NBA Power Rankings Heading into Training Camp
Austin Krell
With NBA training camp opening this week, and with the season about 3 weeks from tip-off, it is time to introduce the story lines for each team heading into the 2017-18 season.
Number 1: Golden State Warriors
With a 16-1 record in last years NBA playoffs that resulted in a world championship for the Warriors, it did not seem as if they could get any better. First, they re-signed versatile sixth man and elite defender, Andre Iguodala, as well as 2-time MVP and three-point sniper Stephen Curry to keep them exactly where they were at the end of last season. But then, they bolstered their bench with the signing of veteran shooting guard Nick Young, whose shooting ability will keep defenses honest once Klay Thompson, Curry, and Kevin Durant are subbed out. They also seem to have found another diamond in the 2nd round of this summer's NBA draft in power forward Jordan Bell, who was very impressive in summer league. The only question is, with the shift of NBA stars from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference, do the Warriors have the size and ability in the paint to guard the basket? They were fine with Zaza Pachulia last season, but I'm not quite sure he's enough of a presence in the paint with the concentration of stars much heavier in the West now.
Prediction: 62-20
Number 2: Houston Rockets
The Rockets added one of the league's best true point guards in Chris Paul this summer, which means that MVP runner-up James Harden can move back to his natural shooting guard position. With Clint Capela manning the paint, a reliable 3-and-D forward in Trevor Ariza, and just a flat-out three-point machine in forward Ryan Anderson, the Rockets' starting lineup is a force to be reckoned with. If Nene can put his dissatisfaction with his contract behind him and play as well as he did last year, and if Eric Gordon contends for sixth man of the year again, there will be minimal drop-off between the starters and the bench. If PJ Tucker can prove that he is worth the 4-yr/$32 million deal he signed this summer, and if Luc Mbah a Moute can live up to his reputation as an elite defender, this Houston bench will look mighty, mighty good. There are 2 questions, however. Will Chris Paul and James Harden work together? Will 4 trust-worthy role players off the bench be enough in the West? That all remains to be seen. If the answer to both is yes, the Rockets will pose a serious threat to Golden State.
Prediction: 59-23
Number 3: San Antonio Spurs
Never. Sleep. On. Greg. Popovich. The greatest teacher in the NBA always finds a way to out-do himself. Dejounte Murray appears to have emerged as the top candidate to take over the reigns once Tony Parker calls it a career. They added Rudy Gay, who, if he can come back from the notoriously devastating torn achilles, will create one of the most athletic front courts in the league with Kawhi Leonard. Speaking of Kawhi, the best 2-way player in the NBA is ready to go after he missed all but one of the Western Conference Finals games due to a sprained ankle. There are 2 questions, though. Can LaMarcus Aldridge find his fit in San Antonio? Does Pau Gasol still have it? The Aldridge situation is very interesting, for, if he does figure things out, could he start at center if Rudy Gay starts at power forward? Could Rudy Gay start at shooting guard? Could Kawhi? Could Rudy Gay come off the bench? If Aldridge keeps his job at starting power forward and Rudy Gay comes off the bench, the Spurs would have possibly the best 2nd unit in the league, which features Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, and Manu Ginobili. There are so many questions with this team, but Greg Popovich knows what he's doing.
Prediction: 57-25
Number 4: Oklahoma City Thunder
This team is very, very interesting. Professional scorer Carmelo Anthony and superstar Paul George have taken their talents to Oklahoma City, where, by the way, defending-MVP Russell Westbrook is the king. So, like, they're going to be awesome, right? Well, maybe. this superstar trio have more than just a team in common. They also led the NBA in isolation scoring last season. So, in other words, they all need the rock. That raises the question of will these two superstar acquisitions work? Can three ball-dominant players coexist? We'll have to wait and see. If not, the Thunder traded away a significant chunk of its bench to acquire PG13 and Melo, so if it fails, it will really fail. But, in the NBA, talent tends to win. And I bet it wins this time, too.
Prediction: 56-26
Number 5: Boston Celtics
Believe it or not, the Celtics actually lost the Kyrie Irving trade. They sacrificed their (under-sized) scoring machine who flourished into a star in Isaiah Thomas, one of the best 3-and-D players in the league in Jae Crowder, and a lottery pick via the Nets. But, they did get back Kyrie Irving, arguably the best all-around point guard in the NBA. They also signed superstar forward Gordon Hayward, and drafted what looks to be Danny Granger 2.0 in Jayson Tatum. They also managed to retain promising second-year player Jaylen Brown in the Kyrie Irving trade. There are two questions. Will the Celtics have enough fire power off the bench? Can Kyrie Irving step up and become the leader? Or, will he continue to be an isolation player, like he was in Cleveland? If head coach Brad Stevens can find a way to maximize his bench and turn Irving into a leader like he did IT, Boston will be very good.
Prediction: 56-26
Number 6: Cleveland Cavaliers
On the other hand of the Celtics trade for Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers won the trade even though they lost their second best player. Isaiah Thomas knows how to score despite his size and can replace Kyrie (albeit, not as well), Jae Crowder adds to the surplus of three-point marksmen on the Cavs roster, and Cleveland has a lottery pick via the Nets coming their way, too. The addition of Dwyane Wade will help, not only with talent and veteran leadership, but also with chemistry, because a happy LeBron is a happy Cavaliers. Still, LeBron can't fight age forever, and Wade is surely losing his battle with age. Nonetheless, Cleveland has the best player in the world on its roster. They'll be right there in the battle to go to the NBA Finals.
