Teams
Forum List
Toggle sidebar

Predicted Power Rankings - NBA

BallSoHard4Cy

BallSoHard4Cy

Well-Known Member
Apr 20, 2012
7,203
997
113
Ames
While we're only a few days into FA, it looks like today was the peak. Obviously teams still have a lot of holes to fill, but right now what would be your top ten teams? Mine would be:

1. Heat, 3 straight Finals appearances, back to back titles and minimal offseason changes so far make this an easy choice

2. Thunder, the team could have gone much father than getting swept in the west semis without Russell Westbrook's injury. Lost Kevin Martin, but they don't have any holes on the roster.

3. Clippers, having a nice offseason so far with the pick ups of Doc Rivers, JJ Redick, and Jared Dudley. Should be better coaching with Redick and Dudley filling the need for better shooters. Kept CP3 in town. Could be a big year.

4. Pacers, picked up Chris Copeland today which addresses a need for a shooter. Wonder what they could get for a banged up Danny Granger? Could be the only serious threat to the Heat in the East.

5. Spurs, no major changes so far, bring in Bellineli from Chicago and keep Manu for 2 more years. I'd put them higher but they got older and the Clippers and Pacers did/could get better.

6. Rockets, Probably have had the biggest off-season so far being the first team to take a star player away from the Lakers, and could possibly make it bigger with a Asik trade for Ryan Anderson trade in the works (Hawks sign Paul Milsap which means that Josh Smith isn't coming to the Rockets). Still need to get some off their depth back (Francisco Garcia and Carlos Delfino might come back)

7. Grizzlies, quiet off-season so far, kept Tony Allen in Memphis, still need to address shooting woes from last season.

8. Warriors, probably could have put them above the Grizzlies and Rockets. Lost a little depth when they signed Iggy today. Could still get something for Bogut.

9. Nets, made waves last week in a big trade. Obviously the organization is in "win now" mode but with an aged PP and KG I'm not sure it'll be enough to compliment Williams, Johnson, and Lopez.

10. Nuggets, very young team that has the potential to be competitive in the West, but with the loss of Iggy, they lack a "Star" to take them to the next level.

You could make an argument for the Knicks at 10. but they weren't very good for a team that has that much invested in Carmelo.
 
cyguytillidie said:
Bulls?
Click to expand...

I didn't put them in because are we really sure Rose will be back by the start of the season? I'd put them at 8 or 9. Everybody has Rose playing like "Peterson comeback" when we very well know that he could be bad. He took a year off. A year off of his prime.
 
BallSoHard4Cy said:
I didn't put them in because are we really sure Rose will be back by the start of the season? I'd put them at 8 or 9. Everybody has Rose playing like "Peterson comeback" when we very well know that he could be bad. He took a year off. A year off of his prime.
Click to expand...
Serious Clark?
 
BallSoHard4Cy said:
If the dude was physically ready 4 months ago and didn't play, why would I expect him to want to play in another 4 months?
Click to expand...
Rose said he didn't want to play until he could dunk off his left leg. That time didn't come until the first week or so of the playoffs. At that time the Bulls were beating Brooklyn about 3-1. Moe than likely he saw what the team had that year and figured it was not worth him coming back. The Bulls were not going to do any better with a rusty Rose in the starting rotation. If he's not back at the beginning of next year, which is maybe a 5% chance, then his career is over.
He'll be back at the beginning of the year.
 
