It’s time for our 13th annual Tiers of the NBA — my alternative to power rankings. . . . Grouping teams helps clarify who is where on that spectrum — and which teams might be on the verge of moving up or down.
GRASPING AT PLAY-IN HOME-COURT DISADVANTAGE
[Chicago Bulls](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/chi/chicago-bulls)
[New York Knicks](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/ny/new-york-knicks)
[Portland Trail Blazers](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers)
[Sacramento Kings](https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/sac/sacramento-kings)
• Bulls pessimism is already passe in the wake of the sad [Lonzo Ball](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066421/lonzo-ball) news. Opponents outscored Chicago when all three of [DeMar DeRozan](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3978/demar-derozan), [Zach LaVine](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3064440/zach-lavine), and [Nikola Vucevic](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/6478/nikola-vucevic) shared the floor. The Bulls need maximum defense around those three, and until Ball returns, it’s hard for them to supply that without knee-capping their offense.
Their best hope is a full [Alex Caruso](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2991350/alex-caruso) season, plus immediate development from both [Ayo Dosunmu](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4397002/ayo-dosunmu) and [Patrick Williams](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4431687/patrick-williams) \– one of the league’s great curiosities. Williams has been tentative with the ball, and the Bulls aren’t quite sure how to use him: Corner shooter? Secondary creator? Unorthodox screen-setter — with Vucevic spotting up?
The depth is not super-inspiring. LaVine is coming off knee issues. DeRozan will have trouble replicating his magical All-NBA season — and bonkers late-game shooting — and Vucevic is a stretch center who has shot 34% or worse from deep in four of his past six seasons.
It’s *really* hard to argue they are better than any of the eight East teams above them here.
• I’m betting on New York’s depth — the Knicks are at least 10-deep in productive players, including several young guys on the come — and Tom Thibodeau’s bellowing defensive pedigree to push them (slightly) above expectations. Don’t be surprised if they finish ahead of Chicago.
New York’s go-go bench may not maul opponents to the same degree again, but the [RJ Barrett](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4395625/rj-barrett)/[Julius Randle](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3064514/julius-randle)/[Mitchell Robinson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4351852/mitchell-robinson) frontcourt can’t possibly be so jumbled and punchless with Brunson running things.
There is a top-down urgency to win after last year’s morass and the whiff on Donovan Mitchell. Thibodeau should have them back to the frenzied defense of two seasons ago.
by Top-Lettuce3956
4 Comments
We’ll see what happens but Lowe had Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Utah among the top teams for last season.
I really like the Knicks’ chances at leapfrogging the Bulls.
We’ll definitely need some luck and regression from MIA and TOR if we hope to catch them.
Doubt we catch Philly unless a catastrophic injury happens.
Thats fair. I think if Lonzo doesn’t come back this season, we’re better than the Bulls. The Knicks have a way deeper roster. The Bulls have Lavine and Derozan but they also have a league worst defense without their best defender
Playoffs:
1. Bucks
2. Celtics
3. 76ers
4. Heat
5. Nets
6. Cavs
Play-in:
7. Hawks
8. Raptors
9. Knicks
10. Bulls