NBA Power Rankings

26 October 2015

1. Golden State Warriors (ESPN Rank: 1)
   • They are the returning champs and will sit in this spot until someone can prove they don’t deserve it.
2. San Antonio Spurs (ESPN Rank: 3)
   • The Spurs are always great thanks to Popovich and TD. Now with the addition of LaMarcus Aldridge, they’ve added some youth that will allow TD to get even more rest.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers (ESPN Rank: 2)
   • Yes, I know they were banged up during the playoffs and if healthy they might’ve won it all. However, I’m not sold on the chemistry of the big three together and can’t guarantee they’d work together well in crunch time.
4. Oklahoma City Thunder (ESPN Rank: 4)
   • Obviously, this is based off of the team being healthy, which is no guarantee. They, hopefully, at least be back to the team they were when healthy, which was great.
5. Memphis Grizzlies (ESPN Rank: 7)
   • This may be the biggest departure from the rest of the power rankings out there but they were banged up in the playoffs as well and they continue to prove how good they are every year.
6. Houston Rockets (ESPN Rank: 5)
   • No matter how many wins they rack up in the regular season, I will never believe that Harden and Howard can carry a team through the post-season.
7. Los Angeles Clippers (ESPN Rank: 6)
   • See above, but fill in DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffen. I love CP3’s game but adding guys like Lance Stephenson and Josh Smith to the mix only make me feel like they are heading in the wrong direction.
8. New Orleans Pelicans (ESPN Rank: 11)
   • I am a huge fan of the Pelicans and think this could be the year where they Really break out bump both the Rockets and the Clippers down a notch on this list.
9. Toronto Raptors (ESPN Rank: 12)
   • The Raptors proved a lot last year and they should only improve this year with the addition of DeMarre Carroll, and Luis Scola off the bench, not to mention how good Kyle Lowry has looked.
10. Atlanta Hawks (ESPN Rank: 8) * Atlanta is always a solid squad and with the additions of Tiago Splitter off the bench and Tim Hardaway Jr. who, with the style of play Korver brings, should get a lot of minutes and breakout with this solid Atlanta team.
11. Washington Wizards (ESPN Rank: 15)
12. Chicago Bulls (ESPN Rank: 10) * As a Bulls fan, I’m not quite sure what to expect from them this year. Rose can never stay healthy, Butler is good but he is no go-to guy (contrary to what people here in Chicago tend to believe nowadays) and without Thibs, I don’t think the defense will be where it was last year.
13. Milwaukee Bucks (ESPN Rank: 14)
14. Boston Celtics (ESPN Rank: 13)
15. Miami Heat (ESPN Rank: 9)
16. Detroit Pistons (ESPN Rank: 17)
17. Utah Jazz (ESPN Rank: 18)
18. Indiana Pacers (ESPN Rank: 16)
19. Sacramento Kings (ESPN Rank: 19)
20. Phoenix Suns (ESPN Rank: 20)
21. Dallas Mavericks (ESPN Rank: 21)
22. Orlando Magic (ESPN Rank: 23)
23. Minnesota Timberwolves (ESPN Rank: 25)
24. Denver Nuggets (ESPN Rank: 26)
25. Charlotte Hornets (ESPN Rank: 22)
26. Portland Trailblazers (ESPN Rank: 28)
27. Los Angeles Lakers (ESPN Rank: 27)
28. New York Knicks (ESPN Rank: 24)
29. Philadelphia 76ers (ESPN Rank: 30)
30. Brooklyn Nets (ESPN Rank: 29)