Holden Hartle’s NBA Power Rankings

By Holden Hartle, Blog Sports Correspondent

The NBA is starting again, and most major news sources, such as ESPN and Bleacher Report, have released their power rankings (or their opinions on how teams are ranked). I feel that most rankings are just trying to get a response out of people for publicity, so I have gone in and made my own.

*Disclaimer: these are my opinions. I am always prepared to argue, but don’t attack me.

 

Western Conference

1. Golden State Warriors

• • They were already the best team in the league, and then they added Demarcus Cousins, arguably the best center in the league before his ACL injury.

2. Houston Rockets

• • The duo of Chris Paul and James Harden proved that they could work together, as they took the best win-loss record in the league last year.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

• • Any team can be a top 3 team with LeBron James on it, especially when they have such a good, young core, or key players on the team, to fill out the roster.

4. Utah Jazz

• • Last year, the Jazz ended the year as the 5th seed in the west. With Rudy Gobert on the court, the Jazz were the best defensive team in the league. If the team can stay injury-free, they will for sure find success.  

5. New Orleans Pelicans

• • Some may believe that the Pelicans are too high on this list, but they have MVP candidate Anthony Davis along with a young, promising Julius Randle. I think this team will surprise the league this year.

6. Oklahoma City Thunder

• • Russell Westbrook will continue to be Russell Westbrook, and if Paul George can have a solid year, then one can be sure they will find some success in this stacked Western Conference.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

• • The Trail Blazers are still looking for one more star player to be a genuine contender, but until they find that player, I predict that they will be fighting for a playoff spot.

8. Denver Nuggets

• • They just barely missed the playoffs last year (by one game), and with Jimmy Butler potentially leaving the Timberwolves, this opens up a spot in the playoffs for the Nuggets.

9. San Antonio Spurs

• • My concern with the Spurs is their lack of three-point shooting. Looking at their roster, no one stands out as a knockdown three-point shooter. DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge will definitely be amazing in the mid-range game, but to compete in the NBA, you need shooters.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves

• • With Jimmy Butler potentially off the team, the Timberwolves have no one to play defense. Without Jimmy Butler on the court last season, they dropped to dead last in defensive rating. Without him, they will miss the playoffs.

11. Phoenix Suns

• • The Suns made some moves to beef up their roster over the summer, drafting Deandre Ayton and picking up some veterans in trades/free agency. I hope they continue to do this next summer and become a playoff team.

12. Dallas Mavericks

• • The only real moves that the Mavericks made was signing Deandre Jordan and drafting Luka Dončić, and I don’t think this will benefit them as much as other people are thinking. I feel as if they need a few more young players and solid veterans to become a playoff team.

13. Memphis Grizzlies

• • Although Mike Conley is back from injury, with an aging Marc Gasol I predict that this team will be in no man’s land until they rebuild.

14. Los Angeles Clippers

• • I predict that this team will tank and try to get a high lottery pick to rebuild around. They also need to hope that Tobias Harris and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will turn out to be valuable pieces of their offense if they want to have a playoff spot.

15. Sacramento Kings

• • They’re the Kings; they’re bound to be the last team in the west.

 

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics

• • If Gordon Hayward wasn’t injured last season, they could have been the first seed in the east. A potential rival to the Warriors, I’m sure they will dominate the east.

2. Toronto Raptors

• • The Raptors’ success depends entirely on Kawhi Leonard and whether he will bounce back to the top 5 player he once was.

3. Philadelphia 76ers

• • The 76ers’ young core has developed beautifully, and now with a healthy Markelle Fultz, they are bound to be a contender in the east.

4. Milwaukee Bucks

• • Giannis Antetokounmpo has the potential to have an MVP season this year. His numbers have improved each season, and if this growth continues, he could very well average 30 points per game this season.

5. Indiana Pacers

• • I really hope that Victor Oladipo can have the same success he did last year on the Pacers. If he can keep that momentum, the Pacers should end up as the same seed as they did last year.

6. Washington Wizards

• • If John Wall can stay healthy and prove that he is worth the money he was paid, the Wizards will definitely be a playoff team. Hopefully, Dwight Howard will be the missing piece they need in their starting 5.

7. Detroit Pistons

• • Blake Griffin joined their team midway through last season and the team had to go through some adjustments. I think that with these adjustments in place, they could fight for a playoff spot.

8. Cleveland Cavaliers

• • Now LeBron-less, they have to hope that an aging Kevin Love will revert back to his 24-year-old self, and that Collin Sexton will be the rookie-of-the-year candidate that people think he will become. Don’t be surprised if the Cavaliers don’t make the playoffs this season.

9. Charlotte Hornets

• • The Hornets deserve a playoff spot. More specifically, Kemba Walker deserves a playoff spot. He has been absolutely ballin’ for the past several years, and I hope that the addition of Miles Bridges and veteran Tony Parker will get them that playoff spot.

10. Chicago Bulls

• • Though I am partial to the Bulls, I am hopeful that they can compete for a playoff spot as well. They are the second-youngest team in the NBA, so even if they don’t make the playoffs this year, they can get a lottery pick and draft for next season.

11. Miami Heat

• • I’m going to be completely honest; I don’t know how the Heat were so successful last season. I think that because the east is slowly getting more competitive, and because of the Heat’s overall dysfunctionality, they will miss the playoffs and hope for a high lottery pick to pair with their young core.

12. New York Knicks

• • The Knicks are currently in no man’s land. They have way too many point guards and no star to pair with Kristaps Porzingis. They either need to draft well in the upcoming drafts or trade some of their core for a star to pair with Porzingis.

13. Brooklyn Nets

• • The Nets gave away all of their assets a few years ago in what might go down as the worst trade in NBA history, but Sean Marks is doing the best he can with nothing. They have traded well and signed a few good pieces in the offseason. Also, they have enough cap room to sign a max contract this coming off-season.

14. Orlando Magic

• • Oh, the Magic. They should probably tank, or lose games in hopes for a high draft pick, and aim for a top 5 pick in the draft. They don’t have the cap to sign a star, nor a point guard to lead their team. It will take a miracle to get this team to the playoffs for the next several years.

15. Atlanta Hawks

• • The Hawks have no intentions of being good this year. They will put all of their chips in with Trey Young and John Collins, who will run the offense. Hopefully, Trey Young can find his stride in the NBA and become a player that the Hawks can build around.

Editor: Leo Milmet