Read Marc Stein's NBA rankings and couldn't believe how someone who does it for a living actually gets it completely wrong.  So Jinkon and I decided to make our own rankings with reasons why.  Here it is.

1. Heat – Defending champs.  Have shaq and dwade for a full season again. 
   
   
2. Mavs – Western champs did lose marquis daniels and missed out on the mike james sweepstakes.  But still deeper than any team in the nba.
   
   
3. Spurs – A healthy Timmy D added to team that quietly won 63 games last season (if its possible to do that).  Plus you have to put in the Eva factor.
   
   
4. Suns – They have to stay here for now because of Amare’s injury.  You have to be concerned with a 22 year old with TWO knees surgeries already in his career.
   
   
5. pistons – Lost Big Ben which will hurt their interior defense.  But Nazi Mohammed was an adequate pickup and in the weak East is all they need.
   
   
6. cavs – A healthy Hughes and the resigning Gooden and Z really make this team something to watch.
   
   
7. clips – This team has everything it needs and quietly resigned Correy Magette without anyone taking notice.  Probably one of the biggest moves this offseason.
   
   
8. rockets – Signing of Battier and Bonzi really filled a void at the 2/3 guard spots which gives the team pieces they desperately needed.  Can the big 2 stay healthy though?
   
   
9. bulls – Baby bulls aren’t so baby anymore with vets PJ Brown and company.  Now they need to take the next step forward.
   
   
10. nets – Still have the best starting backcourt in the league with the big 3.  Nenad is coming around, but can this team find a bench they were missing last season?
    
    
11. jazz – Intriguing team that looked good, then bad, then great during the season.   If AK stays healthy and this team plays like it did at the end of last season, watch out.
    
    
12. nuggets – I really liked what I saw out of Melo during the FIBA’s this summer.  I’m starting to turn into a believer.  K-mart either needs to get on the same page or get out of their to avoid last year’s meltdown.
    
    
13. pacers – Rick Carleile never gets the props he richly deserves.  He’s put up with a lot of injuries, suspensions and brawls but always seems to win.  Now with a clean slate, healthy team and some new faces…. Should be interesting.
    
    
14. bucks – One of the favorite sleepers in the east.  Have a solid 8 man rotation, but need to put it together and play consistently.
    
    
15. kings – Artest for a full year should be helpful.  They have a lot of underrated and versatile guys on their team.  For this team to excel, they are going to need Kevin Martin and second year man Fransico Garcia to step it up big.
    
    
16. wizards – A one man team with Gilbert Arenas.  Not too sure if he can do much more for this team at this point.  They need better outside shooters and better inside scoring to be a real threat.
    
    
17. t’wolves – love the offseason with key additions of mike james and randy foye to help a weak backcourt which hurt them last season.  If Rashard McCants continues his progression, could be a team to fight for a playoff spot.
    
    
18. hornets – Signing of peja for $15m a year is questionable at best.  I like the Chandler pick up to help them with the interior defense.  This team could be better, but will still fight for an eight seed
    
    
19. lakers – offseason moves didn’t help that much.  Unless Kwame Brown all of a sudden finds life in his game, Kobe will have to average 35 a game and maybe more to get them to an 8 seed this year.
    
    
20. Celtics – Celtic fans are still reeling from the Foye for Telphair trade.  Its an interesting year to see if Ainge’s plan comes to fruition and these youngsters starting turning some of that potential into actual W’s.
    
    
21. magic – Love the youth on this team.  Nelson, Darco and Howard give them hope for the future.  If Reddick can stay healthy and be the shooter they desperately need, could be decent.
    
    
22. grizz – This team will have a setback with the loss of Battier for Gay.  But in a couple of years, team could be more than just competitive.
    
    
23. warriors – Another favorite by many to be a sleeper in the NBA.  Don’t prey victim to the same hype they received last year. 
    
    
24. bobcats – Morrison gives them a much needed scorer.  With Okefor back from injury and an improved Ray Felton, this team could be much better than where they are now.
    
    
25. knicks – Atleast their GM and coach are finally on the same page now.
    
    
26. 76rs – Love the drafting of Rodney Carney.  With him and Igodala that has to be one of the more athletic 2/3 young combos in the league.  But by the time they develop AI may be 40.
    
    
27. sonics – Saneer Sene is a top 10 pick?  Since when?
    
    
28. hawks – I really like to watch Josh Smith.  He’s proven to me that there is such a thing as an athletic lefty.
    
    
29. raptors – losing mike james and replacing him with TJ ford is a push.  But where is the scoring going to come from now without him and Villanueva?
    
    
30. trail blazers – They’re so bad that they acquired the best player on their team less than 4 months ago…. Brandon Roy.