The NBA season is coming and training camps are here and here is a look at the Top 10 teams in the SWR Power Rankings heading into the start of October. There aren't many surprises here, but we see the top 10 teams in the league as the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta Hawks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Warriors are coming back as defending NBA champions, while the Cavs come back as the defending eastern conference champs. Teams will be gunning for both of those clubs and teams like the Thunder, Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns could challenge for the playoffs after missing out last season. The Spurs and Clippers have both made numerous moves this offseason, while teams like the Rockets, Hawks and Grizzlies are bringing back strong roster after making the postseason last year.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors deserve the top spot until someone knocks them off, as the team has their core players coming back after a championship run. Steph Curry and company should be excellent again and they are the team to beat out west.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers won the east last season and while they are dealing with some injuries to Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert, the team should be favorites once again. Tristan Thompson remains unsigned, but that will get handled eventually and this roster is deeper than it was last season. Kevin Love and basically every other major free agent for the team has returned along with LeBron James.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs had a fantastic offseason while snagging LaMarcus Aldridge and the team also signed Kawhi Leonard to a contract extension. Danny Green is back as well and now the team has another run with Tim Duncan and the Big 3 of Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers improved greatly from last season, as Doc Rivers added to the bench and brought in Lance Stephenson, Josh Smith, Paul Peirce, Wesley Johnson and Pablo Prigioni. The team also convinced DeAndre Jordan to stick around and that should give the team a strong chance to get back deep in the playoffs.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets have James Harden coming back after a near MVP season and the team also brought in Ty Lawson. The Rockets kept Patrick Beverley and they are looking to get back to the west finals.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls retained Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy and Kirk Hinrich and the biggest move may be on the sidelines, as the team has a new head coach in Fred Hoiberg. The team can challenge in the east this season if Derrick Rose stays healthy.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis remains deep after keeping Marc Gasol and they also will be in the mix in the west.
Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks likely will not have a season like they did last year, but the team is one of the best in the east and they have one of the top head coaches in the conference.
Miami Heat
Miami missed the playoffs last season, but this year the team should be back, as Dwyane Wade is returning and has Goran Dragic for a full season. The team also added Justise Winslow, Amar'e Stoudemire and Gerald Green between the draft and free agency.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant needs to stay healthy and if that happens, expect OKC back in the mix.
