NBA Power Rankings: Preseason Edition

I'm giddy.

I didn't think I'd be able to do this article until January, maybe even February, if at all before October 2012.

The NBA is back! Rejoice!

So many questions surround the National Basketball Association. I will attempt to answer some of them.

I won't bore you with anything else, let's get right to the good stuff.

Lottery Teams: 30. Toronto Raptors

Very few teams are positioned worse for the short term than the Raptors right now. There are really only three players who can put the ball in the basket on the Raptors: Leandro Barbosa, DeMar DeRozan, and Andrea Bargiani. It's telling that these are their three best players, and neither of them knows what defense is.

Anyone who expects anything other than a dead last finish is a hopelessly deluded Raptors homer. There are a few decent prospects, such as DeRozan himself, Bosh's 'replacement' Amir Johnson, and their Lithuanian draftee. But unless at least two of these three develop at an abnormal rate, it’s the lottery for the Toronto Raptors.
 
Predicted finish: 12-54, 15th in East.

29. Detroit Pistons

A bit sad to see one of the legendary NBA franchises here, isn't it?

This is the culmination of a downward spiral that began one of the worst trades in NBA history: Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups in late 2008. This ripped apart the Pistons' core that had made six straight Eastern Conference Finals, and turned it into a poor excuse for a team.

If the Toronto Raptors are the worst positioned for the short term, the Pistons are worst positioned for the long term. Rodney Stuckey hasn't panned out. Greg Monroe may pan out, but unless he's the second coming of Wilt Chamberlain he's not helping Detroit do much better. Rich Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince are the only remains of that 2004 title team. Sadly, they need to move on. The sooner the front office realizes that the better off the Pistons will be.
 
Predicted Finish: 16-50, 14th in East.

28. Charlotte Bobcats

The Bobcats are a laughable franchise. Probably in part to their owner Michael Jordan's antics during the lockout. Their two best players from the Cinderella appearance in the 2010 postseason, Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace, are both gone. In their stead is third year point guard DJ Augustin, who has yet to prove he is anything special. When a franchise's key man is rookie Kemba Walker, you know they're not in a good place. They also have a serviceable front-court tandem of Joel Przybilla and Boris Diaw, but not much else.
 
Predicted Finish: 18-48, 13th in East.

27. Cleveland Cavaliers

I might be dead-wrong, but Kyrie Irving is Chris Paul part two, and the Cavaliers make the playoffs as an upstart eighth seed in the feel good story of 2012. Until they prove me wrong, year two of the post-LeBron James era sees them firmly entrenched in mediocrity. They are, however, well on the road to recovery. Don't expect anything close to that 26-game losing streak.
 
Predicted Finish: 23-43, 12th in the East

Fatally Flawed: 26. Minnesota Timberwolves

A team that's bursting full of— wait for it, wait for it—trade assets. This current Minnesota Timberwolves team reminds me very much of the Celtics circa 2007. Highly mediocre, but capable of snagging an All-Star or two through sheer numbers. Of course, this would require a competent general manager, and the poor Timberwolves are stuck with—wait for it, wait for it—David Kahn.
 
I think the best what-if about this year's draft could easily have been the Cleveland Cavaliers drafting Derrick Williams with the first pick. To leave Kahn with the prospect of drafting yet another point guard, unless they moved the pick. That would have left them with Sebastian Telfair, Ricky Rubio, Jonny Flynn, Luke Ridnour and Kyrie Irving. Makes you giddy doesn't it?
 
In reality though, the Timberwolves will get nowhere. They have no one who can create his own shot. No defender in the post or on the perimeter. There is quantity at the point, but zero quality. Expect some ridiculous numbers from Kevin Love; in which I won't bother to predict because after the randomness of his 10-11 season there is nothing remotely predictable about the guy, and a shot at snagging Andre Drummond or Jared Sullinger come June 2012.
 
Predicted Finish: 19-47, 15th in the West

25. Sacramento Kings

25. Sacramento
 
They're decent on paper. Then you realize that no matter how good you are on paper, you can’t win meaningful games with shot-jackers like Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton, and yes, Jimmer Fridette as your back-court members. J.J. Hickson and DeMarcus Cousins would make a promising post partnership but only if Cousins keeps his head screwed on straight. If you then realize that he’s so Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs, to the extent that he makes Metta World Peace from his Indiana days look sane, you know that this team is destined for a low finish. They will remain here until they clear the log-jam of scoring guards.

