The NBA 2017-18 season is just around the corner and ESPN has unveiled their Power Rankings for all 30 NBA teams. It's no surprise that the top three teams are headlined by the reigning world champions, the runner-up team, and the new top contender that is up there with them. Here's a look at the Top 10 NBA power rankings as the season gets started this week.
No. 10 to 6
The Portland Trail Blazers come in at the No. 10 spot with Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and company ready to try for another postseason.
At No. 9 are the Milwaukee Bucks who are one of the rising young teams thanks to their emerging superstar "The Greek Freak." They also feature Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker, and reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon.
The Bucks are a team to watch out for in the East.
The No. 8 team is the Washington Wizards. They showed that they had the ability to compete last season as John Wall, Bradley Beal, and the Wiz took the Boston Celtics to the limit with a full seven-game series in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
No. 7 goes to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This is a team that was on the cusp of becoming a playoff team, and, after adding All-Star Jimmy Butler, veteran Jeff Teague, and Taj Gibson, this team is ready to compete.
Surprisingly, the Boston Celtics get the No. 6 spot. One would think this team should be in the top five after adding Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and Jayson Tatum, but ESPN feels that there are several West teams that are better.
No. 5 to 1
Checking in at the No. 5 spot are the San Antonio Spurs. This team is always ready to compete no matter who's playing on the roster, thanks to savvy veteran coach Gregg Popovich. The team recently worked on a contract deal with LaMarcus Aldridge and is awaiting the return of Kawhi Leonard from injury.
At No. 4 to start the season are the Houston Rockets.
They've reloaded their roster a bit by adding All-Star point guard Chris Paul alongside superstar James Harden. The Rockets look like a team that could challenge in the West, but they are really neck-and-neck with the Spurs and the No. 3 team.
That team at the third spot is the Oklahoma City Thunder. It's hard to argue that any team made bigger moves in the offseason than OKC.
They added Paul George via a trade with the Pacers and then, weeks later, shocked the basketball world by also trading for the Knicks' Carmelo Anthony. Now they have their own "Big Three" of Melo, PG13, and Russell Westbrook.
It's no surprise that LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers are No. 2 to start the season. That was expected before the season and has been that way for the past several seasons. The Cavs traded away Kyrie Irving but gained Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder. They also picked up former NBA All-Star and champion Dwyane Wade and former NBA MVP Derrick Rose as free agents. With a reloaded roster they'll try to take the title again.
Does that leave any doubt who ESPN would give the top spot in the rankings to?
It's the Golden State Warriors -- who really didn't change a whole lot about their roster, and that's a good thing. The team added former L.A. Lakers star Nick Young but kept their corps of All-Star players intact. It appears that this team is ready to defend their NBA Championship this season as KD, Steph, Klay, and Draymond dominate the competition.