NBA Rankings: Three for Thought – 3 through 1

It’s here! If you’re rich enough to enjoy the league pass, then good for you; if not, then enjoy the week’s free trial on the site. Alternatively you can wait for one of the channels to finally pick up the television contract, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes.

Here for your delight, is the rundown of numbers 30 through to 4 that I have already previewed…

30 – Phoenix Suns, 29 – Orlando Magic, 28 – Charlotte Bobcats, 27 – Utah Jazz, 26 – Milwaukee Bucks, 25 – Toronto Raptors, 24 – Boston Celtics, 23 – Philadelphia 76ers, 22 – Sacramento Kings, 21 – LA Lakers, 20 – Atlanta Hawks, 19 – Portland Trailblazers, 18 – New Orleans, 17 – Cleveland Cavaliers, 16 – Dallas Mavericks, 15 – Washington Wizards, 14 – Minnesota Timberwolves, 13 – Detroit Pistons, 12 – Denver Nuggets, 11 – Memphis Grizzlies, 10 – New York Knicks, 9 – San Antonio Spurs, 8 – Golden State Warriors, 7 – Brooklyn Nets, 6 – Clippers, 5 – Indiana Pacers, 4 – Houston Rockets.

But now, it’s time for my final instalment, the three most elite, durable and the trio most likely to put their name into history.

3 – Chicago Bulls – 2012/13: 45-37 – 2013/14: 59-23

How this team will lose 23 games this season I don’t know. The long NBA season will eventually grate on a roster and you’ve got to let up some games somehow.

If there’s one coach in the league who’ll remember each and every loss 10x more than any victory is Tom Thibodeau however. This is what gives Chicago their edge in the Playoffs, if LeBron James wasn’t such a monster the Finals would’ve been Bulls v Spurs.

This is all without Rose don’t forget.

The former MVP is back and has shown everyone through his pre-season play that he back 100%, possibly better than the man who has threatened to break James’ reign at the top of the player rankings.

Rose returning brings you the inside/out threat that an elite point guard can produce. His sharp paint driving skills ultimately came to haunt him when he tore his knee but claims to have added to an already high skill set with increased outside shooting success, so not only has he came back better, he’s even more elusive to those trying to guard him.

The guys shouldering heavy minutes like Noah, Boozer, Deng and Butler down the stretch last season have a huge weight lifted off of them. It’s not as if they want less pressure but it’s clear that the team formed without Rose can’t make it all the way, throw in all the fairytale nights like those of Nate and Butler saving the team and it still isn’t enough, you need a defining star at the helm (99% of the time anyway.)

So if things don’t pan out this season? If Rose can’t create that spark, if Deng can’t produce a good secondary offense? Then there’s always next year.

Chicago has set itself up for the future superbly. Deng sadly expires this year so don’t be surprised if he gets traded away soon. Other than that and every other key player is signed on, not only that but if Charlotte continue to tank and grab a 1-10 pick then the Bulls are given that spot. So dumping some salary cap space coupled with a high draft spot and the 2014/15 season could be even more threatening.

We have to wait and see what Rose brings, if Noah can stay healthy and if Jimmy Butler is truly as good as he looked in the post-season. This team can win a championship, the franchise has six, but the seventh has been constrained due to the lack of star capable of dominating the league, a player Chicago fans finally believe they have.

2 – Oklahoma City Thunder – 2012/13: 60-22 – 2013/14: 60-22

OKC are at a tipping point. Either they’ll smash every expectation set of them and fly high with two of the top players in the league. Or Westbrook’s injury is worse than feared and KD has to carry the team again and we all know how that ends up in the pursuit of the title.

Durant however is unanimously the second best player in the league. He is the purest scorer, from outside, inside, midrange; he’ll punish any team failing to limit him. His frame, height and build prevents most defenders from getting anywhere near his release making him virtually impossible to guard.

With Westbrook out for the first two months of the season KD will be pouring in the points, will most likely grab the scoring title and push himself out for the MVP favourite. But can the team win on all ends of the floor in a crunch time situation. San Antonio showed that they can’t.

OKC drafted Steven Adams, traded away Martin and brought in Dunleavy, not exactly moves that anyone will analyse this time last year regardless of whether success/failure precedes this article.

Sadly the franchises faith in Perkins has resulted in the necessity of trading away Harden and Martin, Harden especially has blossomed but Martin gave the team a clear secondary attacking option. Amnestying Perkins last year instead of paying him his $9m a year would’ve potentially kept Harden in a Thunder jersey except now they’re forced to hope Jeremy Lamb reaches the potential some say he possesses.

Ibaka has a huge year ahead of him on the offensive end, he clearly has what it takes to produce great defensive numbers till he retires but if he has to make teams scared of his mid range jumpers otherwise they literally have one healthy game winning option suiting up for opening night.

Westbrook was Mr Ironman having not missed a high school, college or pro game until his injury so the signs are pretty good that he will come back at full strength. His scoring ability and clear speed and knack for getting to the line is vital, forcing teams into the penalty may not be pretty but it wins games and ultimately playoff series.

The Thunder at full strength should get themselves out of the West this season, the Rockets and Clippers have toughened up but aren’t as settled and comfortable with their game like OKC, anything less than an NBA Finals appearance for Scott Brooks and his men this season will be a disappointment.

1 – Miami Heat – 2012/13: 66-16 – 2013/14: 64-18

AND SOUTH BEACH WINS AGAIN. In my head anyway.

Virtually every critic, fan, GM and player is betting on a three-peat this season. After that who knows.

The big three expire at the end of this season unless they opt for their player option.

In fact, only $2m next season is guaranteed on the Miami cap, you name a Heat player and they’re more than likely only guaranteed for this season.

Amnestying Mike Miller saved the franchise a heap of cash but if each player picks up their option for next season then that’ll put them over the tax for a second successive season which incurs even tougher fines, the only way you can justify blatantly ignoring the boundaries set by the league is to do it off the back of success.

So we all know what Miami can do on the court. LeBron is undisputedly the greatest player on the planet and Dwyane Wade is worrying close to full fitness for the first time in over 12 months.

Greg Oden has signed for next to nothing. He hasn’t played since 2009 and his knee is scary close to shattering, exploding and just busting down at any point. But you get three/four months out of this guy when it matters and you have a big man who was once thought to be a better pro than Kevin Durant.

The Beasley trade again was packed with doubts but the potential upside far outweighs what could possible happen to the team. The senior members will be quick to boot out any disturbance and restore the balance back to what it was last season.

Last season Spoelstra helped guide a winning formula that saw a third straight finals appearance and a second straight title. With massive trade, draft and tax implications in play come this time next year then the best shot is to do it again, keep everyone happy and make South Beach the place to be for winners, because this is a team of winners.