The National Basketball League’s 2019 season has started and fans are excited about their teams. Since there can only be one winner, every team has an opportunity to make a push for the NBA finals. Why not your team? Over the last few years, parity has been the theme to the NBA. Yes, powerhouses like the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets are perineal favorites to make the Finals, there are a few teams that have a legitimate shot in making it deep into the playoffs.
For this issue, we breakdown four teams not named the Warriors to make the NBA Finals.
1. Los Angeles Clippers – reigning NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard arrival to the team in the offseason sent the NBA in a frenzy. The Clippers (before Leonard) was already in Final aspiration with players like Lou Williams and Patrick Beverley already on the roster. Lead by coach Doc Rivers, the Clippers has its coach imprint and personality all over its roster. That is hard nose defense. The Clippers also bolstered it roster by adding perennial All-star Paul George in free agency. The addition of Leonard and George to an an already defensive minded team, is the main reason why we will see this team in the NBA Finals in the summer of 2020. When the Clippers added the top two players who are considered two-way (outstanding offensive and defensive skills), we anticipate that this team to be in the top three in points allowed per game. That key team statistic will be the reason why the Clippers will be in contention in the post season. As often stated, defense wins championships. This is the formula for the Los Angeles Clippers.
2. Houston Rockets – James Harden and Russel Westbrook. Enough said.
3. Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James is coming off the worst season in his professional career. Missing time due to injuries, King James failed to make the playoffs. During the offseason, the team made wholesale changes. They made the blockbuster trade that brought Anthony Davis to the organization. Davis is considered the best big man in the NBA with his scoring, rebound and defensive ability. The pairing of King James with AD is something out of a Hollywood script. James (34) does not have spend a lot of energy being focal point of the offense as it will now be ran through Anthony Davis. Davis’ versatility will allow shooters like Danny Green and Kyle Kuzma to flourish. James high NBA IQ and attention detail combined with AD should be enough to thrust to this team into the NBA Finals in June 2020.
4. Milwaukee Bucks – The Bucks were penciled to be in the NBA Finals last year before they ran into the Toronto Raptors. The team is pretty much still in intact. Lead by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have one of the best all-around teams in the NBA. They should be able to compete in every game. They should be the best team come out of the Eastern Conference which should catapult them to the NBA Finals.