Predicted Finish: 21-45, 14^th in West
 

24. Phoenix Suns

How awful that it has come to this. One man's cheapness has deprived us of seeing a Nash-Johnson-Igoudala-Marion-Stoudamire-Rondo-Fernandez-Barbosa-Hill-Thomas rotation. How many games would that team have won? 75? 78? Thanks to their owner Robert Sarver's refusal to pay luxury tax, the Suns are stuck with a 38 year old Nash, Aaron Brooks, Vince Carter's corpse, and Marcin Gortat as their only players of note, and possibly no postseason for the third time in four years. Donald Sterling is branded the Association's worst owner, and rightly so, but there is no doubt Sarver is in the discussion. The decent thing to do would be for Phoenix to trade Nash while he can still contribute to a championship team. They're looking at an awful next couple of seasons so they had might as well start rebuilding.
 
Predicted Finish: 22-44, 13th in West

22. Milwaukee Bucks

Fear the deer no longer. Not when one of its horns has been blunted and the other seems to be falling off on random intervals (just so you know I'm referring to Jennings' shooting troubles and Bogut's injuries). Not to mention that the growth of their younger players is going to be hampered by the presence of a certain Stephen Jackson who at this stage of his career is Allen Iverson-Lite when it comes to ball domination. There are simply too many other ball dominating wing players and not enough post presence other than Bogut.
 
The Australian is, when healthy, one of the top three centers in the NBA. The impact he makes on both ends on the floor cannot be understated. But he has little to no help with Jennings developing into an inefficient shot jacker. This will keep Milwakuee from the playoffs until this issue is sorted out.
 
Predicted Finish: 26-40, 11th in East

21. Washington Wizards

The Wizards have finally given Washington something to talk about with regards to professional sports, what with the current state of the Redskins. And rightly so: John Wall looked like the real deal in his rookie season, and there is surely more to come. If his 16-8 average is anything to go by, I think Wall could max out at over 20 PPG and 10 APG if he cuts down on his turnovers. The success of this team hinges on their resigning Nick 'better-than-Kobe' Young. He's an incosistently explosive scorer and provides a much needed punch in their line-up.
 
I think the Wizards will finish higher than this and may even contend for the eighth playoff spot, since they will definitely buy out Rashard Lewis and can use that cap space on useful free agents to build around Wall. However, as presently put together, the Wizards have no veteran leadership. Even with someone as dynamic and destructive as Wall manning the ship, it is hard to make the playoffs in today's NBA without someone who has been there and done that. Don't expect this to last long, however. Soon the Wizards will leave the lottery and not come back for a very long time.
 
Predicted Finish: 30-36, 10th in East.
 

The Middle Class: 20. Utah Jazz

Utah's problem is the opposite to Milwakuee's: a lack of guards and a logjam in the paint. They drafted Enes Kanter in addition to Derrick Favors, Al Jefferson, and Paul Milsap whom they already had. The only guard on their roster worth noting right now is Devin Harris (I'm pretty sure anyone would agree that Raja Bell is three levels beyond washed up at this point).
 
Even up front, quantity does not equal quality. Jefferson had not panned out as the Boozer-replacement he was touted to be. Milsap had a great start to the season while playing with Williams, but tailed off after he lost those incisive passes. Favors is far too raw and Kanter has not even been proven yet. Until these two reach their potential, Utah's rebuilding will not progress.
 
Predicted Finish: 30-36, 11th in West

19. Golden State Warriors

What an entertaining team this is. They have the best back-court in the NBA bar none. They have multiple elite three-point shooters. Their starting front-court can shoot the mid-range jumper very consistently. They have... no defense. The way they play, you might as well refer to them as the 'Golen State Warriors'. This team can score 110 PPG with ease, but the problem is that they will concede 105 PPG: on a good day. 120 on a bad day. There are more bad days then good days. Do the math.
 
Predicted Finish: 32-34, 10th in West

18. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets doubled as last season's feel-good story post the Melo-Drama, as well as the league's most efficient offensive team: averaging a startling 109.5 points per 100 possessions. They were also the league's deepest team, utilizing a Lawson-Afflalo-Gallinari-Martin-Nene-Felton-Chandler-Smith-Andersen rotation. Look carefully at that list of players. Each one is highly capable of starting for any playoff team in the league.
 
