Kobe Bryant and the Lakers received their championship rings Tuesday night. (AP)

1. All right, dammit, I’ll give them their props for last year. But there’s no way in hell they’ll be here next week.

2. I thought Sheed was crazy with the 72-win talk; why not 75? Seriously, this will be Doc’s best team yet.

3. Tim Duncan is still great, but the Spurs also win because they’ve got the smartest front office in the league.

4. You’ve hated on Vince. I’ve hated on Vince. But Vince is gonna play out of his mind in this system.

5. OK, Mike Brown. I’ll be the first to say it: The Cavs would be a better team if Shaq came off the bench.

6. The Blazers will have a deep playoff run this year, have their hearts broken in the conference finals, and then win next year’s title.

7. If the Nuggets were your kid, you’d let them borrow the car and then go through a bottle of Maalox waiting for them to return it. Something about them makes me very nervous.

Before the Mavericks' first game, Shawn Marion told the crowd: "We're going to take you on a long journey. Enjoy the ride." (AP)

8. Question of the year: Is Shawn Marion back to being the original Matrix? Or is he the just-miss of Matrix Reloaded? (Full disclosure: I don’t care about Shawn Marion. I just wanted to shout out the movie, which — and I can’t believe this — is already 10 years old.)

9. They’ll easily win 30 more games than last year (when they won 19). But their flaw is that they don’t have an elite, or even good, defender on the roster.
10. It’s too bad Isiah Thomas has been a disaster since he retired from the Pistons. Otherwise, you’d know exactly what I mean when I say that the dynamic Chris Paul is Isiah of the 21st century.
11. It’s simple: If they can move Carlos Boozer, they’ll be a better team. If not, one and done in the playoffs.

12. I’m impressed with 23-year-old Josh Smith. His number of 3-point attempts has been on the decline for three straight seasons. He’s a year away from being a great player.

13. Desert philosophy: We know we can’t stop you, so — at least 42 nights a year — we’ll outscore you.

14. Sometimes I get visions of the future. With that said, I believe Dwyane Wade and LeBron James will be teammates here next year.

15. See No. 14 and trade “Desert” for “Canadian.”

16. Yeah, I know what the stats say, pardnuh. But John Salmons ain’t Ben Gordon. They’re gonna miss the hell out of him this year.

Blake Griffin is expected to be out six weeks with a stress fracture in his left kneecap. (AP)

17. Not sure what Joe Dumars is trying to build here. Then again, I STILL can’t believe Joe D passed up Melo, D-Wade and Chris Bosh for Darko Milicic.

18. Sorry, but I’m not watching them until Blake Griffin returns from injury. Wake me in eight weeks.

19. With a couple of breaks, the Grizz will sneak into the playoffs. And if you still think they got nothing in the Pao Gasol trade, watch Pao’s brother, Marc, play.

20. I must be in a good mood, because I’m leaving them here despite watching them score 59 points against the Celtics. 59!

21. Bad sign for the Pacers: Danny Granger is a baller and Troy Murphy is a baller, yet they still managed just 36 wins last year. And the addition who will help them most this year is … Dahntay Jones.

22. Once upon a time, long ago in a 1980s land, Don Nelson actually coached teams that played defense.

23. Where are my baseball fans? The 76ers have a roster full of No. 3 and 4 starters, but they aren’t going anywhere because they don’t have an ace.

24. The best thing I can say about the Nets is that if the Magic win the title, maybe Nets execs also will get rings for generously helping the cause.

Kevin Durant had 25 points and 11 rebound in the Thunder's opener, a victory over the Kings Wednesday night.

25. You guys aren’t gonna believe what I just heard: Tracy McGrady is hurt. Oh, I know it’s shocking, but it’s true.

26. I’m in love with Kevin Durant. Yeah, I said it. You’d say it, too, if he was playing in a real market. I swear, the University of Texas got more attention with Durant than Oklahoma City has with him.

27. You can offer LeBron a lead role in the next Spike Lee Joint and promise him Jay-Z’s empire, but there’s no way he’s playing for the Knicks next year. It’s either Cleveland or Miami. You’ll see.

28. Remember what I said about the Spurs’ front office? Well, the Wolves may have the dumbest. Taking two point guards in the lottery? Foolish. The only thing fun about this team is watching Al Jefferson, and he’ll be hurt by March.

29. Is it possible for a team to tank AFTER the season? I hate blatant salary dumps, and that’s exactly what the Richard Jefferson deal was.

30. True story: I was hanging out with a half-dozen hoop fans last week, and five of them didn’t know who Sacramento’s coach is. Do you? Do you need a hint?  Damn, you know Paul Westphal must love the game if he took this job.

11 Comments for “NBA Power Rankings — 10/29”

1. j Says:
   October 29th, 2009 at 1:40 pm

   Man good for you. Being a Lakers fan I love this ranking. They should be up there next week if still undefeated. Celtics v. Lakers finals. Celtics dont win 72 Rasheed will blow 5 games for the C’s at least.

2. j Says:
   October 29th, 2009 at 1:42 pm

   Paul Westphal

3. p3t3y Says:
   October 29th, 2009 at 1:45 pm

   Nice job Holley!

   Nothing really out of place in your list. I don’t think the Trailblazers are as close as you (and many others) think they are. Imagine how many Miami Heat jerseys the NBA will move if LeBron ends up there…it will be sick! And congratulations to Paul Westphal on the new gig.

4. Phil Says:
   October 29th, 2009 at 3:39 pm

   For #15, the Raptors, you put “15. See number 14 and trade “Desert” for “Canadian.”” I believe you meant “15. See number 13…”

5. matt Says:
   October 29th, 2009 at 3:54 pm

   i agree with all your teams except for washington, i’m not sure they will win 30 more. good list though….but i still think you suck holley. seriously, your radio show is a piece of dump. and for gods sake, agree with a caller once in a while! you say something, a caller calls up and says the same thing…then all of a sudden you think the caller is wrong even though you just said the same thing! get with it. dale sucks more though, i think he wears womens underwear.

6. ANDY Says:
   October 29th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

   diddily doodily dale arnold! these power rankings are terrible.

7. Woo-Town Warrior Says:
   October 29th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

   I think Washington has a good defender. Tough Juice! aka Caron Butler

8. Doc Says:
   October 30th, 2009 at 9:06 am

   I figure it’ll take until mid-December before people realize how good the Magic are. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to see them go undefeated in their next 9 games and then they get Lewis back–another all-star. The bandwagon will be driving by soon, get ready to hop aboard.

9. tj Says:
   October 30th, 2009 at 11:32 am

   its a little crazy the cleveland lebrons are #5 and have not won a game yet….come on man

10. Dan Says:
    October 31st, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    yeahh…. I’m sure you don’t need anyone telling you this Holley, but Matt (above) is a moron. Your show is great and as someone who will probably be a future caller on WEEI, I often agree with you and wish I could make my points as well as you state them. Dale’s awesome as well.

11. matt Says:
    November 5th, 2009 at 5:51 pm

    Dan is a tit. I don’t know anybody who likes the dale and holley show. actually, when the show comes on…everyone i work with wants to listen to something else until the big show comes on.

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