Official /r/nba Power Rankings #0 - (10.20.2021)

24/30 rankers reporting this week. /R/NBA's Power Rankings are published every two weeks which is a bit different from most rankings. Other than that we rank the teams the same way as our competition. If write ups are left blank the team rep decided not to submit. We encourage any user to fill in the blanks in the comment section. Rankings were supposed to be completed prior to yesterday's games...better late than never? We will be looking for 6 new reps between now and next rankings, stay tuned: DET, LAL, MEM, NOP, SAC, and WAS

#	Team	Δ	Record	Comment
1	Bucks		1-0	The reigning NBA champs come into the season brimming with confidence. Giannis' jumper is looking better than ever and his free-throw routine is about half the length it used to be. Jon Horst and Bud both inked contract extensions this offseason. Horst's newest addition, Grayson Allen, has looked terrific in his role so far whilst Bud has the team looking more confident with their half-court offense than ever. Jordan Nwora is one to watch as a potential breakout player this year. The electric scorer out of Louisville should get some good minutes at the start of the year due to injuries to Bobby Portis, Donte DiVincenzo and Semi Ojeleye, and could end up in the MIP conversation if things go perfectly.
2	Nets		0-1	The season is back, baby. It's still surreal for most Nets fans that Kevin Durant and James Harden will be suiting up for the team tonight and many are still holding out hope that Kyrie will join back eventually. Regardless, this is still one of the best teams in the league with 2 top players leading a group of seasoned vets and solid role players. The goal remains the same: bring a championship to Brooklyn.
3	Suns		0-0	The Suns will look to continuity and internal development to push again for a spot in the NBA Finals. New additions JaValle McGee and Landry Shamet fill regular season holes. The biggest question mark arose after yesterday's deadline came and went without an extension for Deandre Ayton. A decision, which I feel is understandable, but has certainly unsettled a key piece in the Suns title quest.
4	Jazz		0-0	Following a grossly premature playoff exit in 2021, the Jazz enter the 2022 season with championship aspirations again and have brought back their core 7 players who helped secure the leagues best regular season record. Rudy Gobert enters the season as the favourite for a 4th DPOY trophy and Donovan Mitchell will look to continue where he left off following another sensational set of individual playoff performances. Rudy Gay and Eric Paschall are new additions to the team in the hopes of adding more size and versatility to the rotation while Hassan Whiteside will play some minutes at backup centre too. It’s easy for sceptics to question the validity of Utah’s status as a contender and they will be judged on their level of playoff success but the Jazz are a well oiled machine and look primed for another top 4 seed finish.
5	Lakers		0-1	We will be looking for a new rep. Please include a small blurb in the comments about the Lakers offseason if you are familiar with the team.
6	Nuggets		0-0	Howdy! I'm excited to not only be back for my 8th(!) year on the /r/nba Power Rankings team, but also to be getting regular season basketball back into my life! This year's edition of the Nuggets look very similar to last year's, thanks to the front office working their magic to keep the existing talent (Michael Porter Jr: 5yrs, $172M; Will Barton: 2yrs, $30M; Aaron Gordon: 4yrs, $86M; JaMychal Green: 2yrs, $16M; Austin Rivers: 1yr, $2.4M). However, they also added some quality depth through the draft with combo guard Bones Hyland, who seems to have earned a spot in the rotation as a rookie (a miracle on a Malone-coached team), as well as through free agency with the Jeff Green signing (2yrs, $9M). The biggest question to be answered in this early stretch of the season: who's the 2nd option on offense? That guy on paper (Jamal Murray) also tore his ACL last April, and with him and the team taking a slow and steady approach with his injury, there's a good chance we won't see Murray until March or April at the earliest. The expected fill-in option will be Michael Porter Jr., but we'll need to see another big jump from him this year if this team expects to contend in the West.
