Brooklyn Nets
2017/18 Preseason Soothsayer System (Rankings 1 - 10)
Nov 10, 2017 13:38:16 GMT
Ian Noble, Walt Frazier, and 5 more like this
Post by Andrei Kirilenko on Nov 10, 2017 13:38:16 GMT
Today, we here at the Soothsayer Syndicate introduce the Soothsayer System-- a revolutionary technology that quantifies D5 teams with 99.99% accuracy*. The Soothsayer System (SsS) takes into account starting lineups at full price, adds in a discounted bench, and puts the cherry on top with an arbitrary intangibles rating that often comes in handy when we here at the Syndicate want to shake things up a bit. So, without further ado, I present the top 10 teams in D5, mathematically calculated for your gaming pleasure.
The Contenders
One of these teams will win the title.
1. Golden State Warriors: Steph – Klay – LeBron – Pau – Zaza
Starters Rating: 87.4
Bench Rating: 25.4
Intangibles: 10
Total Rating: 122.8
Let’s be real here. The Warriors are probably going to win the title, barring any injuries. The Warriors have the top rated starting lineup in the league, a decent bench, and get a 10 for intangibles as they appear to be unbeatable in a 7 game series. LeBron & Co. still reign supreme.
2. Denver Nuggets: Wall – Harden – Harris – Aldridge – Lopez
Starters Rating: 87.2
Bench Rating: 25.8
Intangibles: 9
Total Rating: 122.0
The Nuggets are just behind the Warriors in starting lineup rating, but actually recover more than the difference in bench rating, making the Nuggets the most complete team in D5 according to the Soothsayer System. However, the Nuggets only get a 9 for intangibles, mainly because they can’t seem to beat the Warriors in a series and thus I didn’t want to rank them ahead of Golden State. And because the system doesn't lie.
3. Charlotte Hornets: Westbrook – Middleton – George – Ibaka – Noel
Starters Rating: 87.0
Bench Rating: 24.1
Intangibles: 10
Total Rating: 121.1
The Hornets get a 10 for intangibles as James Kay has proven his mix of players can win a championship. The Hornets are coming off a loss against the Bulls in the Preseason Tournament, but the boys here at Soothsayer Syndicate don’t think that will prevent them from winning the East this year when it really counts. The Hornets added Paul George this offseason and look to add another Eastern Conference Title to their trophy collect. Can this Eastern Conference bully steal another title from the West?
4. Toronto Raptors: Lowry – DeRozan – Draymond – Millsap – Vucevic
Starters Rating: 87.0
Bench Rating: 25.7
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 120.7
OK, you caught me. The intangibles thing is just a bullshit way for me to manipulate these power rankings. In fact, the Raptors are just 0.1 net rating behind the Warriors in terms of starters + bench, and actually an entire 1.6 points ahead of the Hornets. This team is sp00ky this year, which I think the league is realizing now in the Preseason Tournament. However, Bryan and the boys have never made it to the ECF here in D5, and it is going to be a tough road in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. Can the Raptors’ balanced attack overcome the Hornets’ star power? We’ll find out in about 6 months.
5. Chicago Bulls: CP3 – Butler – Kawhi – Randle – Lopez
Starters Rating: 86.6
Bench Rating: 25.8
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 120.4
Rounding out the contenders are the Chicago Bulls. This team has some star power, but also has some injury power. Will CP3, Butler, and Kawhi actually be able to stay healthy for a playoff run? If so, they still don’t have as good of a lineup as the teams above. However, with one of the better benches in the league, and with a defensive wall that would make Trump jealous, Chicago does have an outside shot at knocking off Charlotte or Toronto and making it to the title game.
Next Up
These teams are close, but are still on the outside looking in.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyreke – Matthews – Durant – Plumlee – Cousins
Starters Rating: 86.2
Bench Rating: 25.9
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 120.1
I was really torn between Chicago and OKC to round out “the contenders”. OKC has some serious star-power and has been very competitive historically, but they simply are not as complete as the Bulls. The Thunder lack a true point guard, and have some questionable players when talking about championship contenders. Still, KD and DMC are forces to be reckoned with. Do not be surprised if this team makes it to the WCF.