Prediction: 52-30
Number 7: Minnesota Timberwolves
It seems as though it is finally the Timberwolves' turn to take the league by storm. The additions of shooting guard Jimmy Butler and point guard Jeff Teague give the Timberwolves veteran leadership and strong defense (more so Butler than Teague) at the guard positions, which are the best positions to have veterans who can direct a team. Center Karl-Anthony Towns is becoming a hybrid player who can do literally whatever he wants on the court, and is on the cusp of being an all-star. With the emergence of Gorgui Dieng at power forward, The Wolves Towns-Dieng front court tandem looks like a "twin-towers" combo that can defend and score in the paint as well as anyone can. Andrew Wiggins, although sometimes wildly inefficient in his scoring and a poor defender, is just a few tightened screws away from being a superstar in this league. The additions of power forward Taj Gibson and shooting guard Jamal Crawford in free agency and center Justin Patton in this summer's draft solidify the Minnesota bench. The bottom line is, the Timberwolves have the power to score and score and score some more. But, can the Timberwolves' young stars (learn to) defend? It will obviously take some time and discipline for the younger players to learn, but can Tom Thibodeau install the defensive program that worked so well for him in Chicago? Only time will tell. I expect some growing pains along the way, but I believe the Timberwolves are here to play.
Prediction: 50-32
Number 8: Washington Wizards
The Wizards were one Kelly Olynyk and a terrible-shooting fourth quarter for John Wall away from knocking off the Celtics and going to the Eastern Conference Finals. Other than losing Bojan Bogdanovic to the Pacers, the Wizards' roster is virtually the same roster that made it to game 7 of the Eastern semis. If John Wall can improve his perimeter shooting game and Bradley Beal can take the step up into the all-star class, the Wizards will have one of the best back courts in the NBA. If Otto Porter, Jr. can pick back up where he left off last season, as the most efficient three-point shooter in the league, and expand his game to be more than a 3-and-D player, especially after signing an incredibly over-paid offer sheet this summer, the Wiz will have quite the attack, both defensively and offensively, in their starting lineup. There are two question marks. Does Washington have enough depth at its small forward spot, with Kelly Oubre being the only obvious back up to Porter, and its center spot? Is Marcin Gortat enough to commandeer the center position? I'm guessing no on both. I would bet that Washington makes some moves to add depth at the small forward and center positions before the trade deadline. But, the youth of John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter, Jr. will keep the Wiz afloat. They will remain right where they were last year, assuming at least minimal growth from Wall, Beal, and Porter.
Prediction: 48-34
Number 9: Milwaukee Bucks
The Greek Freak has risen to superstar level. Khris Middleton is healthy. Thon Maker seems to have panned out (quicker than expected, at least). If Jabari Parker can come back from his second torn ACL, remain healthy, and continue to show the flashes of being a star that he did last year, if Thon Maker can build on the potential he showed last season, FEAR THE DEER. But, that's a lot of if's. Parker will take some time to get back to what he was doing last season, and will probably have to do so on minutes restrictions and missed games due to rest. So, if Jabari Parker is going to show the promise he showed last season, he will have to be brought along slowly. Thon Maker, a second-year pro who was destined to be a project to begin with, will hit a wall and regress. Malcolm Brogdon won Rookie of the Year, but as a second round pick, he will likely have a sophomore slump, too. Tony Snell and Rashad Vaughn are not good or consistent enough to be completely trusted with the shooting guard spot. Mirza Teletovic is not enough to back starter Khris Middleton at the small forward spot. It is risky to count on Malcolm Brogdon as the starting point guard. Even though the Bucks have depth at point guard, none of the players are really ideal players to count on. So, there are various questions surrounding the Bucks. Can Brogdon build on his stellar rookie season and prove that he is the team's starting point guard of the future? Is Maker going to continue to impress or will he regress? Will Parker be able to stay healthy and become the star he appeared to be last season? I believe Jason Kidd figures it out.
Prediction: 47-35
Number 10: Toronto Raptors
The Raptors return much of the same team they had last season. They added CJ Miles, which will give them another shooter to take the defensive pressure off of the paint. But, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are still going to take lots of shots. Can Dwane Casey and the Raptors make it past the second round? They will win games in a depleted Eastern Conference and will earn a high seed. But unless DeMar DeRozan becomes more efficient, passes the ball more, or changes some aspect of his game, and unless Masai Ujiri adds another player to take the offensive load off of DeRozan and Lowry, the Raptors will see their demise in the second round, again, if not earlier.
Prediction: 46-36
Number 11: Utah Jazz
The poor Jazz. If only they weren't in the west. They lost Gordon Hayward in free agency, but picked up passing sensation Ricky Rubio via trade for nearly nothing. This team has depth at every position. They have exquisite defense from Rudy Gobert. They're just lacking an obvious candidate to become a star. Maybe Rodney Hood can make the jump. Maybe someone will surprise and minimize the hole created by Hayward's departure -- Donovan Mitchell did have an impressive summer league. Oh, if only they weren't in the west.
Prediction: 46-36
Number 12: Philadelphia 76ers
I trust the process. My home team is going to ball out this year. Yes, Joel Embiid is a 7'1" question mark, and yes he is the franchise player this team needs to truly contend. But, if Ben Simmons, who is completely healthy, is as good as everyone in the practice facility claims he is, and if Markelle Fultz is really a number 1 pick, the Sixers will be a playoff team in the East. If Embiid can play 60 games, they will be a top-3 seed in the East. The bench is not a problem, for almost every player on the roster who has remained over the tanking phase would be a bench player on a good team. So, in essence, the guys in years past who were good enough to start on this team were actually bench players on any team that wasn't tanking. So now that the Sixers are ready to play, those starters are more than qualified to now occupy the bench. The issue is going to be the starters. I know, that doesn't make sense. But hey, trust the process. Can/did Ben Simmons develop a jumper? Is Markelle Fultz going to be the scorer that this team so desperately needs? What will Joel Embiid be? Is Brett Brown a long-term answer at head coach? Now that he actually has a respectable roster to work with, there's no longer patience here. The insurance has run out. His losses matter now. I know that hinging the success of the team on the health of a player who has played 31 games in 3 seasons is not a great situation. But, if "The Process" can play 60 games, oh boy, will it ever be a great situation. There's a lot of risk here, but if he pans out, the greatness will surpass the risk by miles.
