Boston remains at the top of the rankings and is the NBA's clear-cut best team. Blah, blah, blah, Kevin Garnett, blah, blah, blah. The script for these power rankings seems to be the same every week. Within the time I publish my next rankings, almost every team will reach the halfway point of the season. So, in an attempt to mix it up a bit, I have decided to take the PROTRADE approach to this week's power rankings. Since I normally never suggest a buy or a sell in my rankings, I'm going to devote the comments this week to reviewing each team's PROTRADE stock.
BIGGEST RISE: Washington Wizards from 12th to 15th.
BIGGEST FALL: Sacramento Kings from 20th to 17th.
(Editor's note: "LW" indicates each team's ranking from CheChe23's previous week. —RTW)
| CheChe23's Power Rankings: January 23, 2008 | |||
| TEAM | RK (LW) | PT$ | COMMENT |
 | 1 (1) | $250.13 | Boston could earn $272.00 with 67 wins and an NBA title. Garnett's stock has risen since IPO day, but I've never owned it. KG's market price of $318.84 is $40 more than he'll make with his pace if he plays 99 games -- Pierce's $219 might be a better look as far as the Celtics stars go. Eddie House has the best potential for a profit, but trying to buy a Celtics player is slim pickings. |
 | 2 (4) | $108.41 | New Orleans has surprised a lot of people, including the PROTRADE price makers. The team stock IPO'd in the mid-$80's (meaning a low 40-win season, no playoffs), but with 28 wins thus far -- the stock is currently worth $56 alone. With the playoffs on the horizon, the Hornet player stocks might make for better buys. If you want to make a safe, long-term investment you could buy Chris Paul at $232.50. Paul is paced for a $30 gain before post-season play. |
 | 3 (5) | $190.57 | Phoenix is optimistically priced at above $190 which would mean they would have to make it to the NBA Finals in order to turn a profit. If the Suns do make their way to the championship round, all of the Suns studs (Nash, Marion, Amare) would make for decent long-term buys. If Grant Hill can return to form and continue a pace that puts his price into above $200, his current price of $140 a share could make for a good buy. |
 | 4 (2) | $180.16 | The Mavericks team stock is priced right at $180 -- which explains why it hasn't moved since the end of October. Devin Harris started the season nursing an injury, but his stock price of $134.00 is looking like an intriguing buy. If Harris plays in eight playoff games his stock is paced to make $30. If Harris can boost his points per game from 14.3 to 17.3 and his assists per game from 5.4 to 6.4 not only would Avery Johnson be thrilled, but his stock would make for a $50 gain. |
 | 5 (6) | $120.13 | Every trader who owned some Andrew Bynum stock when it was just above $100 was planning on cashing in late April for a $100 gain. When he went down, I couldn't get to my computer fast enough. The Lakers team stock might be the best buy. Los Angeles reaches its price with a 50-win season and three first round wins. If they get out of the round one they would make $15 a share, make it to the conference finals and they would earn $40 per share. Derek Fisher makes the best player buy. Fisher is paced to make $130 in 82 games and is currently selling for under $110. |
 | 6 (5) | $165.85 | Detroit was a great team stock when they Pistons were ranked No. 1 and they were priced at $155. Their recent losing streak makes the $165 per share a major hold. The Pistons players turned out to be good buys at playoff time last season and it appears to be no different this year. Antonio McDyess and Jason Maxiell will need more playing time to make a big gain, but if you are able to save spot in your port for the long haul these guys will make a great investment. You can be sure that Chauncey Billups, Rasheed Wallace and Richard Hamilton will return gains, but they might be minimal. Although, Billups might earn more than a minimal gain. If the Pistons make their way past Boston and get to the NBA finals, Billups stock could increase to over $254 therefore turning a $184 buy now into a $70 profit per share. |
 | 7 (7) | $100.00 | Portland has earned half of their $100.00 price tag with 25 wins. The big IF is whether or not they can continue the playoff pace through the second half of the season. If the Blazers win 48 games and miss the post season they will earn $96, 48 wins and the playoff appearance (with a four game exit) they'll earn $106. Martell Webster has earned $51 of his $85 price tag making him the Blazers best buy. |