7. Milwaukee Bucks: Teague – Williams – Beal – Davis – Gasol
Starters Rating: 85.2
Bench Rating: 25.2
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 118.4
The Bucks had a disappointing offseason, losing Avery Bradley to free agency. However, Glenn doesn’t have too much to complain about, as his impressive drafting has given him a plethora of young guys to sustain greatness for the foreseeable future in Myles Turner, Lauri Markkanen, and Dejounte Murray. This team is deep, has some stars, and has been good for a long time. However, they aren’t quite good enough to really be competing with the top teams. Will the Bucks ever get their title?
8. Minnesota Timberwolves: Bledsoe – McCollum – Crowder – Griffin – Capela
Starters Rating: 83.6
Bench Rating: 26.3
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 117.9
It starts to get a little fuzzy after the top 7, as the next few teams are all extremely similar in terms of starting lineup. The Timberwolves top this list though, with an extremely balanced lineup on both offense and defense. This is a team that is set up to be relevant for the next 5 years, but one has to wonder if another move or two is required to really make the Wolves competitive for a championship. Walt has done an excellent job, but the competition is fiercer than ever.
9. Sacramento Kings: Lillard – Bradley – Porter – Young – Drummond
Starters Rating: 83.0
Bench Rating: 25.7
Intangibles: 9
Total Rating: 117.7
OK, we’re back to 9 intangible ratings now for no real reason other than it works mathematically. Sue me. Chauncey did a complete 180 with this Kings team in a matter of weeks. Perhaps in one of the most successful offseasons ever, the Kings signed both Bradley and Drummond, who have both been performing very well in real-life. His lineup is balanced, has youth, star power, and all the other intangibles you would want in a lineup. Like the Wolves, the Kings are still a few moves away from title-contention, but the improvement in this team is incredible nonetheless.
10. Houston Rockets: Giannis – Gordon – Warren – Love – Chandler
Starters Rating: 82.6
Bench Rating: 25.4
Intangibles: 9
Total Rating: 117.0
The Rockets lost out on the Paul George sweepstakes (which, btw, switching PG13 would catapult the Rockets to 85.4 starter rating and drop the Hornets to 83.6 starter rating), but still boast a dynamic lineup led by one of the top players in the league, Letter Bro. Once Giannis gets the rating increase he deserves, this team will likely jump 2 to 3 spots in the Soothsayer System. Elsewhere on the Rockets, Warren continues to improve and Love is Love.
*claims likely not accurate
The Contenders
One of these teams will win the title.
1. Golden State Warriors: Steph – Klay – LeBron – Pau – ZazaStarters Rating: 87.4
Bench Rating: 25.4
Intangibles: 10
Total Rating: 122.8
Let’s be real here. The Warriors are probably going to win the title, barring any injuries. The Warriors have the top rated starting lineup in the league, a decent bench, and get a 10 for intangibles as they appear to be unbeatable in a 7 game series. LeBron & Co. still reign supreme.
2. Denver Nuggets: Wall – Harden – Harris – Aldridge – LopezStarters Rating: 87.2
Bench Rating: 25.8
Intangibles: 9
Total Rating: 122.0
The Nuggets are just behind the Warriors in starting lineup rating, but actually recover more than the difference in bench rating, making the Nuggets the most complete team in D5 according to the Soothsayer System. However, the Nuggets only get a 9 for intangibles, mainly because they can’t seem to beat the Warriors in a series and thus I didn’t want to rank them ahead of Golden State. And because the system doesn't lie.
3. Charlotte Hornets: Westbrook – Middleton – George – Ibaka – NoelStarters Rating: 87.0
Bench Rating: 24.1
Intangibles: 10
Total Rating: 121.1
The Hornets get a 10 for intangibles as James Kay has proven his mix of players can win a championship. The Hornets are coming off a loss against the Bulls in the Preseason Tournament, but the boys here at Soothsayer Syndicate don’t think that will prevent them from winning the East this year when it really counts. The Hornets added Paul George this offseason and look to add another Eastern Conference Title to their trophy collect. Can this Eastern Conference bully steal another title from the West?
