NBA Power Rankings: Which Teams in Top 10 Won't Have Any Postseason Success?
Early on in the NBA season, certain teams start to rise up, only to fade away as the season progresses. There are few teams currently in the Top 10 of the power rankings that will flop near the end of the season as well as in the playoffs, and it's time you learn who they are now.
The season may be short, but it still counts, so every game is extremely crucial. These first weeks to the year are tough to go off of, as some teams are still trying to get that great chemistry going with the new players.
Since there are plenty of games left to go, several teams will get back to the top and others will fall by the wayside.
With that said, here are three teams currently in the Top 10 that will fail in the postseason, should they even make it that is.
Atlanta Hawks
Going into Wednesday night's game against the Indiana Pacers, the Hawks are 7-3. They've competed well, beating Miami and Chicago once. Two of the Hawks' losses are from those teams, but they weren't blowouts.
However, when it's crunch time and other teams have progressed throughout the year, Atlanta will choke. The Hawks have had decent postseason success in recent years, but they always seem to let the fans down when it matters most.
The departure of Jamal Crawford will slowly eat at this team, and during the postseason they will fail to even hang with the elite squads of the Eastern Conference.
Indiana Pacers
Currently at 6-3, the Pacers have a nice win over the Celtics, but that's about it. The Pacers squeak into the Top 10 because of that victory, as well as the fact that their defense has been great.
Indiana has a great mix of players, and its hoping its offseason additions pay great dividends. Unfortunately, when playoff time comes, the Pacers will be out matched by the top-notch teams.
While they should put up a good fight, the Pacers just don't have what it takes to have a great postseason run. As the season goes on, other Eastern Conference teams will pick things up, jumping ahead of the Pacers in the process.
Los Angeles Clippers
Sure, "Lob City" can be fun to watch, but when it comes down to it, the Clippers aren't ready to hang with the dominant teams of the Western Conference.
Currently at 4-3, the Clippers have lost to the San Antonio Spurs, the Bulls and the Portland Trailblazers.
Their best win came at home against Portland, but to be a threat in the postseason, the Clippers need to consistently beat the top teams. They have the talent, but as the schedule gets more difficult, we'll see the other L.A. team fall off.
Eric Bowman's NBA Power Rankings
1. Miami Heat
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Portland Trailblazers
5. Denver Nuggets
6. San Antonio Spurs
7. Los Angeles Clippers
8. Los Angeles Lakers
9. Atlanta Hawks
10. Indiana Pacers
11. Orlando Magic
12. Philadelphia 76ers
13. Boston Celtics
14. New York Knicks
15. Dallas Mavericks
16. Minnesota Timberwolves
17. Utah Jazz
18. Houston Rockets
19. Memphis Grizzlies
20. Cleveland Cavaliers
21. Phoenix Suns
22. Toronto Raptors
23. Sacramento Kings
24. Golden State Warriors
25. Charlotte Bobcats
26. Milwaukee Bucks
27. New Orleans Hornets
28. New Jersey Nets
29. Detroit Pistons
30. Washington Wizards
