NBA 2021-'22 Power Rankings: See How Teams Start the 75th Season
As the NBA’s 75th-anniversary tips off tonight, see where the top 15 teams in the league rank.
The defending champions Bucks finished on top last season, but they don’t start this historic season with the top ranking. In fact, according to the NBA.com 2021-’22 GM survey, the Nets are the favorites to win the championship this year followed by the Lakers who return healthy and loaded. Then you have the Heat who entered as the most improved team on this same survey, but how will they rank on this season’s first power rankings list. Find out here:
1. Nets
The Nets even without Kyrie Irving services are still loaded. This is a team with just Kevin Durant that took the Bucks to the brinks, almost winning if Durant wore a shoe size smaller.
2. Lakers
The only question with this team is health. Anthony Davis and LeBron James both being hobbled ended their season early last year against the upstart Suns. This season they come back with still two elite players and a better cast.
3. Bucks
No slight to the Bucks but this is a prove-it season for them. They will be getting everyone’s best effort against them including the team that almost put them out starting tonight.
4. Heat
I’m falling into the early hype that is the Heat. They are two seasons removed from a Finals appearance and upgraded their roster with Kyle Lowry, Markieff Moris, and stealing PJ Tucker from the Bucks, along with Victor Oladipo coming back. Also, they shouldn’t have as many problems as they did last season with COVID.
5. Suns
Suns returned all their pieces from their Finals team so they enter as the second-best Western Conference team. The DeAndre Ayton contract extension is a problem however and may impact this team to start the season.
6. Mavericks
Mavericks were a problem preseason, most importantly in defense. Luka is going to man the offense with great numbers and new head coach Jason Kidd is going to look to get the best out of Kristaps Porzingis.
7. Warriors
The Warriors finished last season hot with Steph Curry playing at an MVP level. They don’t look that shabby in preseason themselves with this young roster getting more experience. Jordan Poole averaged a preseason second best 34.6 PPG per 36 on 60.8%. He will be a big boost as they wait for the return of Klay Thompson from injury.
8. Clippers
Tyronn Lue proved last season he was one of the best coaches in the NBA with the run the Clippers had after Kawhi Leonard went down with his injury. Losing Leonard for a majority of the season is a big blow but if anyone can coach around this it will be Lue. The Clippers still have a good roster with most of their pieces returning including Reggie Jackson who dazzled in the playoffs.
9. 76ers
Ben Simmons’ status is still yet unclear with the 76ers. He returned to practice but it still appears he is dead set on leaving though Doc Rivers will say otherwise. Joel Embiid is still a top player in the NBA that can dominate the opposition.
10. Bulls
This team improved mightily in the offseason, bringing in defensive pieces in Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso and more scoring in DeMar DeRozan. They went 4-0 in the preseason showing a much-improved effort on defense. The offense looks exciting as well with Ball in the backcourt with high flyers all around him.
11. Hawks
This team had an amazing turnaround after promoting Nate McMillan to head coach midway last season. This year they have him for a full season with one of the exciting rosters in the NBA. This ranking has them fifth in the Eastern Conference, right where they finished the last season.
12. Nuggets
The Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray to start the season and we saw how much that impacted them in the postseason. It didn’t help Michael Porter Jr. was also dealing with a back injury during that series against the Suns. He should be back healthy for them to start and is looking for a bigger role now that Millsap is gone and Murray is still recovering.
13. Knicks
The Knicks improved drastically with more veteran scoring in Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier. They needed it bad last season as Julius Randle faced double teams in practically every game with no other scoring option than Derrick Rose. With Walker in, this puts Rose back on the bench to give them much-needed bench scoring. Tom Thibodeau will always have this team competing hard too.
14. Jazz
The Jazz is an elite team but they haven’t been able to reach the Western Conference Finals yet with the pair of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. Offenses were able to figure out Gobert’s defense, making him often a liability on the court. The Jazz also will be without Gobert to start the season with his heel surgery so they are not even at full strength currently.
15. Celtics
Things look tumultuous to start the season for the Celtics with COVID hitting Jaylen Brown already and Marcus Smart will be missing in action for them to start after missing the team plane, sources said. Jaylon Tatum is a superstar in this league so I expect him to hold this team afloat in the East.
Power Rankings will update every week.
