NBA Power Rankings – Ranking the top ten teams for the next NBA season (Part 5)
2. Oklahoma City Thunder:
The runners up of last year’s NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder have all the ingredients to become champions this season.
Their young stars have matured further and if anything, they would have learned from their mistakes against the Miami Heat. The Thunder were never rated as the underdogs in last season’s finale and the primary reason for that was
the raw talent available on their roster.
In Kevin Durant, they have a man who is now considered the best closer in NBA. Plus, he is the most lethal scoring machine NBA has seen for some time. And when he is down, there is Russell Westbrook to count upon. Westbrook is
a attack first point guard, who has established himself among the top five guards in the league. He can be a menace to deal with on his day, and forms a good partnership with James Harden, who won last sixth man of the year award.
The front court isn’t that bad either. At 4, OKC have a beast in the form of Serge Ibaka, and Kendrick Perkins does a handy job at centre.
The only reason why this side is ranked below Miami is that Durant doesn’t have a post game, good enough to match LeBron James, and the consistency factor missing from the games of Westbrook and Harden. If they can overcome these
glitches this season, Thunder might go one better.
1. Miami Heat
This team has the best player of the present era, it has arguably the best shooting guard in the league, has an athletic big in the form of Chris Bosh and last but not the least, it has a bevy of slick sharpshooters and role players
who can erupt at any time.
This team is Miami Heat and it is the reigning NBA Champion.
Barring a major surprise, Heat will retain the title in the coming season.
There are many people who argue that Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder have the ability to topple Miami, but the fact remains that Lakers can’t beat the athleticism of Heat. As for OKC, Miami ain’t old and they just
cannot wait them out to a title.
The only factor which can trouble Miami is that they are short on quality bigs. Pat Riley and co have been trying to hunt out a big for some time, but given their cap space issues, the efforts have not materialized. The Heat have
tried to cope up with that by inculcating a small ball philosophy and till last season, it has proved successful.
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