Preseason Power Rankings, Part 3 — Group Chat (The Ringer)

Hosts: Justin Verrier (?), Rob Mahoney, Was (and Isaiah Blakely referenced)
Episode focus: Preseason NBA power rankings — teams 24–16 (this episode covers teams 24–16 in the aggregate ranking). Also opens with a short personal segment about rehearsing phone calls.

Overview

This episode continues The Ringer’s preseason NBA power-rankings series (Part 3). The hosts debate the realistic expectations for five Eastern Conference teams (Celtics, 76ers, Heat, Pacers, Bucks), focusing on offseason roster moves, injuries, role changes, and organizational intent. Each team discussion includes a short “existential” question about who will step up or how the season might play out.

Key takeaways (by team)

Boston Celtics (discussed near top; previously tied with Blazers)

• Current state: Major roster reshaping — shed salary/rotation pieces after last season; Jason Tatum injured at the time of recording.
• Why this matters: Jalen Brown will see increased usage and responsibility; Celtics look like a “figure-it-out”/retool year rather than clear contenders.
• Additions/concerns: Chris Boucher, Luka Garza, Josh Minott, Sam Hauser, Nic Claxton? (name transcription ambiguous). Uncertainty in the center/frontcourt rotation and defense.
• Outlook: Not expected to be a top team without Tatum; could hover above lottery but well below prior championship-contender identity. Management’s moves read like prioritizing cap flexibility over short-term competitiveness.
• Existential question: Will players like Jalen Brown or Derrick White push to keep the team competitive despite an apparent organizational lean toward reset?
• Watch: Jalen Brown usage/shot attempts, starting PG decision (Payton Pritchard vs. Anthony Simons), Sam Hauser’s role.

Philadelphia 76ers — #19

• Context: Ranking bumped around due to injury news (Joel Embiid’s uncertain status and other availability questions).
• Two modes: If healthy (Embiid + additions), Sixers can be strong; if Embiid is out/limited, the team becomes younger/faster and “more fun” but less consistent in wins.
• Roster notes: Discussed perimeter pieces (Tyrese Maxey, Quentin Grimes, Jared McCain), vets (Eric Gordon, Andre Drummond, Kyle Lowry) and potential addition Paul George (debated role/fit).
• Concerns: Embiid’s knee/uncertain recovery and surrounding baggage; “juju”/team chemistry implications of an ambiguous Embiid timeline.
• Outlook: A good Sixers (Embiid healthy) > a good Heat, but uncertainty makes their season binary: either fighting for high seed or a middling, inconsistent team.
• Existential question: Is the team more appealing (and watchable) if Embiid doesn’t play and the perimeter players run low-stakes, fast basketball?
• Watch: Embiid’s medical updates; Paul George’s role (connector/defensive glue vs. isolation scorer); young wings like Justin Edwards as rotation pieces.

Miami Heat — #18

• Situation: Tyler Herro will miss at least the start of the season (injury), Norm Powell signed, Davion Mitchell emerged as an important role player late last season.
• Organizational culture: Heat historically reluctant to fully rebuild; more likely to try to find piecemeal improvements and seize trades than tank.
• Bam Adebayo: Seen as an excellent second/third option but not a first-option scorer; his ceiling limits how far team can go if Herro is the primary scorer.
• Outlook: Team has a solid professional backbone and could modestly exceed expectations, but ceiling is modest without a clear alpha scorer; roster is thin for a deep title push.
• Draft/young players: Heat’s recent first-rounders have mixed outcomes; Kaleb (spelled various ways in transcript) and others might develop into starters but top-case scenarios are unlikely.
• Existential question: Which recent Heat draftee/first-round pick becomes the most impactful long-term player?
• Watch: Herro’s recovery timeline, Norm Powell’s early-season impact, whether Heat pivot to opportunistic trades.

Indiana Pacers — #17

• Context: Tyrese Haliburton injured (out for extended time), Pacers’ surprising deep playoff run the previous postseason altered expectations.
• Strengths: Multiple offensive modes existed in the playoffs; strong coaching (Rick Carlisle) and defensive identity expected to persist.
• Concerns: Loss of Haliburton removes primary creator; center rotation (Miles Turner gone; Jay Huff, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman status) is less settled.
• Who steps up?: Andrew Nembhard is the prime candidate to fill the playmaking vacuum; Benedict Mathurin could take a leap offensively; Aaron Nesmith and Jae’Sean Tate-type bench pieces matter.
• Outlook: Still likely a winning team; could finish in the high 30s–low 40s wins depending on how internal players respond.
• Existential question: Which player “pops” in Haliburton’s absence (Nembhard, Mathurin, or another role player)?
• Watch: Nembhard’s playmaking and defense, Mathurin’s shot selection & efficiency, development of bench bigs.

