2019-20 season unwraps

We’ve never had the NBA season start this early, but we’re not complaining.

So many questions are up in the air, of course, as defending champions Toronto Raptors receive their rings and take on new-look New Orleans Pelicans at home.

The Raptors still have the dynamic duo of Kyle Lowry and Pascal Siakam, but few see them as the odds-on favorites this season. This means a host of other teams are primed and ready to dislodge the Raptors from the summit of NBA basketball.

With that, let’s look at all the 30 teams in my own, feeble attempt at power rankings.

This will be done in two parts. I will start with the Eastern Conference today and follow with the Western Conference in the next edition of this column next week.

1. Milwaukee Bucks — Reigning Most Valuable Player (MVP) Giannis Antetokounmpo should have another huge year and armed with a solid returning cast.

With that, the Bucks should be locked to make it to at least the East Finals.

2. Philadelphia 76ers — The addition of former Atlanta Hawk and Boston Celtic Al Horford should bolster Philly’s already solid frontline, and there’s no apparent reason why the power pairing of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons shouldn’t be nightly beasts this season.

Having Tobias Harris back also helps the 76ers.

3. Toronto Raptors — Yes, the reigning champions are not the top-ranked team in their own conference.

They don’t care, though, especially since they won the title last season without being ranked among the favorites anyway. Much of their progress will be determined not by the presence of Lowry and Siakam, but by the development of other pieces like OG Anunoby.

4. Indiana Pacers — This hard-nosed unit may not make many YouTube highlight reels, but they can hang with the elite. Once Victor Oladipo is 100 percent healthy, his tandem with Malcolm Brogdon is fun to watch while the frontcourt pair of Myles Turner and Domantas Sabonis should make a jump this season.

5. Brooklyn Nets — I’m more than a little apprehensive about the Nets not having Kevin Durant this season, but his addition certainly boosts the morale of the club.

Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan will swat shots like hell for Brooklyn while rising star Caris LeVert adds an intriguing dimension around Kyrie Irving and Team USA shooter Joe Harris.

6. Boston Celtics — Kemba Walker may not have won anything huge in the league yet, but that can change this season if he meshes well with the talents that Boston already has.

Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown should make leaps this season and if Enes Kanter can be a regular double-double threat, the Celtics may stun a lot of people.

7. Orlando Magic — The Magic Kingdom surely isn’t among the title contenders or elite teams, but it should be good enough to make a solid case for the Playoffs in the East.

Evan Fournier rocked the World Cup and should be among the best perimeter players in this conference while a frontline composed of Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic is rock-solid.

8. Miami Heat — A lot of people are high on the Heat and though I have my concerns, this team should still be a postseason contender. Jimmy Butler could be the new face of this team, although it will be interesting to see what kind of chemistry arises among him, Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters.

9. Detroit Pistons — The Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond frontline is elite level, but will both be on the court often enough to make that matter? Health will be a big question mark for this team, but when they’re complete, they can be giant-killers.

10. New York Knicks — The preseason haul of Julius Randle, Bobby Portis and Marcus Morris may not be All-Star worthy for now, but don’t sleep on the potential this squad has.

Championship? Heck, no, but maybe a promising run at the playoffs? Maybe, especially if we see a jump in Frank Ntilikina and RJ Barrett turns out to be a true star.

11. Chicago Bulls — The Bulls will likely compete for most of the season and may even threaten for the playoffs, but that’s their ceiling.

Much of their fortunes depend on the health and progression of their wingmen: Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Otto Porter Jr.

12. Atlanta Hawks — The Trae Young and Kevin Huerter backcourt tandem could be something, but it won’t be enough for a playoff run yet.

Depth is a big issue, but if, say, John Collins makes a big leap this year, who knows, right?

13. Washington Wizards — I want the best for the Wizards mainly because of Rui Hachimura, but let’s face it: This team won’t make any playoff noise this season.

Unless, of course, Bradley Beal has a season to remember and morphs into a poor man’s Kobe Bryant or something.

14. Charlotte Hornets — Subtract Kemba Walker and add Terry Rozier, not the best trade-off there, and with Nicolas Batum coming in as their highest scorer from last season, it’s clear that so much is unclear for Charlotte.

15. Cleveland Cavaliers — This is Kevin Love’s team, and in this day and age, that doesn’t mean as much as it used to be.

If he’s healthy though, he can still be among the deadliest bigs in the league. His combo with Tristan Thompson and Larry Nance Jr. may be all that can carry this team, though.