NBA POWER RANKINGS : OCTOBER 2017
NBA
POWER RANKINGS : MONTH OF OCTOBER 2017
Written
By Kyle Crabbe
Twitter:
@KthetruestKnick
30) Chicago
Bulls
Team
Record: 1 - 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: Bulls will struggle for most of year. We can
expect the Bulls to trade either PF Bobby Portis or PF Nikola Mirotic
within the next few weeks due to their altercation. Bulls will
feature young players PG Kris Dunn, PG Jerian Grant, SG/SF Denzel
Valentine, and Rookie Lottery Pick PF/C Lauri Markkanen.
29) Atlanta
Hawks
Team
Record: 1- 6
TrueFan
Quick Take: I believe the Hawks will compete all season for the NBA's
worst record. To me it appears the Hawks have fully committed to a
rebuild and will now position themselves for a top 3 pick to build
around their young star point guard Dennis Schroder.
28) Dallas
Mavericks
Team
Record: 1- 7
TrueFan
Quick Take: Dallas is fully into a rebuild this season. Dallas
will focus this year on developing potential Rookie of the Year PG
Dennis Smith and young big man C Nerlens Noel.
27) Phoenix
Suns
Team
Record: 3 – 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Suns are a young team will a lot of brimming
young talent. This year will be about further developing their high
end young talent in SG Devin Booker ( Age 21), C Alex Len ( Age 24),
PF Marquese Chriss ( Age 20), SF Dragan Bender ( Age 20), PG Tyler
Ullis ( Age 22), and Rookie 4th overall pick in the 2017
Draft SF Josh Jackson ( Age 20). With the Suns moving forward with
their young nucleus, I believe veteran players like PG Eric Bledsoe
and C Tyson Chandler will be traded at some point this season.
26)
Sacramento Kings
Team
Record: 1 – 6
TrueFan
Quick Take : I feel the Kings have a very good team that sports a
intriguing mix of great young talent and solid veteran players. The
Kings have a exciting young rookie point Guard in De'Aaron Fox that
many like myself feel has a John Wall(Washington Wizards PG) upside
when he develops. With PG George Hill playing as mentor to Fox the
Kings have a bright future. Kings also have young players like SG
Buddy Hield, SF Justin Jackson, SG Malachi Richardson, PF Skal
Labissiere, and C Willy Cauley-Stein.
25) Los
Angeles Lakers
Team
Record: 3 – 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Lakers also embracing a youth movement but have
themselves a couple special young players. The Lakers might have this
year's Rookie of the Year in the much talked about PG Lonzo Ball. In
my opinion Ball will be the run away rookie of the year and will show
skills we haven't seen of the point guard position since Jason Kidd
or Lakers current president Ervin “Magic” Johnson. The Lakers
also have good young players they will look to further develop this
year in starting second year prospect Brandon Ingram, and players
like SG Jordan Clarkson, PF Julius Randle, PF Larry Nance Jr, and
rookie steal of the 2017 draft PF Kyle Kuzma.
24) Miami
Heat
Team
Record: 2 – 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Miami Heat this year sport a Eastern Conference
playoff team roster. We can expect a big season from Heat Star Center
Hassan Whiteside and star Point Guard Goran Dragic. The Heat have got
off to a slow start this season but they will need further
development and contributions out of their young players SF Justice
Winslow, SG Josh Richardson, SG Tyler Johnson, and rookie C Bam
Adebyo.
23) Indiana
Pacers
Team
Record: 4 -3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Indiana Pacers come into this year with a more
mature young team. I don't view this team as a rebuilding team but
they are not a complete team ready to compete. The Pacers have a team
that's very much in the middle of the pack for this year's NBA
season. For the Pacers this season I believe their opportunity lies in what kind of season former 2013 2nd overall pick SG Victor Oladipo is
able to have and how he performs with now finally being given the chance to be the focal
point of a team. Along with Oladipo will be the ever talented SG/PG Lance Stephenson
and young stud PF/C Myles Turner should provide the Pacers with a
competitive roster all season in my opinion.
