Last year, before the NBA bubble and the playoffs, I ranked the top ten NBA teams most likely to win a championship. [Ed. Note: As several of you felt the need to remind us, the Knicks were not among them.] Here is my new re-ranked list, including what went wrong (or right) for each of them in the playoffs. 

1. Lakers

previous rank: 1

LeBron and this Lakers team have proven their greatness to all of the doubters. After a lousy season last year in which they missed the playoffs, signing Anthony Davis helped reintroduce a winning mentality to this team. Yes, they did get a bit lucky this season, given the five-month break due to COVID and an easier conference matchup against the Nuggets, but that should not discredit this team’s success. As long as their structure doesn’t change and they stay healthy, the Lakers are going to be solid competitors for the next few years, at least until LeBron retires. 

2. Heat

previous rank: 8

The Heat really exceeded expectations, making it all the way to the Finals this year in the bubble. Unfortunately, injuries to key starters Bam Adebayo and Gordan Dragic derailed any hope of beating the Lakers, despite Jimmy Butler’s historic effort. If everything plays out right, this team should continue to be a powerhouse in the East for years to come. 

3. Nuggets

previous rank: 5

This season really opened my eyes to how big of a baller Jamal Murray is. The Nuggets really showed out in the playoffs, coming back from two consecutive 3-1 deficits to make it to the Western Conference Finals. Falling to the Lakers in five wasn’t a huge surprise, but I think that with another star or two to complement Jokic and Murray, this team is surely going to make a Finals run sooner than later.

4. Celtics

previous rank: 4

Ah, the Celtics. Where do I begin? Despite the endless cavalcade of talent that’s walked through the door in the past decade, the team doesn’t have any championships to show for it. Kyrie Irving and the more recent Kemba Walker are great players, but just not a good fit for a team surrounded by young superstars. For the Celtics to make it to the Finals, they’re going to have to find a team identity. Also, bringing in Kevin Garnett or a similarly solid big man from years ago would definitely help, because it’s clear that starting Daniel Theis at the five really isn’t cutting it. 

5. Clippers

previous rank: 6

The Clippers were the favored team to make the Finals in the West at the beginning of the year, a trend that I couldn’t help but get behind. It all just made sense, with Kawhi coming off a Finals dub, and Paul George beside him to put them over the top. However, this fantasy was short-lived; they didn’t even make it to the Conference Finals, losing in seven to the Nuggets. After Doc Rivers decamped for Philadelphia, it’s the next generation of leadership that’ll decide whether this team makes it back to the playoffs or 

6. Raptors

previous rank: 3

Pushing their series against the Celtics to seven games gives me a lot of hope for the Raptors without Kawhi. Their team is full of underrated and overlooked stars and shouldn’t be slept on anymore. I just think that if Siakam didn’t play so poorly (with 12 points in 54 minutes in one game), the Raptors could have easily won this series in six. 

7. Bucks

previous rank: 2

The Bucks have really disappointed me these past two years. Last season they blew a 2-0 lead against the Raptors, and this year they lost in five games to the Heat. Yes, Giannis was battling injuries toward the end of the series, but that doesn’t mean someone else on the team can’t step up in his absence. I just think that the coaching of this team is a bit flawed, and that Giannis would be better utilized somewhere else. 

8. Rockets

previous rank: 7

The Rockets managed to squeak out a win over the unexpectedly competitive Thunder. Despite their advancement to the second round, the Lakers’ dynamic duo of All-Stars Anthony Davis and LeBron were too much for a small-ball Rockets team. Poor play from Russell Westbrook and lackluster defense led the Lakers to win four straight after a Rockets victory in game one. Hopefully the Rockets can find a way to at least meet expectations next year and finally last a few rounds in the playoffs. 

9. Mavericks

previous rank: 10

Faced with a tough first-round playoff matchup against the Clippers, the Mavs managed to last six games in the series, with the help of Luka Doncic’s incredible buzzer beater. An injured Porzingis might have been a reason for the unfortunate outcome of the series, but regardless, the future looks bright for this young Dallas team.      

10. Thunder

previous rank: N/A

The Thunder really exceeded expectations this past season, making the playoffs despite having only a 4% chance at the beginning of the season. Not only did they make the playoffs, but the Thunder pushed the Rockets to seven games, where, although they fell short, Chris Paul and other surprising stars like Luguentz Dort did not fail to impress.