Given time to gel, and for Lawson to develop, this rotation could have made the Nuggets a very dangerous and probably the highest scoring team since the Run 'N Gun Suns. Sadly, Chandler and Smith are stuck playing in China until February. 
 
Nene, being of of the few legitimate centers in the NBA! Is looking to leave for a max contract with Houston. The very foolish trade of Felton for Andre Miller leaves the Nuggets looking a lot bearer. I think they will manage a decent record with Lawson, Gallinari and maybe Afflalo, but they will still just miss the postseason.

17. New Jersey Nets

This team is akin to a better version of the Bucks. Deron Williams is who Jennings aspires to be. Brook Lopez is a ways behind Bogut in defensive impact but is a fine offensive center. But other than this one-two punch, who do the Nets really have?
 
The 'Russiah Mark Cubak' made some of the most bone-headed signings last year in Travis Outlaw, Anthony Morrow and Jordan Farmar: hardly championship material. Unless they somehow make a trade for Dwight Howard (and seriously, Lopez and two picks in the high twenties are very unlikely to get this done), I see Williams bolting for one of the LA teams or Dallas in the summer of 2012, setting the franchise back for years.

The Playoff Teams: 16. Indiana Pacers

They were the eigth seed in the East last year, and that is where I believe they will be again. The current key players on this roster are Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, Paul George and especially Darren Collison. When traded from New Orleans last season, the young point guard was coming off an awesome rookie season as Chris Paul's understudy.
 
He failed to sparkle similary with the Pacers, and left them short on help for Granger. Thankfully Paul George was able to step up and has become one of the most promising young guard prospects in basketball. However, unless either one makes a big jump in production or Indiana uses some of its copious cap space to sign a marquee free agent, I don't see this team improving much.
 
Predicted Finish: 36-32, 8th in East

15. Los Angeles Clippers

The first real shocker, isn't it?
 
To be honest, as a die hard Laker fan I hate these noisy neighbors as much as anyone bar San Antonio and Boston. But the franchise is in a very good spot right now, and given the right moves I think they will be a force in the West for years to come.
 
Of course, everything begins with Blake Griffin here. He's my dark-horse for MVP next season, and the most explosive player in the NBA. He's helped in the front-court by defensive anchor DeAndre Jordan who averaged a double double with three blocks per game per 36 minutes. Completing the rotation is Chris Kaman: who was only an All-Star in 2010, Dirk Nowitzki's front-court partner for Germany, and capable of a 20-10 when healthy.
 
Winning in the NBA is about protecting the area six feet or nearer from the rim. You can go to war with Griffin, Kaman and Jordan helping you do this.
 
They also have a possible top five shooting guard in the NBA in Eric Gordon who's sure to get better. Mo Williams is all-right at point, but with the rumors going around that Clipperland might be a potential destination for Chris Paul or Deron Williams, the sky is the limit here.
 
I know people will think that its too early for this young team to think about the postseason, but isn't that what everyone said about OKC in 2010?
 
I believe they will grab the 8th seed in the West through their desire, athleticism, and the overpowering force of nature that is Blake Griffin.
 
The Showtiime Blakers are here to stay.
 
Predicted Finish: 37-29, 8^th in West

14. Houston Rockets

This is a solid, gritty team that should have made the playoffs last season. They have two good, not great, point guards in Kyle Lowry and Goran Dragic. Kevin Martin is a consistent and explosive scorer at the two. The Scola-Budinger forward combination is great, but they are now lacking in the middle since the unfortunate retirement of NBA legend Yao Ming. There may be a small chance that the Great Wall of China returns, but even so I doubt he will be at his 20-10 level. There’s a huge hole down on the block: a hole measuring seven feet six inches. Hasheem Thabeet is not good enough to fill it, in fact he’s not good enough to fill a hole left by Kwame Brown. However, Rockets fans should not worry: word on the street that Nene, possibly the best center in basketball after Dwight Howard, is all but guaranteed to ply his trade in Texas next season. The Rockets may not be more talented than some of the teams ranked behind them, but make up for it in experience, defense, and grittiness. 

