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<ul class="summary-list"><li>Former child actor Ricky Schroder posted a video to Instagram confronting a <keyword id="294127" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Costco">Costco</keyword> employee.</li><li>The employee told Schroder that he and other customers were required to wear masks in the store.</li><li>While Costco lifted its nationwide mandatory mask policy in stores, the state of California still requires them.</li></ul>Former child actor and conservative activist Ricky Schroder on Saturday shared a video online that showed him berating a Costco employee for following California COVID-19 laws requiring face masks to shop in stores.At the beginning of the 1:38 video, filmed outside a Costco store in Los Angeles and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CO53vxQgCRr/?hl=en">posted to Schroder's Instagram Reels</a> page Saturday, Schroder approaches a Costco employee who is wearing a name-tag that reads "Jason." Schroder asked the employee to identify himself.The man gestured toward his nametag, said his name was Jason and that he was a front-end supervisor at the Costco store. "And why aren't you letting me in?" Schroder, known for his roles on "Silver Spoons" and "NYPD Blue," asked from behind the camera."Because in the state of California and in the county of Los Angeles, and Costco, there has been no change to our mask policy," the employee said"Didn't you see the <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="news">news</keyword>?" Schroder retorted. "Nationwide Costco said you don't need to wear masks." Costco on Friday <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/costco-wont-require-masks-for-vaccinated-customers-in-some-states-2021-5">lifted its policy requiring masks inside its US stores</a> to slow the spread of the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword>, though in doing so noted that masks would still be required in locations with state or local ordinances mandating them.The announcement followed <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-mask-guidance-chart-for-vaccinated-unvaccinated-people-2021-5">updated guidance last week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>, which said people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 could ditch their masks in most indoor and outdoor situations.Following last week's new guidance from the <keyword id="6379474" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cdc">CDC</keyword>, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-guidelines-mask-guidance-list-of-states-relaxing-keeping-mandates-2021-5">several states dropped their mandates</a>, while others, including California, New York, and Virginia, said they planned to keep them in place for the time being.California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, last week said he <a href="https://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2021/05/15/california-mask-mandate-end-june-15/">planned to lift the statewide mask mandate next month, around June 15</a>.The Costco employee told Schroder that California planned to roll back its mandate in June."Oh, if they allow us? If they grant us that, our kings?" Schroder said. "The people in power. You're going to listen to these people? They destroyed our economy. They're destroying our culture. They're destroying our state. And you're just going to listen to their rules?"Schroder, clad in a pro-police hat, then panned the camera toward himself and said he was canceling his Costco membership."I suggest everybody in California get their refund from Costco," he said, pointing the camera back at the employee. "Give up your membership from Costco until they remove this.""Costco is simply abiding by the law and that's the law," the employee responded.Schroder is an <a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/dec/17/ricky-schroder-plans-to-protest-biden-inauguration/">outspoken conservative</a> who last year told The New York Post he <a href="https://nypost.com/2020/11/24/ricky-schroder-defends-role-in-bailing-out-kyle-rittenhouse/">contributed "hundreds of thousands" of dollars</a> to a bail and defense fund for Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of killing two people last year during a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Former child actor Ricky Schroder shared a video berating Costco employee for complying with California law requiring masks

