Here’s a roundup of some recent NBA power rankings:
- ESPN:
– Top 5 teams: Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors.
- CBS Sports:
– Top 5 teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors.
- NBA.com:
– Top 5 teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers.
- Sports Illustrated:
– Top 5 teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors.
- The Athletic:
– Top 5 teams: Milwaukee Bucks, Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn Nets, Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers.
These rankings can vary based on recent performances, injuries, and overall team dynamics. What do you think about how these teams are stacking up lately?
Here’s another roundup of the latest NBA power rankings as of late July 2024:
- Denver Nuggets – The defending champions, led by Nikola Jokic, continue to dominate with a deep and well-rounded roster.
- Milwaukee Bucks – With Giannis Antetokounmpo at the helm and a strong supporting cast, they remain top contenders.
- Boston Celtics – Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s dynamic duo has elevated the team to elite status.
- Phoenix Suns – Led by Devin Booker and a resurgent Kevin Durant, they are among the top teams.
- Golden State Warriors – Stephen Curry’s leadership and the return of Klay Thompson have them in contention.
- Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James and Anthony Davis aim to lead a revamped roster to success.
- Philadelphia 76ers – Joel Embiid continues to play at an MVP level, despite ongoing trade rumors involving key players.
- Miami Heat – Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo keep the Heat competitive in the East.
- Dallas Mavericks – Luka Dončić’s brilliance keeps them in the top ten.
- Memphis Grizzlies – Ja Morant’s explosive play and a solid supporting cast have them on the rise.
These rankings reflect the current state of the league, considering team performances, player health, and recent transactions.
The Denver Nuggets sit atop the NBA power rankings as the defending champions, largely thanks to Nikola Jokic’s stellar play. His versatile skill set and leadership have kept the team at the top of the standings. Alongside Jokic, the Nuggets boast a deep roster with players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. contributing significantly, making them a formidable force in the league.
The Milwaukee Bucks remain strong contenders, driven by the unstoppable Giannis Antetokounmpo. His ability to dominate both ends of the court keeps the Bucks competitive against any team. With a solid supporting cast, including Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee is well-positioned to challenge for another title.
The Boston Celtics, led by the dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, have elevated themselves to elite status. Their consistent performances and ability to take over games have been crucial. The Celtics’ depth, with key contributions from players like Marcus Smart and Al Horford, further bolsters their championship aspirations.
The Phoenix Suns, powered by Devin Booker and a rejuvenated Kevin Durant, have climbed the rankings. Booker’s scoring prowess and Durant’s all-around game make them a lethal combination. The Suns’ solid roster depth, featuring Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, ensures they remain competitive throughout the season.
The Golden State Warriors continue to be a force with Stephen Curry’s leadership and the return of Klay Thompson. Curry’s exceptional shooting and playmaking abilities, combined with Thompson’s scoring, have reinvigorated the team. The Warriors’ young talents and veterans like Draymond Green provide a balanced and formidable lineup.
The Los Angeles Lakers, with LeBron James and Anthony Davis, aim to capitalize on their revamped roster. LeBron’s versatility and Davis’s dominance in the paint give them a strong foundation. The Lakers’ offseason moves to acquire supporting players are expected to enhance their chances of making a deep playoff run.
Most NBA teams have conducted the vast majority of their offseason business by now, and so we are able to zoom out and begin thinking about which teams will be able to seriously vie for a championship ring. Where do experts see the Sixers relative to other hopeful title contenders?
ESPN: 6th overall, 3rd in Eastern Conference
ESPN senior writer Chris Herring lays out the Sixers’ impressive maximization of their cap space in free agency over the past month, as they have gone to great lengths to reshape their roster.
“No East team should feel better about its offseason than the Sixers, who landed free agent Paul George as their third star alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. Philadelphia also signed ex-Miami wing Caleb Martin, one of the better role players in the league, to a four-year, $32 million deal and also managed to sign Andre Drummond, who has led the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage the past two seasons among players who logged at least 60 games in each campaign. Veteran shooter Eric Gordon should provide some punch off the bench, and re-signing both Kelly Oubre Jr. and Kyle Lowry was huge. If Philly can stay healthy — Embiid and George have missed a combined 158 games over the past three seasons — the Sixers can and should contend for the title.” [ESPN]
As you are about to see, the concerns about the Sixers’ main cogs remaining healthy is going to become a common theme here.
CBS Sports: 7th, 3rd in Eastern Conference
The unanimous ranking of the Eastern Conference hierarchy, according to all of these lists: the Boston Celtics first, then the New York Knicks, then the Sixers. Writer Brad Botkin points out one potential deficiency that the Sixers have compared to the teams who have eliminated them from the playoffs in the last two seasons:
“Health is the main concern here. If Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Paul George are all 100% come playoff time, this team can beat anyone. But that’s a big IF, and they also don’t have the defensive wing depth of New York or Boston, though Caleb Martin joining George does help.” [CBS Sports]
Not to look too far ahead, but when the Sixers are seeking rotation upgrades around next year’s NBA trade deadline, some would consider another sturdy defensive wing to be a priority. But what if Ricky Council IV is that guy?
Sporting News: 5th, 3rd in Eastern Conference
Writer Stephen Noh is the highest on the Sixers of the bunch, ranking them below Boston and New York but above high-powered Western Conference contenders like the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets.
“The Sixers remade their team with the acquisition of Paul George. Is that enough to put them ahead of the Knicks as the biggest challengers in the East?
If George and Embiid were guaranteed to play over 70 games, then the answer would be yes. But Embiid has never topped 68 and George has averaged just 62 games per season in his career.
The 76ers will still be very good. Tyrese Maxey is locked up long-term, Andre Drummond is a nice upgrade at backup center and Kelly Oubre Jr. is back. Daryl Morey has always been aggressive in trades, so even more help could be on the way.” [Sporting News]
The consensus having the Knicks ahead of the Sixers seems motivated more by injury concerns than on-court factors. The teams have comparable rosters from talent and fit perspectives, so it is only natural for most to be more comfortable banking on the Knicks, who have fewer core pieces with lengthy injury histories.
NBC Sports: 6th, 3rd in Eastern Conference
The Rotoworld Staff — Noah Rubin, Zak Hanshew and Raphielle Johnson — collaborated on these rankings, which have the Sixers sandwiched between the Dallas Mavericks and Nuggets.
On teams who were the biggest risers in free agency, the Sixers were mentioned twice.
“Replacing Tobias Harris with Paul George is a massive upgrade and gives them a talented trio on which to build this team.” [NBC Sports]
“Who doesn’t love a good Big 3? PG should be the third option behind Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, making this a lethal trio. Andre Drummond is a sneaky-good addition who will provide quality backup depth behind Embiid, which the team sorely missed a season ago.” [NBC Sports]