Milwaukee Bucks — #16

• Moves: Traded Damian Lillard away (noted as “one of the players they chopped”) and acquired Miles Turner to stabilize frontcourt spacing.
• Giannis Antetokounmpo: Publicly bought in but long-term satisfaction is uncertain; trade demand timeline was debated (hosts expected potential offseason exit next year rather than immediate).
• Supporting cast: Questions about whether the surrounding roster affords Giannis enough to stay engaged; role players (Kyle Kuzma, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Jr. additions) are middling.
• Outlook: Likely a playoff team (low seed) as long as Giannis plays and engages, but long-term era is unsettled.
• Existential question: When (if) will Giannis request a trade — hosts put money on the next offseason if it happens (some speculated dates).
• Watch: Giannis’ public/private mood, whether the team can meaningfully upgrade the supporting cast beyond role players.

Notable insights & quotes

• Rehearsal for phone calls: Hosts discuss how and why people rehearse phone conversations (work vs. personal contexts) — an opening personal segment emphasizing preparation and mood-setting.
• Recurring theme: “Juju” — intangible team chemistry, luck, or organizational momentum plays a major role in whether middling teams exceed expectations. The hosts repeatedly cite “juju” as a differentiator between teams with similar talent.
• Giannis quote (paraphrased / from Sport24 interview): “I like the challenge. I have realized that I like to live with the pressure… I don’t think I can be in an environment where there’s no pressure.” (Used to discuss his motivation to stay.)
• Framing line on Celtics: The offseason “read like top-down acceptance of fewer expectations” — management signaling a roster reset rather than immediate competitiveness.

Topics discussed (summary list)

• Power rankings methodology and tie-breaking (aggregated ballots; Isaiah Blakely broke ties)
• Celtics roster overhaul, Jalen Brown’s expected increase in usage, Tatum’s injury implications
• Sixers’ medical uncertainty around Joel Embiid and the team’s bifurcated outlook (healthy vs. without Embiid)
• Miami Heat’s culture vs. rebuild debate; Tyler Herro’s injury and Norm Powell addition
• Pacers’ depth test without Tyrese Haliburton; internal options (Andrew Nembhard, Benedict Mathurin)
• Bucks’ post-Lillard identity, Miles Turner trade, Giannis’ future with the team
• Importance of “juju” / chemistry and organizational intent signaling through offseason moves
• Short personal segment on rehearsing phone calls and the NYT “36 Questions” idea (light banter)

Action items / recommendations (what to monitor this season)

• Celtics: Track Jason Tatum’s health timeline and Jalen Brown usage rate; watch center rotation performance (Namish Kata / Jaylen Garza / Jayse??) and whether Sam Hauser or Anthony Simons claim meaningful roles.
• Sixers: Monitor Joel Embiid’s medical updates closely; assess whether the team leans into faster, more fun basketball if Embiid is limited; watch Paul George’s integration/role.
• Heat: Follow Tyler Herro’s return timeline and Norm Powell’s offensive fit; watch Davion Mitchell as a potential defensive glue and the development of young frontcourt pieces.
• Pacers: See who steps into Haliburton’s playmaking minutes (Nembhard?) and whether Benedict Mathurin takes a breakout step; track center availability and conditioning (Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman).
• Bucks: Watch Giannis’ public comments and engagement over the season; evaluate the impact of Miles Turner and whether Milwaukee upgrades the supporting cast in-season or next offseason.

Final framing

This episode profiles teams in transition — franchises confronting injuries, financial choices, or roster overhauls. The unifying thread is uncertainty: whether players (e.g., Jalen Brown, Andrew Nembhard) or organizational decisions (Celtics’ teardown, Bucks’ retention of Giannis) will push a team into contention or mid-tier mediocrity. The hosts stress the importance of chemistry and role clarity, and recommend watching early-season usage patterns and injury reports to gauge long-term trajectories.