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A group of vocal conservative lawmakers are criticizing aspects of ESG investing. </li><li>Insider has pinpointed key players, like Kentucky Rep. Andy Barr and Louisiana's treasurer.</li></ul>Republican officials are growing increasingly vocal in their attacks on investing with environmental, social, and governance considerations in mind. That's compounding scrutiny that ESG-labeled funds and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/esg-sustainable-investing-hsbc-backlash-2022-5">Wall Street's vast sustainability operations are already facing</a> from investors and regulators.The pushback from politicians like Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and John Schroder, the treasurer of Louisiana, are growing more pointed. The lasting impact of anti-ESG legislation and political rhetoric, coming as politicians seek to raise their profiles ahead of the US midterm elections, remains to be seen.But they add to a challenging moment for ESG investors and big US banks and asset managers, all of which have <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sustainability-esg-investing-finance-recruiters-2022-3">heavily invested in ESG products and teams</a>, and could challenge the perception and embrace of ESG in the long run. As broader markets have plunged, investors pulled $2 billion from US equity exchange-traded funds in May, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-01/esg-equity-funds-had-worst-month-of-outflows-on-record-in-may">according to Bloomberg Intelligence data</a>, the first month of outflows in three years. "We believe many of these proposals and policies that 'push back' on ESG may impact sentiment more than long-term AUM growth," Morgan Stanley equity analysts wrote in a June report, adding that states with such proposals and policies represent some 30% of overall US public pension fund assets. These treasurers, governors, and state legislators hold sway over aspects of the sprawling ESG ecosystem, like writing policy or selecting funds for state investments. They're also using their online platforms to fire up followers. Sen. Cotton in a tweet on June 21 called on the Department of Justice and Congress to "crack down" on ESG investing, then tweeted the next day: "The next Congress will take action to end this scam."ESG standard-bearers like S&amp;P Global and BlackRock, the world's largest money manager and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-asset-management-leadership-shuffle-new-cfo-2022-10">an influential proponent</a> of ESG investing, are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/BlackRock-republicans-esg-investing-bny-mellon-federated-hermes-cli2022-8">often the subject of their critiques</a>. These are corporations that sell ESG-linked products to make money and appeal to investors who want to see their values reflected in their portfolios. These officials often paint large financial firms' ESG strategies as functions of left-leaning agendas instead.This push, parts of which are <a href="https://www.wvtreasury.com/About-The-Office/Press-Releases/ID/394/WV-Treasurer-Moore-Leads-15-State-Coalition-to-Push-Back-Against-Bank-Boycotts-of-Traditional-Energy-Industries">coordinated actions between states</a>, also reflects a wider shift of Republicans challenging corporate America — a departure from years past, when the party was often aligned with interests of big business.In the lead-up to the midterms, Republicans will wield anti-ESG issues <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/republican-culture-wars-glossary-2022-elections-woke-equity-cancel-culture-2022-2">in the scope of wider culture wars</a> as a way to suggest government overreach and drum up support for Republicans over Democrats, said Kodiak Hill-Davis, vice president of government affairs for the Niskanen Center and cofounder of non-profit Republican Women for Progress.A BlackRock spokesperson <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/BlackRock-republicans-esg-investing-bny-mellon-federated-hermes-cli2022-8">told Insider in an earlier statement</a>: "We are a fiduciary to our clients, helping them navigate investment risks and opportunities so they can reach their long-term financial goals, not engineering specific decarbonization outcomes in the real economy." Here are key GOP players who are taking aim at ESG investing.<h2>Louisiana Treasurer John Schroder </h2>Schroder, who is set to take over as chair of the State Financial Officers Foundation, a group of conservative state finance officials, announced on Oct. 5 that he would liquidate the state's $794 million of investments with BlackRock.The treasurer said in a <a href="https://a4de8bd9-8c02-4b69-8f48-7792cfcaf8fd.usrfiles.com/ugd/a4de8b_38fdc8b7e3c04c9490bf332ce14f8d2f.pdf">letter</a> to BlackRock Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink that he has divested $560 million to date and would complete its divestment by year-end. He takes issue with the firm's commitment to supporting a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner. "Your blatantly anti-fossil fuel policies would destroy Louisiana's economy," he wrote to Fink. The asset manager remains among the largest institutional shareholders of Chevron, Exxon, Marathon Petroleum, and BP. "I fully realize, as your representatives noted during our recent meeting, that BlackRock currently invests in oil and gas companies," Schroder wrote. "Nonetheless, your consistent public messaging has made very clear what BlackRock is demanding from fossil fuel company CEOs and every other company they invest in."