4. Toronto Raptors: Lowry – DeRozan – Draymond – Millsap – VucevicStarters Rating: 87.0
Bench Rating: 25.7
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 120.7
OK, you caught me. The intangibles thing is just a bullshit way for me to manipulate these power rankings. In fact, the Raptors are just 0.1 net rating behind the Warriors in terms of starters + bench, and actually an entire 1.6 points ahead of the Hornets. This team is sp00ky this year, which I think the league is realizing now in the Preseason Tournament. However, Bryan and the boys have never made it to the ECF here in D5, and it is going to be a tough road in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. Can the Raptors’ balanced attack overcome the Hornets’ star power? We’ll find out in about 6 months.
5. Chicago Bulls: CP3 – Butler – Kawhi – Randle – LopezStarters Rating: 86.6
Bench Rating: 25.8
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 120.4
Rounding out the contenders are the Chicago Bulls. This team has some star power, but also has some injury power. Will CP3, Butler, and Kawhi actually be able to stay healthy for a playoff run? If so, they still don’t have as good of a lineup as the teams above. However, with one of the better benches in the league, and with a defensive wall that would make Trump jealous, Chicago does have an outside shot at knocking off Charlotte or Toronto and making it to the title game.
Next Up
These teams are close, but are still on the outside looking in.
6. Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyreke – Matthews – Durant – Plumlee – CousinsStarters Rating: 86.2
Bench Rating: 25.9
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 120.1
I was really torn between Chicago and OKC to round out “the contenders”. OKC has some serious star-power and has been very competitive historically, but they simply are not as complete as the Bulls. The Thunder lack a true point guard, and have some questionable players when talking about championship contenders. Still, KD and DMC are forces to be reckoned with. Do not be surprised if this team makes it to the WCF.
7. Milwaukee Bucks: Teague – Williams – Beal – Davis – GasolStarters Rating: 85.2
Bench Rating: 25.2
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 118.4
The Bucks had a disappointing offseason, losing Avery Bradley to free agency. However, Glenn doesn’t have too much to complain about, as his impressive drafting has given him a plethora of young guys to sustain greatness for the foreseeable future in Myles Turner, Lauri Markkanen, and Dejounte Murray. This team is deep, has some stars, and has been good for a long time. However, they aren’t quite good enough to really be competing with the top teams. Will the Bucks ever get their title?
8. Minnesota Timberwolves: Bledsoe – McCollum – Crowder – Griffin – CapelaStarters Rating: 83.6
Bench Rating: 26.3
Intangibles: 8
Total Rating: 117.9
It starts to get a little fuzzy after the top 7, as the next few teams are all extremely similar in terms of starting lineup. The Timberwolves top this list though, with an extremely balanced lineup on both offense and defense. This is a team that is set up to be relevant for the next 5 years, but one has to wonder if another move or two is required to really make the Wolves competitive for a championship. Walt has done an excellent job, but the competition is fiercer than ever.
9. Sacramento Kings: Lillard – Bradley – Porter – Young – DrummondStarters Rating: 83.0
Bench Rating: 25.7
Intangibles: 9
Total Rating: 117.7
OK, we’re back to 9 intangible ratings now for no real reason other than it works mathematically. Sue me. Chauncey did a complete 180 with this Kings team in a matter of weeks. Perhaps in one of the most successful offseasons ever, the Kings signed both Bradley and Drummond, who have both been performing very well in real-life. His lineup is balanced, has youth, star power, and all the other intangibles you would want in a lineup. Like the Wolves, the Kings are still a few moves away from title-contention, but the improvement in this team is incredible nonetheless.
10. Houston Rockets: Giannis – Gordon – Warren – Love – ChandlerStarters Rating: 82.6
Bench Rating: 25.4
Intangibles: 9
Total Rating: 117.0
The Rockets lost out on the Paul George sweepstakes (which, btw, switching PG13 would catapult the Rockets to 85.4 starter rating and drop the Hornets to 83.6 starter rating), but still boast a dynamic lineup led by one of the top players in the league, Letter Bro. Once Giannis gets the rating increase he deserves, this team will likely jump 2 to 3 spots in the Soothsayer System. Elsewhere on the Rockets, Warren continues to improve and Love is Love.
*claims likely not accurate
Cleveland Cavaliers
