NBA power rankings, rating the entire league from top to bottom. Our NBA power rankings are based mostly on how good teams really are, with recent performances taken into partial consideration. Updated regularly during the regular season, InsideHoops.com's NBA power rankings focus on the big, season-long picture.

2013 NBA POWER RANKINGS
Updated Sept. 29, 2013

1) Miami Heat: The NBA champions kept their key pieces this offseason, and got slightly stronger. And if Greg Oden stays healthy and can play even almost as well as he used to when actually on the court, the Heat will be even more scary.

2) San Antonio Spurs: Yeah, Tim Duncan is older and only atop his game in limited minutes. And that's true even moreso of Manu Ginobili. But Tony Parker is still excellent, and the team as a unit, as long as Gregg Popovich is coach, should always do better than expected. Are they really the second best team in the league? As long as OKC guard Russell Westbrook is out injured then yes, they are.

3) Oklahoma City Thunder: Russell Westbrook is out injured, and scoring guard Kevin Martin is gone, so OKC isn't as good as they used to be. And we therefore don't feel that great about having them all the way up here at No.3. But who else deserves it? Once Westbrook is healthy, the Thunder should still be able to hang with just about anybody.

4) Indiana Pacers: The Pacers had a very good regular season last year, but in the playoffs stepped up and really put themselves on the map of league contenders. They aren't the best around, but when you play smart, rugged, great defensive-minded basketball you can pretty much rock and roll with anybody. Adding Chris Copeland was very solid. If Danny Granger is healthy and still good like he used to be, or anything even close, this is scary squad.

5) Memphis Grizzlies: Don't sleep on these guys. Rugged, defensive and hard-working, they're legit.

6) Los Angeles Clippers: Still a very good team, but hard to believe in them as a true championship contender.

7) Brooklyn Nets: Some crazy-good veteran talent now on board. Will be fun seeing it come together.

8) Houston Rockets: Dwight Howard should continue to regain his pre-injury effectiveness. Him and James Harden are a problem for the other team.

9) Golden State Warriors: Super fun team adds versatile Andre Iguodala to the mix.

10) Chicago Bulls: Derrick Rose is back, baby. We hope.

Teams 11-24 coming soon. 25) Milwaukee Bucks: There's just not a lot of ballers here.

26) Charlotte Bobcats: Got Al Jefferson, but rest of roster is still highly questionable.

27) Sacramento Kings: At least they're still in Sacramento.

28) Orlando Magic: Very few starter-worthy players on this roster.

29) Phoenix Suns: Starting from the bottom (76ers), now we're here.

30) Philadelphia 76ers: A roster of bench players and D-League talent.