<h2>Kentucky Treasurer Allison Ball </h2>On June 29, Ball sent a letter with other Kentucky officials to S&amp;P Global's ratings business to object to the company incorporating ESG factors when determining states' credit ratings. It also objected to its assessment of her state.The company's website says ESG considerations have played a large role in assessing credit ratings since before before ESG became a well-known term. But Ball, who is now serving in her second term as state treasurer, objects to ESG usage in credit indicators at all. "It creates a dangerous framework for state borrowing mechanisms, whereby state creditworthiness will fluctuate wildly based on ever-changing political tides," the letter said. Ball added that she agreed with her "friends in Utah" who share similar concerns, referring to a letter officials including Gov. Spencer Cox sent to S&amp;P in April.A spokesperson for S&amp;P Global Ratings referred Insider to the firm's most recent credit report of Kentucky, from February, which affirms its A credit rating with a positive outlook and its ESG assessment of E-2, S-3, and G-2. S&amp;P uses a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 denoting the most positive rating in that category. <h2>West Virginia Treasurer Riley Moore </h2>Moore has emerged as one of the loudest voices against ESG investing, declaring that banks and asset managers could lose the state's business if they do not work with the energy industry. On July 28, Moore's office published a <a href="https://www.wvtreasury.com/About-The-Office/Press-Releases/ID/452/Treasurer-Moore-Publishes-Restricted-Financial-Institution-List">list</a> of firms restricted from contracts with the state over certain fossil fuel policies, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan Chase.He has focused efforts on criticizing BlackRock over the firm's commitments to encourage companies to transition to an economy with <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-ceo-larry-fink-annual-letter-eliminate-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2021-1">net zero greenhouse gas emissions,</a> a move that Moore says punishes states like his. Funds BlackRock manages on behalf of clients remain significant shareholders of fossil fuel companies. West Virginia is the fifth-largest energy producer in the US and provides about 5% of the country's total energy, almost half of which is from coal production, according to the US Energy Information Administration.In January, the state's Board of Treasury Investments stopped using a BlackRock fund over Moore's concerns. At the time, West Virginia's investment with BlackRock was just $21.8 million. The state has since used a fund offered by Dreyfus, a unit of BNY Mellon, a spokesperson for Moore said. A BlackRock spokesperson declined to comment. <h2>Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas</h2>Rep. Crenshaw, a Texas native whose father worked in the state's oil and gas industry, was elected in 2018. He sits on committees directly involved with environmental policy, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. In an episode of his podcast in April, Sen. Crenshaw said ESG factors are "threatening to destroy the American energy industry, including the natural gas industry, which is the latest target of ESG and radical activist investors."<h2>Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas</h2>Sen. Cotton, who sits on committees including the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary, has recently spoken out on Twitter to express his concern with corporate ESG.<div type="image" title="Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, sits and stares with a red flashing light next to him. He wears a suit and tie." height="2666" width="4000" msid="94708950" hostid="261" sizebytes="1281680"></div>"Let's call the ESG movement what it is: illegal corporate collusion to implement leftist policies," he said on June 21 to his 325,000 followers, adding in another tweet the next day: "The next Congress will take action to end this scam."It is unclear what about ESG investing is illegal or what plans Sen. Cotton has. Spokespeople for Sen. Cotton did not return a request for comment. <h2>South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis </h2>Last September, he emailed JPMorgan management and warned banks "to stay out of political culture wars and particularly abstain from the petty, 'woke' cancel culture," according to a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/27/climate/republicans-blackrock-climate.html">New York Times report in May</a>.Loftis, who is serving his third term, signed a letter to the SEC in late June to oppose the commission's climate disclosure rule. He views the SEC's disclosure as overreach. "This is another flagrant attempt by the Biden administration to take power away from the states by circumventing the democratic process and legislating through SEC regulations," Loftis said in a statement at the time. <h2>Rep. John Rose of Tennessee </h2>Rep. Rose, who is serving his second term in Congress and is a member of the US House Committee on Financial Services, led a letter to the SEC in May expressing concern over the commission's