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Rank the 16 best teams in the NBA

WiggyRuss

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There has been a lot of talk about how the NBA should switched 1-16 seedings rather than 2 1-8 seedings. There are arguments both ways for it.

Anyway, how would you rank the teams in the league if we did a 1-16 ranking?

Here's mine(subject to change based on futures moves)

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

That would pose some pretty interesting 1st round matchups. I could see the Bucks moving up the rankins and Blazers moving down. Spurs could move either way.
Ill do Tiers.

Tier 1
Warriors

Tier 2
Rockets
Sixers (I am assuming they get Kawhi and Kawhi is not on the Spurs- as I think at this point that is a fair assumption)
Celtics
Thunder

Tier 3
Jazz
Lakers
Blazers
Pelicans
Twolves
Raptors
Nuggets

Tier 4
Bucks
Pacers
Wizards
Spurs
 

flyerhawk

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Ill do Tiers.

Tier 1
Warriors

Tier 2
Rockets
Sixers (I am assuming they get Kawhi and Kawhi is not on the Spurs- as I think at this point that is a fair assumption)
Celtics
Thunder

Tier 3
Jazz
Lakers
Blazers
Pelicans
Twolves
Raptors
Nuggets

Tier 4
Bucks
Pacers
Wizards
Spurs

Where Kawhi goes definitely could change the balance of power. I'll put my homer hat on and say that if the Sixers get Kawhi and only have to give up RoCo and Saric, they are the 2nd best team in basketball for this season.
 

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

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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.
 

flyerhawk

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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.

I have the Spurs at #12.

Surprised you have the Lakers at #4. Also surprised you have the Jazz and Thunder as low as you do.
 

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1. Warriors
2. Celtics
3. Rockets
4. Philly
5. Raptors
6. Thunder
7. Lakers
8. Jazz
9. Pacers
10. T-Wolves
11. Blazers
12. Nuggets
13. Bucks
14. Pelicans
15. Wizards
16. Heat

* I can't rank the Spurs until I see the finished roster.

** Based my rankings on what I think they're record will be at Seasons end.

Lots of East teams at the top. Because, well....They play in the East and it's easier.
 

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I have the Spurs at #12.

Surprised you have the Lakers at #4. Also surprised you have the Jazz and Thunder as low as you do.

Great minds think alike.

For the Lakers, I just think Lebron is enough to bring this team near the top of the Western Conference. Yes there is more competition, but we're still talking about Lebron, who's shown last year he hasn't slowed down at all. If anything he's gotten better. Maybe I'm just being a Lebron fan boy, but like last year when the Cavs were struggling, I said it didn't matter where they were seeded, I trusted Lebron to get them to the finals. I have them at 4, because if you put them against any of the other teams 5-8 and was forced to bet on it, I'm taking Lebron's team every time.

Thunder...I just really don't trust them as a team. I think talent-wise, they're absolutely great. But I still don't think their skillsets as an overall whole mesh well. They still haven't addressed their biggest need: Shooting.

The Jazz, I think were the toughest to rank for me. On one hand they had a spectacular run at the end of the year. But I still think that the 76ers and Raptors have better teams, and will be rejuvenated now that they know they don't have to face Lebron in the playoffs.
 

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

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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...

I'm not very high on the Thunder because I feel like they haven't addressed their biggest needs, IMO. Their defense will be very good, but I don't feel like their offense will be up to par.
 

flyerhawk

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Great minds think alike.

For the Lakers, I just think Lebron is enough to bring this team near the top of the Western Conference. Yes there is more competition, but we're still talking about Lebron, who's shown last year he hasn't slowed down at all. If anything he's gotten better. Maybe I'm just being a Lebron fan boy, but like last year when the Cavs were struggling, I said it didn't matter where they were seeded, I trusted Lebron to get them to the finals. I have them at 4, because if you put them against any of the other teams 5-8 and was forced to bet on it, I'm taking Lebron's team every time.

That's fair. I would say that there are 3 big differences for Lebron this year compared to last year.

1. New inexperienced team. They have Lebron, McGhee and Rondo. But the rest of the team has basically no playoff experience. It's also unclear what system they are going to run.
2. Playing in the West. The Cavs team last year in the West probably would have been closer to a 45 win team.
3. No other All-Stars. One of the biggest reasons why the Cavs struggled last year was that Love was hurt a lot. Say what you will about the guy but he is a 6'10" guy who grabs a ton of boards and is a very good perimeter shooter. Without Love they don't beat the Pacers. Who is going to be that guy for the Lakers? Rondo?

To be clear, the Lakers are going to be a good team next year. But I have a hard time seeing them become an elite team next year.

Thunder...I just really don't trust them as a team. I think talent-wise, they're absolutely great. But I still don't think their skillsets as an overall whole mesh well. They still haven't addressed their biggest need: Shooting.

IMO, getting rid of Melo is addition subtraction when it comes to shooting. They are still too top heavy and that will doom them in the playoffs but if they stay healthy I see them as a 52 or so win team.

