NBA Power Rankings - October 28, 2014

There's no need to be presumptuous about the Cavs immediately becoming a Super Team, but there's also no reason to pretend that they didn't load up a roster worth of title contention. Adding SF LeBron James and PF Kevin Love to any NBA team puts them into the title discussion and if PG Kyrie Irving can find the right fit with his new superstar teammates, then the Cavs may just be the team to beat.

Key Injuries: None.

There's a lot of roster continuity from last year's 57-win team, and the addition of C Spencer Hawes adds frontcourt scoring from a 7-footer that can step outside and shoot better than 40% from beyond the arc, as Hawes did for Philadelphia and Cleveland last season. 

Key Injuries: None.

The defending champs may well be the team to beat again, because they have established that they know how to manage the workload of aging stars like C Tim Duncan, PG Tony Parker and SG Manu Ginobili, but one of the reasons that the Spurs are able to excel when those mainstays rest is SF Kawhi Leonard, and Leonard is likely out with an eye injury to start the season.

Key Injuries: SF Kawhi Leonard (eye), C Tiago Splitter (calf), SG Patty Mills (shoulder).

It's reasonable to question whether the Warriors are deep enough to run with the big boys in the Western Conference, especially if injury-prone C Andrew Bogut misses much time, but adding PG Shaun Livingston should certainly help the bench for a Warriors team that will have no trouble scoring because they can rain down threes -- PG Stephen Curry and SG Klay Thompson were 1-2 in the league in made three-pointers last season.

Key Injuries: None.

A formidable starting five led by PF LaMarcus Aldridge and PG Damian Lillard makes the Blazers contenders. They will need some big performances off the bench, from veterans like PG Steve Blake, SF Dorell Wright and C Chris Kaman, if they are going to hang with other top teams.

Key Injuries: None.

No sitting tight for the Mavericks, who want to take another title shot while they can still lean on PF Dirk Nowitzki. Adding C Tyson Chandler, SF Chandler Parsons and PG Jameer Nelson (as well as, to a lesser extent, SF Richard Jefferson) made for a productive summer. Now to see how the pieces fit together.

Key Injuries: PG Raymond Felton (suspension).

So much of the Bulls' hopes rest on the fragile knees of PG Derrick Rose, but the Bulls also brought in PF Pau Gasol, which improves their frontcourt. If Rose can stay healthy, thE Bulls are probably the best challengers for the Cavaliers in the East, but if not, then it's going to be another grind-it-out type of playoff season.

Key Injuries: SG Jimmy Butler (thumb).

Didn't land their free agent prizes in the offseason, and lost SF Chandler Parsons, but the Rockets still have C Dwight Howard and SG James Harden around which to build. It's just that the rotation depth isn't quite what it should be if the Rockets are going to step up to the next tier.

Key Injuries: None.

A fun team on the rise, the Suns can run and gun with three point guards -- Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas -- all accustomed to handling the ball for significant minutes, but if they can improve defensively, that will make the difference as they seek a return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009-2010.

Key Injuries: SF P.J. Tucker (suspension).

Expectations are high for the Raptors after last season's surprising run to the postseason, and their isn't a real roadblock in the Atlantic Division, but it will be interesting to see how they handle being favourites. It's one thing to be those plucky #WeTheNorth characters making a push for a playoff spot, another to keep climbing and start pushing the other top teams in the Eastern Conference. 

Key Injuries: None.

A healthy Al Horford improves the Hawks' chances as Horford and PF Paul Millsap can be one of the best 4-5 combinations in the league. Adding Thabo Sefolosha can help the perimeter defence -- he ought to be nice complement to three-point bomber Kyle Korver -- and a healthy Hawks team can get back to the winning side, even if they still don't have enough depth to mount a serious challenge.

Key Injuries: None.

One reason for the Pelicans' relatively lofty ranking is that PF Anthony Davis is on his way to superstardom and he could be a bona fide MVP candidate as soon as this season, but also because, at this moment, they're healthy. It seems unlikely, given their respective track records, that good health will stick with PG Jrue Holiday, SG Eric Gordon and SF Tyreke Evans all season, but might as well enjoy it for the time being.

Key Injuries: None.

It's not as though a core that includes Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Luol Deng can't be competitive -- they very well might be a good team again, but losing the best player in the league is going to leave a mark and if Wade can't stay healthy enough to play more than the 54 games he logged last season, then the weight will get heavy on Bosh in a hurry.

Key Injuries: Josh McRoberts (toe).

It's been a long time coming, but the Hornets (again) are coming into the season with playoff expectations. Adding SG Lance Stephenson and PF Marvin Williams isn't earth-shattering, but enough to bolster a 43-win team that got a taste of the postseason when they were swept out of the first round by the Heat last year.

Key Injuries: PG Kemba Walker (knee).

A lot of the Wizards' hopes rest on the backcourt, where PG John Wall is a rising star, but promising SG Bradley Beal is on the shelf, recovering from wrist surgery. PF Nene and SF Paul Pierce are proven performers who should offer stability as they support the Wizards' rising young talent.