climate disclosure rule. "To do business with public companies, small farms would be required to disclose a significant amount of climate-related information," the letter said. "But unlike large corporations, small farms do not have full-scale compliance departments."Rep. Rose said last month that he expects Republican lawmakers to try and overturn the SEC's rules if the party takes control of the House of Representatives in the midterm elections this fall, according to a <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/finance/3525223-proposed-esg-reporting-rule-in-gop-crosshairs/">report from the Hill</a>. <h2>Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky</h2>Rep. Barr introduced a bill in March, called the Ensuring Sound Guidance (ESG) Act aimed at requiring fund managers to prioritize financial returns above all other factors when acting as fiduciaries for their clients.Barr, who sits on the US House Committee on Financial Services, introduced the bill with Republican Rep. Rick Allen of Georgia. Rep. Allen sits on the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee. "The ESG Act is intended to protect investors from their returns being diminished because of politically motivated asset managers who prioritize environmental or social goals instead of returns," the lawmakers said in an announcement at the time. Rep. Barr said the ESG movement is a "threat" to America that is "undermining American competitiveness, according to an <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/06/16/us-chamber-commerce-house-republicans">Axios report last month</a>. <h2>Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska</h2>Sen. Sullivan, who sits on the US Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, introduced a bill in May aimed at curbing the power of large asset managers like BlackRock. The firms' commitments to ESG is tied to his proposed legislation, <a href="https://www.sullivan.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sullivan-discusses-index-act-and-record-high-energy-prices-on-squawk-box">Sen. Sullivan said in an appearance on CNBC</a> in May. Sen. Sullivan and his cosponsors, including Republican Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott of Florida, want to see power shifted away from big money managers on proxy votes and toward investors in funds run by those firms."This would democratize corporate governance and largely eliminate the influence that these firms wield at shareholder meetings, often to push political agendas," he said in a statement at the time. Since last October, BlackRock <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/blackrock-investor-shareholder-proposal-voting-2022-6">established and has expanded a program</a> meant to open up proxy voting choice to more large investors like pension funds and endowments. <h2>Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas </h2>Last year, Gov. Abbott signed into law a bill that prevents Texas from investing in or doing business with firms that cut ties with the energy industry.<div type="image" title="Texas Governor Greg Abbott stares with an American flag in the background." height="3667" width="5500" msid="94708951" hostid="261" sizebytes="440094"></div>"This bill sent a strong message to both Washington and Wall Street that if you boycott Texas energy, then Texas will boycott you," Rep. Phil King of Texas said last year, according to an NPR report from April. Abbott, who is seeking reelection in November, was early to denouncing ESG investing. At the time, it was <a href="https://sidleyenergyblog.sidley.com/texas-legislature-passes-anti-esg-bill/">one of the first such state laws</a>. But a spokesperson for the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/29/1095137650/texas-stumbles-in-its-effort-to-punish-green-financial-firms">state's comptroller's office told NPR</a> in April that enforcing the law "has proven challenging." "The simple truth is that the creation of this list would present no challenge whatsoever if these companies were open, transparent and honest about their position on the fossil fuel sector," the spokesperson told NPR. <h2>Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho </h2>Sen. Crapo, a member of the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, has spoken out about his concerns with ESG frameworks.Last month, Sen. Crapo <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7w7drI2szw">hosted a discussion</a> with Idaho Treasurer Julie Ellsworth about ESG investing and included Vivek Ramaswamy, an anti-ESG pundit who is widely followed on Twitter. Sen. Crapo said he opposes ratings agencies using ESG scores when evaluating states' credit ratings. "The use of these criteria may seem innocuous on its surface. But unfortunately, many standards are subjective and grant regulators and corporations undue influence on public policy," Sen. Crapo said. This story was first published on July 7, 2022 and was updated on October 6, 2022 to reflect the Louisiana treasurer's announcement that he would liquidate the state's investments with BlackRock by year-end.