7	Hawks		0-0	Expectations for the Hawks coming into this season are high, and they probably should be. The Hawks are returning basically the exact same team that was two wins away from the NBA finals but now with an actual backup point guard in Delon Wright. Trae Young is already a top 20 player in the NBA with room to get even better and when you combine that with expected growth from players like John Collins, De'Andre Hunter, Cam Reddish, and Kevin Huerter it's not unreasonable to expect the Hawks to improve as a whole. The Hawks are one of if not the deepest team in the league with 10+ truly good rotation players. It's up to Nate McMillan to keep the magic going this year and manage the rotations in a way that keeps everyone happy and keeps the team effective. Expect the Hawks to be competing for a top 3 seed in the east with the roster they have, but also don't be surprised if the Hawks decide to go all in if a disgruntled superstar decides they want out. With PLENTY of young talent and all their draft assets, no team in the league is better positioned to make a blockbuster trade than the Hawks. If the right player becomes available a trade can turn the Hawks into a serious championship contender.
8	Heat		0-0	Time for a new season of hopes and dreams and for us to wait and see how it turns out. The Heat look well positioned to compete but I'm a bit wary until we see a few weeks of play. We know how good PJ Tucker, Jimmy Butler, Kyle Lowry, and Bam Adebayo are, but we need to see if there is more consistency on tap for Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson. Our depth isn't that great either for how old our roster is, considering everything could fall apart easily as it was built. Let's hope that Duncan and Tyler have turned a page and help push the Heat to the peak.
9	Mavericks		0-0	The Mavs had quite the offseason. They saw longtime coach and GM Rick Carlisle & Donnie Nelson depart the team, shadowed by drama with Haralabos Voulgaris. The change with Jason Kidd at the helm may reactivate some of the lost motivation and effort from star big man Kristaps Porzingis, who is coming off of his best offensive regular season of his career. If the Mavs can close out games better than previous years while maintaining the same offensive production as last year, look for this team to win 50 games with ease. Even after a Covid-ridden season, the Mavs were on pace to win 48 games in an 82 game regular season, so a 2+ game improvement seems realistic, barring injuries.
10	76ers		0-0	The Sixers of today will almost certainly not be the Sixers of tomorrow... or next week, month, etc. The Ben Simmons drama has certainly ensanred most of the media and viewing public's eyes, so it can be truly hard to get a read on how good this team can actually be. While most may be low on the Sixers this year, there will always be a sign of optimism and hope as long as Joel Embiid is anchoring the team. There are many wildcards and questions, such as Tobias Harris repeating his previous season, Seth Curry keeping his hot touch from the playoffs, and if Tyrese Maxey can really be the PG of the future. Want a depth pick? Keep an eye on Isaiah Joe. He shot a scorching 59.3% in the preseason and seems to be back to what made him such a wonder at Arkansas.
11	Celtics		0-0	New season, new Celtics. With Danny Ainge "retiring" and Brad Stevens making the shocking move to become GM, and Ime Udoka becoming the new head coach, along with a plethora of other moves highlighted by trading Kemba for Al Horford, the Celtics look to get back into their groove this season. Extensions for TimeLord and Mahcus Smaht, along with multiple trades for guys with 1 year left on their contracts gives the Celtics the flexibility cap-wise to trade for practically anyone. With COVID still impacting the team after it ravaging them last season, they look to get things right with a win tonight against the Knicks in their season opener.
12	Warriors		1-0	Curry still looks like last years Curry and Wiggins is vaccinated. Jordan Poole might be the 6th man the Warriors need to survive those Curry-less minutes. Otto Porter is also looking like what we thought Oubre might be, shooting an unsustainable 55% from 3 over the 5 pre season games. Klay is making progress but Nov 20th is the date of return at the moment. Wiseman is still out until he is re-evaluated Nov 1 but Kerr talking about his place within the offense has everyone excited to see this full squad in action.
13	Clippers		0-0	Clippers have a tough season without Kawhi, but have a quality team nonetheless. Clippers had >50% win% last season when Kawhi was hurt, so keep that up and add a little Bledsoe - Mann - PG13 spice and we could easily make 8th seed.