Prediction: 44-38
Number 13: Denver Nuggets
Center Nikola Jokic looks like he is going to be a part of the next wave of NBA all-stars. The acquisition of all-star power forward Paul Millsap in free agency solidifies the Denver front court. Shooting guard Gary Harris has made strides towards becoming pretty good, at the very least. Small forward Wilson Chandler is athletic and can score when called upon. Point guard Jamal Murray showed flashes last year. But will he take a big step this year and become the starting point guard of the future? Where will Denver find depth at small forward? There is a lot of blurriness with this team. But with Jokic and Millsap, and the emergence of Gary Harris, I think this team is trending in the right direction.
Prediction: 44-38
Number 14: Los Angeles Clippers
Usually, losing a superstar like Chris Paul cripples teams. But, the Clippers retained Blake Griffin. They received a non-scoring point guard in Patrick Beverley in the Chris Paul trade, so Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should get the dunk opportunities that they were given with Chris Paul, but no one can pass quite like CP3. Danilo Gallinari offers shooting and scoring, but he's no star. The problem is that this team has no versatile star, now that Chris Paul is gone. On paper, this team is a bunch of role players and an all-star who is more of a super-athlete than a good basketball player. Does Doc Rivers have what it takes to get the most out of this roster? I have my doubts. Is it time to rebuild? If rebuilding is the house, I'm standing on the doorstep. There's just no point in being mediocre in the west when the 3- and 4-seeds are the only teams who have a shot at beating the Warriors.
Prediction: 42-40
Number 15: Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard is constantly slept on. CJ McCollum is turning into a star. They have one of the five best back courts in the league. They seem to have found potential pieces of the puzzle in Jusuf Nurkic and Moe Harkless. Other than those four, their whole roster looks like a bunch of mediocre bench players. Portland hangs in mediocrity.
Prediction: 41-41
Number 16: Miami Heat
Hassan Whiteside will continue to get over-looked, even though he should be an all-star. Miami resigned Dion Waiters and James Johnson, who had career years last season. They have a healthy Justice Winslow. Other than that, same old, same old. What is Justice Winslow going to become? Can Erik Spoelstra pull it off again and get this group of misfits within reach of the playoffs? They will be mediocre, but mediocre in the East isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Prediction: 41-41
Number 17: Charlotte Hornets
Yes, they added Dwight Howard. But, Dwight Howard is soft, and unless it's lobs at the rim or put-back dunks, he isn't scoring. The offense revolves around Kemba Walker, who became a star last season. Nonetheless, they need more scorers to carry the load. If Malik Monk can score his way into Rookie of the Year conversations, this team could be better than I predict. If not, you guessed it, mediocrity.
Prediction: 41-41
Number 18: New Orleans Pelicans
It's really a shame. This team has the best center (DeMarcus Cousins) and best power forward (Anthony Davis) in the league. With this front court, they could be one of the best teams in the league. They resigned Jrue Holiday this summer. But Jrue Holiday, mostly due to leg injuries, has regressed some from the budding all-star he was in Philadelphia. With the addition of point guard Rajon Rondo, who has a basketball IQ out of the roof, the Pelicans will score tons of points in the paint, will get a number of open looks at three-pointers, and, overall, will be put in better positions to score. Defensively, the addition of senior citizen guard Tony Allen makes the perimeter defense as good as the interior defense. The problem lies in the fact that this team does not have the perimeter offense it needs to compete with the rest of the league. With the vast majority of the points coming from DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and Jrue Holiday, the offensive firepower of this team simply is not enough. In a different era of basketball, this team could dominate.
Prediction: 40-42
Number 19: Detroit Pistons
With the additions of Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard, Detroit added snipers to an offense that desperately needed shooting. Andre Drummond is going to continue to grab rebounds and score in the paint. But, what will Reggie Jackson be? What will Detroit's defense be? Will Stanley Johnson finally figure things out in the NBA? Will Henry Ellenson contribute in year two? This team is a whole bunch of unknowns. Only time will tell.
Prediction: 39-43
Number 20: Dallas Mavericks
Dirk is gonna be Dirk. He's gonna shoot when he feels like he has the space to do so -- and he's going to knock shots down one after another. Harrison Barnes will look to build on a strong first season inDallas, while Seth Curry will continue to figure things out in the NBA. But, what will Wesley Matthews be? Rookie Dennis Smith, Jr. is the big story of this team. Many choose him to win Rookie of the Year. Can Smith prove that he is the jockey who can make the Maverick run for years to come? I'm leaning towards yes. The Post-Dirk era starts now, with Dirk still playing.
Prediction: 38-44
Number 21: Orlando Magic
This team is a giant question mark. Can Aaron Gordon develop a consistent jumper and take the leap towards stardom? Since the Magic would rather run with a young point guard who can shoot than one who can't, what is Elfrid Payton's future as the ignition to the Orlando offense? Is Jonathan Isaac a long-term project or is he ready to contribute? Is Mario Hezonja a bust or just a late bloomer? Terrence Ross seems to be trending in the right direction. But other than that, this team should be the Orlando Questions, not the Orlando Magic. If you know the answers to these questions, let me know.
Prediction: 36-46
Number 22: Memphis Grizzlies
Not enough offense. Mike Conley is over-looked at point guard, while Marc Gasol is the team's leader. Tyreke Evans is decent -- at best. Chandler Parsons was good, and then he got a couple boo-boos on his knee, and now suddenly he can't shoot. The losses of Vince Carter and Zach Randolph, even in their old age, are going to hurt the Grizzlies tremendously. This team used to be plagued by way too much defense and not enough offense. Now, it's just not even remotely enough offense.
