NBA Power Rankings: Preseason Edition

October 24, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors shooting guard Seth Curry (3) signals as point guard Stephen Curry (30) looks on during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at Oracle Arena. The Trail Blazers defeated the Warriors 90-74. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

7. Indiana Pacers

Indiana had the best summer by an Eastern Conference team not named Brooklyn (though that remains to be seen). Luis Scola, Chris Copeland and CJ Watson boost a dilapidated bench and Danny Granger will return to the fold. Whether Frank Vogel inserts him back into the starting lineup or sticks with Lance Stephenson, who has improved so much from the days he sat at the end of the bench and made choke signs towards LeBron James.

The bench unit arguably cost the Pacers a spot in the Finals and the additions this summer give them a shot at the Heat should they meet again. It’ll be a three-way war between Indiana, Miami and Chicago to represent the East in June next year.

8. Golden State Warriors

Predicting the final positions of the Western Conference standings will drive you crazy. Between the Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Warriors, Grizzlies and Rockets you have six teams that can all claim to be in the top three seeds come April.

Their preseason was up and down, but the team is still riding the uptick of Steph Curry’s big leap forward. The front office put together one of the most inspired offseasons of anyone outside of Houston, turning Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson and Brandon Rush (all non-factors being paid a ton of money) into Andre Iguodala. The Warriors seized on Denver’s decision to clean house on a 57-win season, landing Iggy, an All-Star player to join Curry and Klay Thompson. The Warriors’ starting five – Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Lee and Bogut is potentially the most exciting in the league.