14	Trail Blazers		0-0	The new and improved Trail Blazers start their season with some excitement, but a host of questions. Will new coach Chauncey Billups' system improve Portland's 29th ranked defense? Will it make their office, ranked 2nd in the league, more dynamic and harder to game plan come playoff time? Will Anfernee Simons make the leap? Will Portland trade for Simmons? How will Nance do standing in for Melo? Will our centers get/stay healthy? Stay tuned!
15	Knicks		0-0	"Curtains forcing their will against the wind, children sleep, exchanging dreams with seraphim. The city drags itself awake on subway straps; and I, an alarm, awake as a rumor of war, lie stretching into dawn, unasked and unheeded.” —Maya Angelou. Let's be honest here. No one expected the success of last season. Everything about the 2020-21 Knicks was a pleasant surprise. Rose coming back, the dawn of Quickley, Thibs's instant impact, RJ's development into a sniper, the strength of Noel stepping up, and most of all the play of Julius Randle- All-NBA 2nd teamer and the Most Improved Player in the league. We were playing with house money. Deep draft picks, a flexible and forward-thinking front office... What I can only describe as a breath of fresh air that hasn't been taken by Knicks fans since 1994. And now, here we are. Year two of the Grand Design. Julius Randle took a discounted extension to give the team options going forward. We kicked out Payton, politely parted ways with Bullock, and continued to argue about Ntilikina. But to replace them we brought in proven talent Fournier (don't google him) and our native son Kemba Walker. What a feeling. I'll be heading to Madison Square Garden tonight to see the opening game, and the thousands there with me will all agree that this feeling of pride in a team is intoxicating. Here's to a season of surprise, courage and heart!
16	Bulls		0-0	We got a fcking squad now. After the Bulls failed to find chemistry following big moves at last season's trade deadline, management continued their aggressive team building approach. Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic were joined by Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso this offseason, signaling to Bulls fans that yes, the rebuild is *over**! It's a new era in Chicago basketball, and not much of the previous era remains. While not necessarily a top Eastern Conference favorite, the Bulls have been hyped up for months now and fan expectations are high. Can Billy Donovan continue to build his culture? Will Patrick Williams take the next step? How long will it take this star-studded team to gel on the court? Find out next episode, on Dragon Ba- wait, no.
17	Grizzlies		0-0	We will be looking for a new rep. Please include a small blurb in the comments about the Grizzlies offseason if you are familiar with the team.
18	Pacers		0-0	All right, forget that happened- let's run it back AGAIN! After a disastrous year with Nate Bjorkgren at the helm, the Indiana Pacers seized an opportunity when former coach Rick Carlisle parted ways with Dallas and hired him to be the next head coach. It only makes sense for the organization to try and make another run with this same core before attempting a soft rebuild, so the team's structure largely remains intact from a year ago. Indiana will be without Caris LeVert for a few games, and T.J. Warren is still recovering from his foot injury, but newcomers Chris Duarte, Isaiah Jackson, and Torrey Craig could help in a pinch while the Pacers wait on a full squad.
19	Raptors		0-0	Raptors probably won't be that good this year, and that's okay. Looking to really see some development from Scottie Barnes, and Precious Achiuwa. Should be a fun year with little expectations.
20	Hornets		0-0	The Charlotte Hornets enter this season in a slightly confused position. Reigning Rookie of the Year LaMelo Ball has shown that he’s a bona fide star in the making. He has the talent, he wants to be great, and he’s a superstar personality off the floor. The offseason moves for the team, however, have gotten mixed reviews. Key FA addition Kelly Oubre and draft picks James Bouknight and Kai Jones will need to contribute right away if the team is going to improve on an encouraging 2020-21 campaign. The losses of Malik Monk and Devonte Graham leave two major roles up for grabs. All that said, it’s all about LaMelo now. Interesting times in Charlotte these days!
21	TWolves		0-0	Wolves are hoping their strong finish to last season and preseason good vibes transfer over towards a run at the playoffs this season. Returning a focused KAT, a growing Ant, and locked in Dlo the Wolves are ready to outscore and pace opponents night after night.
