NBA Tier Rankings: The real contenders emerge midway through 2018-19

NBA Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant Stephen Curry (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NBA Golden State Warriors Kevin Durant Stephen Curry (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
4 of 5
NBA
NBA Denver Nuggets Mike Malone (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Conference Finals contenders

Philadelphia 76ers 32-17

Denver Nuggets 31-15

The Denver Nuggets have been outstanding this season and if it wasn’t for the Warriors they would be the favorites to make the NAB Finals in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, the Warriors do exist and will continue to be the favorites as long as they have the best starting 5 in the NBA, and possibly in all of history.

As for the Philadelphia 76ers, they have an excellent team but it’s hard to see them beating any of the top 3 teams in the East. This is a team that is loaded with talent, but still a year or two away from breaking through.