Celtics Year: Top 10 Power Rankings based on Point differential and Record

[SoNicks]

1. Celtics (36-12 w/ +10 differential)
Its officially the Celtics year again. One year removed from the #2 odds, the consensus GMOY is looking unstoppable on his campaign to claim his second SLN title. I literally don’t think anything can stop this man as he sports the league’s best differential in the second-best conference. Sloppy Joe (you’ll get this reference with my next article lmao) might have a ton of key players expiring this year (Whiteside, Gortat, Covington, Bledsoe, and Prince) who are all averaging 28min+ per game, but he is nevertheless primed to win the title undefeated in the playoffs this year. Key signings of Looney and Harden are paying huge dividends, and despite the opportunity cost that was lost for next FA signings, I think he is still in a great spot. Weaknesses – Sloppy Joes bad takes are all I can think of; Celtics Year!

2. Knicks (35-16 w/ + 9.6 differential)
Nav has put together another MonSTAR squad in the big apple. They rebound , they Stock at the highest level, they can score with class and style, they aren’t too TO friendly and they are well rounded. Gay, Turner, and embiid constitute an elite big 3, and their extremely stock efficient bigs in Biyombo and Petro make this team very tough to beat. If it wasn’t for the Sloppy J’s in Boston, it would indeed be the Knicks’ year. Idk if nav has noticed how well hes done since all he does it work, but I hope he knows work is only the means to afford ashes’ monthly dues.
Weaknesses- I want to say Langston Galloway, but hes sTOck positive and shoots with excellent efficiency so… none?

3. Hawks (38-13 w/ +7.5 differential)
HawkleHeimer looks primed to make another playoff run this season, as the Hawks bring back the core of their SLNF roster last year. Kevin Durant is sporting the second greatest season of all time this year with a 36/8 w. 3.1:1.6 sTOcks on 52/46/85 splits. These Hawks are as well rounded as can be. They rebound at an elite level, they don’t turn it over, they get elite Stocks, and they shoot at an above average level. This team will be a tough out if KD keeps this level of play up.
Weaknesses – Bigs, they could use a stocky, rebounding big, but with Salary cap issue that might be improbable.

4. Kings (30-15 +7.3 differential)
Technically, they should be the #5 team behind the Grizzlies, based on differential, but theres not enough Boban talk. So the Kings get the extra bump up the chart as I assume Bobans girth will widen out their +/-. Jesse has done it again and this is probably his most impressive team hes constructed on the fly to date. His team rebounds at the highest levels, never turns it over, has elite steals and blocks. He picked Boban up for a Jesse-like deal and continues to get better. Hes got picks to spend, cap to resign people, and stars on the roster. IDK how his team is so good but here we are. Don’t be attached to your players, that’s all ive learned watching the master cook.
Weaknesses- if any, it would probably be elite shooting efficiency around Hield. But this team often does it by committee and with Boban back in the fold, who knows what will unfold.

5. Grizzlies (33-14 +7.4 differential)
The grizzlies are back on top of the west! And that’s the best conference after all. These men are gritty and have fought through adversity and tribulations. They do almost everything at above average rates and don’t have many weaknesses to boot. They have an elite defense and their scoring big three of Ingram, Tingus, and CJ miles have shot lights out all season long. If Conley wasn’t having a bit of a regression year, these cats might be in the top 3 of the leagues power rankings. While cap issues might cause some roster turn over in the future, its not a far stretch to reason that the Grizz will be at the top of the west for years to come.
Weaknesses- Rebounding. They get a lot of boards, but they also give up a lot of boards too. They only have a +1 differential; however, this has been hidden by their prolific defense.

6. Jazz(30-15 +6.8 differential)
One of the stonkiest teams in the league, the Jazz are helmed by SLN GOAT Greg Oden and Big Al Jefferson who continue to lock down the best front court in the league. The are a prolific rebounding team and have a massive differential on that font. They get stocks with the best of them, they defend like champions, and can rely on several different scorers to get it done (6 players with double digit scoring averages). They just made a move for Freddie V, so we will have to see where that takes them, but he is shooting at an elite level and he doesn’t turn it over at the level that Mudiay did, which will cover up one of their two weaknesses.
Weaknesses- As mentioned, these studs got two weaknesses. The currently have high TO levels, and while they are stocky AF, 13 is an unlucky number. But given the change in PG from Mudiay to FVV, there’s reason to believe that number drops by a TO. Their second weakness is scoring efficiency, and while FVV while again help in eliminate part of this issue as well, I am still concerned as to whether GO will prevent this team from winning it all with his off-shooting nights.

