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Rank the 16 best teams in the NBA

tlance

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Why is everyone putting the Thunder so high?
No way they should be ahead of Utah at the very least.

Yeah,

I don't get that either.

Defintely top 8, but not anywhere near the second tier teams, IMO.

I will play. And I like Wiggy's tier system:

Tier 1:
Golden State

Tier 2:
Boston
Houston
Philly (jumps to 2 with Kawhi)

Tier 3:
Pelicans
Lakers
Jazz
Thunder
TWolves
Nuggets
Spurs

Tier 4
Raptors
Pacers
Blazers
Wizards
Bucks

Also, I will say I am literally in awe that so many have East Coast teams other than Philly and Boston in their top 8, let alone top 5.

The non elite teams in the West are SOOOO much better than the nonelite teams in the East.
 

flyerhawk

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Also, I will say I am literally in awe that so many have East Coast teams other than Philly and Boston in their top 8, let alone top 5.

The non elite teams in the West are SOOOO much better than the nonelite teams in the East.

I actually like what the Pacers have done this offseason and they were a darn good team last year. That's why I put them at 8. You put the Pacers in the West and I think are still a playoff caliber team.
 
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bksballer89

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Also, I will say I am literally in awe that so many have East Coast teams other than Philly and Boston in their top 8, let alone top 5.

The non elite teams in the West are SOOOO much better than the nonelite teams in the East.

What are you basing this on?

The Pelicans after losing Rondo and Cousins are not better than the Raptors.

The Spurs (without Kawhi) which is the assumption all of us are making are not better than the Raptors and Pacers at the moment.

I also won't have Denver over Toronto either.

I get Toronto folded as always when they see LBJ in the playoffs but he is gone now and they won 59 games last season and those young players will only get better....and oh yeah the crappy coach is gone
 

DJ

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Here's my list:

1) Warriors
2) Celtics
3) Rockets
4) Lakers
5) Sixers
6) Raptors
7) Jazz
8) Thunder
9) TWolves
10) Nuggets
11) Blazers
12) Spurs
13) Pacers
14) Wizards
15) Bucks
16) Heat

One team I have on this list that I really didn't see on other lists is the Spurs. Yes they have the Kawhi drama, but if they do move him, they'll at least acquire some pieces that will help them be relevant this year. They're still coached by Pop and have guys that just know how to play basketball. They won't be a contender, but they're still going to be one of the best 16 teams in the league.

I have the Pelicans dropping off because they lost some key pieces and their guards aside from Holiday aren't very good. Moore is ok, but I think he's best as a reserve.
The Lakers are way too high.
 

bksballer89

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Why is everyone putting the Thunder so high?
No way they should be ahead of Utah at the very least.

1) Carmelo is gone

2) PG should have a better year since they don't have to worry about always getting Melo is 12-15 shots

3) Improved their bench by bringing Noel who will be motivated
 

Mecca

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Yeah,

I don't get that either.

Defintely top 8, but not anywhere near the second tier teams, IMO.

I will play. And I like Wiggy's tier system:

Tier 1:
Golden State

Tier 2:
Boston
Houston
Philly (jumps to 2 with Kawhi)

Tier 3:
Pelicans
Lakers
Jazz
Thunder
TWolves
Nuggets
Spurs

Tier 4
Raptors
Pacers
Blazers
Wizards
Bucks

Also, I will say I am literally in awe that so many have East Coast teams other than Philly and Boston in their top 8, let alone top 5.

The non elite teams in the West are SOOOO much better than the nonelite teams in the East.
For me, The East Teams will have Vetter records by virtue of playing in the weaker conference.

I ranked teams by where I think they will finish, record wise.
 

DJ

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I think he could be definitely viable for 20 minutes a night, BUT only in 5 minute stretches. You cannot play him any longer than that. He will then lose focus and do something that makes you cringe. But if he started the 1st and 3rd and played 5 minutes each and played 5 minutes at the end of the 2nd, and figure it out in the 4th he could be playable for somewhere in the 15-20 minute range.
He's not a 28-33mpg starter but I can see him being effective for 20-22mpg as a defender and rebounder.
 

bksballer89

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For me, The East Teams will have Vetter records by virtue of playing in the weaker conference.

