The NBA is Back so Let’s Get Some Rankings in This Bitch- My Top 8

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With the NBA preseason getting underway,  it’s time to strap on our Air Jordans, grab a beer, sit on our couches and argue like children about which team has the best chance of beating the Golden Stacked Warriors and being the next NBA champion.  I think we can all agree it sure as hell won’t be a team like the Orlando Magic, a team I honestly forget that even exists.  Pathetic.  With all the trades and free agency pick ups this is definitely going to be an exciting season and we are going to see if the chemistry between all the big name players will help them get to the ‘ship or will cause them to crash and burn faster than the Hindenburg.  So without further ado, here are my top teams heading into the 2017-2018 season.

1. (The obvious)  GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

This team is more loaded than Charlie Sheen at, well, any given moment really.  The reigning champions from two of the past three seasons added even more weapons to their arsenal in the offseason.  This is a team that went 16-1 in the playoffs last year, just embarrassing their opponents.  Do they really need any more help?  No, not really,  but I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to win a ring, even if I were in the shadows of the stars.  Steph, Klay, and KD are going to continue to slaughter opponents around the three point line with ease.  They also have a pretty solid second squad coming off the bench, many of who could be starters with other teams.  They are going to continue to be one of the most entertaining teams to watch and, I feel, the biggest front runner to win the championship.  Again.

2.  OKC THUNDER

The Thunder made some of the biggest blockbuster deals in the offseason to bring in help for Russell Westbrook and try to get the trophy to Oklahoma City.  They acquired excellent playmakers and shooters with PG13 and Carmelo Anthony.  The fate of every game will now not have to rely on Russell Westbrook getting triple- doubles every night to possibly get the W.  This team will shoot at any given moment, from anywhere on the court, making them incredibly difficult to guard especially with Westbrook handling the rock.  In NBA terms, however, Melo is getting up there in age.  The 33 year old is running out of time to get a ring and hopefully he improved his defense in the offseason to increase his chances of winning one.

3.  CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

The Cavs made some huge moves to hopefully put them past the pesky Warriors.  With these trades, however, came some age and some pretty shitty ACL’s.  We will get back the nostalgia from Miami’s “Big 3” days with Dwayne Wade playing alongside King James again,  hopefully with the same chemistry we saw four years ago.  Coach Lue now has a lot of pieces he can move around throughout the season to figure out the perfect combination of players to lead the team come April.  Currently he has D-Rose at starting point guard who is an incredible playmaker that makes everyone around him better with his ball handling abilities.  The Cavs also have another flashy playmaker in Isaiah Thomas who, when 100% healthy, will most likely switch places with Rose who will inevitably have another season ending knee injury.

4.  BOSTON CELTICS

The Celtics are very different team compared to a year ago.  With two huge A- list names in Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward, a lot is expected from Brad Stevens’ squad.  The young coach has already had a lot of success with this team since becoming head coach in 2013, and now has a very talented team that can bring the Larry O’Brien trophy back to Boston for the first time in 10 years.  Rookie Jayson Tatum will immediately play a big role in their success.  The Duke star averaged almost 17 points per game last year and Boston will be looking for similar scoring performances to keep them moving in a positive direction.

5.  HOUSTON ROCKETS

CP3 and James Harden are going to be a dominant 1-2 punch in the backcourt.  The pair have incredible playmaking abilities, aren’t afraid to take it coast to coast for a quick bucket, and have excellent court vision to hit open players across the court.  They will have to get used to sharing the ball more than either of them are used to, which shouldn’t be too hard, but we all know egos can get in the way of what’s best for the team.

6.  NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

I’ve patiently been waiting to write about the Pelicans because they are the team I’m most excited about this season.  As a Kentucky boy, this team is loaded with Wildcat talent.  They have a very tall, powerful front court with Boogie Cousins and Anthony Davis who are both monsters inside the paint and will swat back anything before it has a chance to leave the opponent’s hands.  Both averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game last season and I see that trend continuing this season now that they have had an offseason to workout together.  The Pelicans also have a talented back court with any combination of Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, and Jrue Holiday.  If Rondo can play like he did with the Celtics from ’10-’13, where he averaged a double double in points and assists every season, then he can be the playmaker that the Pelicans need to push them deep into the playoffs.

7.  PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

This team is stacked with young talent.  The upside with a young team is, if the players stick around and learn to grow with one another, they can be one of the most powerful, championship caliber teams for the next several years.  The downside with this young team, however, is they have already been plagued with injuries the past few seasons.  Ben Simmons missed all of last season while recovering from foot surgery and big man Joel Embiid was ruled out for the rest of last season in February, the first season he was healthy enough to play in since being drafted 3rd overall in 2014.  Washington star Markelle Fultz will have a huge impact on this offense and will look to mimic his 23 PPG average from college, but sometimes it takes a bit for college stars to shine in the pros.  I’m eager to see this young, very talented group in action every week and hopeful they will stay healthy enough to make a run in the playoffs.

8.  MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Lastly comes a very physical team that will hammer it inside play after play.  Jimmy Butler, Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns are going to be a force to be reckoned with, all three of whom averaged 23+ points per game last season.  They will be excellent complements to one another, making it hard for defenders to determine who to keep their main focus on.  Jimmy can dribble and drive inside with ease, knocking over defenders either forcing someone else to guard him leaving open another talented shooter or taking the easy open bucket himself.  Opposing teams are going to get manhandled  if they try to take it inside the paint, where KAT will be with a smile on his face to deny anything put up.

It is still too early to determine if any of these teams will even make the playoffs, though its very likely the majority of them will.  I am very exited to see what this season holds and if the new “super teams” will live up to the hype.  It’s a clean slate for every team to prove their worth and I’m sure a team or two will surprise us all.

Wes Calhoun covers the NBA and NCAA basketball for The SoBros Network. He drinks beer and bourbon while cursing at the TV watching games which will most likely lead to a heart attack. Go Cats! Follow on Twitter: @WesCalhoun1229

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