The NBA through Tier-Colored Glasses

It’s mid-October and that means two things. The NFL’s unofficial contest of which team can incorporate the most pink into their color scheme is well underway and so is the NBA preseason. Yeah, I know the preseason is meaningless. In fact the only thing that might be more trivial is NBA season projections. Lucky for you that’s exactly what this post is about! Without further ado, here is my take on the NBA using state-of-the-art tier technology.

Tier One: Nobody will be surprised if these teams are hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy in June

Tier Two: If the stars align just right, these teams could win it all

Tier Three: These teams won’t go all the way, but they’re capable of a playoff run

Tier Four: As the season wraps up these teams will be duking it out for the final playoff seed

Tier Five: The lottery crew

Tier Six: With the number one pick, the *enter tier six team here* select…

Tier One: Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder

LeBron James needs more than one ring to fulfill his promise to Miami

The Heat are the reigning champs and they have the best player on the planet in LeBron James. That’s reason enough for me to consider them the favorites heading into the season despite the Lakers’ acquisition of Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. Let’s be honest though, the Lakers are going to tear it up this season and the only thing that could potentially keep them from reaching the promised land is Pau Gasol’s neck beard. That or Metta World Peace’s razor-sharp elbows. Speaking of those elbows, James Harden is in a contract year. Consider that and the fact that the Thunder are fresh off their first finals appearance and you’re looking at one hungry and talented roster.

Tier Two: Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics

The biggest flaw in Rose's game is his durability

Can Derrick Rose stay healthy? Will Kawhi Leonard take the next step? Do Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett have enough left in the tank to lead the Celtics? These are the questions facing the tier twos and if they respond they have enough talent to run with the big boys in tier one.

 Tier Three: Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks

Along with a new city and logo, the Nets will also change another
thing about the franchise this year: they'll actually win games

West:

Iggy to Denver will have the Nuggets improve on their positive 2011-2012 campaign. The “Lob City” Clippers will again provide a lot of highlights but don’t sport a deep enough roster to be considered elite. The Mavs are getting long in the tooth and have a lot of new pieces to work in. Memphis is looking like a tough out and their size will continue to create mismatches down low.

East:

Don’t look now, but the Eastern Conference is actually looking like they’ll have a solid group of playoff teams for the first time since the three-point line was introduced. OK, maybe it hasn’t been that long but all four of these teams will hit the court with solid rosters capable of winning fifty games.

Tier Four: Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trailblazers, Utah Jazz, New Orleans Hornets, Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks

These are two guys I don't want to mess with. Look at those beards!

West:

I’m buying into the Timberwolves this year and if you forced me to pick a team from this group that’s who I’d go with. Getting a healthy Rubio to pair with a nasty blue-collar front line of Love and Pekovic will go far in getting playoff basketball back in Minnesota. Not to mention if Brandon Roy can perform anywhere near the level he was at before his pseudo retirement the Wolves can make some noise.

East:

You read that right. I think the Raptors will make the playoffs this year. They’ve assembled a balanced roster that doesn’t have Jose Calderon as a starting point guard anymore. Kyle Lowry was a nice pickup for Toronto and he’ll fit in perfectly with this group. The big Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas also will make his NBA debut this season and could form a nice frontcourt with Andrea Bargnani.

Tier Five: Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers

Another trip to the lottery will drive Houston "Linsane"

West:

As much as I don’t want it to be true, I think the Rockets will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs roll around. Sad day. The Suns will struggle in the post-Steve Nash era and will be the Rockets’ number one competitor for the fourteenth pick in the NBA Draft. Golden State is going to need more than Andrew Bogut to get to the playoffs.

East:

Washington will be improved this year but there is nowhere to go but up from last season. John Wall and Bradley Beal form a talented young backcourt that shows promise for the future. Getting Monta Ellis will make the Bucks a little more fun to watch but it was overall a lateral move. Kyrie Irving is going to need some help to make Cleveland a playoff team and Dion Waiters is not it.

Tier Six: Sacramento Kings, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Bobcats

West:

DeMarcus Cousins and Thomas Robinson is a very nice start but the Kings have to build around these guys to start moving up the NBA ladder.

East:

I think it’s essentially a pickem’ between which of these three teams is more terrible. The Pistons need some backcourt help. Maybe Magic GM Rob Hennigan can find his Kevin Durant in the 2013 draft to move Orlando out from under the shadow of the “Dwightmare.” The Bobcats are the Bobcats. Do you think MJ has one more comeback in him? Me neither.