Prediction: 35-47
Number 23: Los Angeles Lakers
We know one thing for certain about the Lake show: depth is not a problem -- they have at least three players at every position. We think we know two things for certain: One, Lonzo Ball will change the culture of this team; and two, Brandon Ingram in year two is going to be a lot better than Brandon Ingram in year one. The additions of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brook Lopez help the offense. And Julius Randle seems to be in the best shape of his career. But will an elevated level of play come with his drop in weight? The additions of Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, and Thomas Bryant solidify their bench for the future. This group is ready to ball, they're just a couple of years of experience and development away.
Prediction: 34-48
Number 24: Sacramento Kings
It appears that the Kings realized that they got ripped off when the only long-term piece that they received in the DeMarcus Cousins trade is Buddy Hield -- who looks like he's heading towards mediocre, streaky shooter; not the lottery-bound sharpshooter he was at Oklahoma. So, it looks like they're trying to cover it up by adding Vince Carter, who is closer to his pension than his prime, Zach Randolph, who is old but still has some gas left in the tank, and George Hill, who had a nice year in Utah last season. It seems that Willie Cauley-Stein is finally emerging, and he looks like a carbon copy of Nerlens Noel. If Harry Giles can stay healthy and develop into the prospect that he never had the chance to at Duke last year, and if De'Aaron Fox can become John Wall 2.0, this team will be good in a couple years down the road. They have the right mix of veteran leaders and young talent, but there just isn't enough talent there yet. There is potential, but not tangible talent.
Prediction: 32-50
Number 25: New York Knicks
This team is funny. And weird. Michael Beasley is walking around with a watch on his ankle and talking about how you use more than 10% of your brain if you know most people only use 10% of their brain. So, there's that. Drafting Frank Ntilikina was the right move. He has a real future, with the worst case scenario being that he develops into an athletic 3-and-D shooting guard. With Carmelo Anthony recently being dealt to the Thunder, Kristaps Porzingis nowruns is the show. This is the year that he will either launch into superstar land, or will shrink under the spotlight of Madison Square Garden. Essentially, we will find out what Porzingis really is this season. Tim Hardaway, Jr. is back in New York, and after a very impressive revitalization in Atlanta, he cashed out this summer. Now, will he continue to play at the level he played at last year? It's a no from me, dawg. The Knicks have a lot of decent players. They have one potentially good player. All indications point to them having one great player. But, this season marks the beginning of the post-Phil Jackson regime and the Kristaps Porzingis era. Getting rid of Phil Jackson was a giant step in the right direction, but the Knicks are still years away. Good luck, Jeff Hornacek.
Prediction: 30-52
Number 26: Phoenix Suns
There is miles and miles of depth in Arizona. There is no shortage of players or holes to fill. But, there is this weird mix of not enough young talent and too many just-decent veterans. Eric Bledsoe is a good veteran. I'm not sure he'll ever make an all-star roster. But, he's good. Tyson Chandler is a great defensive role model who can teach the young bigs on the roster. The most polarizing story lines are the enigma of Josh Jackson and Devin Booker. Will Josh Jackson be Andre Iguodala 2.0? He's a FREAK athlete. He's a great defender. But, as of right now, he CANNOT shoot -- at all. If he can develop a jumper, we're talking about the next Paul George in Phoenix. If he doesn't, we're talking about Andre Iguodala, but still not as good of a shooter. Devin Booker is just some defensive discipline and growth away from becoming one of the best young guards in the league. He already is, in my opinion, one of the best guards in the league on the offensive side. Oh by the way, does anyone know what Dragan Bender will be? He was drafted last summer, but never showed up. Oh wait, he did, he just never got off the bench. If Bender turns out to be a bust, that would be a huge waste of a lottery pick at a time when this team needs good lottery picks. Earl Watson and company have their work cut out for them. My advice: just enjoy Booker and Josh Jackson this year. Anything else that comes out of it is a bonus.
Prediction: 28-54
Number 27: Indiana Pacers
And, we've reached complete rebuild territory. Once Paul George said he was out, Jeff Teague flew the coup, too. Once they both left, Indiana hit the rebuild button. Myles Turner gives this team hope for the future. But other than that, it's just a bunch of decent-to-not-good players on this roster. See you in five years, Indi.
Prediction: 26-56
Number 28: Atlanta Hawks
Poor Dennis Schroder is all by himself. He is the only definitely above-average player on this roster. And even he may never be an all-star point guard. Atlanta pulled the plug once Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Paul Millsap left, trading Dwight Howard in a shocking deal in the middle of the summer. Rookie John Collins is a big man who is worth keeping an eye on throughout this season. But as a team that made the playoffs last season, the Hawks did not draft his as a lottery pick. So, he could blossom into something special, or he could be a role player. For now, Dennis Schroder runs the offense alone, waiting for help to arrive.
Prediction: 24-58
Number 29: Brooklyn Nets
D'Angelo Russell is arguably the best player in Brooklyn. Well, maybe there are better players playing on the streets of Brooklyn. But, Russell is certainly the best player wearing a Nets jersey. To make matters worse, they don't own their own lottery pick until at least after this upcoming draft. Let's all pray for Kenny Atkinson.
Prediction: 20-62
Number 30: Chicago Bulls
Oh boy. Lauri Markkanen might be the best player on this team this season, and he's not even close to being a favorite for Rookie of the Year. Oh boy. The Bulls received Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine for Jimmy Butler. Yes, you read that right, no need to rub your eyes or adjust your glasses. That's the return they got for Jimmy Butler, the second best 2-way player in the league. Kris Dunn (ouch), Denzel Valentine (yikes), Paul Zipser (who?), Nikola Mirotic (alright), and Robin Lopez (ehh) project to be the starters for this year's Bulls. Good lord, it's going to be a long year for the Bulls. It's a complete tear-down in the Windy City.
