Jan 19, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) reacts after a play in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Taking a casual glance at the NBA’s pre-season prognostications, the Golden State Warriors look like the team to beat in their attempt  to threepeat.  Yet, the Houston Rockets hope that the addition of Carmelo Anthony will get them to upend the GSW’s in the Western Division.  The Boston Celtics want to dominate the Eastern Conference now that Lebron James is now working with the Los Angeles Lakers in the West.  Toronto, with Kawhi Leondard, will challenge the Celtics and should be a threat to the Beantown favorites.  Oklahoma City heads a strong contingent of Western teams that look to make the Western Conference Finals if not Golden State or Houston.  The strong West has any number of teams that will be competitive on a game by game basis. The East, with a lack of the better teams in the league overall, also has less major super-stars which does not bode well in cross divisional play.

 

 

My Pre-season look at the NBA (Top eight in each conference will make the playoffs)

 

 

Eastern Conference
  1. Boston
  2. Toronto
  3. Philadelphia
  4. Indiana
  5. Washington
  6. Milwaukee
  7. Miami
  8. Charlotte
  9. Detroit
  10. New York
  11. Orlando
  12. Brooklyn
  13. Cleveland
  14. Atlanta
  15. Chicago

 

Western Conference

 

  1. Golden State
  2. Houston
  3. Oklahoma City
  4. Utah
  5. Denver
  6. Los Angeles Lakers
  7. San Antonio
  8. New Orleans
  9. Minnesota
  10. Dallas
  11. Portland
  12. Los Angeles Clippers
  13. Memphis
  14. Phoenix
  15. Sacramento

 

 

Power Ratings (Best regardless of Conference)

 

  1. Golden State
  2. Boston
  3. Houston
  4. Oklahoma City
  5. Toronto
  6. Philadelphia
  7. Utah
  8. Denver
  9. Los Angeles Lakers
  10. San Antonio
All NBA Pre-season team

 

Lebron James
Kevin Durant
Russell Westbrook
Kawhi Leonard
Joel Embiid
Stephan Curry
James Harden
DeMar DeRosan
Anthony Davis
Giannia Antetokounmpo

 

Western Finals:  Oklahoma City and Golden State

 

Eastern Finals:  Boston and Philadelphia

 

The Finals:   Philadelphia and Golden State

 

Feature Photo-  USA Today.com
Secondary Photo- Paul George:  Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Third Photo credit-  Steven Adams:  PHOTOSPORT

 

 

 

 

 

 

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