22) Brooklyn
Nets
Team
Record: 3 – 5
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Brooklyn Nets will be a very exciting basketball
team in 2017-18. Under head coach Kenny Atkinson the Nets play a
open-fast paced offensive very similar to the Mike D'Antonio vaunted Speed Offensive system.
I believe PG D'Angelo Russell will have a breakout season this year
in Brooklyn under coach Atkinson. Russell will be able to play with the ball in his hands and utilize his great offensive array of weapons
and trickery. I have Russell winning this year's NBA Most Improved
Player with the Nets. I see the Nets hanging around the 9th
and 10th seed for most of the season and not making the playoffs but I feel they will have a
top 5 Offensive with contributions from newcomers like SG Allen
Crabbe, SF DeMarre Caroll as well as from young developing talent
like PG Spencer Dinwiddie, SF Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, SG Chris
LeVert, PG Isiah Whitehead, and rookie C Jarrett Allen.
21)
Philadelphia 76ers
Team
Record: 3 – 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Philadelphia 76ers sport a team with some of the
most impressive young talent in the league. With young stars C Joel
Embiid, PG/SF Ben Simmons, PF Dario Saric to go along with 2017 1st
overall pick in Rookie PG Markelle Fultz. For the 76ers staying as
healthy as possible is the main concern for this young team. Barring
injuries the 76ers can have a special season and compete throughout
the Eastern Conference.
20) New
Orleans Pelicans
Team
Record: 3 – 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: The New Orleans Pelicans come into this season
featuring the best frontcourt in the NBA. In PF/C Anthony Davis and
PF/C DeMarcus Cousins the Pelicans have a frontcourt tandem that is
as talented as any we've seen whether talking Houston's Ralph Sampson
and Hakeem Olajuwon or San Antonio's David Robinson and Tim Duncan
combination these two have equally immense talent. If the Pelicans are able to
pull it together, I believe they can be a 8th seed in the
tough Western Conference, but if they are to faltered we can see PF/C
DeMarcus Cousins being traded by the trade deadline.
19) New York
Knicks
Team
Record: 3 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The New York Knicks have turned the page on their
Franchise and have completely moved into the Kristaps Porzingis Era.
The Knicks sport a roster with depth in the frontcourt and with a
abundance of perimeter shooters. I believe under Head Coach Jeff
Hornacek Kristaps Porzingis will have a breakout season and lead the
Knicks into the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. I believe
by year end Porzingis will be a top 5 two-way player in the NBA. The
Knicks will focus this season on developing their young team's
identity with their young building blocks in SG Tim Hardaway Jr, PF
Kristaps Porzingis, C Enes Kanter, PG Frank Ntilikina, C Willy
Hernangomez and SF Doug McDermott.
18) Orlando
Magic
Team
Record: 5 – 2
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Orlando Magic have a very good group of young
talent that I believe will compete for a 8th seed in the
Eastern Conference for much of this year's season. Their off-season
addition of SG/SF Johnathan Simmons from the San Antonio Spurs fits
nicely with their young nucleus of PG Elfrid Payton ( Age 23), SG
Evan Fournier ( Age 25), SF Aaron Gordon ( Age 22), and C Nikola
Vucevic ( Age 27). I believe that Orlando will continue to build
around and developed young high-flyer SF Aaron Gordon, and the season
he has will project how far this Orlando Magic team goes this season.
17) Detroit
Pistons
Team
Record: 5 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Detroit Pistons to me sport a definite Eastern
Conference playoff team. I feel that if no significant injuries
happen to their main players; PG Reggie Jackson, SG Avery Bradley, SF
Tobias Harris, and C Andre Drummond, the Pistons will for sure be in
the playoffs at season's end. The addition of Avery Bradley is a huge
advantage for the pistons for Bradley is arguably the league's best
perimeter defender. Along with Andre Drummond being one of the two or
three best rebounders in the league, under Head Coach Stan Van Gundy
the Pistons should have a good season.
16) Denver
Nuggets
Team
Record: 3 – 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Denver Nuggets have a great blend of intriguing
young players and mature players coming into their prime. The Nuggets
should battle for a playoff spot in the tough Western Conference all
season and possibly earn a 8th seed. This season for the
Nuggets will be about young star C Nikola Jokic's development into
their Franchise Player and the development of young prospects in PG
Emmanuel Mudiay, SG Gary Harris, PG/SG Jamal Murray, and PF Juan
Hernangomez.
