What happened: On The Ringer NBA Show, Rob Mahoney said he filed Houston at No. 10 while second-guessing the slot before recording. He tied the hesitation to an arduous finish to last season, injuries and poor vibes entering the Los Angeles series without Kevin Durant.

Why it matters: Mahoney said spots four through 10 required nitpicking inside one crowded tier. J. Kyle Mann said playoff matchups and injury luck could separate those clubs in the West.

What to watch: The Group Chat crew continues its countdown with teams ranked ninth through sixth, including Los Angeles and Denver. Its final top-three episode follows Friday.