Lakers Roll to 7-0 are they the best team in the NBA?

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Power Rankings: Lakers rise, Celtics fall after first week

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Blazers' Oden sprains foot in first game, will miss 2-4 weeks

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Power Rankings: Celtics begin on top, back and ready for more

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L.A. Lakers 90 vs. Utah 99* (National Basketball Association)

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National Basketball Association

L.A. Lakers 90
Utah 99

Power Rankings: Best and worst over past six seasons

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1 San Antonio Spurs 59 23 .720 1 10 3.17 High: Wk 18, 2007-08 (most recent of 36) | Low: Wk 7, 2002-03 (most recent of 2) | Rankings archive Surely this outcome doesn't surprise you. The Spurs wound up halting the Lakers' three-peat run and winning the championship in the first season that the committee (of one) presided over these rankings and won two more titles after that. Then they've got a string of nine consecutive 50-win seasons going and generally rank as the franchise, from top to bottom, every other team wishes it could emulate. Who else could occupy this perch? 2 Dallas Mavericks 58 24 .707 1 15 4.23 High: Wk 12, 2006-07 (most recent of 30) | Low: Wk 22, 2007-08 | Rankings archive Snicker all you want about the Mavs' playoff exploits since the 6:30 mark of the fourth quarter in Game 3 of the 2006 NBA Finals. None of that considerable misery can change the fact that these rankings are a regular-season enterprise, which has made it impossible not to notice that Dallas has posted an average record of 58-24 over the past six seasons … and thus impossible not to rank these tortured souls accordingly. 3 Detroit Pistons 56 26 .683 1 13 5.15 High: Wk 16, 2007-08 (most recent of 25) | Low: Wk 2, 2006-07 | Rankings archive Hard to imagine that anyone would claim that Detroit hasn't fully deserved its regular spot in our top five. Frustrated as Pistons fans might be to come away from six consecutive trips to the East finals with only one championship, there's been only one source of positive consistency emanating from the Leastern Conference since Michael Jordan's retirement … and this team is it. 4 Phoenix Suns 51 31 .622 1 27 8.59 High: Wk 4, 2007-08 (most recent of 15) | Low: Wk 16, 2003-04 (most recent of 2) | Rankings archive Yet another illustration of Steve Nash's impact in his second stint as a Sun has been playing out right here in our domain. Even though Nash has been back on Planet Orange for just four of the past six seasons -- and even though the two seasons before his return were mostly forgettable -- Phoenix has nonetheless crashed the top five comfortably.

How about that win the broncos got the chargers got cheated.

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that was clearly a fumble even the ref said it was a good game though but the chargers got screwed i know you guy's are gonna say they won fair and scare though.

Oklahoma City will be named Thunder, wear blue, orange, yellow.