15) Utah
Jazz
Team
Record: 4 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The 2018 Utah Jazz sport a young team coming into
their prime. The Jazz have a great youthful core all coming into the
Basketball primes at the same time in C Rudy Gobert ( Age 25), PG
Ricky Rubio( Age 27), SG Rodney Hood( Age 25), SG Alec Burks( Age
26), and PF Derrick Favors( Age 26). The Jazz also under Head Coach
Quinn Snyder have one of the NBA's best defenses with Defensive
ratings of 3rd and 7th in the past two seasons.
Adding the 2017 NCAA ACC leader in steals in rookie PG/SG Donovan
Mitchell should only continue that play with the Jazz this season.
14)
Charlotte Hornets
Team
Record: 4 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Hornets have a very interesting and exciting team
this season. With adding C Dwight Howard the Hornets sure up the
major weakness of past seasons in Rim Protection. Howard will bring
the hornets that need in addition to being an great supreme rebounder and elite defensive big
man. Combine that with star point guard Kemba Walker and a talented
group of wing players in SG Nicholas Batum, SG Jeremy Lamb, SF Marvin
Williams, and SF Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The hornets also sport a
impressive young bench with sharp shooting rookies SG Malik Monk and
SF Dwayne Bacon. I believe the Hornets will have a improvement on
last season and compete for a 5th or 6th seed
in the East this year.
13)
Minnesota Timberwolves
Team
Record: 4 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The 2018 Minnesota T'Wolves are another young team
entering their prime. With the off-season addition of stud SG/SF
Jimmy Butler, the wolves are poise to make their first playoff
appearance since the Kevin Garnett era. The Wolves sport a deeply
talented roster with excellent additons in SG Jamal Crawford, PF Taj
Gibson, and PG Jeff Teague. I expect big all-star seasons from the
Wolves two young superstars in PF/C Karl Anthony-Towns and SG/SF
Andrew Wiggins. In my opinion the T'Wolves will land in the playoffs
this year around the 7th seed in the Western Conference.
12) Portland
Trailblazers
Team
Record: 4 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Trailblazers enter this year with new found
expectations as their roster has them in position to compete every
night this season. This year's Trailblazers sport one of the NBA's
best backcourt's in PG Damian Lillard and SG CJ McCollum. I believe
both Lillard and McCollum are headed for big seasons, with Damian
Lillard making his first All-Star Game selection in my opinion. The
Trailblazers can go further this season in my opinion with the
development of SF Maurice Harkless, PF/C Meyers Leonard, and Stud
bigman C Jusuf Nurkic.
11) Toronto
Raptors
Team
Record: 4 – 2
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Raptors have a very veteran laced roster and have
serious aspirations of contending in the Eastern Conference this
season. The Raptors have one of the better backcourts in the NBA of
recent years in PG Kyle Lowry and SG Demar DeRozan. They will need
contributions from a young bench to advance further this season in
the Eastern Conference.
10) Los
Angeles Clippers
Team
Record: 4 – 2
TrueFan
Quick Take: The 2018 Clippers sport a very talented and deep
roster this season. This year's Clippers has added some nice pieces
to make up of the huge departure in Superstar PG Chris Paul to the
Houston Rockets this off-season. The Clippers should compete in my
opinion against all the elite teams but how far they go this year
will depend on how healthy they can stay. Superstar PF Blake Griffin
has had a injury prone career and Clippers biggest off-season signing
SF Danilo Gallinari has endured a similar fate in his young career.
If both players are to play a relatively injury free season the
Clippers should find themselves in the thick of the Western
Conference all year in my opinion.
9) Milwaukee
Bucks
Team
Record: 4 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The 2018 Milwaukee Bucks will be must watch TV. With
the development of young Star Phenom Giannis Antetokounmpo aka the
“Greek Freak”, the Bucks will be a team on the rise this season
in the NBA. Under Head Coach Jason Kidd I expect Antetokounmpo to
have a MVP caliber season and lead the Bucks to a top 5 seed in the
Eastern Conference this season.