22	Kings		0-0	The Kings are entering the season having gone undefeated in the pre-season, this after a convincing Summer League championship. Newcomers Davion Mitchell and Tristan Thompson have made an immediate impact and will help round out the rotation for the Kings, which is expected to not include the former #2 overall pick Marvin Bagley. We will see what Luke Walton has in store for the team this year, but you are likely going to see some interesting 3 guard lineups of Fox/Haliburton/Mitchell, one of the more intriguing young guard trios we have in the league today. The Kings start their season with four games against expected playoff teams, so they will be tested right away. To the play-in, and beyond!
23	Pelicans		0-0	We will be looking for a new rep. Please include a small blurb in the comments about the Pelicans offseason if you are familiar with the team.
24	Wizards		0-0	We will be looking for a new rep. Please include a small blurb in the comments about the Wizards offseason if you are familiar with the team.
25	Spurs		0-0	Honestly, this year is an exciting year for the Spurs. I have no clue what to expect in terms of results, but I know we have a roster full of young guns who are hungry to prove themselves. Do any of them currently project to be perrenial All-Stars at their peak? Realistically speaking, probably not—but Pop and company have made magic happen before. My three key questions for the Spurs this year are: Who steps up to lead the team on offense? Will Lonnie Walker put it all together and live up to the flashes of potential he's shown? Will the Spurs trade Thaddeus Young to a contender? Personally, I think the answers to those questions are 1a. Derrick White 1b. Dejounte Murray 3. Keldon Johnson; yes, Lonnie will have the best year of his career but it will be in the Patty Mills sparkplug role; yes, but the Spurs will wait until Zach Collins is healthy and things are closer to the trade deadline. Optimistically, the Spurs finish 44-38 and sneak into the playoffs as the 8 seed while Big Body wins MIP; realistically, the Spurs go 36-46, make the 10th seed, and lose the play-in game.
26	Cavaliers		0-0	Our Bigs (Allen/Markkanen/Love/Mobley) and Guards (Garland/Rubio/Sexton) certainly have talent, but wing talent is questionable at best. Okoro will continue as the starting SF. He produced 16/4/2 over the final 12 games last year, and if Okoro comes out shooting 3’s at even an average clip, this teams ceiling is much higher. A potential fit issue with Okoro is that it seems like he slots in better as a 2 than a 3, but he’ll continue as a 3 out of necessity as Cedi Osman cannot be reliably used for heavy minutes. Beyond those two is Dylan Windler, the 26th overall pick in 2019, who had a good preseason but has only logged 513 minutes played in his first 2 seasons. Wing help will certainly be the Cavs main focus, and based on history, it seems like that we’ll see 3 bigs sharing the court at some point
27	Rockets		0-0	Our summer went about as well as it could have, mostly at OKC's expense. Although the path to the top will be long, the pieces seem to be falling in place to start the upward trajectory.
28	Pistons		0-0	We will be looking for a new rep. Please include a small blurb in the comments about the Wizards offseason if you are familiar with the team.
29	Magic		0-0	Well not really sure what to expect out of this season. WCJ got an incredibly team friendly extension, while Bamba didn't get anything but both showed promising growth in preseason. Fultz and Okeke are out for a bit longer so the offense is gonna rely on Cole and the rookie Suggs. Isaac is probably gonna be out for longer than those two, but he's still managed to stay in on people's minds but not necessarily for the right reasons. Guess I, and the fans, are just hoping for a fun season and another high draft pick?
30	Thunder		0-0	The Oklahoma City Thunder will field a very bad basketball team this season and will almost certainly continue to do so (by design!) until the day a bonafide future-top-10 superstar is landed in the draft. SGA is one potential top-15 or so player, but Presti and co. know that you can't win with just one. But even despite the inevitable losses, intrigue is aplenty. Will SGA stay healthy? Will DORT's jumpshooting improvements continue? What exactly do the Thunder have in comically long sophomore Aleksej Pokuševski? Will rookie Josh Giddey be able to balance his NBA responsibilities with his shooting schedule for the new Dune movies?