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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Thunder can be heard from miles away, an early warning that a storm is about to arrive. So, perhaps it's only fitting that the name of Oklahoma City's NBA team didn't sneak up on anyone. Six weeks after the name first surfaced, team officials officially announced Wednesday that the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics would be known as the Oklahoma City Thunder. "It's hard to keep a secret," team chairman Clay Bennett said after stepping to a podium on the ground floor of the downtown office building where the team is headquartered. The announcement had long been anticipated, but everyone knew what was coming. The local ABC affiliate reported in mid-July that Thunder had been chosen as the nickname. Then the NBA Web site listed NBA.com/thunder as a link to the Oklahoma City team's page. Then the Orlando Magic's site listed games against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Even the logo and colors leaked out over the weekend. Then, prior to the 5 p.m. announcement, Thunder merchandise started showing up on the NBA's online store. "I thought it was great fun. Maybe I have a warped sense of things," Bennett said. "I thought it was a lot of fun. I was disappointed in the image being released." [+] Enlarge Oklahoma City Thunder Logo The Oklahoma City Thunder will wear blue, orange-red and yellow colors. That left Bennett somewhat surprised that hundreds of people still showed up in the atrium of Leadership Square, watched from their office windows or leaned over a second-floor walkway to hear it for sure. "My family talked about wanting to come down, and I said, 'Well, I don't think it's that big a deal. Everybody seems to know the name already,'" Bennett said. To unveil the logo, six children joined players Desmond Mason and Damien Wilkins to pull down a curtain as the AC/DC song "Thunderstruck" blared over the loudspeaker. What was revealed was a large blue banner with the logo in the middle, and splashes of yellow at the top and reddish-orange at the bottom. Bennett said the light blue color coincides with the state flag to represent the inclusion of all Oklahomans, the yellow refers to the sun and the reddish-orange color to the sunset. With the University of Oklahoma featuring crimson as its primary color, and Oklahoma State using orange, Bennett said it was "not too red and not too orange." Thunder is a fitting moniker for the Oklahoma City franchise, not only as a reference to powerful storms in the area known as Tornado Alley. The Oklahoma City-based 45th Infantry Division carries Thunderbirds as its nickname, and that's a reference to the state's American Indian heritage. Even one of Oklahoma native Garth Brooks' biggest hits was "The Thunder Rolls." "There's just all kinds of good thunder images and thoughts, and the in-game experience of Thunder," Bennett said. "Just here was a good sense of how that evokes emotion. It's very powerful." The team name had been the most evident -- and talked about -- element missing after Bennett announced July 2 that the SuperSonics would be moving to Oklahoma City through an agreement that will have him pay the city of Seattle up to $75 million to settle a lawsuit. Bennett said the uniforms and mascot won't be unveiled for another few weeks, but T-shirts, basketballs and other Thunder merchandise went on sale immediately after the announcement. "The guys in the jerseys, if they play, the jerseys are going to look real good," coach P.J. Carlesimo said. While the team applied for trademarks to six names -- the others were Wind, Barons, Marshalls, Energy and Bison -- Bennett said the decision on the name had been made "quite some time" ago. He said the names on the trademark applications weren't finalists, and he wouldn't reveal what other names got serious consideration. General manager Sam Presti told the crowd designing a logo "takes an immense amount of work, and it does take some time. "Not that anyone was really paying attention to the amount of time it was taking," he quipped. Team officials said they hope they can make the qualities of character, perseverance, selflessness, community and winning synonymous with Thunder. "It's very unique," said Mason, a former Oklahoma State forward who the Thunder acquired in an offseason trade with Milwaukee. "It's going to take some time getting used to, just like Utah Jazz or Orlando Magic, but I think it's a great thing for the state and a great thing for the city."

Clippers reach terms with free-agent guard Williams

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The Los Angeles Clippers made arrangements Thursday to bring in yet another new player by reaching terms with free-agent point guard Jason Williams. Williams Williams' agent, Bob Myers, told ESPN.com that the 32-year-old -- who spent the past three seasons with the Miami Heat and who started at point guard for Miami's title-winning team in 2006 -- has signed with the Clippers. Financial terms were not immediately available, but NBA front-office sources said Williams is receiving a one-year contract. "We are excited to add Jason to our squad," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said in a statement. "He brings added veteran leadership and playoff experience to our backcourt." In 679 regular-season games, Williams has averaged 11.4 points, 6.3 assists and 2.4 rebounds while playing for three different teams. He has appeared in 53 playoff games, averaging 9.8 points, 3.7 assists and 2.2 rebounds. Clippers general manager Elgin Baylor called Williams "a terrific ball handler with great passing ability and court vision." Williams ranked eighth in the league last season with a 3.37 assists-per-turnover ratio, and 12th with a 0.91 steals-per-turnover ratio. He was drafted by Sacramento in 1998 following his junior year at the University of Florida and was named to the 1999 NBA All-Rookie Team after he averaged 12.8 points and 6.0 assists. He has averaged scoring in double figures and at least five assists a game in eight of his 10 years in the league. Williams moved to Memphis before the 2001-02 season and over the following four years became the Grizzlies' career leader in assists and 3-point attempts. He joined the Heat before the 2005-06 season. Williams will thus become the 10th new player acquired by the Clippers in the wake of a disastrous 23-59 season, which was followed by Elton Brand's free-agent defection to the Philadelphia 76ers. Los Angeles native Baron Davis headlines the group of newcomers, which also includes center Marcus Camby, Williams' former Miami teammate Ricky Davis, first-round draft pick Eric Gordon, veteran forward Brian Skinner and sharpshooter Steve Novak, whom L.A. landed Wednesday in a trade with the Houston Rockets. Williams is the third point guard to join the Clippers this summer, along with Davis and Jason Hart, who was acquired from the Utah Jazz in a July 23 trade for Brevin Knight. The addition of Williams -- who recently attracted serious interest from Israeli giant Maccabi Tel-Aviv before Maccabi signed Orlando Magic free agent Carlos Arroyo -- all but ensures that the Clippers will not re-sign point guard Shaun Livingston. L.A. renounced its free-agent rights to the injury-plagued Livingston on July 9 to help create the requisite salary-cap space to officially sign Davis to his five-year, $65 million contract, but the Clippers did have the option of trying to re-sign him.