8) Memphis
Grizzlies
Team
Record: 5 – 2
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Memphis Grizzlies 2018 team will look to continue
the chemistry and success PG Mike Conley in tandem with C Marc Gasol
have had over the past several seasons. Gasol and Conley are two
elite players at their positions that form a good one-two punch
should lead the Grizzlies all season toward a possible playoff berth.
I estimate them competing for a 7th or 8th
seed in the Western Conference all season.
7)
Washington Wizards
Team
Record: 4 – 2
TrueFan
Quick Take: The 2018 Wizards are looking to become a truly elite
Eastern Conference team this season. The Wizards have arguably the
best backcourt in the Eastern Conference in PG John Wall and SG
Bradley Beal and hope for the two to lead them to greener pastures in
2018.
6) Cleveland
Cavaliers
Team
Record: 3 – 4
TrueFan
Quick Take: The 2018 Cavaliers I believe will have a great season
if they are able to get their entire team healthy. With a healthy
roster this year's Cav's are arguably the most talented roster in the
NBA. I expect the Cav's to take off once PG Isaiah Thomas returns
from hip surgery. I believe the Cav's will have a excellent second
half of the season that will propel them to a dominate playoff run
this season.
5) San
Antonio Spurs
Team
Record: 4 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: This year's Spurs have another chance to make another
run at the NBA championship. With arguably the best two-way player
and for sure best defensive player in today's NBA in Kawhi Leonard;
the Spurs have a leader that is capable of leading them to another
finals appearance this season. Spurs have surrounded Leonard with a
talented group of veterans in PF LaMarcus Aldridge, PG Tony Parker,
SG Danny Green, PG Patty Mills, C Pau Gasol, SF Rudy Gay, and SG Manu
Ginobili. The Spurs also have intriguing young talent that will look
to make contributions in PG Dejounte Murray and SF Kyle Anderson
4) Oklahoma
City Thunder
Team
Record: 4 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: With a superb off-season under great general manager
Sam Presti, the 2018 OKC Thunder have Championship ambitions. By
bringing in Superstars SG Paul George and SF Carmelo Anthony to team
up with 2017 MVP Russell Westbrook the Thunder have positioned
themselves to be as deadly as any team this season. The Thunder in my
opinion also got a steal in the 2017 draft in selecting 19 year old
sharpshooting SG Terrance Ferguson. I see Ferguson being a great
young piece coming off the bench for the Thunder. We can expect a
special season from the 2018 Oklahoma City Thunder.
3) Boston
Celtics
Team
Record: 5 – 2
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Boston Celtics changed much of their team from a
year ago and might have the opportunity to improve on a season in
which they won the most games in the Eastern Conference. With the
major addition of Kyrie Irving, the Celtics have now one of the top 5
young players in today's NBA. Irving with the excellent young wing
players the Celtics have acquired in SG/SF Jaylen Brown, SG Marcus
Smart, and rookie SF Jayson Tatum. I believe the Celtics will have a
strong season and will finish with a top 4 seed in the Eastern
Conference.
2) Houston
Rockets
Team
Record: 5 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The Houston Rockets coming off a great 2017 season
will look to take the next step toward a NBA Championship in 2018.
With the major trade in the off-season netting the Rockets Superstar
Point Guard Chris Paul, we can expect the Rockets to offer more of a
punchers chance this year in the Western Conference playoffs. The
Rockets under offensive genius Head Coach Mike D'Antoni I believe
will finish this season with a top 3 seed in the Western Conference.
1) Golden
State Warriors
Team
Record: 5 – 3
TrueFan
Quick Take: The defending champions this year might have a better
team than they did last season. With a handful of smart resignings
and acquisitions in the off-season in the likes of the additions of SG
Nick Young, SF Omri Casspi, drafting of C Jordan Bell, has put the
2018 Golden State Warriors in a great position to repeat as champs
this season. I expect big statistical seasons from the Warriors two
superstars in PG Steph Curry and SF Kevin Durant and I believe both
will be in MVP talks all season.
Thanks For Viewing. Check back monthly for the Monthly NBA TrueFan Power Rankings.
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