The Golden State Warriors are definitely the team to beat in this upcoming season. After having an unbelievable season last year and capping it off by winning the NBA finals, many teams this off-season are doing everything they can to build a super team. Each player on the Warriors has a role and they follow that role perfectly which has created a great overall chemistry in the team’s locker room. They not only have great chemistry but they have great talent as well and that is why people enjoy watching them. This team is possibly one of the greatest teams ever and that is why many organizations are doing everything they can to stop them.
5. Houston Rockets
James Harden is a great all-around player and is capable of leading the Rockets to challenge the Warriors. The Rockets have acquired Chris Paul over this off season who is one of the great all-around point guards in the league. Having CP3, Eric Gordon, and of course James Harden the Rockets have a great group of guys who can compete with the Warriors. This team may not have a lineup full of all stars, but they definitely do have a lineup capable of doing great things. This team has a solid player at all positions which is a great step towards winning a championship.
4. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have had a great offseason acquiring Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving. They did give up a great defensive player in Jae Crowder as well as a great offensive point guard in Isaiah Thomas. They definitely made up for the point guard spot by acquiring Kyrie. Since they did give up a few key players, they will need to get past it, in order to compete with the Cavaliers and get to the finals. The Celtics however, matchup great with LeBron James, and Kyrie’s offensive weapons can be crucial in a series vs the Cavaliers, before meeting up with the Golden State Warriors. It surely will be interesting.
3. San Antonio Spurs
Kawhi Leonard is the best defensive player in the league, over the course of the past seasons, however, he as has also become an all-around great player, and is now considered by many as one of the top-3 players in the world. Kawhi’s attitude is something his teammates love, which also greatly helps the team’s chemistry. The Spurs have gotten Rudy Gay over this offseason and it will be great to watch him play under Greg Popovich. Rudy Gay is a player, who can score the basketball in many ways, affect the offense in a positive way and also help Leonard on the defensive side of the court.
Having Tony Parker (coming back this November), Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Kawhi Leonard, together with Pau Gasol, Manu Ginobili and Patty Mills off the bench gives coach Popovich things to work on. be great to see this team play. This team has a great chance at beating the Warriors, as they showed last year in the Western Conference Finals until Leonard’s injury in Game 1.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
Russell Westbrook, a triple-double machine just capped off an unbelievable season last year, as he won the MVP trophy, became the second player to average a triple-double and signed the 'richest deal' in NBA history.
The Western Conference getting stronger each year and is the strongest conference in the NBA. Westbrook last year was a one-man show as he led his team to the playoffs. Westbrook’s goal last year was to prove everyone he is a super-star and win the MVP trophy and this year it is to challenge and beat the Warriors and Kevin Durant. Arguably the Thunder have had one of the better offseasons they have ever had with the pickups of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony who each are well-respected players, who can score, play defense and lead a team. Westbrook averaged 10+ assists last season, which shows that he can find his teammates. Now that he has two other superstars alongside him, who are known to finish shots well and score the basketball, he will use his speed and skills to attract the defenders so they can take open shots, who both of them can knock down.
The Thunder open their season against the Knicks on October 17th and their first game against the Warriors is on the 23rd of November. Mark your calendars.
1. Cleveland Cavaliers
LeBron is one of the greatest players of all time and has been to seven straight NBA finals. He is the player the Warriors will want to shut down this season, as they managed to do in the 2017 finals. Now that Kyrie has been traded to the Boston Celtics many are thinking that the Cavs have lost their chances to beat the Warriors. The Cavaliers, however, have had a pretty good offseason, picking up really crucial players, who will play a role in the team’s success. In the Kyrie trade, the Cavs got Isaiah Thomas, Jae Crowder, Ante Zizic and a 2018 first round draft pick. They have also signed Derrick Rose who was a great and dominant point guard in his prime. LeBron also brings out the best out of his teammates so it will be interesting to see how it plays out with Derrick Rose. The Cavs have been shopping the 2018 first round draft pick already and could bring in more talent by trading the pick before the end of this season.
Dwayne Wade is also another huge factor, the Cavaliers top this list. Wade's friendship with LeBron on and off the court has made them both really spectacular to watch in Miami, where they won two titles back-to-back. This year, Wade can average 25-30 minutes per game, can help in crunch time, knock down important shots and use his experience to make his teammates better. His relationship with James, the past they had together and his mentality bring a lot to this franchise.
The Cavaliers finally, remain the favorites to challenge the Warriors and also have a great chance of beating them if they reach their fourth straight finals.
By Cole Allen / morningnbadaily@gmail.com
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