Prediction: 17-65
With NBA training camp opening this week, and with the season about 3 weeks from tip-off, it is time to introduce the story lines for each team heading into the 2017-18 season.
Number 1: Golden State Warriors
With a 16-1 record in last years NBA playoffs that resulted in a world championship for the Warriors, it did not seem as if they could get any better. First, they re-signed versatile sixth man and elite defender, Andre Iguodala, as well as 2-time MVP and three-point sniper Stephen Curry to keep them exactly where they were at the end of last season. But then, they bolstered their bench with the signing of veteran shooting guard Nick Young, whose shooting ability will keep defenses honest once Klay Thompson, Curry, and Kevin Durant are subbed out. They also seem to have found another diamond in the 2nd round of this summer's NBA draft in power forward Jordan Bell, who was very impressive in summer league. The only question is, with the shift of NBA stars from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference, do the Warriors have the size and ability in the paint to guard the basket? They were fine with Zaza Pachulia last season, but I'm not quite sure he's enough of a presence in the paint with the concentration of stars much heavier in the West now.
Prediction: 62-20
Number 2: Houston Rockets
The Rockets added one of the league's best true point guards in Chris Paul this summer, which means that MVP runner-up James Harden can move back to his natural shooting guard position. With Clint Capela manning the paint, a reliable 3-and-D forward in Trevor Ariza, and just a flat-out three-point machine in forward Ryan Anderson, the Rockets' starting lineup is a force to be reckoned with. If Nene can put his dissatisfaction with his contract behind him and play as well as he did last year, and if Eric Gordon contends for sixth man of the year again, there will be minimal drop-off between the starters and the bench. If PJ Tucker can prove that he is worth the 4-yr/$32 million deal he signed this summer, and if Luc Mbah a Moute can live up to his reputation as an elite defender, this Houston bench will look mighty, mighty good. There are 2 questions, however. Will Chris Paul and James Harden work together? Will 4 trust-worthy role players off the bench be enough in the West? That all remains to be seen. If the answer to both is yes, the Rockets will pose a serious threat to Golden State.
Prediction: 59-23
Number 3: San Antonio Spurs
Never. Sleep. On. Greg. Popovich. The greatest teacher in the NBA always finds a way to out-do himself. Dejounte Murray appears to have emerged as the top candidate to take over the reigns once Tony Parker calls it a career. They added Rudy Gay, who, if he can come back from the notoriously devastating torn achilles, will create one of the most athletic front courts in the league with Kawhi Leonard. Speaking of Kawhi, the best 2-way player in the NBA is ready to go after he missed all but one of the Western Conference Finals games due to a sprained ankle. There are 2 questions, though. Can LaMarcus Aldridge find his fit in San Antonio? Does Pau Gasol still have it? The Aldridge situation is very interesting, for, if he does figure things out, could he start at center if Rudy Gay starts at power forward? Could Rudy Gay start at shooting guard? Could Kawhi? Could Rudy Gay come off the bench? If Aldridge keeps his job at starting power forward and Rudy Gay comes off the bench, the Spurs would have possibly the best 2nd unit in the league, which features Dejounte Murray, Patty Mills, and Manu Ginobili. There are so many questions with this team, but Greg Popovich knows what he's doing.
Prediction: 57-25
Number 4: Oklahoma City Thunder
This team is very, very interesting. Professional scorer Carmelo Anthony and superstar Paul George have taken their talents to Oklahoma City, where, by the way, defending-MVP Russell Westbrook is the king. So, like, they're going to be awesome, right? Well, maybe. this superstar trio have more than just a team in common. They also led the NBA in isolation scoring last season. So, in other words, they all need the rock. That raises the question of will these two superstar acquisitions work? Can three ball-dominant players coexist? We'll have to wait and see. If not, the Thunder traded away a significant chunk of its bench to acquire PG13 and Melo, so if it fails, it will really fail. But, in the NBA, talent tends to win. And I bet it wins this time, too.
Prediction: 56-26
Number 5: Boston Celtics
Believe it or not, the Celtics actually lost the Kyrie Irving trade. They sacrificed their (under-sized) scoring machine who flourished into a star in Isaiah Thomas, one of the best 3-and-D players in the league in Jae Crowder, and a lottery pick via the Nets. But, they did get back Kyrie Irving, arguably the best all-around point guard in the NBA. They also signed superstar forward Gordon Hayward, and drafted what looks to be Danny Granger 2.0 in Jayson Tatum. They also managed to retain promising second-year player Jaylen Brown in the Kyrie Irving trade. There are two questions. Will the Celtics have enough fire power off the bench? Can Kyrie Irving step up and become the leader? Or, will he continue to be an isolation player, like he was in Cleveland? If head coach Brad Stevens can find a way to maximize his bench and turn Irving into a leader like he did IT, Boston will be very good.
Prediction: 56-26
Number 6: Cleveland Cavaliers
On the other hand of the Celtics trade for Kyrie Irving, the Cavaliers won the trade even though they lost their second best player. Isaiah Thomas knows how to score despite his size and can replace Kyrie (albeit, not as well), Jae Crowder adds to the surplus of three-point marksmen on the Cavs roster, and Cleveland has a lottery pick via the Nets coming their way, too. The addition of Dwyane Wade will help, not only with talent and veteran leadership, but also with chemistry, because a happy LeBron is a happy Cavaliers. Still, LeBron can't fight age forever, and Wade is surely losing his battle with age. Nonetheless, Cleveland has the best player in the world on its roster. They'll be right there in the battle to go to the NBA Finals.