7. Lakers (27-17 +6.7 differential)
The Los Kyries are the team to watch this year. As GX said F-it, I want that GMOY award and yolo’d it all for Kyrie and co, the SLN looked on in horror and joy as GX single handedly jumpstarted the stagnant trade market. The have a legitimate case for winning the ship this year and that is helmed entirely by Kyrie irving. They are stocky, they don’t turn it over much, and Bam and curry easily are holding it down inside leading to an above average rebounding team. Paul George is probably having a career year to boot.
Weaknesses – Shooting efficiency vs defensive shooting effeciency and depth. They are shooting to league averages, but their defense isn’t providing them enough to really get separation on that regard. They also have virtually no depth on the wings and in their backcourt. I feel like they need a Julian wright type guy so they can slide PG to the super sub. Also is Chris Boucher now the supreme Julian Wright? That dudes been nice at SF!

8. Magic (25-19 +4.4 differential)
This is the last team on the rankings that have a legitimate chance at winning the title. These men are killers, and they are THE best shooting team in the league RN from both 3pt line and the field. Their big three of Kawhi, Curry, and Booker are cooking with straight gas, and their bench of Morris, Poole, and Lamb are providing more than enough to get the job done. They don’t turn it over more than 12pg, which is elite for their trigger happy, fast paced offensive style. And their fleet of wings and guards do just enough to make their stocks championship level.
Weaknesses- Front court and rebounding. The are the worst rebounding team on this list and that is indicative of their Front court play. Zubac, Henson, and TeeTees might not get it done come playoff time when they face stiffer competition.

9. Sonicks (28-17 +3 differential)
WE PLACED! It’s been a while. The Tank was dark and full of terrors. I didn’t win one draft lotto, didn’t even get second. I only jumped once and got Garland, who has been all but forgotten in my DC and among the league. The Sonicks trade tax sucks. Title town was all but forgotten after a dreaded GO trade that sent the into a post wedding tank that lasted longer than some peoples marriages. A mid-season trade is the only reason they made this list, bringing in bad boy Jared Sullinger, and Goat PG Lou Williams. Since the acquisition, they have gone from -1 diff to +3 diff through the 27 games played. This is a goofy team that does a lot and nothing all at the same time. They are one of the best stealing teams in the league as the eagerly jump into passing lanes, but they cannot block a ball to save their life. The positional rebounding provided by Boucher and Simmons is enough to make a positive rebounding team.
Weaknesses – EVERYTHING! They are elite at only steals. They turn it over a touch too much and are average at everything else. Their shooting was worst in the league before Lou joined the squad. Their only hope of a series win in the SLN playoffs is Lou going wild.

10. Pacers (30-25 +2 differential)
Much like the Sonicks, the Pacers are a profoundly average team, jack of all trades, master of none. They rebound, but not too well, they get stocks but only a 3pt diff to their TOs. They aren’t breaking records with their efficiency shooting the ball, and their defense is just solid. Good news is, there might not be a stronger UP arrow in the league than these guys. Fox, Sabonis, Bridges, Herro, and Drummond all compose one of the most elite young rosters in the league.
Weaknesses- Youth. Besides Deron, who is goated atm, most of their core is too green to really make any playoff noise… yet we all know these Pacers are gonna cook sooner than later.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Suns and the Raptors
I, in good conscious, cannot include these two teams in the top ten as they have taken a step back talent wise with trades. Theres a chance the raptors don’t pull the trigger on their Tank for wet banana tank threats, but I think they will. It was always the plan. And while the suns are still loaded and will most likely make a big move in the offseason using Walls contract and picks, I don’t think they have what it takes this year to make any noise in the playoffs. Keep watch on petersuns, I feel like old man bron would fit well here on a reasonable contract.

[Clinton]

Wheres the other 19?

[Joe]

Ugh. I fully expect to get bounced in the first round per usual, the bad takes will come home to roost karma-wise

But fwiw, we were the #1 lotto odds this past year, not #2, we just dropped to #2 post lotto

Also I make sloppy joes about once a week, an extremely underrated dinner that has been the victim of terrible branding

[SoNicks]

Ugh. I fully expect to get bounced in the first round per usual, the bad takes will come home to roost karma-wise

But fwiw, we were the #1 lotto odds this past year, not #2, we just dropped to #2 post lotto

Also I make sloppy joes about once a week, an extremely underrated dinner that has been the victim of terrible branding

Excellent! My article to come this week is titled “what sandwich would each GM be”

You are in fact the sloppy Joe lmao

[Joe]

Grade: 600RP