Predicted Finish: 39-27, 7^th in West  

13. Philadelphia 76ers

No one expected them to make the playoffs last year and I'm willing to bet that a lot of you do not expect them to do so in 2012, but I think they will repeat last year's feat in the top heavy Eastern Conference and grab the seventh seed in the East.

The team has a solid line-up from the one through the four, with Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, Andre Igoudala, and a surprisingly rejuvenated Elton Brand in the post. However, there is no real presence at center, and I feel that this will hold them back.

Holiday and Turner have the potential to develop into a back-court for the ages for the Sixers, but I feel Turner will not reach his potential until Andre Igoudala is traded and he is allowed to take over the reins on the wing. It would also help if the Sixers made the much discussed Igoudala for Chris Kaman swap, a move that helps both the Clippers and the Sixers, by plugging their hole in the middle next to Brand.

Even if they don't do this, the Sixers are a playoff team as presently constructed, and will improve as their young stars do.

Predicted Finish: 38-28, 7th in East

12. San Antonio Spurs

How the mighty have fallen.

I have a reputation on Bleacher Report as a bit of an anti-Spurs guy, that's absolutely untrue.

I think Tim Duncan is the second best player of the noughties after a certain no. 24. His consistency was unmatched. His fundamentals are perfect. He was routinely dominant.

Sadly, notice my use of the past tense.

Duncan is no longer even half the player he was in his prime. Unlike other superstars like Bryant and Pierce, he has not aged gracefully. Greg Poppovich had him average barely 29 minutes per game last season, in the aim of conserving him for the postseason. By the time that rolled around, he was eaten alive by Zach Randolph as the first seeded Spurs were shocked in the first round by a 46-win Memphis team.

The Spurs are still talented. Manu Ginobili is a top three shooting guard in the NBA and Parker is one of the best scoring point guards of the decade. George Hill provides a great spark off the bench. However, the team has contended over the years while built around the Tim Duncan who averaged 22-11, went 35-15 in big games, and deterred any slasher from entering the paint.

Not the Tim Duncan who's barely managing a double-double and gets destroyed by Zach Randolph after he's eaten his customary pre-game chicken wings.

Unless Tiago Spitter develops at an insane rate, the Spurs will not return to championship contention. Parker and Ginobili will keep them in the playoffs, but the 6th seed is as far as they will go.

Predicted Finish: 41-25, 6th in West

11. Portland Trail Blazers

This team should be top three in the league.

I am not a Blazers fan but I HATE this.

The 2007 draft set them up perfectly. Greg Oden, even though many called the Blazers fools for taking a risk on him instead of Durant, had the potential to be a top three center in basketball. He averaged a 17-12 with 3 blocks per 36 minutes in the 2010 season.

Brandon Roy was a top three shooting guard in the NBA. That was until his knee injury. Gone was the potential of joining the likes of Drexler and Walton in Blazer history.

And now, LaMarcus Aldridge has possibly become a top three power forward, and suffering the biggest snub in All-Star history in February.

Had the future of Oden and Roy not been royally screwed with, and the Blazers had still made some of the moves they already did, they could have trotted out a Felton-Roy-Wallace-Aldridge-Oden starting line-up. That's 65 wins in an 82 game season right there. We're talking a dynasty.

Blazer fans will now light themselves on fire.

Predicted Finish: 42-24, 5th in East

10. Orlando Magic

Another example of what could have been.

Jump in the NBA time machine back to June 2009.

Dwight Howard is coming off a 40-14 game that helped his team beat LeBron James' 66-16 Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, and setting up a much anticipated match-up with the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals.

Rashard Lewis was on fire. Hedo Turkoglu had literally turned into a ball of flames. Howard could not be guarded when he played like a true dominant center. Even All-Star Jameer Nelson was returning from injury.

Of course, the young Magic were humiliated in five games by LA with an epic performance from Kobe Bryant.

But still, they were the hottest team in the league. No one wanted a part of Dwight.

That's when the mistakes began. The first was not resigning the 'Michael Jordan of Turkey' and signing VINCE FREAKING CARTER. Rule of thumb is that when you're coming off a Conference Championship you don't let go of your second best player. And you don't replace with a guy who's career highlight involves someone named Frederic Weiss and has won more dunk contests than games he has played in the conference finals.

