FanPost

2017 NBA Power Rankings

Excited for the new Sixers and NBA season to start, so without much further ado here are my power rankings for the upcoming year. As splitting hairs between individual teams can be difficult, I focused more on ranking the teams into tiers based off how many wins I anticipate them getting this coming year (50 wins = 50-59 wins).

70 WINS

--Warriors-- Adding Kevin Durant to one of the best teams in NBA history is why I think they could cross the 70 threshold again this year, and be only the 3rd team ever to do that. Love em or hate em, they're gonna be must watch television.

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60 WINS

--Cavs-- LBJ

--Spurs-- And that's all folks for possible championship contenders...

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50 WINS

--Raptors-- expect a season similar to last years

--Celtics-- Horford should definitely take them over the 50 win threshold, making them one of the 3 teams who could face the Cavs in the ECF

--Clippers-- Certainly have the talent, is this the year they finally make the WCF?

--Pacers-- I've always been a believer in PG, and now I'm a believer in this team. An experienced Al Jefferson, blossoming Myles Turner, and thankful-not-a-sixer Jeff Teague makes them the 2nd best team in the ECF in my opinion.

--Grizzlies-- Expect a rebound year with a healthy Conley & Gasol

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40 WINS

--Jazz-- this team is starting to really look good, and I have them pegged at 48/49 wins.

--Hawks-- Dwight switches teams yet again...

--Thunder-- Westbrook's stats this year are gonna be insane. Might win scoring title.

--Hornets-- In a weird way kind of remind me of the Sixers 5 years ago

--Trail Blazers-- Don't think Evan Turner is going to add many wins to their 44 win total last year

--Pistons-- Think I saw Drummond partying with Manziel the night of the Hack-a-shaq rule revision

--Rockets-- fear the beard

--Twolves-- This is the year they make the jump. Towns is gonna be a perennial MVP candidate

--Wizards-- I go to college in VA, so the whole DC Rising thing pops up and disappears quickly each year.

--Bucks-- Can't wait to see the Greek Freak run point this year, expect a rebound season from their 33 win total last year

--Knicks-- Barely get to 40 wins, get NY really excited, and barely miss out on the 8 seed in the East.

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30 WINS

--Mavs-- This is the year they make the jump... down. Dirk is now 38. Deron Williams is now 4 years past his prime. And Chandler Parsons is a Grizzlie

--Bulls-- Don't quite trust this backcourt. Can't wait to see them exploit the new NBA and its focus on 3 point shooting.

--Magic-- The polar opposite of the Sixers. No clear plan in place, and I don't think the front office even knows what they are doing

--Nuggets-- Go search Jokic highlights on Youtube... his passing is so fun to watch (and might be a taste of what we are getting in Simmons)

--Pelicans-- Which superstar should be more frustrated with their front office- Anthony Davis or Demarcus Cousins?

--Heat-- Oh hey Pat Riley without Dwyane Wade and most likely without Chris Bosh

--Sixers!!!! The moment Villanova hit the buzzer beater to beat UNC everything turned around for Philly hoops. The Sixers turnaround was inevitable, but seemingly everything broke right for us this offseason- won the lottery, got Simmons, Embiid reportedly healthy, Saric comes over. Throw a few veterans like Bayless and Henderson in the mix and I think the Sixers could sneak into the 30 win column. Keep in mind, the previous years the Sixers tried to tank they won 19 & 18 games. I think this team could definitely be a dozen wins better than those teams.

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20 WINS

--Suns-- Have some good young talent on this team, but still have a ways to go

--Lakers-- Also years away, from both Ingram and Russell's prime and a 34yr old Mozgov's horrific contract

--Kings-- VLADE!!! Thanks again for drafting two more big men to add to your already excessive situation of big men

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10 WINS

--Nets-- If you want a good laugh google "nets sports illustrated cover"

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