NBA title contenders: Teams to look out for

With less than 45 days for the season to begin there’s a lot of debate going on around as to who will win the title this season. Nobody can actually predict who the title winner using logic and basketball reasoning. What we can however do is predict who will be the top contenders for the title.

This article features 6 teams (3 from each conference) who, I believe, will be the top contenders for the coveted prize of an NBA championship ring.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Let’s start with the Eastern Conference because it was way easier for me to predict the top 3 contenders. Also, the east holds no surprises whatsoever, when it comes to the top 3.

3. Indiana Pacers

Indiana Pacers

The Pacers recorded a 49-32 season last time around. There’s no doubt on my mind that they would easily surpass the 50-win mark. They won the Central division title and their 7 game struggle with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference finals just proved how eager this team is to win a championship. However, they aren’t going to be satisfied with a trip to the Conference finals this time.

The Pacers had a quiet but extremely fruitful off-season in terms of addressing their problems and plugging their holes. Their main problems were offense and lack of depth in their bench. Danny Granger’s return will add enough spunk to their offense to improve their chances this time.

Their acquisitions of C.J. Watson and Donald Sloan will add more depth to their bench. Their squad looks terrific, physical, young and dominating. With Paul George, Roy Hibbert, David West and Danny Granger as their core, this team definitely looks good enough to be a top 3 contender.

However, the interesting point is, although the Pacers have improved when compared to last season, is their improved squad enough to land them with an improvement in terms of result?

2. Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls

They’re the primary challengers to the Heat’s dominance in the Eastern Conference. The return of Derrick Rose will add immense depth to their roster. Without him, the Bulls were primarily a defensive team. They restricted their opponents to a paltry 92.9 PPG (3rd best in the NBA). They also scored an equally paltry 93.2 a contest. With Rose back, their offense will be taken care of.

With Jimmy Butler and Luol Deng at Shooting Guard and Small Forward respectively, the Bulls have a very effective perimeter duo. Factor in Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah and the Bulls have a defense which is even better than last time. Mike Dunleavy gives them the much needed offensive abilities of the bench. Overall, the Bulls have one of the most balanced, well-coordinated and well-coached teams and they’re quite probably one of the few legitimate title contenders this season.

1. Miami Heat

Miami Heat

The Powerhouse in the Eastern Conference, Heat remain strong favourites heading into the 2013-14 season. The defending champs, however, enter the next season to face stiffer competition. It would be foolish to predict that they would win the title again this year, although their chances do look good.

The Heat’s race to the title was no piece of cake. They were pushed to the brink twice during the 2013 playoffs. They faced a 7 game series against Indiana and nearly lost to the San Antonio Spurs. But being the well managed team they’re, the Heat have become stronger than ever this season. Apart from Mike Miller, the Heat’s core group has returned this season.

They have additionally signed Michael Beasley and Greg Oden. This will automatically strengthen their front line and will also bolster their defense. If Chris Bosh manages to improve his game, MVP LeBron James and Wade maintain their level of play, the Heat will be very hard to beat this season.

Honorary Mention: Brooklyn Nets

Brooklyn Nets

It was a tough choice for me to predict the no. 3 spot between Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers. The Nets have an all All-Star squad in Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Brook Lopez. They have everything you can think of: Depth in their bench, experienced veterans, young stars in their prime. They are coached by former veteran player, Jason Kidd. At first glance, the Nets look invincible.

However, this is not the case. Pierce and Garnett have always been the top men in Celtics. They were the bosses. In Nets, it has been Deron Williams for quite sometime. There’s bound to be a clash of egos there. Also, Pierce, KG and Jason Terry are all old. I doubt they’ll be able to keep with up the pace of Pacers, Bulls and Heat. The Nets will be a top 4 team, but have very little chance of being a legitimate title contender.

Maybe next year.

THE WESTERN CONFERENCE:

The Western Conference is incredibly stacked this season. Nearly 12 teams out of 15 are vying for a playoff berth. However, few of them stand out and I have sorted into the top 3 teams in the West.

3. Los Angeles Clippers

Los Angeles Clippers

There has been an immense and startling shift of power in tinsel town. The Clippers are the new dogs in town while the Lakers have been all but relegated out of title contention. The Chris Paul and Blake Griffin led “lob city” were really impressive last season. But they just weren’t good enough for a title. They did however, win the pacific division title.

This season, they have strengthen their overall roster, including their coach. Doc Rivers, the experienced coach is now at the top of the ladder of the Clippers. The signings of J.J. Redick, Jared Dudley and Darren Collison has further strengthened their squad.

Doc Rivers, the former head coach of Boston Celtics, might be just what the Clippers needed, a playoff experienced and championship winning coach. The Clippers would have definitely aimed higher this time around. However, aiming is one thing, achieving it is a different game altogether.

2. San Antonio Spurs

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs along with the Thunder are the favourites for the Western Conference title this season. I was one of the people who dismissed the Spurs because of age and thought that they couldn’t keep with the pace and stamina of the younger Heat.

Boy, was I wrong!

Although they ultimately to lost to Miami, Spurs did give them a few nightmares. They showed what experience is capable of.

The Spurs had very few changes in their squad that would affect their chances of winning a title. They lost Neal but signed Belinelli. The addition of Belinelli to their squad provides more depth to their roster as he would be the ideal back up for both Manu Ginobili and Danny Green.

The Spurs would probably go with the following as their starting 5: Tony Parker, Ginobili, Green, Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter. This is identical to last season’s starting five. It would be interesting watch the battle between Spurs and OKC.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder

One of the deadliest teams in the league, the Thunder are serious contenders for the Larry O’Brien title. They were one of the favourites last season too, but the untimely and unfortunate loss of Russell Westbrook, to an injury during the first round of playoffs, caused their title hopes to come crashing down.

But again, that’s all in the past. Westbrook is back to full health and that means increased offensive firepower for the Thunder. Along with a hungry for glory Kevin Durant, the Thunder might be able to match up to the high standards the Heat have been setting for the rest for the rest of the league.

Although they lost sixth man Kevin Martin in the transfer season, Sefolosha and Lamb should be able to fill in for Martin. That is by far, their only weak link. Let’s see how things pan out.

Honorable Mention: Golden State Warriors

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors have signed Andre Iguodala in the off-season for a 4 year deal. That statement alone explains why the Warriors are on this list, albeit as a honorable mention. With Stephen curry and Klay Thompson as their guards, they have one of the best 3 point shooting back courts in the league.

Add Iguodala, Andrew Bogut and David Lee to the mix and you have got a slightly inexperienced but heavily talented team which could be in the running for the top 4 in the Western Conference.