The Jazz, I think were the toughest to rank for me. On one hand they had a spectacular run at the end of the year. But I still think that the 76ers and Raptors have better teams, and will be rejuvenated now that they know they don't have to face Lebron in the playoffs.

The Jazz have the most variance for me. I think they are a top 5 team but they could easily fall to 10 or 11 depending on some variables.
 

WiggyRuss

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That's fair. I would say that there are 3 big differences for Lebron this year compared to last year.

1. New inexperienced team. They have Lebron, McGhee and Rondo. But the rest of the team has basically no playoff experience. It's also unclear what system they are going to run.
2. Playing in the West. The Cavs team last year in the West probably would have been closer to a 45 win team.
3. No other All-Stars. One of the biggest reasons why the Cavs struggled last year was that Love was hurt a lot. Say what you will about the guy but he is a 6'10" guy who grabs a ton of boards and is a very good perimeter shooter. Without Love they don't beat the Pacers. Who is going to be that guy for the Lakers? Rondo?

To be clear, the Lakers are going to be a good team next year. But I have a hard time seeing them become an elite team next year.



IMO, getting rid of Melo is addition subtraction when it comes to shooting. They are still too top heavy and that will doom them in the playoffs but if they stay healthy I see them as a 52 or so win team.



The Jazz have the most variance for me. I think they are a top 5 team but they could easily fall to 10 or 11 depending on some variables.
Yah its so tough in the West.

I just think OKC is going to be good. I think without the attention and negativity from the Paul George free agency, and getting Melo out of there, and with a year of continuity, adding Noel, a healthy Roberson, that the Thunder will be a very good team.

The Jazz could be really good. Mitchell looks like a star. Rudy Gobert is one of the top 25 players in basketball and they have a pretty deep roster with guys like Rubio, Favors, Ingles, Crowder, Burks, Exum.

The Lakers have THE best player in basketball. But after that who are their other players? Is Ingram their 2nd best player? Rondo their third best player? Itll definitely be interesting to see how an approach of surrounding LeBron with ball handlers like Rondo and Ball and to a certain extent Stephenson, etc. instead of going the shooter route.

I think that Kevin Love would be a great fit with the Trailblazers but i dont see the assets they oculd use to get him. McCollum and Lillard is a great combo but after that there is not a whole lot there.

I thought Denver could have used a wing player- and if they got it id have them pretty high on the list. I guess they hope Porter Jr. can one day be an elite wing for them. Jokic, Murray, Harris, Milsap, Plumlee, Barton is a pretty solid roster but they feel like they are one piece on the wing away for me to really believe in them as a team with a legit shot to win a playoff series

It would not surprise me if the Twolves were the 3 seed or if they missed the playoffs. They have so much talent. I like that they drafted Bates-Diop. KAT, Butler, Wiggins, Gibson, Tague, Dieng, Jones...pretty nice.
 

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Yah its so tough in the West.

I just think OKC is going to be good. I think without the attention and negativity from the Paul George free agency, and getting Melo out of there, and with a year of continuity, adding Noel, a healthy Roberson, that the Thunder will be a very good team.

I thought getting Paul George was a coup for them when they got him. I thought Melo was an absolutely terrible move. Granted Melo is probably my least favorite player in the NBA today so I may be biased(not as a person but as a player)

The Jazz could be really good. Mitchell looks like a star. Rudy Gobert is one of the top 25 players in basketball and they have a pretty deep roster with guys like Rubio, Favors, Ingles, Crowder, Burks, Exum.

Crowder was a good fit for that squad and Ingles has really started to develop into a high quality perimeter shooter. If Gobert and Exum could stay healthy they could be very dangerous.

The Lakers have THE best player in basketball. But after that who are their other players? Is Ingram their 2nd best player? Rondo their third best player? Itll definitely be interesting to see how an approach of surrounding LeBron with ball handlers like Rondo and Ball and to a certain extent Stephenson, etc. instead of going the shooter route.

As I've said, I am baffled by what they are trying to do.

I think that Kevin Love would be a great fit with the Trailblazers but i dont see the assets they oculd use to get him. McCollum and Lillard is a great combo but after that there is not a whole lot there.

What, you don't want Evan Turner?

I thought Denver could have used a wing player- and if they got it id have them pretty high on the list. I guess they hope Porter Jr. can one day be an elite wing for them. Jokic, Murray, Harris, Milsap, Plumlee, Barton is a pretty solid roster but they feel like they are one piece on the wing away for me to really believe in them as a team with a legit shot to win a playoff series

Porter is a big roll of the dice. He could be a franchise changing pick or doom them to the same fate they have suffered since Melo left.

It would not surprise me if the Twolves were the 3 seed or if they missed the playoffs. They have so much talent. I like that they drafted Bates-Diop. KAT, Butler, Wiggins, Gibson, Tague, Dieng, Jones...pretty nice.

I am very down on the Twolves. I think they have too much bad blood going on and, IMO, Wiggins and KAT are not a good fit, personality wise.
 