It got even uglier just last season. They traded Marcin Gortat and Carter for Jason Richardson (this was decent), and a now washed up Hedo Turkoglu on a $11 million contract.

In doing so they lost Howard's only viable back-up.

This was not the worst thing Otis Smith did to Dwight Howard's Orlando career, though. The Rashard Lewis-Gilbert Arenas swap is easily, easily number one.

Sure, your guy is overpaid. But he can still put up points, shoot the three and defend smaller guys, right?

So you trade that guy for someone whom you can pay $20 million a season to sit on your bench and average eight points and three assists per game on thirty-five percent shooting? Hello? And you were blaming the players for the lockout?!

Anyway, the Magic are dead. Howard's brilliance would carry them to the middle of the pack, but only if he stays of course.

If Howard gets traded and his replacement turns out to be Andrew Bynum, it's the lottery for the Magic.

Otis Smith will already be wondering how to possibly get Andre Drummond to leave for Staples Center in 2016.

Predicted Finish: 40-26, 6th in East

The Wild Card: 9. Atlanta

A lot of you are shaking your heads at my inane stupidity for ranking the franchise that paid JOE JOHNSON 119 million dollars 9th in the Association.

I ask you: did you watch the Eastern Conference playoffs?

How good was Joe Johnson in certain games in the Chicago series? The answer: he looked worth the money for certain flashes, when he put the Bulls away in game one with clutch shot after clutch shot, resulting in 34 points on 12-18 shooting.

I know, you're shaking your head. It's probably right. Johnson can be brilliant at times, but it's not worth a six figure contract.

But the saving grace is that the Hawks are not just him. It's their frontcourt that makes them a force. I'm a big believer that Josh Smith could be as good as LeBron James in certain aspects in the game, if he wanted to. He'd need to stop jacking up those idiotic long threes and buying into the nonsense that 'Smith is a point guard in a forward's body' and trying to run fast-breaks.

The Hawk's idea should be to give the ball to the 6'9, 230 pound Smith at the three-point line, and let him drive to the rim.

Besides the affromentioned James, and possibly Ron Artest, how many perimeter players can stop that? How about zero?

Not to mention Al Horford, who is an All-Star power forward who's been forced to play at center. Imagine how good he would be if the Hawks shifted him to his preferred position, meaning he wouldn't have to deal with Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah in the playoffs?

A very underrated factor is Jason Collins. You've probably never heard his name, but he's the guy who restricted Howard and the Magic to 66 points per 100 possessions while on the court. He forced Howard into seven turnovers per 36 minutes while guarding him.

Let's just say the guy does something right.

Of course, the absolute key to Atlanta's season is Jeff Teague. Teague was the reserve point guard who was thrown into the mix against Derrick Rose when starter Kirk Hinrich suffered an injury. He not only held his own, but proceeded to light up the league MVP. His passing and explosiveness added another dimension to Atlanta's offense, and gave them hope in the conference semi-final series.

I think the Hawks are a toss-up when it comes to success next season, and that's why I have them as the wildcard.

Nightmare match-up at every position, but they will only be successful if they know how to put it together.

Predicted Finish: 42-24, 5th in East

The Dark Horses: 8. New York Knicks

The Knicks have been killed by the media at times for the Carmelo Anthony trade. Apparently you don't give up people like Wilson Chandler in a trade for possibly the best pure scorer in the NBA.

Well I have news for detractors. Wake me up when Chandler or Gallinari drops a 42-17 on the BOSTON FREAKING CELTICS in the playoffs.

Yeah, I thought so.

You always exchange a bunch of quarters, however shiny, for a crisp dollar bill.

The Knicks made the smart move in acquiring a talent like Anthony, and will reap the rewards next season.

When healthy, the Knicks have a Billups-Fields-Anthony-Stoudamire-Turiaf starting line-up.

Now, taking into account that Billups' nick-name is Mr. Big Shot, in accordance with his tendency to come through whenever needed in the clutch, Fields is the best rebounding guard in the NBA and probably the third best rookie last season after Griffin and Wall, Stoudamire was the runaway MVP candidate prior to his injury, and Turiaf is a highly underrated defensive center with a ton of athleticism, how do you feel about facing the Knicks in a playoff series?

