The NBA is back.
Here are the power rankings for the start of this season, with predictions for how each team fare this year.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
Coming off a season in which they clinched the eighth seed in the East despite major roster turnaround, the Clippers come into this season as NBA Finals favorites after they acquired Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
Prediction: 1st in the West
2. Milwaukee Bucks
Last season, the Bucks improved tremendously and had the best record in the NBA, led by MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. They were ultimately defeated by Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors in the East Conference Finals.
Prediction: 1st in the East
3. Philadelphia 76ers
After a heartbreaking end to last season, the 76ers are motivated to get over the hump as they replace Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick with Al Horford and Josh Richardson.
Prediction: 2nd in the East
4. Utah Jazz
After a first-round exit last season, the Utah Jazz bolstered their roster by adding Mike Conley and Bojan Bogdanovic, making them a top team in the Western Conference.
Prediction: 3rd in the West
4. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets did not make any massive changes this summer, but they will get Michael Porter, Jr. back from injury. Denver is arguably the deepest team in the NBA. Nikola Jokic is an MVP candidate this season if Denver gets a top spot in the West.
Prediction: 2nd in the West
6. Los Angeles Lakers
While the Lakers will undoubtedly improve after they acquired Anthony Davis, I still see them as the fourth seed in the West. They gave up a lot of pieces to get Davis, and their backcourt isn’t great.
Prediction: 4th in the West
7. Golden State Warriors
While Golden State is no longer a favorite to win it all, they are still a force to be reckoned with, especially once Klay Thompson returns. Steph Curry is my pick to win MVP since he is now the primary scorer for that team.
Prediction: 6th in the West
8. Boston Celtics
Going from Kyrie Irving to Kemba Walker isn’t the worst downgrade, but where the Celtics were really hurt was in going from Al Horford to Enes Kanter, especially with Horford going to Philly.
Prediction: 3rd in the East
9. Portland Trail Blazers
Jusuf Nurkic being healthy for the playoffs this season will be a massive help for the Trail Blazers. With Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, Portland has one of the best backcourts in the NBA.
Prediction: 5th in the West
10. Houston Rockets
If you’ve read anything else I’ve written, you will know how much I dislike Russell Westbrook. I don’t think Harden and Westbrook work together, and despite high expectations, I see the Rockets missing the playoffs this season.
Prediction: 9th in the West
11. Brooklyn Nets
Kevin Durant is out for the year, but Caris LeVert is back and fully healthy. If he can avoid injury, I believe LeVert will be an All-Star this season, and Brooklyn will earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Prediction: 4th in the East
12. Indiana Pacers
It’s unclear when Victor Oladipo will be back, and both Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic left in the offseason. Indiana locked up Domantas Sabonis on a bargain of an extension at four years and $77 million.
Prediction: 7th in the East
13. San Antonio Spurs
While they aren’t the most attractive team to watch, the Spurs are very deep and will be helped by the return of Dejounte Murray. Derrick White and Murray are an underrated yet solid backcourt duo.
Prediction: 7th in the West
14. Toronto Raptors
The reigning NBA champions will undoubtedly be worse this season after losing Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green in free agency. Toronto needs OG Anunoby to step up this season as he is now the starting small forward.
Prediction: 5th in the East
15. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans got rid of Anthony Davis, but they aren’t doomed after they added Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, J.J. Redick, Zion Williamson, Jaxson Hayes, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker this offseason. I think they’ll sneak into the playoffs.
Prediction: 8th in the West
16. Miami Heat
After barely missing the playoffs last season, the Miami Heat acquired Jimmy Butler in an odd move. Despite the acquisition, I have the Miami Heat barely missing the playoffs this season, and I’m not as high on the Bam Adebayo train as some other analysts.
Prediction: 9th in the East
17. Orlando Magic
The Magic squeaked into the playoffs last season and lost in five games to Toronto as Nikola Vucevic struggled a lot. Improvements from Markelle Fultz and Mohamed Bamba could go along way for the Magic.
Prediction: 10th in the East
18. Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings finally became relevant in a loaded West last season with the improvements of De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield. Despite being a highly talented team, it’s going to be tough for them to make the playoffs because of their conference.
Prediction: 10th in the West
19. Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks are very interesting this season with the return of Kristaps Porzingis. However, I still think Dallas will miss the playoffs due to being in the loaded West.
Prediction: 11th in the West
20. Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta earning the sixth seed may seem somewhat bold, but with an All-Star season from John Collins, the Hawks should improve and secure the sixth seed in the East. Lloyd Pierce will also be a finalist for Coach of the Year.
Prediction: 6th in the East
21. Chicago Bulls
Despite having one of the worst records in the NBA last season, the Chicago Bulls were respectable when both Lauri Markkanen and Zach Lavine were healthy. With Wendell Carter, Jr. back and likely to improve, the Bulls will squeak into the playoffs.
Prediction: 8th in the East
22. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Westbrook era of the Thunder is finally over. Westbrook’s overall legacy was an absolute travesty when he was with OKC. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander may be the point guard of the future for the Thunder, and he should make significant improvements this season.
Prediction: 12th in the West
23. Detroit Pistons
Detroit didn’t address their most prominent issue in the offense of getting reliable shooters and guards. Acquiring Derrick Rose makes the Pistons somewhat watchable, but Detroit won’t be relevant this season.
Prediction: 11th in the East
24. New York Knicks
Oh, the New York Knicks. They failed to get any superstars in one of the most loaded free agencies ever and instead decided to give several decent players contracts. R.J. Barrett and Mitchell Robinson are fun to watch, but the Knicks won’t win more than 35 games.
Prediction: 12th in the East
25. Minnesota Timberwolves
Besides Karl Anthony-Towns, this Timberwolves team is terrible and tough to watch. Andrew Wiggins needs to grow a heart, and it will be interesting to watch rookie Jarrett Culver, but Minnesota isn’t a relevant team in the West.
Prediction: 13th in the West
26. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies aren’t there yet, and they likely won’t win 30 games, but Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, Jr. do make them intriguing going forward.
Prediction: 14th in the West
27. Phoenix Suns
The Suns gave Devin Booker a substantial extension and signed Ricky Rubio, but trading down from pick No. 6 to pick No. 11 and taking Cameron Johnson was a head-scratching move.
Prediction: 15th in the West
28. Cleveland Cavaliers
By the end of the 2020-21 season, Darius Garland will have completely taken over at point guard and Collin Sexton won’t be anything more than a rotational player. Sexton put up good numbers, but his style of play doesn’t help his team win games.
Prediction: 13th in the East
29. Washington Wizards
The Wizards are an absolute embarrassment and are handicapped by John Wall’s contract. I fully expect Washington to trade Bradley Beal, possibly to Denver or New Orleans. The Wizards are headed for a tough rebuild.
Prediction: 14th in the East
30. Charlotte Hornets
Look at their roster: this team has no talent at all. Nobody on their current roster averaged more than 10.1 points per game last season, and with Kemba Walker and Jeremy Lamb gone, they have no one to help them win games. Charlotte might not win 20 games this season.
Prediction: 15th in the East
