10. Toronto Raptors

These guys jump from being bottom dwellers to Eastern Conference playoff team.

The team has a solid frontcourt with Demarre Carol, and Jonas Valanciunas, making them balanced on both offense and defense, their biggest draw however is their All-Star backcourt. They have Kyle Lowry as a steady do-it-all point guard, paired with DeMar Derozan, a midrange assassin, with insane slashing abilities to the rim

These guys are a young team on the come-up, DeMar specifically has always been known for his athletic finishes and crazy dunks, but now his athleticism is paired with a better overall arsenal. Kyle Lowry also continues to be a solid point guard even for his height. Solid shooting, and solid finishes, all paired with great defense that is sure to draw a few fouls with charges.

What Makes the Raptors Excellent:

• A deep bench full of reliable Frontcourt players
• Arguably a top 5 Backcourt duo
• An average team that's boosted playing in the weaker Eastern Conference

Toronto Raptors details:

• Overall best player: Kyle Lowry 83 Overall
• Average Team rating of 74 overall
• Eastern Conference

9. Houston Rockets

The Beard is still cooking in Houston.

The Rockets may have lost a step with Dwight Howard’s regression as a center, but this is still a solid group especially with Harden putting up elite scoring numbers. This team is now centered around Harden as the main engine for scoring.

This team is all about efficient scoring, centered around Harden. Harden is flanked by top Point guards like Patrick Beverley and Ty Lawson. Dwight also is still a dangerous presence in the paint with his lobs and occasional post-ups.

What Makes the Rockets Excellent:

• Harden continues to be one of the best scorers in the league
• Harden is flanked by Pick and roll finishers and elite shooters
• Overall a top 5 Offensive team

Rockets details:

• Overall best player: James Harden 92 Overall
• Average Team rating of 74.5 overall
• Western Conference

8. Atlanta Hawks

Unexpected but this team is a top-tier team, especially in the East

These guys are known as the Spurs of the east for a reason. This team is incredibly balanced with not one player as the star. All of them are solid on defense and have amazing offensive abilities as well.

Jeff Teague is an all-around point guard who is solid all over the court. Kyle Korver is in the wing taking threes and catching and shooting with ease. The Front Court is tough with Paul Milsap and Al Horford being solid paint defenders and offensive stars in the paint.

What Makes the Hawks Excellent:

• Incredibly deep roster, with solid pieces in the entire rotation
• One of the best defenses in the East
• Every member of the team is a solid contributor in one way or another

Hawks details:

• Overall best player: Jeff Teague, Paul Milsap, Al Horford 83 Overall
• Average Team rating of 75.1 overall
• Eastern Conference

7. Chicago Bulls

Derrick Rose is no longer the MVP-level talent he once was but the Bulls are still tough.

The Bulls are still a tough-to-beat team in the east. They are still incredibly solid on defense, and they now have two strong two-way guys in Pau Gasol and Jimmy Butler.

The bulls have Jimmy Butler emerging as one of the best two-way players. Jimmy is arguably one of the best perimeter defenders, and also a burgeoning offensive piece. Butler is then flanked by a still-solid Derrick Rose and a bunch of top-tier Frontcourt players.

What Makes the Bulls Excellent:

• A solid guard and big man duo in Jimmy Butler and Pau 
• Top of the league when it comes to defense
• A top 3 team in the East

Bulls details:

• Overall best player: Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol 86 Overall
• Average Team rating of 75 overall
• Eastern Conference

6. New Orleans Pelicans

This team is making waves as a new top contender from the west 

Anthony Davis is arguably the best big man in the league currently, and here he is leading his team to playoff contention. This team is flanked by top-tier guards, with Holiday keeping up as a high-level combo guard.

Ant is one of the greatest power forwards in the game, with an outside game, and an almost unstoppable game in the paint. Ant’s game is paired with Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evans feeding him the ball and scoring at their own pace..

