On ESPN Insider, Neil Paine used the ESPN Player Rankings, where they ranked the top 500 players, to determine the most talented team in each division. Using the values assigned to each player, he determined that the Celtics are the most talented team in the Atlantic Division, as seen in the chart above.
It's not exactly a surprise that the Boston Celtics are the division's best team on paper; after all, that's been the case every year since 2007-08. But it might be shocking to see the Brooklyn Nets edge out the New York Knicks for second place in pure talent. The Nets' offseason aim was to add as much talent as possible, and it's tough to argue that they didn't accomplish that goal, especially when you see their roster on paper.
The other division leaders are:
Central - Chicago 5.77
Southeast - Miami 6.4
Southwest - San Antonio 5.97
Northwest - Oklahoma City 6.32
Pacific - Lakers 6.38
At least on paper, the Celtics are the second most talented in the East. However, these rankings don't take into account players who didn't play last season or players who are much better this season than expected, like Jeff Green or Chris Wilcox, or Jared Sullinger. It also doesn't take into account injuries or players who perform worse than they did last year. But, it's an interesting way to compare teams.
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