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Power ranking the teams at each hotel in NBA’s Disney re-launch

By Duncan Smith

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Walt Disney World remains closed to the public due to the Coronavirus threat on March 23, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. The United States has surpassed 43,000 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the death toll climbed to at least 514. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 23: Walt Disney World remains closed to the public due to the Coronavirus threat on March 23, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. The United States has surpassed 43,000 confirmed cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the death toll climbed to at least 514. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images) /
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Grand Destino teams

At the Grand Destino we find the teams most likely to make deep runs to the NBA Finals. As the best teams usually win series and championships, these top seeds are likely to stay in place as they work their way through lesser competition.

Let’s take a look at how these eight teams rank in our first-ever Hotel Power Rankings.

1. Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks have the reigning MVP and the favorite to win both this year’s MVP and Defensive Play of the Year awards in Giannis Antetokounmpo, and they have the best record in basketball. This squad may have plenty to prove in the playoffs, but over the course of the remainder of the regular season we’re going to default to the Bucks as the top squad until proven otherwise. The most likely team to prove otherwise?

2. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers are a mighty foe with a well-rested LeBron James and Anthony Davis. LeBron has been through the playoff grind more than most other franchises have in their history, let alone any of the other players currently in this re-start field. Experience may prove to be on their side.

3. LA Clippers

The top of the NBA has effectively a three-team tier between the Bucks, Lakers and the Clippers. Between Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and shocking depth up and down the roster, they have no less a legitimate shot at a title than the Bucks and Lakers.

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4. Toronto Raptors

The defending champs are worthy of that title, but this year at least are a cut below the cream of the crop found in Los Angeles and Milwaukee.

5. Boston Celtics

The Raptors and Celtics are evenly matched and either team could find themselves in the East’s second seed.

6. Miami Heat

The Heat won’t have to travel far afield for this Orlando re-start, but we’ll see if that helps or hurts them. They were 14-20 away from home, so time will tell how playing on a neutral court will impact them.

7. Denver Nuggets

Admittedly, I’ve long struggled to buy in on the Nuggets. I’m always ready to be impressed by them, but I’ll wait to see them surprise me before expecting more from them.

8. Utah Jazz

The Jazz had one of the most bizarre hiatuses for all the wrong reasons. Rudy Gobert’s pre-pandemic behavior is well-documented by now and apparently he and Donovan Mitchell have buried the hatchet, but it’s easy to see how things might go sideways quickly for them in Orlando.