End Of 2019 Regular Season Power Rankings (20-11)
May 25, 2019 10:48:19 GMT
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Post by Jerry West on May 25, 2019 10:48:19 GMT
20 – Atlanta Hawks (+4) Jay Z (29-53)
Don’t let their record deceive you, the Atlanta Hawks managed to win half of their last 30 games (for better or worse). But that doesn’t mean much for next year. The talent is certainly there, but unfortunately, they can’t put out a 3-point guard lineup with Payton, Fox and Lonzo, does that mean they’ll let Payton walk? Or is a trade on the horizon?
Despite that, there’s still a lot of talent to go around, especially European talent, with Zizic, Mirotic, Saric, Hezonja and Bogdanovic. Is Sekou Doumbouya on the horizon for the Hawks? Will they trade away Fox in exchange for an unknown 2nd rounder European player to make an all European team? I’ll guess we’ll find that out this off-season.
19 – Portland Trail Blazers (+2) Jerry West (33-49)
The Blazers are in a bad spot, despite having 2 All-Star level players and good pieces around them in Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris, they were clearly not good enough to fight for a playoff spot in the West. But without their pick next year, there’s no incentive in tanking (they don’t even own their second-round picks for the next 4 years).
With only the MLE and the 12th pick to improve their squad, will they bet on a boom or bust prospect like Bol Bol or a veteran like Brandon Clarke to help them push for the playoffs? Maybe none of them will even be available at 12. Anyway, expect an active Blazers team on the trade market.
18 – San Antonio Spurs (-1) George Gervin (38-44)
Neither the Spurs or the Lakers wanted the playoff spots and face the Nuggets in the 1st round of the playoffs, but the Spurs were the one who won the lottery race finishing the last 2 months of the season with a 9-17 record.
Despite everything the Spurs are still one of the biggest winners of the year, after drafting Luka Doncic and SGA, so let’s see how they follow up one of the best drafts in D5 history now that they own the 13th pick, where a player like Nassir Little might be the short of prospect this team can bet on.
17 – LA Lakers (-1) Mark Price (40-42)
The Lakers made a big move moving on from Mike Conley, and for some reason they let TJ Warren go as well, but in return they did get Troy Brown Jr. and a 1st round pick. At least now they own a 2019 pick after trading theirs away to New York.
The good news is that they still have an intriguing prospect in Zhaire Smith, the bad news is that he might be their only interesting asset going forward. Specially with them already owing their 2021 pick to Phoenix. Let’s see what the future holds for the Lakers, but as of now, it looks like a 4-game series against Denver.
16 – Cleveland Cavaliers (+2) Hanamichi Sakuragi (40-42)
The Cavs were really close of having the honor of being beat by the Bucks in the 1st round of the playoffs, but Ricky Rubio denied them of that privilege. But not everything is bad news, they’ll have 2 lottery picks in the upcoming draft including a 32% chance to move into the Top 4, that’s pretty good.
Now on to their current roster and next season playoff hopes, Brook Lopez might be a bit overpaid and his value might not old during the duration of his contract, but, he provided good value this season and might to the same next season alongside electric scorer Zach LaVine surprisingly good young players in Derrick White and Kurucs who made their name heard during this season. But unless they get a Top 3 pick in the draft, the Cavs still look to be stuck in mediocrity for the next couple of years with them being over the cap for the near future.
15 – New York Knicks (0) Billy King (44-38)
Ricky Rubio did it, maybe with a little help of his teammates, but he did it, he pushed the Knicks into the playoffs and a solid 44-38 record. But the Knicks still own 2 enticing back to back picks at 15 and 16, and despite being on a weak draft that at least means 2 chances of at least getting one good player on a solid contract for 5 years that they can add to Aaron Gordon and Buddy “trust me I’m 26 I’m not lying again” Hield. Not to mention their franchise cornerstone in Hassan Whiteside.
As of now, the Milwaukee Bucks awaits them.
14 – Orlando Magic (-3) Blake Bowman (47-35)
Despite not having their star player Victor Oladipo and nothing resembling of a bench the Magic managed to win 47 games and they’ll face the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs, and to be honest there’s still part of me that believes that they can pull the upset.
But with the hard cap coming for the Magic despite their star players being on reasonable contracts, let’s see what moves their GM will do to be able to keep this promising team together.
13 – Miami Heat (-7) Shaquille O'Neal (47-35)
What happened to Miami? They were having a great season and fighting for home court advantage, and yet they went 11-14 during their last 25 games of the season, that’s horrible for a team that was on pace for getting close to 55 wins. And unfortunately for them, that means a date with the most dangerous team in the East in my opinion, the Charlotte Hornets.
Despite that, their core seems good enough to make another attempt at reaching 50 wins next year.
12 – Minnesota Timberwolves (-5) Walt Frazier (49-33)
I just can’t put my hand on why Galo meshed so bad with the rest of Wolves pack. But if I had to bet on a team to surprise everyone, it would be this one since every team on their side of the bracket ended the season struggling, including the mighty Warriors.
The Wolves will prove to be a thought matchup for everyone with their height in the forward spots and athleticism of their guards. It’s all a matter if Blake Griffin will regain his mid-season MVP form.
11 – Sacramento Kings (+3) Ghazny Dimalen (49-33)
No John Wall no problem has it seems, has the Kings managed to end the year on a surprising 17-9 which made them 5th in the West and gave them a very close matchup against the Thunder, although it seems like this year is just a preparation for the next when they’ll have John Wall back and they can reach their true potential. But without him a first round exit still feels like the most likely scenario.