The swagger is back in Madison Square Garden. Don't forget that Chris Paul is being considered a mortal lock to play there between now and the February deadline. You add the best point guard in the NBA to the best-scoring small forward and the best scoring power forward, and you have the makings of a championship team.

I know defense is supposed to win championships, but hell, how do you see anyone, even Miami, stopping a Paul-Anthony-Stoudamire combo from scoring 120 PPG?

When Paul joins them, the Knicks become a top three team. Until then they'll be happy at only number eight.

Predicted Finish: 42-24, 4th in East

7. The Boston Celtics

The Celtics title window may be closed.

Yes, Kevin Garnett is still a defensive monster. Yes, Ray Allen is still the best three-point shooter in the NBA. Yes, Paul Pierce is still an assassin in the clutch.

But if Rajon Rondo is traded, the Celtics had might as well start rebuilding.

The guy is that good, and that underrated as 'The Man' on the Celtics.

Come on. The guy was averaging 15 assists per game during the first third of the season. His play dropped off drastically after the Perkins trade, but he is still the Celtics main playmaker, rather their only playmaker, and their only athletic threat.

Trading him kills their franchise, unless it is for Chris Paul, and we all know that's not happening, don't we?

Even if he does say, they have no inside presence so speak of. No, Jermaine O'Neal does not count. The Big Ticket can't do it by himself. He just cannot.

So, with exubera-... I mean, a heavy heart, we bid farewell to these jackas-... I mean, these aging legends, who spent four awfu-..., I mean glorious years, among the NBA's elite.

It's rebuilding time.

Predicted Finish: 45-21, 3rd in East

6. Memphis Grizzlies

If I told you in April that Memphis would be ranked sixth in a 2012 preseason power ranking, you'd ask me if you could have a drag of whatever I was smoking.

Or you would call the men in white coats.

Admit it, you didn't see the Grizzlies coming. I know I didn't.

Out of nowhere, the Grizzlies unseated the 61 win Spurs in the first round last season and took Oklahoma City to the very limit.

This team has it all. A solid point guard in Mike Conley. A devastating perimeter defender in Tony Allen. One of basketball's best 4s in Zach Randolph, who was proceeding to score in the 2011 playoffs literally at will. Most importantly, they also have a legitimate NBA center named Marc Gasol. In these times of big man scarcity, this is a rare occurrence.

Then there is the small matter of Rudy Gay returning to the fold.

Even with Randolph, I would argue he's their best all-around player. Don't forget that he averaged twenty points per game sharing the rock with the affromentioned quintent and OJ Mayo, on steller 47-40-80 percentages. He's athleticism personified, and has developed a killer instinct as well, shown by his buzzer beater against the Heat last season.

Memphis can play big, as well as small. They can pound it inside, or hit the three. They can grind it out, or turn the game into a track meet. They can shut you down or light you up.

The Grizzlies are the real deal and will be in the thick of things come May. Stay tuned.

Predicted Finish: 44-22, 4th in West

The Contenders: 5. Chicago Bulls

Take a deep breath.

We're into hallowed territory now.

Namely, the five best teams in basketball entering the 2012 season.

The Bulls finished the regular season last year on the top of every power ranking on the Internet. They sported a 62-20 record (which was tops in the NBA), as well as the best defense in the NBA and the league's Most Valuable Player, in Derrick Rose. How could anyone pick against this impenetrable wall in the playoffs?

Well, the cracks began to show during the Atlanta series, when Rose was accused of shot-jacking. What was the guy to do? Paraphrasing something Stephon Marbury said, was he to "pass the ball to Ronnie Brewer?" Of course, the situations couldn't be further apart, but it was evident Derrick Rose needed help by the time the wall was not just broken, but shattered by the unstoppable freight train that was the Miami Heat.

Watching James shut down Rose in clutch time during the deciding games was surreal. My thoughts were, "Wait... Are we sure we picked the correct MVP?"

The Bulls are a fantastic regular season team and will mirror that success in 2012. However, I can't see them beating Miami unless they add another scoring guard. It could be Jason Richardson, OJ Mayo, anyone: but Rose cannot do it alone.

This ranking is not a knock on the Bulls. Being one of the five best NBA teams is an achievement to be proud of. But with an offense focused on one player and one player alone, they cannot beat the next four teams.