Prediction: 52-30
Number 7: Minnesota Timberwolves
It seems as though it is finally the Timberwolves' turn to take the league by storm. The additions of shooting guard Jimmy Butler and point guard Jeff Teague give the Timberwolves veteran leadership and strong defense (more so Butler than Teague) at the guard positions, which are the best positions to have veterans who can direct a team. Center Karl-Anthony Towns is becoming a hybrid player who can do literally whatever he wants on the court, and is on the cusp of being an all-star. With the emergence of Gorgui Dieng at power forward, The Wolves Towns-Dieng front court tandem looks like a "twin-towers" combo that can defend and score in the paint as well as anyone can. Andrew Wiggins, although sometimes wildly inefficient in his scoring and a poor defender, is just a few tightened screws away from being a superstar in this league. The additions of power forward Taj Gibson and shooting guard Jamal Crawford in free agency and center Justin Patton in this summer's draft solidify the Minnesota bench. The bottom line is, the Timberwolves have the power to score and score and score some more. But, can the Timberwolves' young stars (learn to) defend? It will obviously take some time and discipline for the younger players to learn, but can Tom Thibodeau install the defensive program that worked so well for him in Chicago? Only time will tell. I expect some growing pains along the way, but I believe the Timberwolves are here to play.
Prediction: 50-32
Number 8: Washington Wizards
The Wizards were one Kelly Olynyk and a terrible-shooting fourth quarter for John Wall away from knocking off the Celtics and going to the Eastern Conference Finals. Other than losing Bojan Bogdanovic to the Pacers, the Wizards' roster is virtually the same roster that made it to game 7 of the Eastern semis. If John Wall can improve his perimeter shooting game and Bradley Beal can take the step up into the all-star class, the Wizards will have one of the best back courts in the NBA. If Otto Porter, Jr. can pick back up where he left off last season, as the most efficient three-point shooter in the league, and expand his game to be more than a 3-and-D player, especially after signing an incredibly over-paid offer sheet this summer, the Wiz will have quite the attack, both defensively and offensively, in their starting lineup. There are two question marks. Does Washington have enough depth at its small forward spot, with Kelly Oubre being the only obvious back up to Porter, and its center spot? Is Marcin Gortat enough to commandeer the center position? I'm guessing no on both. I would bet that Washington makes some moves to add depth at the small forward and center positions before the trade deadline. But, the youth of John Wall, Bradley Beal, and Otto Porter, Jr. will keep the Wiz afloat. They will remain right where they were last year, assuming at least minimal growth from Wall, Beal, and Porter.
Prediction: 48-34
Number 9: Milwaukee Bucks
The Greek Freak has risen to superstar level. Khris Middleton is healthy. Thon Maker seems to have panned out (quicker than expected, at least). If Jabari Parker can come back from his second torn ACL, remain healthy, and continue to show the flashes of being a star that he did last year, if Thon Maker can build on the potential he showed last season, FEAR THE DEER. But, that's a lot of if's. Parker will take some time to get back to what he was doing last season, and will probably have to do so on minutes restrictions and missed games due to rest. So, if Jabari Parker is going to show the promise he showed last season, he will have to be brought along slowly. Thon Maker, a second-year pro who was destined to be a project to begin with, will hit a wall and regress. Malcolm Brogdon won Rookie of the Year, but as a second round pick, he will likely have a sophomore slump, too. Tony Snell and Rashad Vaughn are not good or consistent enough to be completely trusted with the shooting guard spot. Mirza Teletovic is not enough to back starter Khris Middleton at the small forward spot. It is risky to count on Malcolm Brogdon as the starting point guard. Even though the Bucks have depth at point guard, none of the players are really ideal players to count on. So, there are various questions surrounding the Bucks. Can Brogdon build on his stellar rookie season and prove that he is the team's starting point guard of the future? Is Maker going to continue to impress or will he regress? Will Parker be able to stay healthy and become the star he appeared to be last season? I believe Jason Kidd figures it out.
Prediction: 47-35
Number 10: Toronto Raptors
The Raptors return much of the same team they had last season. They added CJ Miles, which will give them another shooter to take the defensive pressure off of the paint. But, DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry are still going to take lots of shots. Can Dwane Casey and the Raptors make it past the second round? They will win games in a depleted Eastern Conference and will earn a high seed. But unless DeMar DeRozan becomes more efficient, passes the ball more, or changes some aspect of his game, and unless Masai Ujiri adds another player to take the offensive load off of DeRozan and Lowry, the Raptors will see their demise in the second round, again, if not earlier.
Prediction: 46-36
Number 11: Utah Jazz
The poor Jazz. If only they weren't in the west. They lost Gordon Hayward in free agency, but picked up passing sensation Ricky Rubio via trade for nearly nothing. This team has depth at every position. They have exquisite defense from Rudy Gobert. They're just lacking an obvious candidate to become a star. Maybe Rodney Hood can make the jump. Maybe someone will surprise and minimize the hole created by Hayward's departure -- Donovan Mitchell did have an impressive summer league. Oh, if only they weren't in the west.
Prediction: 46-36
Number 12: Philadelphia 76ers
I trust the process. My home team is going to ball out this year. Yes, Joel Embiid is a 7'1" question mark, and yes he is the franchise player this team needs to truly contend. But, if Ben Simmons, who is completely healthy, is as good as everyone in the practice facility claims he is, and if Markelle Fultz is really a number 1 pick, the Sixers will be a playoff team in the East. If Embiid can play 60 games, they will be a top-3 seed in the East. The bench is not a problem, for almost every player on the roster who has remained over the tanking phase would be a bench player on a good team. So, in essence, the guys in years past who were good enough to start on this team were actually bench players on any team that wasn't tanking. So now that the Sixers are ready to play, those starters are more than qualified to now occupy the bench. The issue is going to be the starters. I know, that doesn't make sense. But hey, trust the process. Can/did Ben Simmons develop a jumper? Is Markelle Fultz going to be the scorer that this team so desperately needs? What will Joel Embiid be? Is Brett Brown a long-term answer at head coach? Now that he actually has a respectable roster to work with, there's no longer patience here. The insurance has run out. His losses matter now. I know that hinging the success of the team on the health of a player who has played 31 games in 3 seasons is not a great situation. But, if "The Process" can play 60 games, oh boy, will it ever be a great situation. There's a lot of risk here, but if he pans out, the greatness will surpass the risk by miles.
