2012-2013 NBA Preseason Power Rankings: Top 5 Head Coaches: With the preseason wrapping up, the 2012-13 NBA regular season is set to begin. There are plenty of storylines to follow as defending MVP LeBron James enters his first season since becoming a champion, Kobe Bryant and the Lakers prepare to make another run at a title after reloading in the offseason, and No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis prepares to begin his career at the next level. The upcoming year promises to be an exciting one, and before the season tips off, here is a look at how all 30 teams stack up heading into the regular season.
2012-2013 NBA Preseason Power Rankings
1. Miami Heat: Miami has the defending MVP, a healthy Dwyane Wade and a ton of perimeter firepower led by Ray Allen. This group has dynasty potential.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and all the other key parts are back for a group that should only be better for having come up short in last year’s NBA Finals.
3. Los Angeles Lakers: Adding Steve Nash and Dwight Howard was impressive. Adding Nash and Howard while keeping Pau Gasol makes the Lakers’ offseason one of the best in NBA history.
4. San Antonio Spurs: How many years in a row do the Spurs have to win the most games in the Western Conference before people realize that Tim Duncan and company aren’t too old to contend just yet.
5. Boston Celtics: With a much deeper bench led by Jason Terry and Jeff Green, a strong argument can be made that this year’s team is better than the one that came with one win of reaching the NBA Finals last year.
6. Los Angeles Clippers: With at least one more year with Chris Paul at point guard and a much-improved bench, the Clippers should pile up wins and highlight-reel plays for the second year in a row.
7. Denver Nuggets: Denver’s up-tempo offense will leave opponents breathing heavy, but it is the potential defensive impact of Andre Iguodala and JaVale McGee that could get this team over the hump.
8. Memphis Grizzlies: The Grizzlies’ frontcourt is the real deal, but if Memphis is destined for more than just an early-round playoff exit, Rudy Gay and Mike Conley Jr. need provide consistent scoring from the perimeter.
9. Brooklyn Nets: There just aren’t many holes in Brooklyn’s starting five. They have an elite point guard, a proven scorer at shooting guard and scoring and rebounding in the frontcourt. In the Eastern Conference, the Nets have more than enough to compete.
10. Indiana Pacers: Indiana didn’t gain or lose much in the offseason, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing for a team that finished with the third-best record in the Eastern Conference last season.
11. Chicago Bulls: The Bulls will stay in the hunt thanks to their stifling defense, but Derrick Rose needs to return and return healthy of this team is going to make any noise in the postseason.
12. Dallas Mavericks: Although Dallas is clearly focused on the upcoming class of free agents, Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks should stay competitive thanks to a bunch of cap-friendly signings that included veteran big men Chris Kaman and Elton Brand and a pair of young, perimeter players in O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison.
13. New York Knicks: Tyson Chandler’s defense and Carmelo Anthony’s scoring will get the Knicks back to the playoffs, but this group doesn’t seem any closer to gelling than it has in previous years.
14. Philadelphia 76ers: Philadelphia will enjoy a nightly mismatch now that they have the best center in the conference, but going all in with a player with a history of focus issues and injuries is a bit risky.
15. Utah Jazz: The Jazz aren’t flashy, but with a frontcourt rotation featuring Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter, they can certainly punish teams in the paint.
16. Atlanta Hawks: Atlanta replaced Joe Johnson with a bunch of perimeter scorers, and with Al Horford healthy again, Atlanta can still be a playoff team in the Eastern Conference.
17. Golden State Warriors: If Andrew Bogut and Stephen Curry stay healthy, this Golden State team could resemble the one that snuck into the playoffs and bounced the top-seeded Mavericks a few years back. However, that is big if given the history of both players.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: The roster is much improved, but missing Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio to start the year will put the Timberwolves in a hole that they won’t be able to dig out of the in loaded Western Conference.
19. Milwaukee Bucks: When Brandon Jennings and Monta Ellis are dialed in, the Bucks will surprise some teams. That being said, their reliance on perimeter scoring will lead to a lot of inconsistency.
20. Washington Wizards: Nene Hilario and Emeka Okafor provide stability in the frontcourt, and the Wizards could be the surprise of the season if the young perimeter players develop quickly.
21. Phoenix Suns: Phoenix doesn’t have a playoff-caliber roster in the Western Conference, but if Michael Beasley’s play in the preseason is any indication, the Suns aren’t going to completely unravel without Steve Nash.
22. Portland Trailblazers: The Trailblazers are still in rebuilding mode, but at least they have a franchise big man in LaMarcus Aldridge as their centerpiece and a rookie point guard in Damian Lillard that has a chance to be special.
23. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis’ development is the key to the franchise’s long-term success, but in 2012-13, the health of Eric Gordon will determine if the Hornets can hold their own in the Western Conference.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers: If Kyrie Irving has improved his already-impressive game at all during the offseason, the Cavaliers are going to continue win more games regardless of what his young supporting cast does.
25. Toronto Raptors: Last year’s first-round pick Jonas Valanciunas joins an already-crowded frontcourt, and Toronto is going to have to deal with some growing pains as it tries to figure out a rotation.
26. Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins has the potential to become a star, but outside of rookie Thomas Robinson, the Kings have a roster full of shooters that aren’t interested in playing defense or doing the dirty work it takes to win games.
27. Houston Rockets: Why the Rockets blew up a roster that nearly made the playoffs two years in a row is a mystery. What is left is a forward-heavy of first and second-year players.
28. Detroit Pistons: Rookie Andre Drummond has the best NBA body of any young center prospect, but by drafting him, the Pistons officially committed to a few years of rebuilding.
29. Charlotte Bobcats: Where is the offense going to come from for Charlotte? Kemba Walker has proven to be more of a shot taker than a shot maker, and rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is beyond raw on the offensive end.
30. Orlando Magic: Orlando might as well have traded away Dwight Howard for some magic beans because the Magic are looking at a season with Jameer Nelson as their best player. That’s just plain scary if you are an Orlando fan.
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