Not to sure how great this formatting will turn out. If it is hard to read just use the URL. Rockets are #14 in their poll. Pretty good respect considering the record they had last year and where they are listed in their poll. Although they do have the Rockets being the #9 team in the west. - Chris 2002-03 NBA Power Poll http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/poll/ June 17, 2002 Sean Deveney The Sporting News Rk. Team 2001-02 Comment 1. Sacramento 61-21 Roster almost will be unchanged next season. 2. LA Lakers 58-24 Free agents will come and go around Shaq and Kobe. 3. Dallas 57-25 If there's a summer blockbuster, expect Mark Cuban to be involved. 4. San Antonio 58-24 New arena, old question: Will Tim Duncan get any help? 5. New Jersey 52-30 Lineup tinkering is certain, and a Keith Van Horn deal is possible. 6. Minnesota 50-32 Good enough to win 50, not good enough to get to Round 2. 7. Detroit 50-32 Improvement could hinge on the development of Rodney White. 8. New Orleans 44-38 An extension for Baron Davis should be the top priority. 9. Boston 49-33 With no room to add players, the Celtics are hoping for development within. 10. Portland 49-33 Everyone is on the trading block. 11. Philadelphia 43-39 Allen Iverson is not the problem -- he needs a better team. 12. LA Clippers 39-43 Offseason moves could vault the Clippers way up -- or way down. 13. Seattle 45-37 How much money do you give free agent Rashard Lewis? 14. Houston 28-54 Staying healthy and using the No. 1 pick wisely are top issues. 15. Orlando 44-38 Grant Hill's ankle and Tracy McGrady's back are big concerns. 16. Toronto 42-40 They started winning without Vince Carter; can they win with him? 17. Milwaukee 41-41 Trading Glenn Robinson or Tim Thomas would be nice, if there were takers. 18. Indiana 42-40 On a roster cluttered with pretty good players, a trade is needed. 19. Miami 36-46 Probably would like to avoid a 5-23 start this year. 20. Utah 44-38 The final go-round for the John Stockton-Karl Malone tandem. 21. Atlanta 33-49 If healthy, a potentially dangerous team. That's a big "if," though. 22. Washington 37-45 We all know the question in Washington: Will Hubert Davis be back? 23. Chicago 21-61 The Bulls are banking on Jalen Rose as a franchise player. 24. Cleveland 29-53 Simply must make the right call on draft night. Can't afford another blown pick. 25. Memphis 23-59 Pau Gasol and Shane Battier are an enviable foundation. 26. Golden State 21-61 Must cut out the dead weight this summer. 27. New York 30-52 It could be a long, long time before this is sorted out. 28. Phoenix 36-46 Took a few steps back in hopes of making future steps forward. 29. Denver 27-55 Give Kiki Vandeweghe credit for cleansing the roster of Dan Issel's sins.
That hardly looks changed from the end of last season,. except for a couple of movements. Wait until October when writers will actually have a clue what will happen next year and can actually make predictions instead of dreamcasts.