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I'm not very high on the Thunder because I feel like they haven't addressed their biggest needs, IMO. Their defense will be very good, but I don't feel like their offense will be up to par.
I feel the same about the Lakers.

LeBron is the best player in the NBA.

But, it still takes time to acclimate.

They could have 3 new starters and guys like Kuzma will need to adjust to less shots.

Look at Bron's first year in Miami. They made it to the finals.

But, they weren't clicking on all cylinders in year 1.

Ditto for him when he went to the Cavs.

Ditto for the second half of last Season.

I think the Thunder will be improved simply by being healthy and giving Adam's more touches.

He was underused all last Season.
 

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I feel the same about the Lakers.

LeBron is the best player in the NBA.

But, it still takes time to acclimate.

They could have 3 new starters and guys like Kuzma will need to adjust to less shots.

Look at his first year in Miami. They made it to the finals.

But, they weren't clicking on all cylinders in year 1.

Ditto for him when he went to the Cavs.

I think the Thunder will be improved simply by being healthy and giving Adam's more touches.

He was underused all last Season.

I think for the first time in his career, Lebron isn't really going to have a half court oriented team. If you think about all the guys the acquired, what do they all have in common? They're great at running the break and or getting down the court in a hurry. Javale is a big who can fly and finish at the rim, super high energy when he's in. Lance and Rondo are both guys who are going to push the pace and get up and down the court. Lonzo's skill set is geared towards this as well. What I think you'll see is a more fluid up and down the court type team. They're going to thrive in transition. Their half court game remains to be seen and how they can mesh with each other, but they're built to run with the kids.

I'm going out on a limb and saying they'll have one of the fastest paces in the entire NBA.
 

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I thought getting Paul George was a coup for them when they got him. I thought Melo was an absolutely terrible move. Granted Melo is probably my least favorite player in the NBA today so I may be biased(not as a person but as a player)



Crowder was a good fit for that squad and Ingles has really started to develop into a high quality perimeter shooter. If Gobert and Exum could stay healthy they could be very dangerous.



As I've said, I am baffled by what they are trying to do.



What, you don't want Evan Turner?



Porter is a big roll of the dice. He could be a franchise changing pick or doom them to the same fate they have suffered since Melo left.



I am very down on the Twolves. I think they have too much bad blood going on and, IMO, Wiggins and KAT are not a good fit, personality wise.
Thibbs is a big problem too.

Someone needs to tell him his
" Glory Days " with the Bulls, that he seems to be trying to recreate, weren't actually GLORIOUS.

He ran his team into the fucking ground and seems to allow this type of dissension to fester in his locker room.

Same issue existed between Noah, Butler and Rose.
 

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I think for the first time in his career, Lebron isn't really going to have a half court oriented team. If you think about all the guys the acquired, what do they all have in common? They're great at running the break and or getting down the court in a hurry. Javale is a big who can fly and finish at the rim, super high energy when he's in. Lance and Rondo are both guys who are going to push the pace and get up and down the court. Lonzo's skill set is geared towards this as well. What I think you'll see is a more fluid up and down the court type team. They're going to thrive in transition. Their half court game remains to be seen and how they can mesh with each other, but they're built to run with the kids.

I'm going out on a limb and saying they'll have one of the fastest paces in the entire NBA.
Yeah, I don't see it.

Maybe I just don't want to?

But, all that running means nothing if you can't put the ball in the basket.

Add LeBron to any roster and they are a playoff team.

He is enough to get them home court, even in the West.

But, when the Playoffs start, and they need to play some half court basketball, they are Fucked.

Ps. McGee with the Lakers will be very much different from Mcgee with the Warriors.

He could go games up North with no significant minutes.

He will be a every game, full-time player, maybe the starter in LA.

That is setting him up for failure.
 

WiggyRuss

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Yeah, I don't see it.

Maybe I just don't want to?

But, all that running means nothing if you can't put the ball in the basket.

Add LeBron to any roster and they are a playoff team.

He is enough to get them home court, even in the West.

But, when the Playoffs start, and they need to play some half court basketball, they are Fucked.

Ps. McGee with the Lakers will be very much different from Mcgee with the Warriors.

He could go games up North with no significant minutes.

He will be a every game, full-time player, maybe the starter in LA.

That is setting him up for failure.
McGee is simply not a player that you want to play 20 minutes a night. He has not played that much a game in YEARS and there is a very good reason why.
 

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Thibbs is a big problem too.

Someone needs to tell him his
" Glory Days " with the Bulls, that he seems to be trying to recreate, weren't actually GLORIOUS.

He ran his team into the fucking ground and seems to allow this type of dissension to fester in his locker room.

Same issue existed between Noah, Butler and Rose.

Yeah. Thibs is one of those coaches whose reputations exceeds anything he actually did. The Bulls never actually DID anything despite having a ton of talent on the team. Getting smoked by the Heat in one Conference finals doesn't mean much to me.
 

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McGee is simply not a player that you want to play 20 minutes a night. He has not played that much a game in YEARS and there is a very good reason why.

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.
 
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