NBA Power Rankings: Top 10 Teams on Shaky Ground
The 2012-2013 NBA campaign is just a day away and we're already predicting who will emerge with the title.
Will it be the Miami Heat again, or will the revamped Los Angeles Lakers challenge them for the championship?
Every team, no matter how dominant, has its fair share of issues, of course. Here are the Top 10 teams I'm most concerned about heading into the season, complete with my power rankings below.
Los Angeles Lakers
The big news in Lakers camp right now is centered around Kobe Bryant's strained foot. It is also centered around how the 34-year-old will fare this season, especially considering he might retire after two more seasons, per CBSSports.com.
Getting Dwight Howard and Steve Nash was huge for L.A., but you also have to wonder if it will take more than a season for the team to gel. Remember, the Big Three of the Heat didn't win a title together until their second season.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Perhaps the trade of James Harden was needed given his troubles in the playoffs last season, but that doesn't change the fact that he was an important part of the squad throughout the regular season.
The Thunder still have Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, but Harden was that third key offensive threat for Oklahoma City.
Rookie Jeremy Lamb was a nice pickup for the Thunder in the trade, but he'll need some time to get acquainted with the league.
Indiana Pacers
I loved the Pacers last season, but Danny Granger's admission that he's having problems with his left knee should give Indiana cause for concern.
Mike Wells of the Indianapolis Star tweeted on Friday:
"More Granger: "They’re telling me the pain can’t do anything else to my knee. I’m going to have to play through the pain, but it hurts.”
— Mike Wells (@MikeWellsNBA) October 27, 2012"
That certainly doesn't sound encouraging and it makes you wonder how many games Granger will be forced to miss this season and if it will impact his play down the line, particularly late in the season if the Pacers make the playoffs.
The Pacers have a solid team overall, but Granger is nonetheless an important component at small forward.
| NBA Power Rankings |
| 1. Miami Heat |
| 2. San Antonio Spurs |
| 3. Los Angeles Lakers |
| 4. Boston Celtics |
| 5. Oklahoma City Thunder |
| 6. Denver Nuggets |
| 7. Indiana Pacers |
| 8. Los Angeles Clippers |
| 9. Utah Jazz |
| 10. Memphis Grizzlies |
| 11. Brooklyn Nets |
| 12. Atlanta Hawks |
| 13. Chicago Bulls |
| 14. Philadelphia 76ers |
| 15. New York Knicks |
| 16. Milwaukee Bucks |
| 17. Dallas Mavericks |
| 18. Portland Trail Blazers |
| 19. Minnesota Timberwolves |
| 20. Golden State Warriors |
| 21. Houston Rockets |
| 22. Toronto Raptors |
| 23. Phoenix Suns |
| 24. New Orleans Hornets |
| 25. Detroit Pistons |
| 26. Sacramento Kings |
| 27. Washington Wizards |
| 28. Orlando Magic |
| 29. Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 30. Charlotte Bobcats |
