NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The start of the 2022-23 NBA season is almost here. And with that, we at Nuts and Bolts Sports decided to throw together an early edition of the NBA Power Rankings. This will not please everyone, but why try anyway? This offseason was full of moves. Some good, some bad, and some just downright terrible.
On paper, the clear-cut favorites have stayed the same. But this is why the games are played on the court and not at the hands of someone typing up a Power Rankings. Anything can happen.
30. San Antonio Spurs
Trading away your best player in the offseason means that you’re giving up already before a single game is played, right? The Spurs will navigate through a tough season. A lot of young players will get time which will result in the Spurs fighting for the right to draft No.1 in 2023.
29. Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder was entering this season with high hopes after drafting Chet Holmgren in the 2022 NBA Draft. However, a season-ending injury took away those hopes. Now they will continue to ride the shoulders of SGA and as we’ve seen the last two years, that’s just not enough. It’s going to be a long season for the Thunder.
28. Indiana Pacers
Hopefully, this is the season where Myles Turner shows what he’s worth. The Pacers will not win too many games but there should be some strong individual performances from Turner, Tyrese Haliburton, and Buddy Hield to keep the fans interested.
27. Houston Rockets
Eventually, they have to turn this around, right? The Rockets have stockpiled picks and turned them into young players but the end results have been loss after loss. 2022 will be a year they take a step but it won’t be a major one.
26. Detroit Pistons
The question for the Pistons is can they find chemistry? With new players arriving and old ones out, can the Pistons do enough to keep their head above water in the East? Led by Cade Cunningham, is this group ready to take the next step or will they need another season to get the right mix?
25. Orlando Magic
At some point, this young squad has to take a step in the right direction. If Wendell Carter Jr can return to his pre-injury form to pair with Cole Anthony and 2022 draft pick, Paolo Banchero, this could be a breakthrough season for the Magic.
24. Utah Jazz
The Jazz provided the NBA with the blueprint for dismantling a team in one offseason. But the good news is, they received some talent in return. The bad news is, they might not be done unloading. This could be a long year for Jazz fans.
23. Portland Trail Blazers
There has to be a point where even the loyal Damian Lillard has to know when enough is enough. The Blazers will have a revamped look and with teams in the West either getting healthy or bringing in new talent, the Blazers are just treading water.
22. Sacramento Kings
The time is now for the Kings. After a successful trade deadline deal that landed them Domantas Sabonis, the Kings and their injury issues took center stage. But now, with everyone healthy and ready to roll, this could be a season of redemption.
21. Washington Wizards
If Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis can stay on the floor long enough to gain chemistry, this Wizards team will reach the playoffs. The issue is, when was the last time Porzingis played an entire season?
20. Los Angeles Lakers
Should anyone bet against a team that features LeBron James and Anthony Davis? Yes. For some reason, the Lakers have not been able to put anything together. If it wasn’t for the “Bubble”, where would this duo be? Regardless of what happens with Russell Westbrook, these Lakers may face another season of watching better teams in the playoffs.
19. Charlotte Hornets
With Miles Bridges not with the team, the Hornets will need Gordon Hayward and Kelly Oubre Jr to take a larger role on both ends of the floor. However, success still rides on the playmaking and scoring ability of LaMelo Ball. Plus, can they find a decent player to play in the paint?
18. Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are another team that could make some noise this season. What they will need to do is calm down with the Curry-like long-range bombs and try to pound the ball inside to Pascal Siakam. Also, can they stay healthy enough for a nice run?
17. New York Knicks
Will the addition of Jalen Brunson be enough to help guide the Knicks in the tough Eastern Conference? Success this season will come down to the play of Julius Randle. Which version will the Knicks get this season? Will Mitchell Robinson be able to live up to that new hefty contract he received this offseason?
16. Atlanta Hawks
Did the Hawks make a mistake by trading for Dejounte Murray? For all the noise that Trae Young makes, the Hawks have yet to truly make noise as a team. That great run in 2020 was followed by whimpers. Can they match that intensity that led them to the Eastern Conference Finals that year?
15. Chicago Bulls
What scares me the most with the Bulls is their lack of size. Nikola Vucevic is their true post player but with the perimeter play of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine, Vucevic often goes unnoticed. What’s the real issue with the knee of Lonzo Ball? If he can’t go, the Bulls will continue to struggle.
14. Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are hoping they have the same blueprint as the Warriors did when their dynasty first began. No need to add super big names, just go with the guys you have. But is that enough? Ja Morant is a beast but he still doesn’t have that player next to him who can help carry the load consistently.
13. Miami Heat
Is their run coming to an end? The Heat have relied on defense the last few seasons but at some point, they will need more scoring options other than Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro. Once again, the Heat will have stiff competition coming from everywhere in the East. Defense may not save them this season.
12. Dallas Mavericks
Will the subtraction of Jalen Brunson be a major issue? I say no, thanks to the return of Tim Hardaway Jr. If he can regain the scoring form he had before his injury, the Mavericks will be just fine. The addition of Christian Wood looks solid on paper.
11. Brooklyn Nets
This could all go well or go terribly wrong. There may be no in-between with the Nets this season. Is Kyrie Irving happy? Hell, is Kevin Durant happy? What about Ben Simmons and his mental issues? Can Steve Nash even coach these egos?
10. Cleveland Cavaliers
One trade may have changed the outlook on the Cavaliers. The late offseason addition of Donovan Mitchell has put the Cavs as one of the top teams in the East. The frontcourt is solid and the backcourt will be one of the best in the league.
9. New Orleans Pelicans
The Western Conference is loaded. For all the talk of the Lakers, Warriors, and Clippers, a team like the Pelicans are flying under the radar. With the return of Zion Williamson, the Pels now have a legit Big 3 in Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Brandon Ingram. Watch out.
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
How do you fix a terrible defense? You go grab arguably the best defender in the league. The Timberwolves fixed a glaring hole on their roster and that alone should be a reason for the West to be very afraid of what they can do. The Wolves are young and they’re hungry.
7. Phoenix Suns
For the Suns, maybe the regular season is all they care about. As great as they have been, when it comes to crunch time, they have fallen flat. What’s more important is the issue between the players and the front office. Does Chris Paul have one more year of productivity left in him?
6. Golden State Warriors
I know, how can I put the Warriors this low after they just won the championship? Easy. That team is not the same team that will play in 2022. While the Warriors have pretty much stayed neutral, the rest of the West has gained ground with returning players and new ones. Can Stephen Curry carry them once again?
5. Denver Nuggets
Man, this is a dangerous team when healthy. Reports are pointing to the return of Jamal Murry and Michael Porter Jr. Pairing these two scoring options with MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets could find themselves as one of three top teams in the West.
4. Milwaukee Bucks
Have the Bucks reached their ceiling? I don’t think so. What they need to be is healthy. Giannis Antetokounmpo is a great player but he’s not a one-man force that can carry them to a title. He needs help from Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton.
3. Philadelphia 76ers
Can they finally break through? James Harden appears to be in shape and the 76ers finally have what appears to be a reliable bench. But is it enough to peg them as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference?
2. Boston Celtics
Will off-the-court issues affect what the Celtics need to do on the court? In a sense, yes. With their coach out, Joe Mazzula will now be thrown into the fire. Will he make the right adjustments when needed? The Celtics are still loaded even after the injury news to Danilo Gallinari.
1. Los Angeles Clippers
Laugh all you want but is there a deeper team in the NBA than the Clippers? And let’s not forget they’re getting a healthy Kawhi Leonard and John Wall to go with Paul George, Reggie Jackson, Norman Powell, and Marcus Morris. This team is loaded.