What Makes the Pelicans Excellent:

• Davis is probably the biggest scoring threat imaginable whether its outside shots or inside post-ups and lobs
• Pick and roll game with this squad is top-tier
• Top-level shooters line the roster with Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson

Pelicans details:

• Overall best player: Anthony Davis 92 Overall
• Average Team rating of 75 overall
• Western Conference

5. Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma has one of the best duos in the league so, of course, they are a good team

Durant is simply one of the best scorers in the game. All of Durant’s scoring is flanked by Westbrook’s hyper-athletic play and yeah they are still a crazy duo to go up against. To round up the front court they also have Serge Ibaka, Enes Kanter, and Steven Adams.

Durants is a machine that can generate buckets from everywhere. Slashing to the rim, self-created mid-range shots, catching and shooting 3s, all of these moves are in his arsenal. Westbrook with his speed and strength always ends up attacking the rim with a thunderous slam.

What Makes the Thunder Excellent:

• The Thunder are a group of hyperathletic players
• Pretty good on both defense and offense
• Everyone on this roster can score like crazy

Thunder details:

• Overall best player is Kevin Durant 91 Overall
• Average Team rating of 75.6 overall
• Western Conference

4. Los Angeles Clippers

Lob City is very much alive and still just as dominant

CP3 continues to lead the Clippers with his playmaking, defense, and overall scoring game. His playmaking is boosted by some top-tier big men to finish at the rim and shooters in the wings and perimeter.

Chris Paul continues to lead this team as the leader. Chris then drops off easy passes and pretty lobs to Blake Griffin and Deandre Jordan, who then finish with top-tier dunks that are highlight-reel material

What Makes the Clippers Excellent:

• The greatest team for pick-and-roll play
• Chris paul is the centerpiece of the offense but as a passer not as a scorer
• Everyone is a solid defender

Clipper's details:

• Overall best player Chris Paul 90 Overall
• Average Team rating of 76.5 overall
• Western Conference

3. Golden State Warriors

With their quick and insane rise, The Warriors are a legit problem team

This entire team is an insane scoring team, Curry leads the team as the most unstoppable shooter of all time. Curry is paired with Thompson who is essentially the 2nd best shooter and Draymond's GOAT-level defense.

Curry takes shots and makes them no matter what. This man is insane at shooting making shots way beyond the 3 -point line with ease. Klay also gets hot from 3 real quick and their entire team runs the break and finishes at an insane pace.

What Makes the Warriors Excellent:

• The team is so good they revolutionized the 3-point game
• Super fun to play with their insane speed and pace
• The best backcourt in the league is paired with one of the greatest rotations of frontcourt players you can have

Warriors details:

• Overall best player Steph Curry 93 Overall
• Average Team rating of 75.1 overall
• Western Conference

2. San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs are dinosaurs at this point but they are still some of the best players in the league.

The Spurs continue to be Championship Contenders. The Original Big 3 is aging and are a step slower but they also have new blood with LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard still here to lead the pack

Kawhi is emerging as one of the greatest two-way players in the game. The team is also super deep with every position having some of the best players at that position.

What Makes the Spurs Excellent:

• They have a bunch of players that are still star level
• The spurs still have one of the deepest teams in the game.
• All around on both offense and defense, this team is simply one of the best.

Spurs details:

• Overall best player is LaMarcus Aldridge 88 Overall
• Average Team rating of 77.2 overall
• Western Conference

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Any team led by Lebron is sure to be a really good team.

The Cavaliers immediately become Championship caliber players because of Lebron and Lebron continues to dominate the League. Lebron is flanked by two other stars Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love to hold it down.

Lebron and Kyrie are a problem together guaranteed to drop insane point totals and get insane buckets. Kevin Love rounds out the Big 3 by providing outside shooting and insane full-court passes.

What Makes the Cavaliers Excellent:

• Lebron continues to play like the best player in the League
• Kyrie is easily a top 3 point guard in the league
• The team is flanked by some consistent shooters and pick-and-roll threats.

Cavaliers details:

• Overall best player is Lebron James 94 Overall
• Average Team rating of 75.9 overall
• Eastern Conference