The new NBA season is just a few weeks away and we’re more than ready to see our favourite teams and players back in the hardcourt.
In the current era of player movement, the league’s landscape shifts constantly with all the free-agent decisions, trades, and other similar developments. So every year – including this one – is expected to offer basketball fans a ton of surprises.
Here at SBOTOP, we’ve already covered the super early favourites to win the championship, the MVP contenders, and the top games to watch out for.
And with the new campaign just around the corner, read on below as we list down certain teams who are likely to punch above their weight in the upcoming 2021/22 season.
Golden State Warriors
Steph Curry did all he could to carry the Warriors to a playoff berth but it simply wasn’t meant to be as they were eliminated by the Lakers – with no thanks to LeBron James’ late heroics during the play-in mini-tournament.
But this time around, reports suggest that the Warriors are in a better position to contend since they are coming into training camp with a cleaner bill of health.
Klay Thompson, who has dealt with a torn ACL and Achilles for the last two years, is showing significant progress in rehab and he is set to participate in full training soon. The 31-year-old shooting guard has yet to play in an NBA game since Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals.
James Wiseman, meanwhile, is also on pace to return after undergoing surgery for his right meniscal tear last April during his rookie year.
As currently constructed, the Warriors should vie for a playoff spot in the Western Conference given their collection of youth and experience.
However, their fate hinges on whether they can stay healthy all throughout, especially since they are not getting any younger with their top players already above their 30’s.
Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are expected to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2017 because of their shrewd transactions in these past few months.
They went out and got Nikola Vucevic during the trade deadline, and this summer, they’ve added solid pieces in Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, and DeMar DeRozan.
Other than those additions, Chicago still has the hyper-athletic Zach LaVine, a streaky scorer in Coby White, and an emerging two-way gem in Patrick Williams.
Under Billy Donovan who’s an adept coach offencively, this season’s Bulls should feature heavily in the NBA 2021 highlights reel with their plethora of weapons. But of course, the wins would have to follow.
The Eastern Conference is expected to be lorded by the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks and the vaunted Brooklyn Nets.
But with this squad’s overall depth, the Bulls can give those teams a huge run for their money and we shouldn’t be surprised if they can make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Dallas Mavericks
As Luka Doncic adds more experience under his belt, he is only going to get better and that’s great news for the Dallas Mavericks.
After leading the Mavs to back-to-back playoff appearances in his first two NBA seasons, Luka Doncic has already emerged in MVP talks even at just 22 years old.
Dallas made a couple of changes this summer to try ease the load for Luka Doncic. Jason Kidd was appointed as their next head coach and they’ve added role players in Reggie Bullock, Moses Brown, and Frank Ntilikina.
Overall, the Mavericks can only go to as far as Luka Doncic takes them. With the playing field in the Western Conference looking leaner than usual and if luck favours them, perhaps Dallas can surprise their supporters with a deep postseason run.
Charlotte Hornets
The Hornets are poised for a breakout campaign after missing the postseason last term and they have the roster that can compete against the best in the NBA.
Leading the charge would be the winner of last season’s Rookie of the Year in LaMelo Ball, who is their de facto point guard. Joining him will be the core of Gordon Hayward, Terry Rozier, and Miles Bridges – who all performed well last season.
Charlotte qualified for the play-in after finishing as the 10th seed last year, and one can argue that they could’ve sneaked into the Eastern Conference playoffs if only Hayward and Ball didn’t miss significant time due to injuries.
But with their budding core remaining intact along with the additions of two talented youngsters in James Bouknight and Kai Jones, a serviceable center in Mason Plumlee, and an athletic swingman in Kelly Oubre Jr., their NBA 2021 odds of finally returning to the playoffs look optimistic.
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