1. Clippers - 2nd best top end talent, but way way way better roster, coach, front office, chemistry, etc .... than the Lakers
2. Houston - Still have James Harden, so until proven otherwise they are ahead of Utah
3. Utah - Well built, very deep, Mitchell should benefit hugely from having some help
4. Denver - Same team as last year, will obviously still be very good
5. Lakers - I get LBJ and AD are both top 5 but the rest of their roster is garbage. Do not care that they added DMC, he does not play off other guys and is very clearly a shell of his former self. If AD or LBJ miss any time they will fall off the map completely
6. GSW - Just trying to keep their head above water until Klay comes back. This could change depending on who they flip Russel for but if its just Steph, Draymond, and Russel until February I think they will struggle
7. Portland - Feels like they are up one year and down the next. So I expect a bit of a drop off. Whiteside isn't good so he's not filling Nurkic's void.
8. SAS - Always good, got better in the offseason too.

I fully expect it to be like last year where 2 - 6 are only separated by a game and 7-10 are only a game or 2 off of 2-6 .... It's going to be a crazy year,