Yes, we're still a few weeks away from the opening of training camps, but it's never too early for our NBA Power Rankings. After all, most of the offseason moves are complete and rosters are mostly intact. So, call these the pre-preseason rankings, and these will run weekly once the regular season begins.
1L.A. LakersWill the most talent translateinto the most wins?2Miami HeatSize still an issue, but RayAllen is going to help3Oklahoma City ThunderFirst order of business: GetKendrick Perkins healthy4San Antonio SpursBasically, it's the same oldSpurs, which isn't bad thing5L.A. ClippersAdded Grant Hill, Lamar Odom andJamal Crawford6Boston CelticsIf Kevin Garnett startsslipping, Boston's got trouble7Indiana PacersNothing major, just a few tweaksfor Indiana8MemphisGrizzlies' core has beentogether for while now9Brooklyn NetsDeron Williams has some helpthis season10Denver NuggetsNuggets are deep, and they addedAndre Iguodala11Philadelphia 76ersJrue Holiday and Andrew Bynum anice PG-C combo12New York KnicksSo many questions aboutAnthony-Stoudemire compatibility13AtlantaWithout Joe Johnson, Hawks mighttake step back14Utah JazzJazz made postseason last yearand added depth15Chicago BullsDerrick Rose won't be healthy atstart of season. Enough said16Dallas MavericksPlayoffs are no lock forMavericks this year17WarriorsThis ranking is assumingCurryBogut health18Milwaukee BucksRemember Dalembert better thaninjured Bogut19Minnesota TimberwolvesWithout Rubio early in season,T-Wolves wills struggle20Washington WizardsWizards made short-term moves,but they'll be better21Cleveland CavaliersKyrie Irving is real deal andthen some22Portland Trail BlazersIf Damian Lillard real dealPortland's got playoff chance23Houston RocketsRockets continue to be downwardtrending24Orlando MagicQuick, name three Magic players?25Phoenix SunsSuns need a lot to go right tobe in playoff mix26Toronto RaptorsHard to see significantimprovement here27Detroit PistonsRemember when Joe Dumars wasconsidered league's best GM?28New OrleansCould be a tough first seasonfor Anthony Davis29Sacramento KingsSimple question: Can you buildaround DeMarcus Cousins?30Charlotte BobcatsWell, on the bright side MichaelKidd-Gilchrist should get lots of playing time
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