NBA Power Rankings: Where do the Pelicans rank 10 games in?
By Nick Alvarez
20. Miami Heat (4-6)
The Miami Heat have had a rough go early this season, but it’s not time to panic just yet. This team is coming off playing in the NBA Finals just 4 months ago, so they’re not at the top of their game just yet.
Still, these NBA Power Rankings are based on where a team stands right now, and the Heat have been troublesome early. Opponents are starting to figure out their 2-3 zone defense that was so elite last season, and Miami’s 3 point attack isn’t what it was last season. That’s before we even mention how COVID-19 has affected the Heat this season. A tough start, but I think the Heat will dig themselves out of it.
21. Cleveland Cavaliers (5-7)
Am I underrating the Cleveland Cavaliers in our NBA Power Rankings? Maybe a little, but I just haven’t been that impressed with the team’s performance to start the season, despite their 5 wins.
This Cavaliers team has a solid veteran frontcourt in Kevin Love and Andre Drummond, but outside of that, the roster is mostly young players who aren’t ready to compete just yet. Too often, have I seen the Cavaliers play sloppy basketball, and honestly, there’s nothing special about this team. Sooner or later the wheels are going to come off, and this team will have to continue planning for the future.
22. Oklahoma City Thunder (5-6)
Again these NBA Power Rankings are about where a team stands at the moment, and to be only a game under .500, the Oklahoma City Thunder look pretty good.
They play hard on both ends of the floor, even if their roster is a jigsaw puzzle at the moment. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has continued to flourish as a young guard in the NBA, while Darius Bazley has been fantastic to start the season too. This team probably won’t make the playoffs this season, but Sam Presti is laying the foundation for what could be the NBA’s next small-market dynasty.