As the NBA season gets ready to begin, there will finally be a different ending. Sorry Cleveland Cavalier fans. No Cavaliers-Warriors matchup everyone was so tired of. With star-studded lineups across the league, it’s time to rank each team heading into the 2018-2019 campaign.
1. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors go into the season as the unquestionable number one. They have a video game lineup when DeMarcus Cousins comes back, and two of the top 10 players in the NBA. Will the Golden State Machine slow down? Only time will tell as the pressure mounts in their chase for a three-peat and a fifth straight NBA Finals appearance.
2. Boston Celtics
The Celtics are the No.2 team on this list for good reason. Deepest team in the NBA? Check. Best coach in the NBA? Check. All-Star starting five? Check. The only question with this team is how Gordon Hayward will perform in his return, and if Kyrie Irving carry this team to the promise land as Eastern Conference favorites.
3. Houston Rockets
The Rockets made a huge subtraction with the addition of Carmelo Anthony, but they return every key member from a team that won the most in the NBA a year ago minus Trevor Ariza. The defense should suffer, but this is a team of veterans thirsty for another shot at the Warriors spearheaded by James Harden and Chris Paul.
4. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors pulled off a retool with one trade, bringing in former San Antonio Spurs Kawhi Leonard and swingman Danny Green while sending franchise cornerstone DeMar Derozan to San Antonio and firing Dwane Casey. This bench is still deep, led by Fred Van Vleet, but the entire operation north of the border hinges on Leonard.
5. Philadelphia 76ers
The 76ers were linked to a dozen different stars in the offseason, but the biggest name they brought in was Wilson Chandler. Joel Embiid will still ball, but it’s always a question mark in regards to his health. Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz need to make huge leaps to carry the Sixers deep into May and June. The team has talent to match up with the league’s best, but it will be important to see if Simmons and Fultz develop jumpers to make this team especially dangerous.
6. Utah Jazz
The Jazz have continued to jump up in the league rankings every year under head coach Quin Snyder, and expectations should be for them to continue that trend. Utah is relying on a second year breakout from rookie sensation Donovan Mitchell. This team has the markings of the Celtics teams from the Isaiah Thomas years; scrappy and competitive. They could win some playoff games, but are ultimately a star away.
7. Los Angeles Lakers
The most enigmatic team in the NBA comes in at No.7. LeBron James and the misfit toys, aka the Lakers, are the hardest team to figure out. The Lakers have an intriguing mix of young talent, outcasts and personalities. The only reason that the Lakers are this high is because of the King; he has carried teams before, and deserves respect on an otherwise average L.A. team.
8. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder personified addition by subtraction by trading Carmelo Anthony to the Hawks, and adding Dennis Schroder doesn’t hurt. They kept Paul George which was a big victory for Sam Presti, with Andre Roberson on the mend. Roberson won’t be ready for the start of the season, but the Thunder have no Anthony excuse anymore; come season’s end, they should be among the top at the West.
9. Portland Trail Blazers
The Blazers continually choke in the playoffs; they‘re like the Cincinnati Bengals of the NBA. However, there is no reason to doubt this team in the regular season. The Blazers still boast a dominant backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic is a force down low for Portland. Come the postseason, fans should sell all their Blazers stock. However, after a top three finish in the West last year, they should be only due for a slight regression this time around.
10. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are due for a breakout year. They add Isaiah Thomas for bench depth, and Michael Porter Jr. looks like a steal at No.14 overall. Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray are still there, and this will be the year the Nuggets finally return to the playoffs after missing out by a game last season.
Here are the rest of the power rankings as the season kicks off:
11. Indiana Pacers
12. Milwaukee Bucks
13. New Orleans Pelicans
14. Dallas Mavericks
15. San Antonio Spurs
16. Minnesota Timberwolves
17. Washington Wizards
18. Miami Heat
19. Los Angeles Clippers
20. Detroit Pistons
21. Brooklyn Nets
22. Charlotte Hornets
23. Cleveland Cavaliers
24. Memphis Grizzlies
25. Chicago Bulls
26. Phoenix Suns
27. Orlando Magic
28. New York Knicks
29. Sacramento Kings
30. Atlanta Hawks
These rankings will be updated every other week as the season goes along. Best of luck to all teams, and stay tuned for the next installment of Prime Time Sports Talk’s NBA power rankings.
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