NBA Power Rankings: Giannis for MVP; Lakers take a tumble without LeBron

NBA Milwaukee Bucks Giannis (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
NBA Milwaukee Bucks Giannis (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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NBA
Charlotte Hornets Kemba Walker (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

17. Charlotte Hornets (17-18)

The Charlotte Hornets continue to play on a level that suggests this team will probably make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference this season. Assuming that they don’t sustain a bad injury to a key player…

(cough) Kemba Walker (cough)

…this team is going to make a return to the playoffs. And just in time for Walker to get his big payday, to remind the franchise during the summer that without him this team doesn’t even sniff a playoff spot.

The Hornets may not make much noise when they get to the post-season, but even simply getting there with this flawed roster is impressive.