SI's Marty Burns ranks the NBA teams for the 2001-02 season. In the place of last week's rankings, the teams' preseason rankings are listed.
| CNNSI.com Power Rankings |
| Rank | PS | Team |
| 1 | 1 |  | Sacramento Kings |
| Chris Webber helped make them the NBA's regular-season best. Now they've just got to do it in the playoffs. |
2 | 2 |  | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Shaq and Kobe haven't yet put it into gear, but they're the team to beat until someone proves otherwise. |
3 | 3 |  | San Antonio Spurs |
| Tim Duncan gives them a chance, but their title hopes might rest on Bruce Bowen's perimeter defense. |
4 | 4 |  | Dallas Mavericks |
| They set a franchise high in wins despite their porous D. The Mavs were built to dethrone L.A., but they need to get there first. |
5 | 5 |  | New Jersey Nets |
| Jason Kidd led them to the top of the East, but can he conduct as effectively when the action slows? |
6 | 6 |  | Detroit Pistons |
| With a solid defense and a go-to guy in Jerry Stackhouse, they are dangerous. But will they rebound well enough? |
7 | 9 |  | Portland Trail Blazers |
| They turned it around after a shaky start. Portland could be a dark horse in the West if the pieces fall in place. |
8 | 8 |  | Boston Celtics |
| Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker led Gang Green back to the playoffs for the first time since '95.
|
9 | 10 |  | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Kevin Garnett kept them afloat, but they missed steady Terrell Brandon down stretch. |
10 | 7 |  | Charlotte Hornets |
| It took them a while to get healthy, but they've got the horses, and Jamal Mashburn should be fresh. |
11 | 14 |  | Philadelphia 76ers |
| They're still tough defensively, and Aaron McKie is back. If Allen Iverson returns strong, look out. |
12 | 13 |  | Utah Jazz |
| John Stockton and Karl Malone got them to the playoffs for an NBA-best 18th straight season. |
13 | 11 |  | Seattle SuperSonics |
| Gary Payton toned down his act and led them back to playoffs. One of NBA's surprise teams. |
14 | 12 |  | Orlando Magic |
| They lost Grant Hill to injury (again), but Tracy McGrady showed he's one of game's top 5 players. |
15 | 15 |  | Toronto Raptors |
| Their season will be remembered for their amazing turnaround after Vince Carter's season-ending injury. |
16 | 16 |  | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Their season will be remembered for their amazing disappointment after signing Anthony Mason. |
17 | 18 |  | Indiana Pacers |
| Their midseason blockbuster trade with the Bulls failed to produce the desired results for the NBA's youngest team. |
18 | 17 |  | Los Angeles Clippers |
| Elton Brand helped them continue their progress despite Lamar Odom's injuries and suspension. |
19 | 21 |  | Phoenix Suns |
| No Kidd-ing! An offseason house cleaning failed to produce the desired results for the gambling Colangelos. |
20 | 19 |  | Washington Wizards |
| Michael Jordan made them competitive, but their playoff hopes went down with his knee injury. |
21 | 20 |  | Atlanta Hawks |
| Injuries to Theo Ratliff and Toni Kukoc clipped their wings before they could ever take flight. |
22 | 22 |  | Miami Heat |
| They bounced back from dismal 5-23 start, but couldn't keep Pat Riley from his first losing season in 20 years. |
23 |
24 |
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New York Knicks |
Jeff Van Gundy pulled the ripcord in midseason as the Knicks missed the playoffs for the first time since 1987. |
24 | 23 |  | Houston Rockets |
| Injuries to Maurice Taylor and Glen Rice made it a season-long migraine for Steve Francis & Co. |
25 | 26 |  | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Andre Miller thrived under the tutelage of John Lucas, but not much else went right. |
26 | 25 |  | Denver Nuggets |
| Antonio McDyess sat, Dan Issel swore, and Kiki Vandeweghe started the rebuilding. |
27 | 27 |  | Memphis Grizzlies |
| Rookies Pau Gasol and Shane Battier kept the franchise's debut from being all Memphis blues. |
28 | 29 |  | Chicago Bulls |
| Rookies Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry came on late, but couldn't prevent another 60-loss season. |
29 | 28 |  | Golden State Warriors |
| Dave Cowens took the fall, but the Marc Jackson debacle set the tone for the season. |
