Gettin' right for tonight…

The season finally starts Tuesday night, and right in time I’m making radical changes to the Dirty 30. Radical dude! Awesome! Once again, check out my new format. I’d like to take this time to say that I know less about web design/HTML than anyone at any of the big sites with “power rankings.” Yet, notice how much more pleasing to the eye my Dirty 30 is. I’d also like to say that these are the views of one Sam Rubenstein, and I will not refer to some fictional committee or constantly describe myself as an individual as “we.” If you’ve got a problem with my list, you can email me directly. If you like it or have something nice to say, you can email me directly. It’s NBA Time. I’m RELOADED! Let’s GO!
This Week
Last Week
Team
Why?
1
1
I’m not allowed to have anyone else at the top. Well, I’m allowed to, but I’d be stupid to do it.
2
2
The SI jinx hurts, but the Penthouse reverse jinx could put them at the top of the East. Some people are worried Ron Ron is still out of control. I love it!
3
3
Maybe the egos will get along, but you’ll definitely hear about it when they don’t. Shaq looks like he’s kept the weight off, which is key.
4
4
Darko had 6 blocks in a preseason game. Darko dunked on someone. All it took was gettng caught driving with a suspended license to make him feel like a true NBA baller.
5
7
Mike James is Van Grumpy playoff tough, but now he’s gone. Yao-Stro-Mac-Rafer. Intriguing.
6
6
7-1 in the preseason. Hard to do better than that. But don’t expect another 24-2 run this year (ya think!) At least they won’t have to face San Antonio in round 1.
7
9
Shareef is making the playoffs. Either that or he’s the new Mitch Richmond.
8
8
Dirk is their leader, but he was also that last year, and he faded when they needed him most. Cuban didn’t do anything too crazy roster-wise, and that could hurt them.
9
10
They’ve got the perfect… big men! That’s right. Cause they can stay out of the way of the big 3 and their “Break and Oops is Hard to do” show, and still chip in with easy buckets.
10
5
If Amare is never the same player he once was, we should all feel cheated. As for his team, it won’t be as pretty, but they’re still playoff caliber.
11
11
So, the general feeling was that LeBron needed a shooter. They got Damon and Donyell, who are definitely that, but can be so much more. The Cavs are loaded and they’re coming out HOT!
12
13
Paul Pierce trade rumor, yawn. Just let the man play. Or bench him and watch the young guys run.
13
16
Reading Charley Rosen’s back to back rants on how overrated Baron Davis is just clinched it for me. The Warriors are making the playoffs, and will be the most improved team.
14
22
That was an amazing trade they pulled off. Honestly it’s been a while since I’ve seen Magloire play, but now the Bobby Simmons signing makes sense, and the Bucks join the crowded “shot at the playoffs” east.
15
14
The more I think about the Bulls since the Curry trade, the less I believe in them. The good news is that they can’t possibly get off to a worse start than last year.
16
17
This hurts me to say or to even think out loud, but the Lakers could use a PG in a few years when they’re good again. The next Magic, perhaps? They looked good without Livingston in the preseason though.
17
15
KG is in a strange spot. It’s beautiful that he’s still with the team that drafted him, but this is the kind of sloppy organization that elite future HOFers run away from.
18
12
I thought they’d be okay without Larry Hughes (and Kwame, he played last year) but then I used this team in 2K6. It wasn’t fun.
19
18
Alot of talk about how the key is Pau not being so soft. How many times do we hear that about various non-USA franchise players? Memphis is going backwards before they go forwards.
20
21
The Eddy Curry trade makes the Knicks better, and not just cause it got Tim Thomas out of the way. He’s a big body, and quite frankly that’s all you need… to be better than horrible.
21
19
Chris Webber got old really fast. At least he’s got saavy now. That’s what you say about a great veteran that’s not the athlete he once was. He’s got saavy.
22
20
And you thought MJ tarnished his legacy by coming back? Just in case this doesn’t work out, let’s remember the 9 rings. If you have to. Maybe it was just the players, and Phil’s greatest gift was hustling the Buss’s.
23
23
Under the radar, coming off a nightmare season. I’m keeping them this low for now, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they take off really quickly.
24
24
If you read SLAM 93, 7% of us said that Johan Petro is the rookie most likely to lead the league in blocked shots. That 7% is I.
25
25
Finding about Grant Hill having surgery didn’t even phase me for a second. That’s sad. They need to just give Dwight the damn ball and work off of him.
26
26
Jason Collier’s passing was a tragedy, and hopefully it’s the last of the latest low points for the Hawks. Now it’s time to go up up up.
27
27
Not the best preseason, but you know how important preseason is, right? Z-Bo is not going to win this mini-war with Nate.
28
28
Why not trade for Desmond Mason? The Hornets aren’t doing anything for a few years anyway. They should just have fun running for now.
29
29
This is a question about the parent company, BET. Have you noticed Big Tigger is now on 106 & Park, and Joe Claire is doing airline commercials? When did this happen?
30
30
Saturday December 10th at the Bobcats. That’s a winnable game.
By Sam Rubenstein