NBA 23/24: Bucks, Celtics and the favorites.
On October 24, we kick off the new season of the NBA and with each team to play 82 games across the season, basketball lovers are sure in a for a whirlwind of emotions. With series of high profile trades across the league, dynamics have shifted across teams and while some teams have gotten incredibly stronger, some have been adjudged to be weaker. Here’s a look at the 6 favorite teams for the 2024 championship ring.
- Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks won the 2021 championship and haven’t hit such heights since then but this summer, they acquired one of the best point guards in the league. Damian Lillard has always been vocal about needing to play for a championship contending team before he retires and him joining Milwaukee has raised their chances by almost double. Let’s see what the #Freaktime duo have in stock for us.
2. Boston Celtics
The Celtics have been the best team in regular season for the past 2 years in the Eastern conference with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the team but they’ve fallen short of going all the way losing the 2022 finals to Golden State warriors and the 2023 conference finals to the Heats. But with the acquisition of Jrue Holliday and Kristap Porzingis, there’s no betting against them this year and they now boast of one of the best starting five in the league.
3. Phoenix Suns
Kevin Durant has been a part of the big 3 at three different teams. He has now added Phoenix Suns to that list. KD remains one of the best players in the league and has now team up with younger stars such as Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. Although the team now lacks depth due to the trades of Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton but their success this season relies on the fitness and durability of their big three and with those 3 fit and available, The Phoenix Suns will always be a contender.
4. Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets didn’t make any significant trade this off season and a lot of people have written off their chances this season. Nikola Jokic remains arguably the best player in the NBA today and if Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon play anything close to what they did last season, the defending champions will always be a menace to any team they come across.
5. Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors still have two of the greatest shooters in the NBA history on their roster. They also traded for Chris Paul this off season and managed to re-sign Draymond Green. The return of Wiggins means they now have a championship winning team available and with the “Splash Brothers" firing on all cylinders, the Golden State will always be around.
6. Los Angeles Lakers
Rob Pelinka made a number of mid season trades last season and made a run for the title but lost the conference finals to the champions Nuggets. D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachimura turned around the team’s fortunes and the Lakers have managed to re-sign them both. The Lakers also traded for quality depth with Gabe Vincent and Taurean Prince. With Anthony Davis now healthy and Austin Reaves now proving he belongs here in addition to the popular saying “Never rule out a lebron James team" , the Lakers are going to be a force to be reckoned with.