Prediction: 44-38
Number 13: Denver Nuggets
Center Nikola Jokic looks like he is going to be a part of the next wave of NBA all-stars. The acquisition of all-star power forward Paul Millsap in free agency solidifies the Denver front court. Shooting guard Gary Harris has made strides towards becoming pretty good, at the very least. Small forward Wilson Chandler is athletic and can score when called upon. Point guard Jamal Murray showed flashes last year. But will he take a big step this year and become the starting point guard of the future? Where will Denver find depth at small forward? There is a lot of blurriness with this team. But with Jokic and Millsap, and the emergence of Gary Harris, I think this team is trending in the right direction.
Prediction: 44-38
Number 14: Los Angeles Clippers
Usually, losing a superstar like Chris Paul cripples teams. But, the Clippers retained Blake Griffin. They received a non-scoring point guard in Patrick Beverley in the Chris Paul trade, so Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan should get the dunk opportunities that they were given with Chris Paul, but no one can pass quite like CP3. Danilo Gallinari offers shooting and scoring, but he's no star. The problem is that this team has no versatile star, now that Chris Paul is gone. On paper, this team is a bunch of role players and an all-star who is more of a super-athlete than a good basketball player. Does Doc Rivers have what it takes to get the most out of this roster? I have my doubts. Is it time to rebuild? If rebuilding is the house, I'm standing on the doorstep. There's just no point in being mediocre in the west when the 3- and 4-seeds are the only teams who have a shot at beating the Warriors.
Prediction: 42-40
Number 15: Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard is constantly slept on. CJ McCollum is turning into a star. They have one of the five best back courts in the league. They seem to have found potential pieces of the puzzle in Jusuf Nurkic and Moe Harkless. Other than those four, their whole roster looks like a bunch of mediocre bench players. Portland hangs in mediocrity.
Prediction: 41-41
Number 16: Miami Heat
Hassan Whiteside will continue to get over-looked, even though he should be an all-star. Miami resigned Dion Waiters and James Johnson, who had career years last season. They have a healthy Justice Winslow. Other than that, same old, same old. What is Justice Winslow going to become? Can Erik Spoelstra pull it off again and get this group of misfits within reach of the playoffs? They will be mediocre, but mediocre in the East isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Prediction: 41-41
Number 17: Charlotte Hornets
Yes, they added Dwight Howard. But, Dwight Howard is soft, and unless it's lobs at the rim or put-back dunks, he isn't scoring. The offense revolves around Kemba Walker, who became a star last season. Nonetheless, they need more scorers to carry the load. If Malik Monk can score his way into Rookie of the Year conversations, this team could be better than I predict. If not, you guessed it, mediocrity.
Prediction: 41-41
Number 18: New Orleans Pelicans
It's really a shame. This team has the best center (DeMarcus Cousins) and best power forward (Anthony Davis) in the league. With this front court, they could be one of the best teams in the league. They resigned Jrue Holiday this summer. But Jrue Holiday, mostly due to leg injuries, has regressed some from the budding all-star he was in Philadelphia. With the addition of point guard Rajon Rondo, who has a basketball IQ out of the roof, the Pelicans will score tons of points in the paint, will get a number of open looks at three-pointers, and, overall, will be put in better positions to score. Defensively, the addition of senior citizen guard Tony Allen makes the perimeter defense as good as the interior defense. The problem lies in the fact that this team does not have the perimeter offense it needs to compete with the rest of the league. With the vast majority of the points coming from DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and Jrue Holiday, the offensive firepower of this team simply is not enough. In a different era of basketball, this team could dominate.
Prediction: 40-42
Number 19: Detroit Pistons
With the additions of Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard, Detroit added snipers to an offense that desperately needed shooting. Andre Drummond is going to continue to grab rebounds and score in the paint. But, what will Reggie Jackson be? What will Detroit's defense be? Will Stanley Johnson finally figure things out in the NBA? Will Henry Ellenson contribute in year two? This team is a whole bunch of unknowns. Only time will tell.
Prediction: 39-43
Number 20: Dallas Mavericks
Dirk is gonna be Dirk. He's gonna shoot when he feels like he has the space to do so -- and he's going to knock shots down one after another. Harrison Barnes will look to build on a strong first season inDallas, while Seth Curry will continue to figure things out in the NBA. But, what will Wesley Matthews be? Rookie Dennis Smith, Jr. is the big story of this team. Many choose him to win Rookie of the Year. Can Smith prove that he is the jockey who can make the Maverick run for years to come? I'm leaning towards yes. The Post-Dirk era starts now, with Dirk still playing.
Prediction: 38-44
Number 21: Orlando Magic
This team is a giant question mark. Can Aaron Gordon develop a consistent jumper and take the leap towards stardom? Since the Magic would rather run with a young point guard who can shoot than one who can't, what is Elfrid Payton's future as the ignition to the Orlando offense? Is Jonathan Isaac a long-term project or is he ready to contribute? Is Mario Hezonja a bust or just a late bloomer? Terrence Ross seems to be trending in the right direction. But other than that, this team should be the Orlando Questions, not the Orlando Magic. If you know the answers to these questions, let me know.