Meet 11 Republican officials crusading against BlackRock and ESG investing ahead of the midterms

<ul class="summary-list"><li>We ranked 14 <keyword id="11910343" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="nba" source="Orion">NBA</keyword> teams that have a shot at winning the championship.</li><li>Last year's Finalists, the Bucks and the Suns, land in our top four.</li><li>The Nets are the favorites to win the title, but Kyrie Irving's status hangs over the team.</li></ul>The 2021-22 NBA season is here, and the league's landscape has been altered by the events of last season and this past summer.We've ranked the 14 teams with a legitimate shot to win the championship this season.<h2>14. Philadelphia 76ers</h2><div type="image" title="ben simmons" height="999" width="1999" msid="86825555" hostid="261"></div>2020-21 record: 49-23, 1st in EastBiggest additions: Andre Drummond (C), Georges Niang (F/C)Biggest losses: Dwight Howard (C), George Hill (G)2021-22 outlook: The Ben Simmons saga hangs over this team. A happy, motivated Simmons would vault the Sixers back into our top tier, but the unknowns of whether Simmons will play for them again, or what they might get in return for him in a trade, makes Philly nearly impossible to project. Joel Embiid is an MVP-caliber player, but without a legitimate second star, the Sixers aren't good enough to contend with the top teams in the East. Stay tuned.<h2>13. Portland Trail Blazers</h2>2020-21 record: 42-30, 6th in WestBiggest additions: Larry Nance Jr. (F/C), Cody Zeller (C), Chauncey Billups (head coach)Biggest losses: Carmelo Anthony (F), Enes Kanter (C), Zach Collins (F/C), Terry Stotts (head coach)2021-22 outlook: Last season left a bad taste in everyone's mouth, but there is reason for optimism. Chauncey Billups was hired as head coach after the Terry Stotts era ran its course. Though <a href="https://www.insider.com/portland-trail-blazers-becky-hammon-interview-chauncey-billups-hire-2021-6">Billups' hire was criticized after a rape allegation from 1997 resurfaced</a>, he may nonetheless bring a needed new voice to the Blazers locker room. The top of Portland's rotation is rock-solid, and they brought in Larry Nance Jr., one of the offseason's most underrated acquisitions. It wouldn't be surprising if Portland reemerges as a threat in the West.<h2>12. Boston Celtics</h2><div type="image" title="Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum stand side by side, smiling during a game." height="1000" width="2000" msid="86825556" hostid="261"></div>2020-21 record: 36-36, 7th in EastBiggest additions: Al Horford (C), Dennis Schroder (G), Josh Richardson (G/F), Enes Kanter (C), Ime Udoka (head coach)Biggest losses: Kemba Walker (G), Tristan Thompson (C), Semi Ojeleye (F)2021-22 outlook: The Celtics are a bit of an unknown. After an Eastern Conference Finals appearance in 2020, a lackluster season last year resulted in fairly major turnover. In a glass half-full outlook, Horford brings defense, shooting, and playmaking that was missing in last year's frontcourt, and Schroder brings an element of speed that could help this offense. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are studs on the wing, and Marcus Smart is the heartbeat of the team. Of course, there is a chance that the offseason additions are bigger in name than impact and that last year's malaise was not a fluke.<h2>11. LA Clippers</h2>2020-21 record: 47-25, 4th in WestBiggest additions: Eric Bledsoe (G), Justise Winslow (G/F), Biggest losses: Patrick Beverley (G), Rajon Rondo (G) 2021-22 outlook: It looks like something of a stop-gap year for the Clippers, who may be without Kawhi Leonard for the entire season as he recovers from a torn ACL. He is aiming to return in the spring, but historically, Leonard is not the type to rush back from an injury. Still, the Clippers have a perennial All-Star in Paul George and a deep rotation that should allow them to hang around the playoff picture. If Leonard makes a quicker recovery than expected - look out.