Power Rankings

1) Heat- Can James lead them to another ring, stay tuned.
2) Thunder- injury to Westbrook stunted their playoff experience. Can Durant make the next step in his game?
3) Pacers- Bring back Granger, this team is a point guard away from being the best team. Stay tuned to my prediction.
4) Bulls- With Rose back, this team should make bigger noise. I wouldn't be surprised if they have the best record in the east.
5) San Antonio- When you think they are too old, they prove you wrong. I think they make one final push knowing they should have won the title last year.
6) Golden State-I think we see Curry and Thompson take off like they did in the playoffs. Add Iguodala with Lee and Bogut and you have a top 4 team in the west.
7) Houston-With the addition of Howard, they become contenders in the west. If they add Josh Smith, I'd put them in 5th. Howard turning to his Magic days is the key.
8) Nets-With Paul Pierce and Garnett coming, the Nets should be much tougher than a year ago. This team is the biggest wildcard out of the teams on the list.
9) Clippers- They got a better coach in Rivers, but I feel they didn't make a big enough splash to contend for a title. Reddick and Dudley are nice role players, but won't push the Clippers to contend.
10) Grizzlies- They made a surprising run to the conference finals, but still have a long ways. Hollins leaving makes this team worse and I think 2nd round is the best for them.

Others- Knicks- Got Carmelo, 5th place in the east, Bargnani is a head-scratcher. Pelicans- Made great moves in the offseason to acquire Holliday and Evans, think they are a year or two away from competing.

Playoff Teams

East
1) Heat
2) Pacers
3) Bulls
4) Nets
5) Knicks
6) Hawks (Horford and possibly Asik with Millsap will be a great frontcourt)
7) Cavaliers (Kyrie makes the next step to being a star, leading the Cavs back to the playoffs)
8) Wizards (think Porter will end up a very good player, having Wall for the whole season is huge)

Other

Celtics (Rondo is pretty much it, Jeff Green will have to be big for them to get into the playoffs)

West
---------
1) Thunder
2) Spurs
3) Warriors
4) Rockets
5) Clippers
6) Grizzlies
7) Pelicans (made great moves, should get into the playoffs)
8) Lakers (think like last year, the lakers sneak in during the last week)

Other- Trailblazers (in a weak division, Lilliard and Aldridge is a potent duo)

East

Heat vs Wizards- Heat in 4
Nets vs Knicks- Nets in 6
Bulls vs Hawks- Bulls in 5
Pacers vs Cavs- Pacers in 5

Heat vs Nets- Heat in 5
Pacers vs Bulls- Pacers in 7

Pacers vs Heat- Pacers in 6

West

Thunder vs Lakers- Thunder in 6
Spurs vs Pelicans- Spurs in 5
Warriors vs Grizzlies- Warriors in 6
Rockets vs Clippers- Rockets in 7

Thunder vs Rockets- Thunder in 7
Warriors vs Spurs- Warriors in 6

Thunder vs Warriors- Thunder in 7

Pacers vs Thunder- Pacers in 7

Champs- Pacers
 
IHavNoCyCash said:
Power Rankings

1) Heat- Can James lead them to another ring, stay tuned.
2) Thunder- injury to Westbrook stunted their playoff experience. Can Durant make the next step in his game?
3) Pacers- Bring back Granger, this team is a point guard away from being the best team. Stay tuned to my prediction.
4) Bulls- With Rose back, this team should make bigger noise. I wouldn't be surprised if they have the best record in the east.
5) San Antonio- When you think they are too old, they prove you wrong. I think they make one final push knowing they should have won the title last year.
6) Golden State-I think we see Curry and Thompson take off like they did in the playoffs. Add Iguodala with Lee and Bogut and you have a top 4 team in the west.
7) Houston-With the addition of Howard, they become contenders in the west. If they add Josh Smith, I'd put them in 5th. Howard turning to his Magic days is the key.
8) Nets-With Paul Pierce and Garnett coming, the Nets should be much tougher than a year ago. This team is the biggest wildcard out of the teams on the list.
9) Clippers- They got a better coach in Rivers, but I feel they didn't make a big enough splash to contend for a title. Reddick and Dudley are nice role players, but won't push the Clippers to contend.
10) Grizzlies- They made a surprising run to the conference finals, but still have a long ways. Hollins leaving makes this team worse and I think 2nd round is the best for them.

