Top 5 surprise teams who can win NBA Emirates Cup

The 2024 NBA Emirates Cup is almost underway. The league added this in-season tournament last year to provide an extra layer of excitement to the game and while some fans didn't fully appreciate it, it was a massive success with improved ratings and special courts for tournament games.

Although winning this cup isn't as prestigious as winning a NBA championship, this tournament presents a big opportunity for small-market or non-contending teams to make their mark early in the campaign.

With that in mind, we're going to take a look at five teams that could make a surprising run in the NBA Emirates Cup this season.

Five dark horse teams to win the NBA Emirates Cup

5) Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks shouldn't be considered a dark horse or surprising team to win anything, given the roster they have. But after a 2-7 start to the season, they're not playing like a championship-caliber team.

There are already rumblings about Doc Rivers' future, and Giannis Antetokounmpo doesn't seem happy with his team's level of competition. This coaching staff desperately needs a win and this tournament gives them a chance to get right in a more competitive setting.

Antetokounmpo leads all scorers this season at 31.6 points per game, but to pull this off, Milwaukee's team defense will need to improve. The Bucks currently have a defensive rating of 115.7, good for 22nd in the league.

4) Brooklyn Nets

The Nets' record doesn't particularly shout "contender," but they've fared much better than initially expected. At 5-6, they've shown some fight under coach Jordi Fernandez.

A team can get hot and go the distance in this kind of short tournament, and the Nets have shown a lot of pride on the defensive end this season. With Cam Thomas' scoring prowess, they could upset some teams.

The Nets are in the middle of the pack right now in terms of advanced metrics. Still, they have four players averaging double digits, and we've seen Thomas go off as a scorer. He can take over in the NBA Cup and elevate his standing in the league similar to what Tyrese Haliburtond did with the Pacers a season ago.

3) Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cavaliers have exceeded all expectations in the early portion of the season. Kenny Atkinson's team is just the eighth in NBA history to start the year with 12 consecutive wins.

This group is playing strong defense and even better offense. The Cavs have the best record in the league so they might not fully qualify as a dark horse, but not even the most bullish analyst thought they'd be this dominant this early.

The Cavs are scoring the most points per game (122.4) and have the best net rating in the league (+11.9). Also, they have ten players averaging at least 16 minutes a night, so they're deeper than most teams.

2) Houston Rockets

The Rockets showed glimpses of vast improvement last season in the first year under coach Ime Udoka. They have a plethora of young talent, and they should improve on last season's 41-41 campaign.

The young Rockets want to prove that they belong, and there is no better platform than the NBA Emirates Cup to do so. With a core of prospects looking to prove themselves, the Rockets can definitely go toe-to-toe with anybody in the NBA Cup.

Udoka has them allowing the third-fewest points in the league (106.5), and everybody's getting touches on offense. Houston has seven players averaging double digits with Jalen Green leading the way at 20.7 points per game.

1) Los Angeles Clippers

Coach Tyronn Lue is one of the best tacticians in the league. Even though the Clippers don't have Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, they have been surprisingly solid to begin this season with a 6-5 record.

This team is playing well on both ends of the floor, and with Lue's in-game adjustments, they will always have a chance to pull off some upsets. Also, they average 12.2 offensive rebounds a game, the seventh-highest mark in the league.

Norman Powell is having a career year averaging 26.0 points per game, and Harden is close to averaging a triple-double for the season at 20.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 9.0 assists per game. If a few more players can step up at the right time, Harden and Powell's early form might carry through the NBA Cup.