NBA power rankings — 9. LA Clippers
The Clippers are oddly more of a playoff team than a regular season team, making them hard to peg week-to-week. Broadly speaking, however, even with Kawhi Leonard likely to miss all of next season, you could argue LA deserves a higher spot. Paul George is a top-15 (more like top-12) player, and the Clippers’ depth showed out in a big way all postseason.
Ty Lue is right there with Erik Spoelstra and Nick Nurse for the title of “best NBA coach,” in this writer’s opinion. His adaptability and offensive strategy are hard to top. He will have the Clippers firmly in the playoff picture, Kawhi or not. That said, Leonard’s absence will no doubt hurt the Clippers’ regular season performance.
NBA power rankings — 8. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors won’t get Klay Thompson back right away, but once he returns, there’s a good chance Golden State resumes elite status. Even with uncertainty around health and age, the Warriors are a dynamic offensive team captained by one of the greatest offensive players ever. Stephen Curry was an MVP candidate last season, and knock on wood, he should be right back at it in 2021-22.
Once Thompson is back, the Warriors will have the core of a 73-win, championship team. Thompson has been out for two years, and the Warriors aren’t getting younger, but barring injuries, it’s hard to imagine them flopping. Golden State had a strong performance in the draft and free agency, while potential blockbuster trades — Ben Simmons, Pascal Siakam, etc. — could move them even closer to a championship.
NBA power rankings — 7. Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers are a national embarrassment, and there range of potential outcomes in a Ben Simmons trade is vast. That said, as built, the Sixers are still the reigning one-seed, having posted the third best record in the NBA last season. Flaws and all, this is a team helmed by an MVP candidate in Joel Embiid, a Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Ben Simmons, and a championship-pedigree coach in Doc Rivers.
Philadelphia has made marginal improvements this summer, and there’s a good chance Tyrese Maxey and Matisse Thybulle take second and third-year leaps, respectively. If Simmons gets traded for Damian Lillard or Bradley Beal, then Philly moves closer to No. 1. If he gets traded for something else, then their spot is TBD. As built, this feels right — even a bit low. It’s just hard to wash away the bad taste of the second round.