Others- Knicks- Got Carmelo, 5th place in the east, Bargnani is a head-scratcher. Pelicans- Made great moves in the offseason to acquire Holliday and Evans, think they are a year or two away from competing.

Playoff Teams

East
1) Heat
2) Pacers
3) Bulls
4) Nets
5) Knicks
6) Hawks (Horford and possibly Asik with Millsap will be a great frontcourt)
7) Cavaliers (Kyrie makes the next step to being a star, leading the Cavs back to the playoffs)
8) Wizards (think Porter will end up a very good player, having Wall for the whole season is huge)

Other

Celtics (Rondo is pretty much it, Jeff Green will have to be big for them to get into the playoffs)

West
---------
1) Thunder
2) Spurs
3) Warriors
4) Rockets
5) Clippers
6) Grizzlies
7) Pelicans (made great moves, should get into the playoffs)
8) Lakers (think like last year, the lakers sneak in during the last week)

Other- Trailblazers (in a weak division, Lilliard and Aldridge is a potent duo)
Click to expand...

No Nuggets??? I mean they are front runners right now for Monta Ellis, who would play in Iggy's spot. They would need a big I pro meant in defense but that is a KILLER offense. Nuggets with Ellis is better than the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Lakers.

I like your Eastern conference predictions though

Asik won't go to the Hawks. He is a starter in this league and he knows it. Paul Millsap won't be effective at the 3, which is where he would play if Asik played for the Hawks. Apparently the Pelicans are not interested in Asik. The Lakers are also not interested. Not sure what the Rox could get from Dallas. Whoever it is, they need to be able to be good alongside Howard. Would the Bucks trade Ilyasova?
 
My 2013-2014 top 10
1 Heat - until someone else wins it there's no argument

2 Pacers - maybe the best "team" in the league

3 Clippers - already elite but getting Rivers, Redick and Dudley is big

4 Thunder - will they ever get over the hump?

5 Rockets - the Howard/Harden combo is going to be tough

6 Nets - hard to argue with that starting five/top seven rotation

7 Spurs - I think they take a step back

8 Bulls - there's probably a more deserving team for this spot

9 Warriors - should/could be in the top 7

10 Pelicans - Evans/Holiday additions changes everything
 
My top 5:

1 Heat - The defending champs.

2 Pacers - Will actually have a pretty good bench next year.

3 Clippers - Added coaching and much needed shooting.

4 Spurs - Doesn't matter how old they get, they're still going to be good.

5 Thunder - Still young, still talented.
 
How do people have okc so high in their predictions.

Giving away James Harden took them out of championship contention, imo. They face the same problem the spurs dowith an old Manu. They have nobody on the 2nd team to break down a defense, and make plays.

Now they are gonna have to eventually end up amnestying Perkins, because there really is not any match ups for him, and he got fat after signing the big contract. Brooks is very average on the sidelines. Westbrook is still gonna take more shots than KD, and KD is still gonna defer.
 
BallSoHard4Cy said:
No Nuggets??? I mean they are front runners right now for Monta Ellis, who would play in Iggy's spot. They would need a big I pro meant in defense but that is a KILLER offense. Nuggets with Ellis is better than the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Lakers.

I like your Eastern conference predictions though

Asik won't go to the Hawks. He is a starter in this league and he knows it. Paul Millsap won't be effective at the 3, which is where he would play if Asik played for the Hawks. Apparently the Pelicans are not interested in Asik. The Lakers are also not interested. Not sure what the Rox could get from Dallas. Whoever it is, they need to be able to be good alongside Howard. Would the Bucks trade Ilyasova?
Click to expand...
I think you are giving Monta Ellis too much credit.
 
The Bulls have had the best record in the NBA the last two seasons Rose has been healthy, and they made the Eastern Conference Semi's without him this past season. There shouldn't be much debate as to whether or not they are going to be a top 10 team this year.
 
