OCover begins more than eight months of bloody battle in search of the ultimate prize: champion’s ring. Everyone wants the throne that Milwaukee Bucks they put into play with the start of the regular season, for this they have worked during the summer trying to compose a competitive squad. But not everyone will end the trip well, in fact only one lift the trophy. These are the candidates:
Nivel 1: Brooklyn Nets y Los Angeles Lakers
Many experts and initial bets place the Nets as candidate number 1. Of course, the question arises about the bill that the situation of Kyrie Irving and the issue of health that last year prevented them from going further in the Playoffs. In fact the Nets super project has been affected for injuries in his two years of life.
But beyond what happens with Irving, if he finally plays or if he is traded, the Nets roster has been reinforced with the arrival of veterans such as Paul Milsap, Patty Mills, James Johnson o LaMarcus Aldridge, out of retirement. I will be one more year with Steve Nash at the head and with a Kevin Durant that also opts for the MVP. Also for James Harden. And everyone knows that time is running out for the Nets.
The Lakers present the best collection of probably stars in history: LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo… It is true that for almost everyone, except ‘La Ceja’, their best years were behind us, but for a season the experiment the less it is worth following with a magnifying glass. Many egos, yes, that can put chemistry at risk, but the leader, we must not forget, is LeBron and everything is possible with him.
As in the Nets, injuries will be your main enemy. The preseason has been a disaster (0-6), but what counts begins now and the Lakers, without a doubt, will be in the ointment.
Nivel 2: Milwaukee Bucks y Phoenix Suns
That level, below Nets y LakersIt is occupied by two teams that won it last year by starring in the Finals. The Bucks have hardly changed, if perhaps the loss of P.J. Tucker, and his block is ready to fight to revalidate his championship. Even so, it seems that the options of the Bucks They will go the opposite way from the Nets in the East.
Something similar happens with the Suns. His future seems in the hands of others failing in the West, but he was in the final, he approached glory and they want to repeat. Those from Arizona were reinforced with Landry Shamet y Elfrid Payton, but they lost some depth on their bench. And above all, they managed to keep their beacon, Chris Paul, which they qualify as their Point God.
Nivel 3: Utah Jazz, Golden State Warrors
The Jazz they were one of the toughest teams last season to win. For the one who believes that Utah does not deserve so much consideration, just remember that it was the team with the best balance in the regular league and that they have an extraordinary leader in Donovan Mitchell. Precisely his Mitchell takes a step forward, the Jazz have as many possibilities as anyone else. They have incorporated Rudy Gay y Hassan Whiteside which gives them more inner power than they already had.
In the case of the Warriors, the bookmakers give them a place among the chosen ones and the logic indicates that they will be if Stephen Curry is at their level, what to be, and if Klay Thompson returns in good condition. While they wait for Klay, the performance of James Wiseman y Andrew Wiggins be key for the Warrios to return to at least the Playoffs after two years of absence.
Nivel 4: Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets y Philadelphia 76ers
It is clear that placing the Clippers Among the favorites to the ring is a matter of faith; they have failed too many times. For this season the ‘poor brother’ has the task of not missing the train of the Playoffs until his leader returns. Kawhi Leonard he operated on a partial tear of the anterior knee ligament and was out for a long time. There are those who think that the same does not play this year. Without Kawhi, all the burden will fall on Paul George, Reggie Jackson, Terrance Mann y Eric Bledsoe.
The Heat look to the near-term future with great optimism. They have reasons for it. Of all the suitors, they were the ones who took Kyle Lowry to form his particular ‘Big Three’ with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo. And has new faces like P.J. Tucker y Markieff Morris. For many it may be the great cover in the East.
Denver Nuggets, with his brand new MVP at the helm, is in the van of those who have options. But with Jamal Murray even out while recovering from his severe torn ligaments, they need another season at the MVP (or better) level of Nikola Jokic and more contribution of Michael Porter Jr.
The Sixers have lived through an abrupt preseason with too many distractions around the future of Ben Simmons. And everything for the base to reconsider and return to the fold. Philly has talent, has a Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, but what happened with Simmons will continue to mark his trajectory this season. For some experts, their ring options vanished when they failed to trade Simmons.