Rockets Add Ron Artest in Trade with Kings: Where are the Rockets ranked now in the Western Conference?

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WHO REALLY IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA?

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who is the best player in the nba? is it kobe, lebron,chris paul,kg? argue your case

Nuggets Send Camby to Clippers

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Sources say Brand will spurn Clippers, sign with 76ers

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The Philadelphia 76ers have apparently won the Elton Brand free-agent sweepstakes. NBA front-office sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday that Brand has informed the Sixers that he will accept a five-year deal worth an estimated $82 million and spurn what was presumed to be a slam-dunk return to the Los Angeles Clippers to hook up with Clipper-to-be Baron Davis. The Sixers cannot formally sign Brand before midnight, with Wednesday serving as the first day that NBA teams can officially complete signings and trades after the lifting of a leaguewide moratorium which began July 1. But Philadelphia has secured Brand's verbal commitment, sources said, after first reaching an agreement in principle with the Minnesota Timberwolves on a trade that, according to sources, will send Sixers forward Rodney Carney, center Calvin Booth and a future first-round pick to the Wolves without Philadelphia having to take back any salary. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the Sixers will receive a future second-round pick in return. That trade will shave nearly $3 million off the Sixers' payroll next season and increase what was already substantial salary-cap space, positioning them to sign Brand to a five-year deal believed to be starting in the $14-to-15 million range. Exact figures are expected to be available later Tuesday evening when the league reveals next season's salary-cap figure to its 30 teams and the media. Said one source close to the process: "Elton wants to go East." Another source had described Brand as leaning "70-30" in favor of going to the Sixers and didn't rule out the possibility that the Clippers could still increase their five-year offer beyond the latest estimate of roughly $75 million. The Clippers are also the only team in the running with the ability to offer a no-trade clause to Brand, something that only one other player in the league -- Staples Center co-tenant Kobe Bryant -- has in his contract. Philadelphia 'sshedding of two salaries to set up a major free-agent signing is reminiscent of the move made by Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 1996, when then-Lakers personnel chief Jerry West sent Anthony Peeler and George Lynch to the then-Vancouver Grizzlies, creating the cap space that made it possible for L.A. to sign Shaquille O'Neal away from Orlando. Getting Brand away from the Clippers might not quite have a Shaq-sized impact on the Sixers, but it would be an undeniable coup for Philadelphia on a variety of levels. Brand is the proven power player Philadelphia clearly lacks on an otherwise promising roster that won many admirers as last season progressed. The Sixers extended Detroit to six games in a first-round series more competitive than many anticipated and, if they can formally secure Brand's signature, would be adding a two-time All-Star to veterans Andre Miller and Andre Iguodala, top youngsters Louis Williams and Thaddeus Young, and the considerable wingspan of Samuel Dalembert at center. A move to the East would also come with on- and off-court benefits for Brand, sending him to a conference with far fewer title contenders and moving him closer to his East Coast-based family with Brand and his wife expecting their first child this fall. If Brand indeed goes through with his apparent intent to join the Sixers, such an outcome is bound to be widely branded as a shocker after he and agent David Falk announced last week that Brand was opting out of the final year of his previous contract (worth $16.4 million) to give the Clippers more payroll flexibility to strengthen the team around Brand. Within 24 hours, L.A. responded on the first day of free agency by reaching a verbal agreement with Davis in what easily ranks as the biggest free-agent coup in Clippers history. Brand told ESPN.com on June 30 that his "intention is to stay" with the Clippers, while Falk spoke optimistically of Brand signing a deal to "finish his career with the Clippers" if the team could make another significant personnel acquisition or two. ESPN.com reported late last week that Davis was the player Brand specifically asked Clippers management to chase in June. During the ensuing week, while L.A. has been trying to convince its 29-year-old franchise forward to stay, Brand has also been weighing an offer from the Golden State Warriors believed to be worth more than what the Clippers or Sixers can offer him. After Davis informed the Warriors that he was leaving the Bay Area to sign a five-year deal worth an estimated $65 million with his hometown Clippers, Golden State responded by presenting Brand with a five-year offer worth an estimated $90 million

