Sports
Top 10 NBA season power rankings
Top 10 NBA season power rankings
Evan Krause, Writer | 11/02/2021
Evan Krause, Writer | 11/02/2021
With the 2022 NBA season coming to a start, a lot of unknowns are still in place but this season will be the first semi-normal season in the past two years. A lot has changed since the conclusion of the season in July. A lot of teams have made big changes such as the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Miami Heat.
With the 2022 NBA season coming to a start, a lot of unknowns are still in place but this season will be the first semi-normal season in the past two years. A lot has changed since the conclusion of the season in July. A lot of teams have made big changes such as the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and the Miami Heat.
1. Brooklyn Nets
1. Brooklyn Nets
With the Nets adding key pieces Patty Mills, Paul Millsap, and Lamarcus Aldridge. Including these additions, the Nets seem like the most talented team in the league this year. Their loss to the NBA champion Bucks in the second round leads to a few questions about if this team has the chemistry to win a championship. With this being said, they still are the favorites for this year with the big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. If they are healthy, they will have the best chance of winning the championship this year.
With the Nets adding key pieces Patty Mills, Paul Millsap, and Lamarcus Aldridge. Including these additions, the Nets seem like the most talented team in the league this year. Their loss to the NBA champion Bucks in the second round leads to a few questions about if this team has the chemistry to win a championship. With this being said, they still are the favorites for this year with the big three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. If they are healthy, they will have the best chance of winning the championship this year.
2. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers have made a lot of big moves during this offseason adding pieces Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, and Malik Monk. The biggest of these moves was the Russell Westbrook trade which could be the best addition or could be a complete failure. That trade makes the Lakers have an official big three of Lebron, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook. With this being said, the Lakers have an immense amount of talent this year and will be a front runner in the Western Conference this year.
The Lakers have made a lot of big moves during this offseason adding pieces Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Nunn, and Malik Monk. The biggest of these moves was the Russell Westbrook trade which could be the best addition or could be a complete failure. That trade makes the Lakers have an official big three of Lebron, Anthony Davis, and Westbrook. With this being said, the Lakers have an immense amount of talent this year and will be a front runner in the Western Conference this year.
3. Milwaukee Bucks
3. Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks winning the championship last year makes them a top contender without having to make a lot of changes to the roster. The only major news from the Bucks this offseason was the re-signing of Bobby Portis and the addition of Grayson Allen will help the defensive capabilities of this team. The Bucks also signed free agents Rodney Hood and George Hill. With every major player coming back to the team except for P.J. Tucker; the Bucks have a lot of potential for this upcoming season.
The Bucks winning the championship last year makes them a top contender without having to make a lot of changes to the roster. The only major news from the Bucks this offseason was the re-signing of Bobby Portis and the addition of Grayson Allen will help the defensive capabilities of this team. The Bucks also signed free agents Rodney Hood and George Hill. With every major player coming back to the team except for P.J. Tucker; the Bucks have a lot of potential for this upcoming season.
4. Phoenix Suns
4. Phoenix Suns
After Phoenix went to the NBA finals last year and took the Bucks to 6 games makes them a contender for the upcoming season. With the Suns keeping all of their major players like Chris Paul and Cameron Payne creates a scary threat for the Western Conference for the upcoming season. With minor editions of Javel McGee and Elfred Payton will add some more offensive to the team. Taking all this into consideration, this Suns team will be contenders for the upcoming season if everyone stays healthy.
After Phoenix went to the NBA finals last year and took the Bucks to 6 games makes them a contender for the upcoming season. With the Suns keeping all of their major players like Chris Paul and Cameron Payne creates a scary threat for the Western Conference for the upcoming season. With minor editions of Javel McGee and Elfred Payton will add some more offensive to the team. Taking all this into consideration, this Suns team will be contenders for the upcoming season if everyone stays healthy.
5. Utah Jazz
5. Utah Jazz
After last year's great regular season earning the Jazz a 1 seed in the west and making their way to the Western Conference semifinals makes this Jazz team a threat for the upcoming season. Having the reigning DPOY (defensive player of the year) in Rudy Gobert and an effective star in Donovan Mitchell will make this team scary for any team in the west. With additions of Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside, this will bring more of a veteran presence to the lineup, and also the resigning of Mike Conley will help keep the team chemistry together and bring a lot of talent to the table.
