Ranking the NBA's 6 Divisions
Before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the NBA to suspend their season, the league was at an all time high. Even with the irrelevance of the great Golden State Warriors, teams across America (and Toronto) were boasting incredible amounts of talent. In the more competitive Western Conference, it seemed unfair that only 8 team could make the playoffs, with teams like the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers being out of the playoff picture when the dust cleared. Unfortunately, not all NBA divisions are created equal. We rank them on the quality of the teams they contain.
6.Southeast (Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Atlanta Hawks)
Despite the Heat's resurgence this year behind Jimmy Butler and Most Improved Player candidate Bam Adebayo, the Southeast has proven itself to clearly be the inferior division. Miami is the only team above .500, as the Wizards and Magic have performed mediocre at best and the Hornets and Hawks playing atrociously. Although the division is currently struggling, rising players like Adebayo and Atlanta star Trae Young give the Southeast tons of potential for the future.
5.Central (Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers)
It may be controversial to put the division of reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo at the second to last position, but to say that the Central is top heavy would be like saying that Michael Jordan is a good basketball player. The Bucks are the best team in basketball and the Pacers are a solid playoff team, but it gets ugly from there. The Bulls, Pistons, and Cavaliers have all been as disastrous as anyone, showing next to zero good basketball players. The division dodges last place because of the Greek Freak and company, but it remains to be seen whether the bottom three in the division can ever escape the cellar.
4.Southwest (Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and San Antonio Spurs)
Don't expect to see the Southwest in the bottom half for much longer. When play was suspended, the division had no teams in the top 5 in the West. With James Harden and Russell Westbrook leading the Rockets, the sky's the limit. The Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Pelicans have as much potential as anyone in the league. Any or all could be playing through May in a few years. The Spurs aren't looking like they will keep their 22 year postseason streak alive, but coach Gregg Popovich is one of the smartest minds in basketball, which always leaves the door open for another playoff appearance. Despite the less than fantastic year, the division has 5 capable teams, a feat that no other division can boast.
3.Northwest (Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, and Minnesota Timberwolves)
The Northwest doesn't have the coolest teams, but it's hard to argue with a division controlling 3 of the Western Conference's top 5. The Nuggets and Jazz are quietly playing great basketball as usual. In his first year in OKC, Chris Paul has led the Thunder to a better playoff position than they had last year with Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Add in an encouraging young core and a plethora of draft picks acquired in the offseason, and the road to the NBA Finals could run through Oklahoma City for the next decade. The Trail Blazers have become a bubble team thanks to Dame Time reaching a new level, with Lillard carrying Portland into the playoff conversation. The T-Wolves haven't been good this season, but with a good pick in the upcoming draft and a great young pick-and-roll combo in D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, there's a bright future in Minneapolis. The Northwest teams don't have the same national fame and recognition as other teams, but they play good basketball and will reap the fruits of their labor in the future.
2.Atlantic (Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks)
With half of the Eastern Conference playoffs being represented by the Atlantic, they're clearly the dominant breed on the East Coast. The defending champion Raptors show no signs of stopping their winning ways, and a deep Celtics team trails them that's looking to take the Larry O'Brien trophy from Toronto. They're followed by a Sixers team filled with talent and low on chemistry and health. Should they not catch the injury bug in the playoffs, they're one of the toughest outs in the league. The Nets have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant leading them. Durant has been out all year and Irving has hardly played, forcing young talents like Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie to step up for New York's most expensive borough. The other team in the Big Apple, the Knicks has been the only blight on the division's resume. To sum up their season, nothing has gone well. Aside from them, the Atlantic has the deepest group of teams in the entire NBA
1.Pacific (Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors)
Sure, the Pacific has 2 playoff teams vs the Atlantic's 4. Sure, the Warriors have the worst record in basketball. What the division populated by California teams has going for it comes from the City of Angels. The Lakers and Clippers are 2 of the 3 best teams in the league, being led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the Lakers, and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the Clips. Add in the prospect of a fantastic Warriors team next year and you've got the scariest 3 headed monster known to basketball fans. With these teams leading the division into battle, the road to NBA championship will definitely run through California.