Key Injuries: SG Bradley Beal (wrist), SF Martell Webster (back).

The Grizz can be a lockdown defensive team and that makes them a dangerous matchup, but if 33-year-old PF Zach Randolph isn't dominating the low block, they can run into their own scoring problems. Does the addition of 37-year-old Vince Carter bring more bench scoring? He was still productive in Dallas the past three years.

Key Injuries: G Nick Calathes (suspension).

Certainly the Thunder will be a better team than this by season's end but, right now, without Kevin Durant, it's reasonable to wonder if they can make up for his absence. It's one thing for PG Russell Westbrook to add more shots to his arsenal, but the Thunder were a little light on secondary scoring behind Durant and Westbrook and that problem is exacerbated by losing the game's premier scorer.

Key Injuries: SF Kevin Durant (foot), SG Anthony Morrow (knee).

Can the Knicks handle Phil Jackson's beloved Triangle Offence? PG Jose Calderon should be a steady hand to guide the team, but there are big questions in the frontcourt, from the health of PF Amar'e Stoudemire and the offensive production of C Samuel Dalembert to the defensive shortcomings of PF Andrea Bargnani.

Key Injuries: PG Jose Calderon (calf), PF Andrea Bargnani (hamstring).

Getting SF Danilo Gallinari back and adding SG Arron Afflalo from Orlando ought to help the Nuggets offensively, but scoring hasn't been a major concern for them. Getting stops remains the challenge.

Key Injuries: PF J.J. Hickson (suspension), SG Nate Robinson (knee).

It wasn't that long ago that the Nets hoped to be the top challengers to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference, but now they have a lineup full of veteran stars that are well past their primes and the couple who might still be in their prime years are C Brook Lopez, who can't stay healthy and PG Deron Williams, whose play declined significantly last season.  

Key Injuries: C Brook Lopez (ankle).

In the wake of trading Kevin Love to Cleveland, the Timberwolves don't figure to have playoff hopes this season, but they should be a fun young team, with opportunties for Canadians Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett -- the last two No. 1 picks -- to get some quality minutes.

Key Injuries: None.

The Kings may not be much more than C DeMarcus Cousins and SF Rudy Gay, but that's a starting point while they look for other supporting pieces. He probably needs to get stronger to handle regular rotation minutes, but Canadian sharpshooter Nik Stauskas could be one of the more intriguing young talents on the roster.

Key Injuries: None.

A young team that could be ready to take a step forward, depending on the development of young players, but if guards Trey Burke, Dante Exum and Alex Burks can complement young bigs Enes Kanter and Derrick Favors, then the steady hand at small forward, Gordon Hayward, will have some help as the Jazz try to get more competitive.

Key Injuries: None.

The Pistons have some interesting players, most notably C Andre Drummond and PF Greg Monroe, but erratic perimeter play needs to get sorted out to properly support that interior strength.

Key Injuries: SG Jodie Meeks (back), PF Greg Monroe (suspension).

This is a long drop from last year's 56-win team but, with three starters hurt and SG Lance Stephenson gone to Charlotte, C Roy Hibbert is the only regular starter from last season set for opening night this year.

Key Injuries: SF Paul George (leg), PG George Hill (knee), PG C.J. Watson (foot), PF David West (ankle).

In full rebuild mode, or they will be once Rajon Rondo is traded, the Celtics are giving young players an opportunity to play and maybe Canadian C Kelly Olynyk or PF Jared Sullinger or rookie G Marcus Smart will turn into something that the Celtics can build around long-term, but it's going to take some time to get high-end talent into the organization.

Key Injuries: PG Rajon Rondo (hand).

Head coach Jason Kidd has some raw talent with which he can work -- from wings Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker to young bigs Larry Sanders and John Henson -- there is reason to have hope for the future. The present? Well, that's a little more complicated without proven performers. 

Key Injuries: None.

Kobe's back, which makes the Lakers interesting, but his supporting cast is a collection of cast-offs -- Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin, Ed Davis, Wesley Johnson -- trying to fit into a rotation. The Lakers' best hope to be competitive this year would be for rookie PF Julius Randle to make an immediate impact, but that's asking a ton of a kid with one season of collegiate experience. 

Key Injuries: PG Steve Nash (back), SG Nick Young (thumb), PG Ronnie Price (knee), SF Xavier Henry (knee).

The Magic have hit the reset button and don't have a lot of established NBA talent surrounding C Nikola Vucevic, but second-year SG Victor Oladipo as well as rookies PG Elfrid Payton and PF Aaron Gordon will be worth watching as the rebuilding process continues.

Key Injuries: PF Channing Frye (knee), SG Victor Oladipo (face).

A look at Orlando's roster looks like a team that is trying to set up lottery positioning for next season. A look at Philadelphia's reveals a team that has mastered the craft, with a rotation that would be shameful for an expansion team, especially when second-year PG Michael Carter-Williams, a rare bright spot, is hurt.

Key Injuries:  PG Michael Carter-Williams (shoulder), C Joel Embiid (foot), SG Jason Richardson (knee, foot).