Breaking down the key questions surrounding Team USA

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the defending world champion, with a deep roster of NBA players or soon-to-be NBA players, including Paul and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez, Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa. Point guard sensation Ricky Rubio, 17, is also expected to compete for Spain. Russia, which upset Spain in the final match of Eurobasket '07, is led by Utah's Andrei Kirilenko and American point guard J.R. Holden (of CSKA Moscow), and Lithuania is always a solid contender led by former NBA guard Sarunas Jasikevicius and 2-guard Ramunas Siskauskas, who filled in admirably at the point last summer when Jasikevicius was injured during Eurobasket. Greece should qualify, too, and should not be taken lightly despite significant changes to its roster. The Americans looked past the Greeks two years ago at the World Championship in Japan, and Greece pulled off the upset of that tournament by defeating the United States in the semifinals. Q: China doesn't make that group of contenders? A: No. As strong as China is up front, its weak spot continues to be its guards. And until the Chinese guards can master the act of breaking the press, they can't crack the top half-dozen teams in the world. Q: How big of a favorite is Team USA? A: Most international sports books are listing Team USA as the 1-3 favorite, followed by Spain at 7-2 and Argentina at 8-1, Russia at 15-1 and Lithuania at 20-1. Looking for the ultimate long shot? Iran's odds of winning the gold are 2,500-1. Q: And you, Sheridan, who you picking? A: Too soon to say. I expect Team USA to cruise through the first round, but the quarters, semifinals and gold-medal match (should the Americans make it) will bring an entirely different level of competition. I want to see how they perform in their friendlies against the big squads from Russian and Lithuania before committing to a pick. My pick will also be impacted by whether they're able to find a way to get Chandler onto the active roster. So you can expect to see my pick, and read my explanations for it, a day or two before the tournament starts.

NBA Free Agents in 2009-2010

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LeBron Class

Restricted free agent Josh Smith visits Sixers

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PHILADELPHIA -- Josh Smith wasted no time taking advantage of his restricted free-agent status, spending Wednesday visiting the Philadelphia 76ers -- a franchise with plenty of cap room to make a big offer. The 22-year-old Smith toured the city and visited the Wachovia Center with Sixers officials, who would like to woo the forward away from Atlanta with an offer sheet too expensive for the Hawks to match. As he's a restricted free agent, the Hawks can match any offer made to the 6-foot-9, 235-pound Smith. Smith Bu tone of Smith's agents said Wednesday night the former slam dunk champion was impressed with his tour of the city, which included a meeting with Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. "They showed a very genuine interest," said Smith's agent, Wallace Prowther. "Early, early next week we'll have a much firmer grip on which direction things are going in." The Sixers can try and make match an offer sheet tough to accomplish. The Sixers have about $11 million in salary cap space available and could use all of it to offer Smith a five-year contract. The Hawks have said they would match any contract offer to Smith, but are on the hook next season for big contracts for Mike Bibby and Joe Johnson, and they still want to re-sign forward Josh Childress. Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. said shortly after the season he was committed to keeping Smith and Childress. "We're absolutely, without a doubt, very committed to keeping both as Hawks players for the long haul," he said. "We believe in them and think they're a critical part of this team and that they're going to be part of this franchise for a long time." Smith's numbers have increased in each of his four NBA seasons since Atlanta made him a first-round pick out of high school in 2004. He averaged 17.2 points and 8.2 rebounds last year and helped the Hawks make the playoffs. Smith and his agents met with the Hawks on Tuesday. Prowther said other visits where scheduled, but declined to name the teams. "The process is early, but I will say that things went very well," he said. Smith would be a nice fit for the up-tempo Sixers and would be a huge upgrade over last year's power forward, Reggie Evans. He's one of the premier shot blockers in the league and could team with starting center Samuel Dalembert and small forward Thaddeus Young to form one of the top frontcourts in the Eastern Conference. "From the outside looking in, it looks like he'd fit well," Prowther said. Teams began negotiating with free agents on Tuesday and can begin signing free agents on July 9.

HERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS WITH FREE THE FAN

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Who on here has the Blazers being a champioship team this year???

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Da Truth Speaks: PJ Breaks down the NBA 09 season!

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Jefferson-for-Yi deal all about LeBron and Nets

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