76ers and Clippers atop my pre-season NBA rankings….Will OKC make the post-season?

Paul, Adams, Gallinari’s time in OKC is key for a playoff run for Thunder

Using my crystal ball that I purchased many moons ago at the once TG&Y store in Oklahoma City, the favorites in my pre-season rankings are solid to make the playoffs, with two teams that I consider NBA Finals worthy.  In the west, with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George moving over to the left coast, the Los Angles Clippers seem to have the strongest case to win out the tough Western Conference.  In the east, the Philadelphia 76ers, with a talent laced group, will fight off the Boston Celtics to get the nod to play the LAC in the Finals in 2020.  My rankings as the season begins, with the perspective of how I think the teams will end up after the regular season.

Western Conference (top 8 make the post season playoffs)

1.   Los Angeles Clippers
2.   Denver Nuggets
3.   Los Angeles Lakers
4.   Utah Jazz
5.   Houston Rockets
6.   New Orleans Pelicans
7.   Portland Trail Blazers
8.   San Antonio Spurs
9.   Dallas Mavericks
10.   Oklahoma City Thunder
11.   Golden State Warriors
12.   Sacramento Kings
13.   Minnesota Timberwolves
14.   Phoenix Suns
15.   Memphis Grizzlies

Some observations:  If OKC trades any of the three of Steven Adams, Chris Paul, or Danilo Gallinari, the Thunder will push the bottom with the Grizzlies and the Suns.  If Sam Presti (Thunder GM) does not deal the three, look for OKC to have a legitimate chance to play in he first round of the NBA playoffs. 

Houston could be limited early if Russell Westbrook does not play in November and their season record will take a hit.  Golden State will have the biggest drop-off, with OKC, as the Warriors do not have Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and much of their bench of last year.  The Pelicans are a team on the move up, and I can see them making a significant run in the regular season.  Los Angeles Lakers, in my opinion, are a puzzling team, but with Lebron James they should also be one really good team. 

These Western rankings and also the Eastern also, will change week to week as of the play during that seven day time frame, but when all is said and done, the top eight to make the playoffs from the west should look like what I have listed.

Eastern Conference  (Top eight make the post season playoffs)

1.   Philadelphia 76ers
2.   Boston Celtics
3.   Milwaukee Bucks
4.   Miami Heat
5.   Indiana Pacers
6.   Toronto Raptors
7.   Orlando Magic
8.   Detroit Pistons
9.   Atlanta Hawks
10.   Chicago Bulls
11.   Brooklyn Nets
12.   Washington Wizards
13.   New York Knicks
14.   Cleveland Cavaliers
15.   Charlotte Hornets

Realistically, the East will be weaker than last year, as of Leonard moving to the LAC.  And judging the teams by talent, only the Sixers, Celtics, and Bucks are good enough to challenge for the NBA title.

Milwaukee will try to improve on their league leading record in 2019-20, and that might happen.  Atlanta and Detroit are going to be better, both on what they can put on the floor and record wise.  Currently, the bottom group of the Bulls, Nets, Wizards, Knicks, Cavaliers, and Hornets are terrible teams and will again have losing seasons.

MVP for 2020:  Kawhi Leonard, LAC

All NBA

First Team:

Kawhi Leonard

James Harden

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Lebron James

Nikola Jokic  

Second team:

Paul George

Russell Westbrook

Donovan Mitchell

Damian Lillard

Stephen Curry

Third team:

Draymond Green

Jimmy Butler

Joel Embiid

Ben Simmons

Kembra Walker

Feature photo:  NBA.com

Secondary photo:  NBA/Getty Images