Don’t let their record deceive you, the Atlanta Hawks managed to win half of their last 30 games (for better or worse). But that doesn’t mean much for next year. The talent is certainly there, but unfortunately, they can’t put out a 3-point guard lineup with Payton, Fox and Lonzo, does that mean they’ll let Payton walk? Or is a trade on the horizon?
Despite that, there’s still a lot of talent to go around, especially European talent, with Zizic, Mirotic, Saric, Hezonja and Bogdanovic. Is Sekou Doumbouya on the horizon for the Hawks? Will they trade away Fox in exchange for an unknown 2nd rounder European player to make an all European team? I’ll guess we’ll find that out this off-season.
19 – Portland Trail Blazers (+2) Jerry West (33-49)
The Blazers are in a bad spot, despite having 2 All-Star level players and good pieces around them in Tristan Thompson and Marcus Morris, they were clearly not good enough to fight for a playoff spot in the West. But without their pick next year, there’s no incentive in tanking (they don’t even own their second-round picks for the next 4 years).
With only the MLE and the 12th pick to improve their squad, will they bet on a boom or bust prospect like Bol Bol or a veteran like Brandon Clarke to help them push for the playoffs? Maybe none of them will even be available at 12. Anyway, expect an active Blazers team on the trade market.
18 – San Antonio Spurs (-1) George Gervin (38-44)
Neither the Spurs or the Lakers wanted the playoff spots and face the Nuggets in the 1st round of the playoffs, but the Spurs were the one who won the lottery race finishing the last 2 months of the season with a 9-17 record.
Despite everything the Spurs are still one of the biggest winners of the year, after drafting Luka Doncic and SGA, so let’s see how they follow up one of the best drafts in D5 history now that they own the 13th pick, where a player like Nassir Little might be the short of prospect this team can bet on.
17 – LA Lakers (-1) Mark Price (40-42)
The Lakers made a big move moving on from Mike Conley, and for some reason they let TJ Warren go as well, but in return they did get Troy Brown Jr. and a 1st round pick. At least now they own a 2019 pick after trading theirs away to New York.
The good news is that they still have an intriguing prospect in Zhaire Smith, the bad news is that he might be their only interesting asset going forward. Specially with them already owing their 2021 pick to Phoenix. Let’s see what the future holds for the Lakers, but as of now, it looks like a 4-game series against Denver.
16 – Cleveland Cavaliers (+2) Hanamichi Sakuragi (40-42)
The Cavs were really close of having the honor of being beat by the Bucks in the 1st round of the playoffs, but Ricky Rubio denied them of that privilege. But not everything is bad news, they’ll have 2 lottery picks in the upcoming draft including a 32% chance to move into the Top 4, that’s pretty good.
Now on to their current roster and next season playoff hopes, Brook Lopez might be a bit overpaid and his value might not old during the duration of his contract, but, he provided good value this season and might to the same next season alongside electric scorer Zach LaVine surprisingly good young players in Derrick White and Kurucs who made their name heard during this season. But unless they get a Top 3 pick in the draft, the Cavs still look to be stuck in mediocrity for the next couple of years with them being over the cap for the near future.
15 – New York Knicks (0) Billy King (44-38)
Ricky Rubio did it, maybe with a little help of his teammates, but he did it, he pushed the Knicks into the playoffs and a solid 44-38 record. But the Knicks still own 2 enticing back to back picks at 15 and 16, and despite being on a weak draft that at least means 2 chances of at least getting one good player on a solid contract for 5 years that they can add to Aaron Gordon and Buddy “trust me I’m 26 I’m not lying again” Hield. Not to mention their franchise cornerstone in Hassan Whiteside.
As of now, the Milwaukee Bucks awaits them.
14 – Orlando Magic (-3) Blake Bowman (47-35)
Despite not having their star player Victor Oladipo and nothing resembling of a bench the Magic managed to win 47 games and they’ll face the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs, and to be honest there’s still part of me that believes that they can pull the upset.
But with the hard cap coming for the Magic despite their star players being on reasonable contracts, let’s see what moves their GM will do to be able to keep this promising team together.
13 – Miami Heat (-7) Shaquille O'Neal (47-35)
What happened to Miami? They were having a great season and fighting for home court advantage, and yet they went 11-14 during their last 25 games of the season, that’s horrible for a team that was on pace for getting close to 55 wins. And unfortunately for them, that means a date with the most dangerous team in the East in my opinion, the Charlotte Hornets.
Despite that, their core seems good enough to make another attempt at reaching 50 wins next year.
12 – Minnesota Timberwolves (-5) Walt Frazier (49-33)
I just can’t put my hand on why Galo meshed so bad with the rest of Wolves pack. But if I had to bet on a team to surprise everyone, it would be this one since every team on their side of the bracket ended the season struggling, including the mighty Warriors.
The Wolves will prove to be a thought matchup for everyone with their height in the forward spots and athleticism of their guards. It’s all a matter if Blake Griffin will regain his mid-season MVP form.
11 – Sacramento Kings (+3) Ghazny Dimalen (49-33)
No John Wall no problem has it seems, has the Kings managed to end the year on a surprising 17-9 which made them 5th in the West and gave them a very close matchup against the Thunder, although it seems like this year is just a preparation for the next when they’ll have John Wall back and they can reach their true potential. But without him a first round exit still feels like the most likely scenario.