Predicted Finish: 51-15, 2nd in East

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

Now, this is what you want a young contender to look like. None of the slow it down, grind it down defensive lockdowns the Bulls put up. No, the Thunder are about getting the ball moving in transition and turning the game into a layup line.

Sam Presti is the man we really have to thank for this. He should be given a Nobel Prize in Personnel Management for turning a lottery team into a possible championship one in four seasons. In consecutive drafts he got Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. He then made the brilliant Green for Perkins trade gave the Thunder one of the best defensive front-courts in the NBA.

Let me tell you, I originally had them at no. 1 in this ranking. However, after comparing the various aspects of each team in this list, I realized that they still have a few noticeable weaknesses.

The first is their lack of post-scoring. Chicago has Boozer, Miami has Bosh, Dallas has Nowitzki, and LA has Gasol. Who do the Thunder have? Serge Ibaka? I'm a huge fan of his freakish athleticism and shot-blocking skills, but the NBA title is won within six feet of the rim. The Thunder can defend that area, but can't yet enforce their will there offensively.

The second has been beaten to death and is probably so ridiculous that I'll be laughing at myself come February: but I just can't get past the way Westbrook played at times during the playoffs. Unless you're Michael freaking Jordan you don't take twenty-five shots in a game when you have the most gifted offensive player under 25 in the last two decades on your team, unless he is in a terrible shooting slump (Durant wasn't).

Westbrook needs to know his place in the team's pecking order. I'm sure that there really is no problem, but if, if there is, I think the Thunder need to fix it before it gets ugly. Trading Westbrook for Chris Paul, for example, would lock up the title for the next three seasons.

I may yet be wrong on not having the Thunder at no. 1, but we'll see.

Predicted Finish: 47-19, 2nd in West

3. Los Angeles Lakers

Call it a homer pick. I don't care.

I really, really don't.

But the Lakers will be back among basketball's elite come May 2012. Count on it.

Kobe Bryant is a man on a mission. Watch videos of him playing basketball during the lockout after his knee treatment.

He's putting the ball between his legs again and jumping out of the gym.

The man looks younger, goddamnit!

James and Wade may have surpassed him in terms of skill at the present time, but no one, no one has a greater passion and desire to win than Kobe. I think a bounce-back season is coming. I can feel it. In his press conferences, he has a bit of a youthful swagger about him again.

Don't forget their other elite players. Pau Gasol has a point to prove after bumming out against the Mavs last season. He was unstoppable during the FIBA European championships for Spain. He wants to take back the title of best European player from Nowitzki, as well as the best power forward title.

Andrew Bynum has questions about his health as well as his maturity. But when both were in check, you saw the result: the Lakers went on a 17-1 rampage through the league, blowing teams out of the building in destructive fashion.

I think that if the Lakers do manage to swap him for Dwight Howard's consistency, you had might as well hand them the title.

I don't want to turn this into a trade rumor article, but I will say this: Los Angeles will be at least a top three team next season with the potential to go much, much further.

Predicted Finish: 51-15, 1st in West

2. Miami Heat

There's really not much to explain about this.

The Heat have the best player in basketball.

They also have the second best player in basketball.

(I'm not even going to specify which is which, figure it out yourselves).

They also have someone who would be a top ten to fifteen player if he was the first option on a team.

Conversely, they have no center, no point guard, and no bench. As well as no decent coach.

For now, I suppose.

You can't root for Miami, you can't pick against them. These guys are a real conundrum, the drama show of the NBA, a rock-star team.

I would need, at the bare minimum, a 5,000 word column to talk about the drama that surrounds the Heat. Wade, James and Bosh are like Michael, Fredo and Sonny Corleone.

I won't go into that, since you're probably sick of hearing about this team.

Just know they're very, very good.

Predicted Finish: 53-13, 1st in East

1. Dallas Mavericks (for Now)

Ironic that the no. 1 in my power rankings will be third in their conference, isn't it?

That's what might happen if they don't hold on to Tyson Chandler, JJ Barea, and Caron Butler.

Heck, it's probably going to happen anyways, since the Mavs are a veteran team and will not turn it on until the postseason.

They are the champs, until someone knocks them off.

Therefore, here they are at the end of my slideshow: for now.

Predicted Finish: 3rd in West, 45-21