<h2>10. Golden State Warriors</h2><div type="image" title="Stephen Curry celebrates while Draymond Green stands behind him." height="1000" width="2000" msid="86825557" hostid="261"></div>2020-21 record: 39-33, 8th in WestBiggest additions: Otto Porter Jr. (F), Nemanja Bjelica (F/C), Andre Iguodala (F), Jonathan Kuminga (F - R), Moses Moody (G/F - R)Biggest losses: Kelly Oubre (F), Eric Paschall (F)2021-22 outlook: There is optimism heading into the season about the Warriors' Big 3 taking the court again, surrounded by a better-fitting supporting cast. Of course, that optimism is largely floated by the idea that Klay Thompson can resume All-Star form after missing back-to-back seasons with a torn ACL and torn Achilles - a major "if." All indications are that Thompson looks good so far, and if the Warriors are whole come spring, well, we've seen the damage Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green can do together.<h2>9. Dallas Mavericks</h2>2020-21 record: 42-30, 7th in WestBiggest additions: Reggie Bullock (G/F), Jason Kidd (head coach)Biggest losses: Josh Richardson (G/F), JJ Redick (G), Rick Carlisle (head coach)2021-22 outlook: There was turnover in Dallas, with Rick Carlisle and longtime GM Donnie Nelson opting to leave the franchise amid inner-turmoil. Jason Kidd, with a spotty head coaching record, now takes over a team desperate to win a playoff series and take the next step. All of it would make for a gloomy outlook if Luka Doncic wasn't already so good. Doncic is off to an historic start to his career and looks capable of carrying a team through the playoffs if he can get some help. The biggest X-factor will be Kristaps Porzingis, who had a career-best season in terms of efficiency, but was unhappy with his role. If Kidd and his staff can revive Porzingis, some view the Mavs as a darkhorse contender.<h2>8. Miami Heat</h2><div type="image" title="Kyle Lowry shoots the ball in warmups in 2021." height="1499" width="1999" msid="86825558" hostid="261"></div>2020-21 record: 40-32, 6th in EastBiggest additions: Kyle Lowry (G), PJ Tucker (F/C), Markieff Morris (F)Biggest losses: Goran Dragic (G), Kendrick Nunn (G), Andre Iguodala (F), Trevor Ariza (F), Precious Achiuwa (C)2021-22 outlook: Miami made arguably the biggest free agent signing by landing Kyle Lowry, whose skills and savvy should be a marked improvement over the aging Goran Dragic. Lowry, Jimmy Butler, and Bam Adebayo is an intimidating trio on both sides of the ball, but they'll need help and that's where questions arise. Can Tyler Herro make a third-year leap after looking like a star-in-the-making in the bubble? Can they get anything out of Victor Oladipo? Is there enough depth to survive an injury to one of their Big 3? There will be times where the season is a slog for Miami.<h2>7. Atlanta Hawks</h2>2020-21 record: 41-31, 5th in EastBiggest additions: Delon Wright (G), Gorgui Dieng (C)Biggest losses: none2021-22 outlook: A surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals suggests the Hawks' time is now. They're deep and talented, surrounding Trae Young with versatile wings and an elite rim-runner and protector in Clint Capela. With continued improvement from young players and better health (their role players were rarely healthy at the same time last year), the Hawks might be another headache in the postseason.<h2>6. Utah Jazz</h2><div type="image" title="Donovan Mitchell puts his arm around Bojan Bogdanovic during a game." height="1000" width="2000" msid="86825559" hostid="261"></div>2020-21 record: 52-20, 1st in WestBiggest additions: Rudy Gay (F/C), Eric Paschall (F/C), Hassan Whiteside (C)Biggest losses: none2021-22 outlook: After posting the NBA's best regular season record last year, the Jazz hit another wall in the playoffs. Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley got injured. The Clippers were able to pull Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert out of the paint by going uber-small and spreading shooters around the arc. This is a big season for Utah to prove they're legitimate contenders, but they didn't make big enough changes to suggest they can overcome their annual playoff struggles.<h2>5. Denver Nuggets</h2>2020-21 record: 47-25, 3rd in WestBiggest additions: Jeff Green (F/C)Biggest losses: Paul Millsap (F/C)2021-22 outlook: After trading for Aaron Gordon at last year's trade deadline, the Nuggets went 8-1 before Jamal Murray tore his ACL, effectively ending their championship hopes. Denver looked like a dangerous team in the West with their preferred starting five healthy - a deep, versatile bunch of shooters and slashers surrounding MVP fulcrum Nikola Jokic. Murray will miss the start of the season but is expected to return later on. If he can shake off the rust by the spring, Denver looks like a team with the right pieces to make a run.