I'll take a shot. I've avoided studying yours to avoid contamination.
  1. OKC
  2. Boston
  3. Cleveland
  4. Golden State
  5. Minnesota
  6. Dallas
  7. NYK
  8. Denver
  9. Indiana
  10. LAL
  11. Sacramento
  12. Houston
  13. Memphis
  14. Phoenix
  15. Miami
  16. Milwaukee
  17. Atlanta
  18. Orlando
  19. Charlotte
  20. San Antonio
  21. Detroit 22, New Orleans
  22. Utah
  23. LAC
  24. Philadelphia
  25. Toronto
  26. Brooklyn
  27. Chicago
  28. Portland
  29. Washington
This is very close to the order that teams came to mind, although I had to start working from the bottom up towards the end.
I like this list!! Good work
reply
You sir are a gentleman and a scholar.
reply
Phoenix is 7-1 and you have them 14th?
Bucks are 1-6 and you have them 16th?
I also find Minny to be a little high for right now but I expect they will be in the top 6 later in the year.
reply
I haven't watched Phoenix, I don't believe in Phoenix, and I don't intend to watch Phoenix.
I would expect them to lose to the teams above them. They barely beat the Heat at home.
reply
I don't believe in them either but I have to give them credit. 7-1 is 7-1.
This should be a topic of discussion on the pod. Not phoenix specifically but the variance in our rankings for a few teams.
reply
That's fair, but I still think they're in the same tier as Miami and the Lakers.
If Phoenix plays Minnesota, do you expect Phoenix to win?
reply
Right now the way the two teams started, not sure. Later in the year probably Minny.
reply
To the extent I thought through my rankings, it was based on who I expect to win a hypothetical matchup.
reply
That’s a good way to look at it. I am sure some of mine would change if I did that. I definitely wouldn’t have Bucks second last.
reply
Maybe our expectations of the Bucks need to catch up to reality, because they are losing to everyone right now.