the season. They looked set to challenge the 1973 76ers for historic futility, but their young nucleus has grown up a lot this year. They beat Dallas without Kevin Durant, and that really tells the tale.
26. Minnesota- They just haven't been the same without Al Jefferson. On the plus side, that OJ Mayo/Kevin Love trade isn't looking so bad anymore.
27. Washington- It's hard to envision the Wizards making the playoffs even if they had Gilbert Arenas. The rumors of them shopping Caron Butler at the trade deadline makes it sound like management is going to blow up this team.
28. L.A. Clippers- Hey, they beat Boston! Other than that though, this injury-decimated club doesn't have much to celebrate aside from the emergence of young stars in Eric Gordon and Al Thornton.
29. Memphis- OJ Mayo and Rudy Gay don't play well together yet. If they learn to and Mike Conley and Marc Gasol continue to grow, this team could be dangerous in a few years.
30. Sacramento- They donated players to Chicago, and now they're waiving Drew Gooden. Charity, or tanking?

Oh come on! 2.0 is still relevant!

My Hawks look a cert for 4th seed so I think they should just be aiming to get as close as they can to a 50 win season. They've done ok, but I'm disappointed that they haven't been able to put more distance between themselves and Miami and Detroit, and are so far away from the big three in the East.

I think you've got Utah a little high there. They've been on a tear, but that run is just that, a run, and it'll end soon enough no doubt. They're still only just in 7th in the West right now, even after winning 8 straight. Ahead of them NO have won 5 straight and you've got them 4 places lower?

MuthaFunka said:

Well, we can no longer post on it.

Fauxie said:

My rankings are generated by a formula. Utah is statistically better and hotter than New Orleans, and they are only one half game behind them. What's driving Utah up my rankings this week is the momentum factor. Their 9 of the last 10 (plus 8 straight) gives them a 9.35 out of 10 on my scale- best in the league at the moment.

Moonbeam said:

For real?

MuthaFunka said:

Damn, you're right. How'd that shit happen?

MuthaFunka said:

After 2 months from the original post, a thread can longer be posted on. That's why I started Version 2.0 as well! We'll have to get a new one once the playoffs start.

Sticky time

luv4u said:

Thanks.

Josh Smith is having a poor season, just hasn't made the leap I was expecting this year. Down in points, rebounds, assists, and perhaps most disappointingly, blocks. At least Horford is growing into a fine player though.

Moonbeam said:

Well damn!

Fauxie said:

Josh used to be a Fantasy Basketball GM's dream. Horford looks like Grant Hill's long lost cousin.

Without Bynum, the Lakers can be beat by the Jazz or the Spurs in the playoffs.

Would beat any team in the East except for the Orlando Magic.

I don't think Marbury compliments the Celtics as many others think. He could be their T.O. of basketball.

Cleveland has stepped it up but inexperience could cost them a trip to the Finals. Just because they beat a Flip Saunders Detroit team 2 years ago, does not mean they are experienced. Just means Flip Saunders was a bad coach.

Moonbeam, my friend, what up?
[Edited 3/4/09 0:04am]

jseven said:

Eh...well...I hate to break this to ya, but...The Lakers beat both those teams last playoffs....minus Drew.

That was last year, not this year.


We should have Bynum back by playoffs hopefully n make it to the Finals n be having another parade in downtown L.A.

Just have to be honest; without Bynum, we will not win the Finals and may not make it.

The West may not be as close as it was last year, but it is still the tougher conference. The East has beasts in Cleveland and Boston. Orlando is the shh but in a 7 game series, Cleveland or Boston will kill them. I can't take Boston seriously after losing to the Clippers.

jseven said:

The Lakers are a better team this year so this makes no sense to me. They're playing better now without Bynum than they did in the playoffs last year without him. With him I think it's theirs all the way.

Funny how the Pistons started winning again when Iverson went OUT.

jseven said:

Ok, so what's changed? The date?

jseven said:

I said this in thread 2.0. Even though the Lakers beat both teams last year, both can win it all this year, Socks or no Socks.

ESPECIALLY the Team of the Decade, now featuring Drew Gooden.

The Jazx scared me last year. I thought they were the most talented team LA played last year. They pose matchup problems for any contender.
[Edited 3/4/09 12:16pm]

Man, all this crap and I AM A LAKERS FAN.

Didn't know stating an opinion was a bad thing.

Still want us winning in the end. Nuff said.

jseven said:

Then you shoulda known better! You know how Laker fans protect that shield!

^^ I just tend to be real is all. A majority of Laker fans thought the season record was all locked up before the season started. No way they would have ten losses all year. How is that looking now?

I would rather have 3 more rings then that stupid record.

jseven said:

You know I'll be rooting for the Lakers to be swept in the first round.

It's likely going to be a long, disappointing postseason.

Graycap23 said:

Gotta hand it to you, they are playing well right now without him.
Even last season though when they didn't have iverson, they would play
well for stretches then they would go another stretch when they can't
even find the hoop which is one of the reasons i think they traded for
him in the first place which is to score but it hasn't worked out thus far.

phunkdaddy said:

I really don't understand the A.I. love in the NBA. The guy is not and NEVER has been a team player.

OK Moonbeam, this isn't personal but I want to say this about Jerry Sloan:

HE IS A PUSSY.

Always has been, always will be.

No MAN flops. No kind of man at all.

Sloan coached (taught?) the dirtiest player of them all, John Stockton.

He taught all his players to flop and I will say to the face of any of them that they are pussies for flopping.

And losers, too.

Let's count how many championships that pussy Sloan has won with his Pussy Flopping/Use Every Dirty Trick in the Book System (and hell YES I remember the timekeeper incident):

ZERO.

NONE.

EMPTY SET.

I'm tired of all the tough-guy Sloan talk. He's a pussy and a loser.

End of message.

Graycap23 said:

Funny how the Nuggets started winning when Iverson went BYE-BYE.

RodeoSchro said:

Coming from a Bulls fan.....he taught them the technics he used when he played. His talent was very limited ao he made up 4 it with dirty tactics.

RodeoSchro said:

Seems like bitch Scola and Battier also got the message. Scola in particular flops with the best of them.