6.Southeast (Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Washington Wizards, Charlotte Hornets, and Atlanta Hawks)
Despite the Heat's resurgence this year behind Jimmy Butler and Most Improved Player candidate Bam Adebayo, the Southeast has proven itself to clearly be the inferior division. Miami is the only team above .500, as the Wizards and Magic have performed mediocre at best and the Hornets and Hawks playing atrociously. Although the division is currently struggling, rising players like Adebayo and Atlanta star Trae Young give the Southeast tons of potential for the future.
5.Central (Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers)
It may be controversial to put the division of reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo at the second to last position, but to say that the Central is top heavy would be like saying that Michael Jordan is a good basketball player. The Bucks are the best team in basketball and the Pacers are a solid playoff team, but it gets ugly from there. The Bulls, Pistons, and Cavaliers have all been as disastrous as anyone, showing next to zero good basketball players. The division dodges last place because of the Greek Freak and company, but it remains to be seen whether the bottom three in the division can ever escape the cellar.
4.Southwest (Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, and San Antonio Spurs)
Don't expect to see the Southwest in the bottom half for much longer. When play was suspended, the division had no teams in the top 5 in the West. With James Harden and Russell Westbrook leading the Rockets, the sky's the limit. The Mavericks, Grizzlies, and Pelicans have as much potential as anyone in the league. Any or all could be playing through May in a few years. The Spurs aren't looking like they will keep their 22 year postseason streak alive, but coach Gregg Popovich is one of the smartest minds in basketball, which always leaves the door open for another playoff appearance. Despite the less than fantastic year, the division has 5 capable teams, a feat that no other division can boast.
3.Northwest (Denver Nuggets, Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, and Minnesota Timberwolves)
The Northwest doesn't have the coolest teams, but it's hard to argue with a division controlling 3 of the Western Conference's top 5. The Nuggets and Jazz are quietly playing great basketball as usual. In his first year in OKC, Chris Paul has led the Thunder to a better playoff position than they had last year with Russell Westbrook and Paul George. Add in an encouraging young core and a plethora of draft picks acquired in the offseason, and the road to the NBA Finals could run through Oklahoma City for the next decade. The Trail Blazers have become a bubble team thanks to Dame Time reaching a new level, with Lillard carrying Portland into the playoff conversation. The T-Wolves haven't been good this season, but with a good pick in the upcoming draft and a great young pick-and-roll combo in D'Angelo Russell and Karl-Anthony Towns, there's a bright future in Minneapolis. The Northwest teams don't have the same national fame and recognition as other teams, but they play good basketball and will reap the fruits of their labor in the future.
2.Atlantic (Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and New York Knicks)
With half of the Eastern Conference playoffs being represented by the Atlantic, they're clearly the dominant breed on the East Coast. The defending champion Raptors show no signs of stopping their winning ways, and a deep Celtics team trails them that's looking to take the Larry O'Brien trophy from Toronto. They're followed by a Sixers team filled with talent and low on chemistry and health. Should they not catch the injury bug in the playoffs, they're one of the toughest outs in the league. The Nets have Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant leading them. Durant has been out all year and Irving has hardly played, forcing young talents like Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie to step up for New York's most expensive borough. The other team in the Big Apple, the Knicks has been the only blight on the division's resume. To sum up their season, nothing has gone well. Aside from them, the Atlantic has the deepest group of teams in the entire NBA
1.Pacific (Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Sacramento Kings, Phoenix Suns, and Golden State Warriors)
Sure, the Pacific has 2 playoff teams vs the Atlantic's 4. Sure, the Warriors have the worst record in basketball. What the division populated by California teams has going for it comes from the City of Angels. The Lakers and Clippers are 2 of the 3 best teams in the league, being led by LeBron James and Anthony Davis for the Lakers, and Kawhi Leonard and Paul George for the Clips. Add in the prospect of a fantastic Warriors team next year and you've got the scariest 3 headed monster known to basketball fans. With these teams leading the division into battle, the road to NBA championship will definitely run through California.
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