I ranked teams by where I think they will finish, record wise.

Same here.
 

DJ

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What are you basing this on?

The Pelicans after losing Rondo and Cousins are not better than the Raptors.

The Spurs (without Kawhi) which is the assumption all of us are making are not better than the Raptors and Pacers at the moment.

I also won't have Denver over Toronto either.

I get Toronto folded as always when they see LBJ in the playoffs but he is gone now and they won 59 games last season and those young players will only get better....and oh yeah the crappy coach is gone
Cousins wasn't playing when the Pelicans played well ie the postseason.

And they did a good job of replacing Rondo.
 

bksballer89

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Cousins wasn't playing when the Pelicans played well ie the postseason.

And they did a good job of replacing Rondo.

Who did they replace Rondo with? He was a pretty important piece.

Elfrid Payton is a bust. Give me Rondo any day over him
 

tducey

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1. Warriors
2. Celtics
3. 76ers
4. Rockets
5. Thunder
6. Pacers
7. Jazz
8. Bucks
9. Raptors
10. Lakers
11. Timberwolves
12. Nuggets
13. Wizards
14. Trailblazers
15. Heat
16. Pelicans
 

flyerhawk

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1. Warriors
2. Celtics
3. 76ers
4. Rockets
5. Thunder
6. Pacers
7. Jazz
8. Bucks
9. Raptors
10. Lakers
11. Timberwolves
12. Nuggets
13. Wizards
14. Trailblazers
15. Heat
16. Pelicans

Rockets at 4 and Lakers at 10 are eye popping for sure. Bucks at 8 seems very optimistic.
 

Gman

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Bucks at 8 seems very optimistic.
I'm actually high on the Bucks, too... and think 8 is fair/reasonable.

With better coaching they could be a pretty good team. Their length is imposing... and they could win with a formula of defense + Giannis... (if they commit to the defense part).
 

flyerhawk

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I'm actually high on the Bucks, too... and think 8 is fair/reasonable.

With better coaching they could be a pretty good team. Their length is imposing... and they could win with a formula of defense + Giannis... (if they commit to the defense part).

They could be better, certainly. I guess if you think what they really needed was a couple of defensively suspect big men, then I could see why you would think they are going to make a big jump. But I remain dubious because I think Erid Bledsoe is washed.
 

Gman

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They could be better, certainly. I guess if you think what they really needed was a couple of defensively suspect big men, then I could see why you would think they are going to make a big jump. But I remain dubious because I think Erid Bledsoe is washed.
^ Fair points.
 

Scapegoat

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Addition by subtraction and a healthy Roberson.


On a side note...

Dude needs to learn how to actually play basketball.

But, you got an absolute STEAL in Diallo.

It's gonna take a few Seasons though...
1) Carmelo is gone--True and his 16pt/game

2) PG should have a better year since they don't have to worry about always getting Melo is 12-15 shots--And lose his spacing.

3) Improved their bench by bringing Noel who will be motivated-- If he plays.

They won't be horrible but so far that just aren't that different than last season. Utah handled them pretty easy. Upper 40's to lower 50's in wins and another first round exit.
 

Scapegoat

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Addition by subtraction and a healthy Roberson.


On a side note...

Dude needs to learn how to actually play basketball.

But, you got an absolute STEAL in Diallo.

It's gonna take a few Seasons though...


All someone needs to do to make Roberson look bad when he's guarding them is hand him the ball.
 

tlance

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For me, The East Teams will have Vetter records by virtue of playing in the weaker conference.

I ranked teams by where I think they will finish, record wise.

See, I ranked them by how good they are.

@bksballer89 I disagree.

Holiday came into his own. Rondo was not the reason they were so good in the playoffs.

Anthony Davis is a top 4 player in the league, Holiday is a legit 2 way star and I think Randle adds more than they lost with Rondo. Losing Cousins is a non-factor, because he wasn't participating in the playoffs, where, IMO they were 3rd best team in the West last year AND would have beaten Boston or Toronto. Possibly Cleveland too.
 
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