After last year's great regular season earning the Jazz a 1 seed in the west and making their way to the Western Conference semifinals makes this Jazz team a threat for the upcoming season. Having the reigning DPOY (defensive player of the year) in Rudy Gobert and an effective star in Donovan Mitchell will make this team scary for any team in the west. With additions of Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside, this will bring more of a veteran presence to the lineup, and also the resigning of Mike Conley will help keep the team chemistry together and bring a lot of talent to the table.
6. Denver Nuggets
6. Denver Nuggets
Because of last year's second-round exit, the Nuggets will be a playoff team but without Jamal Murray for most of the season, they will struggle during the regular season to get a top seed in the western conference. With all main players being signed for the next few years, this will lead to the Nuggets being more of a threat for the next few years. While the Nuggets don’t have many additions to account for, they still will be a threat for the upcoming season and will have a chance to make a run in the West for the championship.
Because of last year's second-round exit, the Nuggets will be a playoff team but without Jamal Murray for most of the season, they will struggle during the regular season to get a top seed in the western conference. With all main players being signed for the next few years, this will lead to the Nuggets being more of a threat for the next few years. While the Nuggets don’t have many additions to account for, they still will be a threat for the upcoming season and will have a chance to make a run in the West for the championship.
7. Atlanta Hawks
7. Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks made an Eastern Conference Finals run last year shows that they are capable of giving teams a run for their money during the playoffs. Having players such as Trae Young and John Collins leading the team at such a young age; shows how high of a ceiling that this team has in the future. The Hawks have added some small additions such as Jahlil Okafor and the re-signing of Clint Capela. This has led to the Hawks being a serious threat for the upcoming season and could have a case for a top team in the East.
The Hawks made an Eastern Conference Finals run last year shows that they are capable of giving teams a run for their money during the playoffs. Having players such as Trae Young and John Collins leading the team at such a young age; shows how high of a ceiling that this team has in the future. The Hawks have added some small additions such as Jahlil Okafor and the re-signing of Clint Capela. This has led to the Hawks being a serious threat for the upcoming season and could have a case for a top team in the East.
8. Miami Heat
8. Miami Heat
The Heat have come off of a disappointing season after making the NBA Finals in the 2020 season and taking the Lakers to 6 games. With major additions of Kyle Lowery and PJ Tucker to bring in veterans to the team. Having nice contributions from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo makes this team very scary for the upcoming season. With questions still arising about how far can this team make it in the postseason and can they get in the playoffs with a healthy roster?
The Heat have come off of a disappointing season after making the NBA Finals in the 2020 season and taking the Lakers to 6 games. With major additions of Kyle Lowery and PJ Tucker to bring in veterans to the team. Having nice contributions from Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo makes this team very scary for the upcoming season. With questions still arising about how far can this team make it in the postseason and can they get in the playoffs with a healthy roster?
9. Golden State Warriors
9. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have had a lot of misfortunes in the past few years with Klay Tompson not being available for the past two seasons and Kevin Durant moving to the Brooklyn Nets, which has led to the team having bad seasons for the past few years. With this being said, having a poor past few seasons has earned them the right to get the number 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft and the 7th pick in the 2021 draft. Having all this potential for the Warriors has led to a lot of speculation on what can be done to improve this roster to make them a championship contender once again.
The Warriors have had a lot of misfortunes in the past few years with Klay Tompson not being available for the past two seasons and Kevin Durant moving to the Brooklyn Nets, which has led to the team having bad seasons for the past few years. With this being said, having a poor past few seasons has earned them the right to get the number 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft and the 7th pick in the 2021 draft. Having all this potential for the Warriors has led to a lot of speculation on what can be done to improve this roster to make them a championship contender once again.
10. Chicago Bulls
10. Chicago Bulls
To round off the top 10, the Bulls have made a lot of moves to make them contenders in the upcoming season. The additions of Demar Derozen, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso, have led to a lot of hype behind this team for the upcoming season. These additions have made this team have a lot of talent and allow them to have a bright future while also being contenders for this season. With questions still arising from Zach Lavine’s contract situation and the effectiveness of the lineup with all of the new pieces being added.
To round off the top 10, the Bulls have made a lot of moves to make them contenders in the upcoming season. The additions of Demar Derozen, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso, have led to a lot of hype behind this team for the upcoming season. These additions have made this team have a lot of talent and allow them to have a bright future while also being contenders for this season. With questions still arising from Zach Lavine’s contract situation and the effectiveness of the lineup with all of the new pieces being added.