<h2>4. Phoenix Suns</h2><div type="image" title="Monty Williams puts his arms around Chris Paul, Jae Crowder, and Devin Booker." height="1000" width="2000" msid="86825560" hostid="261"></div>2020-21 record: 51-21, 2nd in WestBiggest additions: Elfrid Payton (G), JaVale McGee (C)Biggest losses: Torrey Craig (F)2021-22 outlook: Don't blame for Phoenix for playing who was in front of them in last year's playoffs. Sure, each of their opponents was missing a top player, but the Suns nonetheless jelled in remarkable time, going from a lottery team in 2020 to two wins away from the Finals in one year. They return their core pieces this year, and while age could start to catch up to Chris Paul, it's possible that the deep postseason experience makes Devin Booker, Deandre Ayton, Mikal Bridges, and Cameron Johnson better.<h2>3. <keyword id="11910344" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="los-angeles-lakers" source="Orion">Los Angeles Lakers</keyword></h2>2020-21 record: 42-30, 7th in WestBiggest additions: Russell Westbrook (G), Carmelo Anthony (F), Trevor Ariza (F), Dwight Howard (C), DeAndre Jordan (C), Malik Monk (G), Kendrick Nunn (G), Kent Bazemore (F), Wayne Ellington (G), Rajon Rondo (G)Biggest losses: Kyle Kuzma (F), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (G/F), Alex Caruso (G), Montrezl Harrell (C), Marc Gasol (C), Andre Drummond (C), Dennis Schroder (G)2021-22 outlook: This is an entirely new Lakers roster and one that comes with a lot of questions. How will Russell Westbrook and LeBron James fit together? Who are the other two starters next to James, Westbrook, and Anthony Davis? Will Davis truly commit to spending most of his time at center? These are big questions and ones that will take a while to solve, but assuming good health, James and Davis are too good and too talented not to make it work. The Lakers are the favorites in the West.<h2>2. <keyword id="12074855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="milwaukee-bucks" source="Orion">Milwaukee Bucks</keyword></h2><div type="image" title="Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jrue Holiday stand next to each other at a photoshoot, with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the foreground." height="1000" width="2000" msid="86825564" hostid="261"></div>2020-21 record: 46-26, 3rd in EastBiggest additions: Grayson Allen (G), George Hill (G), Semi Ojeleye (F)Biggest losses: PJ Tucker (F/C), Bryn Forbes (G)2021-22 outlook: It feels as if the Bucks may have exorcised some demons en route to winning last year's championship. Khris Middleton settled in as the the late-game ball-handler and scorer while Giannis Antetokounmpo reached a new level by playing like a modern big man. The Bucks are returning their core from last year and have made some noteworthy additions to the bench. With the weight of championship expectations off their shoulders, it's possible the Bucks make another leap this year, playing more freely and confidently.<h2>1. <keyword id="12223899" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="brooklyn-nets" source="Orion">Brooklyn Nets</keyword></h2>2020-21 record: 48-24, 2nd in EastBiggest additions: Patty Mills (G), LaMarcus Aldridge (C), James Johnson (F/C)Biggest losses: DeAndre Jordan (C), Jeff Green (F/C)2021-22 outlook: The Nets looked like they might steamroll through the East until injuries struck in the playoffs. They still nearly knocked off the eventual-champion Bucks with Kevin Durant and a clearly hobbled James Harden. This year, they return their Big 3, plus a deep supporting cast of shooters, smart passers, and cutters. Their offense should score at will; an average defense might make them a 60-win team. The big question, of course, is whether Kyrie Irving being unvaccinated prevents him from playing home games in New York - a major blow to the easy favorites to win the championship.

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