Prediction: 36-46
Number 22: Memphis Grizzlies
Not enough offense. Mike Conley is over-looked at point guard, while Marc Gasol is the team's leader. Tyreke Evans is decent -- at best. Chandler Parsons was good, and then he got a couple boo-boos on his knee, and now suddenly he can't shoot. The losses of Vince Carter and Zach Randolph, even in their old age, are going to hurt the Grizzlies tremendously. This team used to be plagued by way too much defense and not enough offense. Now, it's just not even remotely enough offense.
Prediction: 35-47
Number 23: Los Angeles Lakers
We know one thing for certain about the Lake show: depth is not a problem -- they have at least three players at every position. We think we know two things for certain: One, Lonzo Ball will change the culture of this team; and two, Brandon Ingram in year two is going to be a lot better than Brandon Ingram in year one. The additions of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Brook Lopez help the offense. And Julius Randle seems to be in the best shape of his career. But will an elevated level of play come with his drop in weight? The additions of Josh Hart, Kyle Kuzma, and Thomas Bryant solidify their bench for the future. This group is ready to ball, they're just a couple of years of experience and development away.
Prediction: 34-48
Number 24: Sacramento Kings
It appears that the Kings realized that they got ripped off when the only long-term piece that they received in the DeMarcus Cousins trade is Buddy Hield -- who looks like he's heading towards mediocre, streaky shooter; not the lottery-bound sharpshooter he was at Oklahoma. So, it looks like they're trying to cover it up by adding Vince Carter, who is closer to his pension than his prime, Zach Randolph, who is old but still has some gas left in the tank, and George Hill, who had a nice year in Utah last season. It seems that Willie Cauley-Stein is finally emerging, and he looks like a carbon copy of Nerlens Noel. If Harry Giles can stay healthy and develop into the prospect that he never had the chance to at Duke last year, and if De'Aaron Fox can become John Wall 2.0, this team will be good in a couple years down the road. They have the right mix of veteran leaders and young talent, but there just isn't enough talent there yet. There is potential, but not tangible talent.
Prediction: 32-50
Number 25: New York Knicks
This team is funny. And weird. Michael Beasley is walking around with a watch on his ankle and talking about how you use more than 10% of your brain if you know most people only use 10% of their brain. So, there's that. Drafting Frank Ntilikina was the right move. He has a real future, with the worst case scenario being that he develops into an athletic 3-and-D shooting guard. With Carmelo Anthony recently being dealt to the Thunder, Kristaps Porzingis now
Prediction: 30-52
Number 26: Phoenix Suns
There is miles and miles of depth in Arizona. There is no shortage of players or holes to fill. But, there is this weird mix of not enough young talent and too many just-decent veterans. Eric Bledsoe is a good veteran. I'm not sure he'll ever make an all-star roster. But, he's good. Tyson Chandler is a great defensive role model who can teach the young bigs on the roster. The most polarizing story lines are the enigma of Josh Jackson and Devin Booker. Will Josh Jackson be Andre Iguodala 2.0? He's a FREAK athlete. He's a great defender. But, as of right now, he CANNOT shoot -- at all. If he can develop a jumper, we're talking about the next Paul George in Phoenix. If he doesn't, we're talking about Andre Iguodala, but still not as good of a shooter. Devin Booker is just some defensive discipline and growth away from becoming one of the best young guards in the league. He already is, in my opinion, one of the best guards in the league on the offensive side. Oh by the way, does anyone know what Dragan Bender will be? He was drafted last summer, but never showed up. Oh wait, he did, he just never got off the bench. If Bender turns out to be a bust, that would be a huge waste of a lottery pick at a time when this team needs good lottery picks. Earl Watson and company have their work cut out for them. My advice: just enjoy Booker and Josh Jackson this year. Anything else that comes out of it is a bonus.
Prediction: 28-54
Number 27: Indiana Pacers
And, we've reached complete rebuild territory. Once Paul George said he was out, Jeff Teague flew the coup, too. Once they both left, Indiana hit the rebuild button. Myles Turner gives this team hope for the future. But other than that, it's just a bunch of decent-to-not-good players on this roster. See you in five years, Indi.
Prediction: 26-56
Number 28: Atlanta Hawks
Poor Dennis Schroder is all by himself. He is the only definitely above-average player on this roster. And even he may never be an all-star point guard. Atlanta pulled the plug once Tim Hardaway, Jr. and Paul Millsap left, trading Dwight Howard in a shocking deal in the middle of the summer. Rookie John Collins is a big man who is worth keeping an eye on throughout this season. But as a team that made the playoffs last season, the Hawks did not draft his as a lottery pick. So, he could blossom into something special, or he could be a role player. For now, Dennis Schroder runs the offense alone, waiting for help to arrive.
Prediction: 24-58
Number 29: Brooklyn Nets
D'Angelo Russell is arguably the best player in Brooklyn. Well, maybe there are better players playing on the streets of Brooklyn. But, Russell is certainly the best player wearing a Nets jersey. To make matters worse, they don't own their own lottery pick until at least after this upcoming draft. Let's all pray for Kenny Atkinson.
Prediction: 20-62
Number 30: Chicago Bulls
Oh boy. Lauri Markkanen might be the best player on this team this season, and he's not even close to being a favorite for Rookie of the Year. Oh boy. The Bulls received Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine for Jimmy Butler. Yes, you read that right, no need to rub your eyes or adjust your glasses. That's the return they got for Jimmy Butler, the second best 2-way player in the league. Kris Dunn (ouch), Denzel Valentine (yikes), Paul Zipser (who?), Nikola Mirotic (alright), and Robin Lopez (ehh) project to be the starters for this year's Bulls. Good lord, it's going to be a long year for the Bulls. It's a complete tear-down in the Windy City.
Prediction: 17-65
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