Last night during half time, Britt Robson told me that his main assignment this season for SI.com will be producing the weekly NBA Power Rankings.  The first will appear tomorrow (Thursday) and they will run weekly on Tuesdays thereafter.

Britt said that, after Ian Thomson, the Power Rankings are the most read item on the NBA page of si.com.  He also said in addition to the Power Rankings he will produce one or two additional pieces each month for them. He anticipates that  the workload will be  higher than his weekly articles were for him last season.

To me, this assignment represents another great accomplishment for Britt and indicates he is earning a reputation nationally that we have recognized, appreciated and enjoyed the fruits of here. Congrats, Britt!

Here is Britt's first installment - about 100 words per team. 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/britt_robson/10/21/power.rankings/index.html

Although (or perhaps because) I'm a Strib subscriber, if I had to choose one of the daily beat Wolves guys to read, I'd pick Richardson.  Zgoda's content is heavy in observations and fairly predictable story lines.  Richardson's writing is crisper and he seems to dig for more nuggets of information that I wouldn't otherwise know.  The reason I am posting this was based mostly on my comparison of Zgoda's coverage in today's Strib and the quotations the lovely, talented and dedicated SG posted this morning from Ray's column.

I happen to sit near the Press risers at games and I will occasionally peer over Richardson's shoulder to see what he is tapping out at game's end.  As a former college beat reporter myself, I usually nod my head in agreement of his choice of lead.

In the words of the not-so-lovely, but abundantly talented and dedicated SnP, "What say you?"

There are 73 dates this coming regular season with NBA games on TNT, ABC, ESPN or a combo.  The Heat will appear on 26 of the 73 dates or 36% of the possible dates they could appear.  The Wolves?  Out of 73 dates and 144 games, the Wolves get ZERO.  They appear once this season on NBA-TV.  Feb 7 @ Hornets.  In terms of buzz, respect and perceived interest according to the League and Network Big Feet, this is where the rubber meets the road.