NBA is starting and even though the Mavs won the Championship the Heat are the team to beat. Lets take a look at the preseason power rankings:

1. HEAT – The Heat are the best team in the NBA. I know this is disrespectful to the reigning champions Mavericks but they had some big losses while the Heat added Shane Battier and may have found a diamond in the rough with Norris Cole.

2. DALLAS – I think the Mavs are going to miss Tyson Chandler and Jose Juan Barea. They won’t get anything out of Vince Carter but maybe the scorned Kardashian Lamar Odom has an even better year than he had last year.

3. THUNDER – Kevin Durant I think will take another step forward and put himself in the best player in the game conversation. Kendrick Perkins lost 32 pounds which is kinda of frightening as he played at 50% last season. Expect the Thunder to bring the thunder.

4. CHICAGO – Expectations are super high for the Bulls especially with the addition of Richard Hamilton but even with Rip I don’t think these guys will have enough to contend against Miami.

5. GRIZZLIES – The Griz have been an afterthought this off-season but I haven’t forgot them and I also didn’t forget Rudy Gay is back.

6. CLIPPERS – Despite all the hoopla surrounding the Chris Paul acquisition they are still a second round playoff team at best and lets be serious CP3 has bad knees his window will be open for about 3 more years and then I expect a significant decline in production.

7. LAKERS – The Lakers are for the first time I can remember not the talk of the town. The Clippers are with their huge off-season acquisitions. Lamar Odom will not be soon forgotten.

8. KNICKS – The Knicks I still don’t think they are going to have a great year. They amnestied Chauncy Billups and brought in Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis but Mike D’Antoni is still the coach. I don’t think D’Antoni strategy of run, score and play no defense is ever going to win a championship. We will see if assistant Mike Woodson can get these guys to play defense.

9. CELTICS – The Celtics are in trouble they only have four players left from the 2008 championship team, they were not able to sign a big name free agent (David West) and Jeff Green is out for the season. The Celtics should still make the playoffs but they have no shot at making the Finals.

10. SPURS – They finished number one last year but were ousted in the first round. I don’t think they will experience the same regular season success as last year.

11. HAWKS – The Hawks are average, they will have another average season and an average showing in the playoffs.

12. PACERS – They battled the Bulls in last year’s playoffs and they added David West to the mix. Also Tyler Hansbrough and Paul George appear to be poised to take on more responsibility. This team is very dangerous.

13. MAGIC – I don’t know what to expect from the Magic all I know is that they are going to get the short end of the stick whenever they decide to deal Dwight Howard. Otis Smith just has not made good moves. Acquiring Vince Carter, over-paying Rashard Lewis, acquiring Gilbert Arenas trading Brandon Bass of Glen Davis.

14. BLAZERS – I really can’t imagine how it must feel to be a Portland fan. Brandon Roy’s retirement is one of the saddest sports stories of the year and I am beginning to wonder if Greg Oden will ever play again either. But with Raymond Felton and LaMarcus Aldridge, they’re still a viable playoff team.

15. 76ERS - Doug Collins had a great year last season he got these guys to the playoffs and so the expectations are only going to increase. I expect both Jrue Holiday and Evan Turner to be better this year.

16. NUGGETS – The Nuggets are stupid deep, the other night they played 15 guys 14 of which scored. Despite not having a marquee player this team is going to be a very tough out.

17. ROCKETS – I was really excited for the Rockets to get Gasol but the deal fell-thru. These guys were very close last year and with the Hornets dropping out of the playoffs I think these guys can sneak in.

18. NETS – Brook Lopez is out 4-6 weeks with a broken foot. The Nets might have gotten a steal in the draft with Marshon Brooks.

19. WARRIORS – Mark Jackson in my opinion is on the hot seat. All summer long Jackson has guaranteed a playoff berth despite never coaching a game in the NBA.

20. SUNS – The Suns didn’t make any significant moves in the off-season so expect more of the same Steve Nash carrying these guys, a battle for the eighth playoff spot and them losing that spot to either Houston or Denver.

21. JAZZ – If threes a crowd then four is a fiasco and that is what the Jazz have on their hands. The Jazz have too many big men Paul Millsap, Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter, and Derrick Favors. I say go young and shop Millsap, Jefferson, and include Devin Harris in any deal as he is not a true point guard.

22. WIZARDS – There were a lot of John Wall highlights this summer but in the first two preseason games he was outplayed by Jrue Holiday. Wall’s totals were 25points 6 assists 10 turnovers versus Holiday who had totals of 36 points 14 assists 7 turnovers.

23. KINGS – These guys should get a lot of ratings this year as I am sure die-hard NBA fans are going to want to watch Jimmer-Tyreke-DeMarcus on league pass.

24. TIMBERWOLVES – The Wolves are going to be my favorite NBA league pass team and I think they are going to catch a few.

25. BUCKS – Problem are on the horizon for the Bucks as Stephan Jackson wants a new contract.

26. HORNETS – Hornets got what they wanted in the CP3 deal but they won’t see the benefits until the June draft when they will likely have two lottery picks in a loaded draft.

27. PISTONS – If I were Joe Dumars I would strongly consider blowing this team up. Keep Austin Daye, Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight but shop everyone else. This team’s biggest problem is that they have no leader.

28. RAPTORS – I like the young nucleus of the Raptors of Demar DeRozan, Jerryd Bayless, Ed Davis and Amir Johnson but none of these players will ever make the leap to being a premier player. They are all role players.

29. CAVALIERS – I watched these guys the other day and I found them to be pretty entertaining team. I really liked what Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Samardo Samuels bring to the table.

30. BOBCATS – These guys are hands down the worst team in the league but Michael Jordan has stated they are pretty much starting over. They have a few nice young players but it stinks for Bobcats fans.