“The difference between winning and losing and the parity between teams is sliced as thinly as I’ve ever seen it in my 27 years in the NBA,” said Minnesota Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale.
With the season opening Tuesday night, USA TODAY’s David DuPree ranks all 30 teams:Â
1. Phoenix Suns (West)
2. San Antonio Spurs (West)
3. Miami Heat (East)
4. Dallas Mavericks (West)
5. Chicago Bulls (East)
6. Detroit Pistons (East)
7. Cleveland Cavaliers (East):David Wesley should help with the outside shooting, and a healthy Larry Hughes is a big boost. LeBron James could very well lead the league in scoring as he inches even closer to averaging a triple-double. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao are a tough center tandem.
8. Houston Rockets (West)
9. Indiana Pacers (East)
10. Utah Jazz (West)
11. Los Angeles Clippers (West)
12. New Jersey Nets (East)
13. Los Angeles Lakers (West)
14. Sacramento Kings (West)
15. Denver Nuggets (West)
16. Orlando Magic (East)
17. Washington Wizards (East)
18. Memphis Grizzlies (West)
19. Milwaukee Bucks (East)
20. Golden State Warriors (West)
21. Minnesota Timberwolves (West)
22. New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets (West)
23. Toronto Raptors (East)
24. Philadelphia 76ers (East)
25. Seattle SuperSonics (West)
26. New York Knicks (East)
27. Charlotte Bobcats (East)
28. Boston Celtics (East)
29. Portland Trail Blazers (West)
30. Atlanta Hawks (East)