 | 8 (8) | $126.34 | Raise your hand if you have day-traded the Jazz stock? Maybe like 10 hands. Utah could easily win 50 games and make it out of round one -- earning $140, but it's not like anyone is buying and selling the Jazz stock like hotcakes. Looking at the pace chart, the Jazz team stock hasn't moved from $126 since the end of November and has moved up $9 since IPO day. Deron Williams could make for another version of Billups, there is potential for a $60-$70 gain. Ronnie Brewer is $40 (or 25 games) away from earning his price. |
 | 9 (10) | $198.55 | Is it time for the San Antonio team stock to start dropping? Probably not. I wouldn't be buying, but there's no need to start shorting. Same goes for the entire Spurs roster of player stocks. |
 | 10 (7) | $99.83 | The Warriors will get 46 wins and will make the playoffs, making the Golden State stock an easy money maker. Baron Davis and Monta Ellis have the greatest earning potential for the Warrior player stocks. If Matt Barnes can turn things up a bit during the second half of the year he could make for a good buy. |
OUTSIDE THE TOP 10:
11. Denver Nuggets ($131.27): The Nuggets roster has two great shorts: Chucky Atkins and Nene Hilario. In the past seven days, the Linas Kleiza stock has moved from $87 to $90 to $96 and is currently sitting at $93. Now that Carmelo Anthony is out for a few games with an ankle injury, Kleiza could quickly earn enough to make his stock a great purchase.
12. Cleveland Cavaliers ($151.65): LeBron's Cavaliers are the third highest priced Eastern Conference stock and the third best EC team in my rankings as well. Daniel Gibson started the season great and was purchased accordingly and has now earned %58 of his priced. Zydrunas Ilgauskas could make for a decent buy if the Cavs are able to make another run to the Finals, but his fast start may make his percent earned number (52%) look better than it really is.
13. Orlando Magic ($125.45): Orlando has played six more games than Atlanta -- which gives you some indication that not every team has played nearly the same number of games and therefore the percent earned statistic can only take you so far. The best players for the Magic might still need to get IPO'd; Non-IPO'd players Maurice Evans, Keyon Dooling and Carlos Arroyo have earned more than IPO'd Magic players Adonal Foyle and J.J. Redick combined.
14. Toronto Raptors ($99.25): Toronto's money maker was Jose Calderon when his stock as priced in the $120 range, but he could still make money because he's already above 60% earned. The fact that T. J. Ford is still at $123 means the community must think he'll return to full force (even though he's only paced to make $100 if he comes back tomorrow and plays the full season at his average pace). Jamario Moon and Carlos Delfino have both earned 58% of their price.
15. Washington Wizards ($88.65): Washington was pretty much considered an after-thought when Gilbert Arenas decided to have surgery. Since that time, the Wizards have shown who they are as a team. Brendan Haywood would have made for a fantastic buy if you got him on January 6 when he was $100. At $107 per share right now, the Wizards big man has Washington's highest percent earned at 58%.
16. Houston Rockets (20-19): Rafer Alston has played above and beyond expectations as the Rockets starting point guard. With Mike James and Steve Francis chilling on the bench, Alston has earned 55% of his stock price. At $95, Alston will end up earning $25 a share if he continues at his current pace.
17. Sacramento Kings ($61.07): In last night's blow out win, John Salmons didn't start for the first time since December 7 and left after two minutes of action with a sprained left ankle. He's currently the highest percent earned of his price player on the market, but with the recent ankle tweak and the return of Bibby and Artest to the lineup -- Salmons is a hold. I like Francisco Garcia's stock and Brad Miller should earn around $150.
18. New Jersey Nets ($95.61): New Jersey has two big shorts: Nenad Krstic and Jamaal Magloire. Marcus Williams might end up earning $50, which would make him a hold. Sean Williams has earned 56% of his price and is on pace to make $20 per share.
