NBA Power Rankings 1.0: Celtics steady, Karl-Anthony Towns trade propels Knicks
By Jack Simone
8. Milwaukee Bucks
Health is at the top of the Milwaukee Bucks’ needs list heading into next season. If Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy for the regular season and playoffs, the Bucks are a contender.
But a team of 34-year-old Damian Lillard, an already-injured 33-year-old Khris Middleton, and an unlucky Antetokounmpo, health is enough of a question to place them in the bottom half of the Top 10 teams for now, especially with Doc Rivers’ questionable record since taking over as head coach.
7. Philadelphia 76ers
Similar to the Bucks, health is holding the Philadelphia 76ers back from being higher up these rankings. Joel Embiid is always a question mark, no matter how hard he tries to stay healthy.
On paper, the Sixers are a Top 5 team in the NBA. But if Embiid and Paul George suffer too many nicks and bruises, they will be left in a tough spot.
6. Denver Nuggets
This may be a bit too low for the team led by the best player in the world, but the Denver Nuggets have been cutting corners lately. And last year, it cost them.
They got bounced in the second round last year, and for the second year in a row, they lost a very important rotation piece in free agency. Nikola Jokic is incredible, but if their young players don’t perform, the Nuggets could be in trouble.
5. Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic will be hungry after his first taste of the NBA Finals, and the Dallas Mavericks had a great summer, building out a solid roster around their two stars.
Klay Thompson, despite his age, should be a quality role player in Dallas, and Dereck Lively II is only getting better. The Mavs should be a threat to get back to the Finals this year.