Who are your top 5 teams in the NBA?

[celticsclay]

I have

1) Golden State (dominant)
2) Houston (imagine when they get paul back)
3) Celtics (Incredible play without Hayward)
4) Spurs (imagine when they get Leonard back)
5) Pistons (They have beaten Golden State, Minnesota, Clippers, Bucks, got to put them here for now) 

I am interested to see if Bucks, Cavs and Thunder can gel. I think Bucks are most likely to.

[jpotter33]

Right now we're clear-cut the second best team in the league. I think we're better than Houston even without Hayward, because I think they're a bit overrated.

San Antonio will also be better once Leonard is back, and I can see Cleveland being a top-5 team by the end of the season, though we should still be better.

[footey]

One thing we can all agree on. GSW is 1.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

One thing we can all agree on. GSW is 1.

yup

[greece66]

tier 1 GSW

tier 2 Cavs, Celtics and Houston - not in the same league as GSW but they could threaten under certain circumstances.

I don't think SAS belongs in that group - if they had a way to make Pau and Parker ten years younger, then sure, but I don't see medicine going this far until the playoffs.

[celticsclay]

tier 1 GSW

tier 2 Cavs, Celtics and Houston - not in the same league as GSW but they could threaten under certain circumstances.

I don't think SAS belongs in that group - if they had a way to make Pau and Parker ten years younger, then sure, but I don't see medicine going this far until the playoffs.

Kind of curious why you could put in Cleveland at 5-7 with tons of new faces but totally dismiss okc for struggling with their new faces. Adams, Westbrook, Anthony, George is nasty on paper

[greece66]

tier 1 GSW

tier 2 Cavs, Celtics and Houston - not in the same league as GSW but they could threaten under certain circumstances.

I don't think SAS belongs in that group - if they had a way to make Pau and Parker ten years younger, then sure, but I don't see medicine going this far until the playoffs.

Kind of curious why you could put in Cleveland at 5-7 with tons of new faces but totally dismiss okc for struggling with their new faces. Adams, Westbrook, Anthony, George is nasty on paper

3 finals in a row vs an untested roster

plus, cavs are in the East.

[PhoSita]

Golden State is #1.

I think the Rockets are #2.


The Celts are winning with defense and clutch plays.  I'm not sure how sustainable it is, but they're clearly still one of the best teams in the East.  I'm not sure how they're managing to be so coordinated on both ends of the floor after so much turnover and such a young roster.  It's incredible.  Brad Stevens is the runaway Coach of the Year candidate so far.


After that, it's hard to say exactly.  The other "good" teams have been very up and down.

I don't believe in the Pistons, I don't think the Raptors are better than they've been in the past, and I'm not surprised the Thunder are struggling.  I'm kind of happy they are, actually, because I hate the way they play.  I don't believe in the Magic.


I think the Spurs will be in the mix once Kawhi comes back.

I might actually say the Blazers are the 5th team, considering they're top 5 in defensive efficiency with a significant point differential and two elite scoring guards.  I don't think they will be all season, but the Lillard - CJ - Nurkic trio seems legit.

[greece66]

Golden State is #1.

I think the Rockets are #2.


The Celts are winning with defense and clutch plays.  I'm not sure how sustainable it is, but they're clearly still one of the best teams in the East.  I'm not sure how they're managing to be so coordinated on both ends of the floor after so much turnover and such a young roster.  It's incredible.  Brad Stevens is the runaway Coach of the Year candidate so far.


After that, it's hard to say exactly.  The other "good" teams have been very up and down.

I don't believe in the Pistons, I don't think the Raptors are better than they've been in the past, and I'm not surprised the Thunder are struggling.  I'm kind of happy they are, actually, because I hate the way they play.  I don't believe in the Magic.


I think the Spurs will be in the mix once Kawhi comes back.

I might actually say the Blazers are the 5th team, considering they're top 5 in defensive efficiency with a significant point differential and two elite scoring guards.  I don't think they will be all season, but the Lillard - CJ - Nurkic trio seems legit.

Agree with the bolded part. Not sure what you see in Portland though.

[celticsclay]

Golden State is #1.

I think the Rockets are #2.


The Celts are winning with defense and clutch plays.  I'm not sure how sustainable it is, but they're clearly still one of the best teams in the East.  I'm not sure how they're managing to be so coordinated on both ends of the floor after so much turnover and such a young roster.  It's incredible.  Brad Stevens is the runaway Coach of the Year candidate so far.


After that, it's hard to say exactly.  The other "good" teams have been very up and down.

I don't believe in the Pistons, I don't think the Raptors are better than they've been in the past, and I'm not surprised the Thunder are struggling.  I'm kind of happy they are, actually, because I hate the way they play.  I don't believe in the Magic.


I think the Spurs will be in the mix once Kawhi comes back.

I might actually say the Blazers are the 5th team, considering they're top 5 in defensive efficiency with a significant point differential and two elite scoring guards.  I don't think they will be all season, but the Lillard - CJ - Nurkic trio seems legit.

Pho it is funny. I was really thinking of putting Portland number 5 (along with memphis). Since then they lost to the nets at home. I like their players I just don't think they have something to make a leap to great. If they were playing Memphis in a close game I think they would lose. I also think Denver could pass them.

[Big333223]

I'm as reticent as anyone to put the Pistons and Magic near the top 5 but beyond their records (#2 and #3 in the East) the Pistons are 7th in offense and 11th defense, the Magic are 11th in offense and 9th in defense, which is about as balanced as anyone in the league.

I'm assuming a lot of this will iron out as the season goes on but no one is top ten in both categories right now. Not even the Warriors.

[SHAQATTACK]

So we lost Hayward and still win.....How good are the rockets minus Harden.

[mqtcelticsfan]

So we lost Hayward and still win.....How good are the rockets minus Harden.

The Rockets have been without Chris Paul, which is a far more apt comparison.

[CroCorvus]

For me its Golden State, Houston, Celtics, Cavs and Spurs. Those are the best teams overall. The Cavs and the Spurs obviously are not currently playing teh best basketball but generally I think they are in top five with full squad.

[RockinRyA]

So we lost Hayward and still win.....How good are the rockets minus Harden.

The Rockets dont have CP3 at the moment though.