NBA Power Rankings (East, 15-9)
We are two some weeks away from the beginning of NBA basketball. While everyone is looking at the Warriors, or the Thunder, or the Cavs, and the Celtics, why don't we examine the Hawks, or the Nets or hell even the Bulls. These are my power ranking for the bottom half of the NBA's Eastern Conference.
15. BULLS
I do not understand why people will think the Hawks will be the worst team in the East.. they're obviously the second worst. The Bulls are coming off one of the most mediocre seasons ever, and they are just now starting their rebuild. Give it a few years before you see the Bulls in the spotlight again, because injury ridden Lavine is not taking you there and Kris Dunn is a major unproven player, and they don't have a star or even a future star to build their team around. Sorry, Chi Town, you're going to be the worst team in the NBA. Good luck.
14. HAWKS
Maybe it's just me, but I would consider Dennis Schroeder at top 10 starting point guard in the East. He is better than Reggie Jackson, Elfrid Payton, Darren Collison, and has out proven Fultz, Ntlinka, Dunn, and does Milwaukee even have a starting point guard or just Malcom Brogdon? So by my calculations that makes Dennis the 8th best staring point guard in the East. Yeah, I'll take the Hawks in the 14th seed.
13. NETS
They're almost there, believe it or not. The Nets front office had to of been one of the most dysfunctional of all time. The amount of stupid trades and dumb signings they did just a few years ago seems to be over, but who knows. Russell is a good talent, unproven, but good. The Lakers were not the right situation for him, and the whole world knows that. I think the Nets are the perfect spot for him and his personality. But they don't have much talent around him, other than Lin, but they're both ballhogs, and work best when the ball is in there hands. (sorry Demarre Carroll, actually not really). So give it one more year and this team could be 8th seed contender, but only because they play in the Eastern Conference.
12. Knicks
You can say whatever about Melo, but one thing you cannot deny is that the city loved him. We'll all miss New York Melo, he was always the scapegoat, always the bad guy, and always the loser. But you don't realize what you got until it's gone New York. It would not surprise me if the Knicks finished last because of how terrible their organization is. But for the sake of Porzingis, I think this team has a lot of good young talent and a good mix of role players. Kanter will bring a lot of personality to the Knicks, and Hardaway is a good player. Ntlinka is unproven, but he is unselfish and is willing to give the ball up. But if you really want to make the playoffs again New York, you got to do 2 things; most importantly fire Dolan, and then after that bring back Linsanity.
11. PACERS
Who knows, maybe this Paul George fiasco was good for the franchise. Paul George was really really good, but he's not great, and he definitely isn't the rock of a Big 3. Therefor, the Pacers would've gone nowhere but in the direction of mediocrity. Even after the terrible season Oladipo had, I'm still a believer. Collison is a good addition also. But they still have Myles Turner, and unlike the Bulls, the Pacers have a star to build around, and it helps that he is already there. This team is too "in-the-middle" to finish last.
10. MAGIC
I like Frank Vogel. I still think he is a top tier coach, but you have to give him the talent. This Magic team is the least talked about team in basketball. Nothing about them is exciting, they don't have a star player (not even Aaron Gordon) and they just have a weird ass team. Isaac is a very good player, and hopefully he can blossom into what the Magic needs, consistency. Payton is a unique point guard, Gordon may be the flashiest player in basketball right now, and Terrence Ross has a smooth shot. But they've got to figure out what their game is, or tank. And Vogel will not let them tank, so lottery team it is.
9. 76ers
Believe me, I trust the process. I just don't trust the durability of any of their young talent. It's not that this team isn't good enough talent wise, they're just not good enough health wise. I would not bet on this team to make the playoffs because I cant trust that Embiid will play 50 games. We haven't seen Simmons game in the next level, and Fultz is also injury prone. Adding veteran talent was a great thing, but don't expect JJ Reddick to lead you to the promise land. I'm also a believer that Lonzo is better than Fultz and was deserving of the first pick just because he is an overall better player and one of the best passers I have ever seen. We'll see how this season goes but I am not betting on a playoff Sixers. Sorry Philly. I'm actually sorry for you (Not like my fake sorrow for Chicago).
