NBA Power Rankings: Preseason
Welcome back to the NBA! The Thunder are you reigning Champs, the East has been decimated by achilles injuries and the West is DEEP. This should be a very exciting NBA season and I am excited for the year to get joining!
1- Oklahoma City Thunder
Last: Won NBA Championship
The OKC Thunder bring back their entire young roster, their MVP in SGA, and they come into the season healthy. They are the team to beat, and could legitimately threaten the 73-9 Golden State Warriors for the best record in NBA history.
2- Cleveland Cavaliers
Last: Lost in East Semis
The Cleveland Cavaliers made upgrades in the offseason by adding Lonzo Ball as a back up point guard. Their starting 5 can be argued as the best in the Eastern Conference and they should play fantastic defense. Now, can they show up in the playoffs and make a deep run?
3- Denver Nuggets
Last: Lost in Western Semis
The Denver Nuggets took the Thunder to 7 games last year and that was with no depth off their bench. They have the best player in the world, and made a fantastic trade to get deeper with Cam Johnson and brought Bruce Brown Jr into the fold. A healthy Jamal Murray and Jokic means this team should be ready to fight for a championship.
4- Houston Rockets
Last: Lost on Western 1st Round
The Houston Rockets are going for it. Last year they took a huge step forward to be the 2nd seed in the West. Their reward, Steph Curry in the 1st round. They traded away Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks and got Kevin Mother F’ing Durant. This team is ready to play with Denver and OKC, the injury to Fred Van Vleet is killer, but I expect them to make a trade for another point guard.
5- New York Knicks
Last: Lost in Eastern Finals
The New York Knicks are in championship or bust mode. Two of the main competitors in the East are dealing with season ending injuries to their star players, they got more depth and a new offensive minded head coach. The Knicks could and should be heading towards a top 3 seed in the East.
6- Orlando Magic
Last: Lost in Eastern First Round
The Orlando Magic are a popular pick to win the Eastern Conference. They were playing as a top seed last year before injuries slowed down their progress. They are a fantastic defensive team, and with a trade with the Grizzlies got more fire power in Desmond Bane. I am all in on the Magic this year.
7- Los Angeles Clippers
Last: Lost in Western First Round
The Clippers are a good team, Bradley Beal, Brooke Lopez, and Chris Paul join James Harden, Ivica Zubac and Kawhi Leonard. This team is ready to compete, but will the Leonard situation be a storm cloud over the Clippers?
8- Minnesota Timberwolves
Last: Lost in Western Conference Finals
The Timberwolves have a top 5 player in the league in Anthony Edwards, they re-signed Naz Reid, but I do think they will miss Nickeil Walker-Alexander. I think this team can go on a run, but they do feel like a tier below some of the other teams in the West.
9- Atlanta Hawks
Last: Lost in the Play-In Tournament
The Atlanta Hawks are the winners of the off-season. Walker-Alexander joins the Hawks, Kristapas Porzingis joins the Hawks, as does solid lefty shooting Luke Kennard. The Hawks are finally ready to get out of the Play-In Tournament purgatory.
10- Philadelphia 76ers
Last: Missed Playoffs
I kind of hate putting this team here, but if they can stay healthy they have an elite big three. Health is the biggest factor for this team. Last year they got off to an awful start, never got healthy and never recovered. They should be a top 6 team if everything goes to plan.
11- Golden State Warriors
Last: Lost in Western Semis
The Golden State Warriors have the core of Steph Curry, Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler, and Al Horford. Kuminga is back as well after a long offseason of bickering. The Warriors are an older team, but they can still compete in this deep Western Conference. Can Steph get ring number 5?
12- Detroit Pistons
Last: Lost in Eastern First Round
The Detroit Pistons had one of the biggest turnarounds in NBA history last year to make the playoffs. Now we expect them to be good again, around that 45 win mark. Detroit Fans have been waiting for all of their teams to make a run in the playoffs. I think winning a playoff series would be a huge win for the Pistons.
13- Los Angeles Lakers
Last: Lost in Western 1st Round
The Luka era is here in Hollywood, Lebron James is still a Laker but already hurt. Do the Lakers flip James at the deadline? It would not shock me honestly, his contract does hamper what the Lakers can build around Luka. The team around Luka and Lebron is interesting but is it enough to compete in the deep west?
14- Milwaukee Bucks
Last: Lost in Eastern First Round
Is this the last year of Giannis in Milwaukee? The Damian Lillard experiment is over in Milwaukee. They did get a huge signing in Myles Turner, the interior defense should be fantastic, but will they be able to score enough?
15- Memphis Grizzlies
Last: Lost in Western First Round
The Memphis Grizzlies are in mid purgatory right now. They traded away Desmond Bane, but did receive a lot of 1st round picks in that trade. Can Ja Morant stay healthy and be the start that he was in the past? I think Memphis is an interesting team, but they aren’t going to be able to compete with the other Western Conference teams.