1. Heat- Three straight Finals appearances, two straight titles, best player on the planet. Nothing more needed to be said.
2. Thunder- Still have Durant and Westbrook assuming he fully recovers from his Achilles injury. Much tougher competition now with the Rockets and Warriors getting stronger.
3. Pacers- Were this close to taking out the Heat in the East finals, and they did it without Danny Granger. They'll have to decide whether to keep David West or Granger, but they'll challenge the Heat next year.
4. Rockets- Getting Dwight Howard was huge and makes them instant contenders in the West next year.
5. Spurs- If they keep Ginobili and Duncan doesn't retire, this team may have one more run left in them. However the competition got that much stiffer.
6. Warriors- Getting Iguodala to infuse veteran leadership into their young roster was huge. They're only a step behind the Rockets and Spurs right now.
7. Bulls- Getting a healthy Derrick Rose back will help. Getting a great sharpshooter in free agency would be tremendous for the Bulls.
8. Clippers- Resigning Chris Paul was huge. Getting Doc Rivers was just icing on the cake. They'll be really good as well, but the West is going to be stacked next year.
9. Nets- Sure getting Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will help, but they're getting older, and I still don't see the Nets as any better than the 4th best team in the East next year.
10. Grizzlies- They made the Western Conference finals this year, but now they are likely the sixth best team in an extremely good Western Conference. Having a coach within the organization should smooth over the transition.

Playoff teams:

East:

1. Heat
2. Pacers
3. Bulls
4. Nets
5. Knicks(Still have 'Melo)
6. Hawks(Might change if they lose Josh Smith in free agency)
7. Cavaliers(Will be much better with Mike Brown back and Kyrie Irving getting better)
8. Wizards(If Wall stays healthy, this is a playoff team)

West:
1. Thunder
2. Rockets
3. Spurs
4. Warriors
5. Clippers
6. Grizzlies
7. Nuggets(Losing Iguodala hurts, but still a young nucleus)
8. Mavericks(Sneak in due to the Lakers being down+Dirk should be healthy)

Heat over Wizards in 4
Nets over Knicks in 7
Bulls over Hawks in 6
Pacers over Cavaliers in 5

Heat over Nets in 5
Bulls over Pacers in 7

Heat over Bulls in 6

Thunder over Mavericks in 5
Warriors over Clippers in 7
Grizzlies over Spurs in 7
Rockets over Nuggets in 6

Thunder over Warriors in 7
Rockets over Grizzlies in 6

Thunder over Rockets in 7

NBA Finals 2014:
Heat over Thunder in 6
 
BallSoHard4Cy said:
No Nuggets??? I mean they are front runners right now for Monta Ellis, who would play in Iggy's spot. They would need a big I pro meant in defense but that is a KILLER offense. Nuggets with Ellis is better than the Grizzlies, Pelicans, and Lakers.

I like your Eastern conference predictions though

Asik won't go to the Hawks. He is a starter in this league and he knows it. Paul Millsap won't be effective at the 3, which is where he would play if Asik played for the Hawks. Apparently the Pelicans are not interested in Asik. The Lakers are also not interested. Not sure what the Rox could get from Dallas. Whoever it is, they need to be able to be good alongside Howard. Would the Bucks trade Ilyasova?
Click to expand...

nuggets lose a top 3 coach in karl, their best all-around player in Iguodala, and supposedly Andre Miller. Ellis is a chucker who won't lead a team to much success. Nuggets might sneak into the playoffs but I'd be somewhat surprised.
 
IHavNoCyCash said:
nuggets lose a top 3 coach in karl, their best all-around player in Iguodala, and supposedly Andre Miller. Ellis is a chucker who won't lead a team to much success. Nuggets might sneak into the playoffs but I'd be somewhat surprised.
Click to expand...
Nuggets will make the playoffs. Probably a 7 or 8 seed though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Help Support Us

Become a patron
Top Bottom