19. Atlanta Hawks ($90.85): The Hawks need to win 40 games and make the playoffs in order to make any money on their team stock. Marvin Williams has earned 55% of his price, Al Horford has earned 47%.
20. Chicago Bulls ($103.06): Is Chicago's team stock a short? Is it a hold? Well, the answer to that changes weekly, but right now I'd say they are a hold. The Bulls still have a small glimmer of hope for making the playoffs which makes earning $100 possible.
21. Philadelphia 76ers ($56.92): Thaddeus Young and Jason Smith have both earned over $25 on the NBA floor, but probably won't see the PROTRADE floor. Samuel Dalembert has played great recently and is quickly becoming a good buy having earned $84 worth of statistics and selling for $149.
22. Charlotte Bobcats ($87.23): Charlotte's dynamic duo of Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace make for dynamic profit potential. Both players earn a decent chunk of change nightly and have earned a solid chunk of their price already.
23. New York Knicks ($73.67): The Knicks are playing better, but there aren't many good buys on this roster. Jamal Crawford and Nate Robinson should see a spike in their production with Marbury out. Renaldo Balkman looks like a good performance short.
24. Indiana Pacers ($70.14): The Pacers will need Mike Dunleavy (61% earned) and Danny Granger (58% earned) to step up in the place of Jermaine O'Neal -- who might be done for the season.
25. Milwaukee Bucks ($77.59): Bobby Simmons might be worthy of an IPO soon. Yi Jianlian has earned over 60% of his price, but his recent play hasn't matched how well he did at the start of the season. Mo Williams has earned 55% of his price and since IPO day has only gone up 1.29%.
26. Memphis Grizzlies ($70.79): Memphis is home of one of my favorite buys on the market, Rudy Gay (See BUY BUY BUY). Juan Carlos Navarro has earned a quick $52 and is selling for $91 making him a good look.
27. Los Angeles Clippers ($54.82): If you got in on Chris Kaman at $105 per share you are doing pretty well. Kaman is on pace to earn $214, but I still can't imagine he can continue the same pace for the remaining 45 games -- which is why I dumped his stock when it reached $180.
28. Seattle Sonics ($70.79): You might want to think twice before jumping on the Kevin Durant stock. Durant is playing well enough to earn $140, but not $153. Of the 10 Sonics who are on the market, the best buy is Nick Collison.
29. Minnesota Timberwolves ($48.12): Minnesota's team stock has a great chance of becoming a 50% short. Rashad McCants and Ryan Gomes have become great buys as their roles have increased.
30. Miami Heat ($70.56): Miami doesn't have any buys, only shorts. Shaq and Smush Parker have the the biggest shorting potential.
BUY BUY BUY
1. Rudy Gay - Gay has played excellent recently and is coming into his own in the NBA. At $146, his price might seem high, but Rudy is playing at a pace that pushes his stock price towards $200.
2. Rafer Alston - Alston leads all guards in percent earned with 60.92%. At $95.44, his price tag has a lot of room to go up. And with Mike James and Steve Francis taking a back seat to Alston, he only hopes to improve on his first half numbers.
3. Jamal Crawford - Jamal Crawford's stock price skyrocketed to over $140 when Stephon Marbury was first rumored to be out of the lineup (early November). It slowly dipped down to under $125 for nearly three months before the price rose to $143 on Saturday in light of Marbury's season ending injury. Currently at $135, the Crawford stock still might be a pretty good buy. He's paced to make $161 and if he's able to up his averages to 23, 4 and 5 -- Crawford could earn $180.
SELL SELL SELL
2. Randy Foye - Randy Foye has yet to earn $1, but is still priced at $72.75. With his return still up in the air, there is no way his price should be so high.
3. Jermaine O'Neal - O'Neal has not been himself this season statistically and his recent injury could cost him the rest of the year. At $130, O'Neal's stock needs to make an additional $70 in order to reach its price.
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