Sac at #29.....getting a pick 2-5 would just be too good to be true. I realize that the true additions to the C's team that was minutes from a Finals appearance are Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving.
But in order for this team to be power ranked #2 overall, I would expect the pundits would have to be calculating anticipated growth in the Jays.
There's variables associated with every team.
Who could you - by any variable of growth in JT & JB - honestly place in front of the Celtics? There's no one other than Houston that could be justified, by any measure.
Minimal growth in JT and JB: Houston and OKC, with possibilities: LAL, Philly and Toronto (if incorporating GH and KI back from injuries). Your point is well-taken though -- probably no lower than #4 and #2 is reasonable.
I don’t see the optimism in OKC.
Last year they only won 48 games despite being on of the few teams to stay healthy all season long. Yes they lost Roberson (a role player), but their four best players all played 76+ games. What other team can say that?
I am of the belief that losing Carmelo is addition by subtraction, but they still haven’t done anything to significantly improve. Schroder may be a decent player, but does not fit next to Westbrook.
Unless you are chalking up last season to lack of chemistry and expect this season to markedly change that, I just don’t see their leap into the top-5.
I’d personally pick Celtics, Raptors, and Sixers over them. I may even take the Pacers over them. Out west, obviously GSW and HOU, but I can’t see how you couldn’t pick UTA over them again (despite a relatively quiet offseason, other than drafting Allen).