For a majority of the NBA offseason, many made up their minds on the favorites to make a run at the playoffs. While this season was already predicted to be one of the most unpredictable seasons, a few teams have already played outside of their expectations.
Here are three NBA teams emerging to be playoff contenders.
Possible NBA revivals:
3. Golden State Warriors
To kick off this NBA list, we have Stephen Curry and his Golden State Warriors. There was a lot of speculation about what this Warrior team would like once the news of Klay Thompson’s season-ending injury was dropped.
ESPN predicted the Dubs to finish 14th in the NBA Western Conference, penning them down to win 31 games. While that prediction may have been considered hyperbole to many, there was still a strong belief that Curry was going to miss the playoffs in his prime.
Fast forward and the Warriors are currently sitting in the eighth seed in the NBA West, with victories over both Los Angeles teams, after beginning the season with the third most difficult schedule. Curry has been nothing short of phenomenal– averaging the third-most points per game in the league at 28 ppg.
Draymond Green hasn’t been his former NBA All-Star self, but his presence has boosted the Warriors’ defense, an area that had fans and analysts worried after their first two outings. Green contracted COVID-19 prior to the season and was unable to participate in training camp and the team’s first four games.
The most surprising contributor to the Warriors’ early success has been Andrew Wiggins– a piece they acquired at the NBA trade deadline last season. Coming into the season there was a consensus that Wiggins didn’t have the motor to contribute consistently on a playoff team– particularly on defense. Not only has Wiggins proved the doubters wrong, but he also has emerged as the Warriors’ best two-way player.
The Warriors bench has sowed spurts of being solid on both ends, making the Steph-less minute bearable. While the team lacks the firepower to go toe to toe with the NBA championship favorites, they have emerged to be a solid playoff team that a top seed might not want to see in the first round.
2. Chicago Bulls
The Bulls weren’t expected to make much noise coming into the NBA season. They’re young, with a lot of up and coming talent who aren’t expected to be close to their peak. Most sites have them predicted to finish with the second worse record in the east. With all that said, they have shown that they are a formidable threat in the East, mainly behind the play of Zach LaVine.
LaVine has not only boosted his NBA scoring average from 25 points per game to 27 and his assist average from three per game to five. He has shown that he can deliver in the crunch and has become a vocal leader.
Coby White has improved from his NBA rookie season, serving as the second hit in the Bulls’ one-two punch in the backcourt. White has court vision has improved, largely because he has been put in the position to have the ball in his hands more often under Billy Donovan. His assist average has gone up from three to five and his scoring output has boosted from 13 to 15.
The most important factor in the Bulls’ transformation this season is on the sideline. Adding Billy Donovan to a team with so many young weapons not only gave the Bulls a punches chance to get into the NBA Playoffs, but it also gave them a development coach who can convince LaVine to buy-in.
The Bulls currently are sitting outside of the NBA Eastern Conference playoff picture, but if they are able to lower their turnovers, they will be able to squeak into the top eight.
1. Charlotte Hornets
The Charlotte Hornets' record is very deceiving. They are currently three games under .500, sitting at 12th in the NBA East. But their roster says that they can easily be the sixth seed in that conference.
The Hornets have floor spacers. Devonte’ Graham showed that he can be a reliable three-point threat last season, shooting 38% from the three. While Graham is currently struggling from behind the arc, percentages are most likely to revert to normal further into the NBA season. Terry Rozier is also a capable shooter, showing that fact in the Hornets’ season-opener when he scored 42 points. Rozier is a nifty ballhandler and can get hot at any moment.
The problem with these two is that they aren’t the best decision-makers. That is why the Hornets brought in Gordon Hayward and LaMelo Ball in the NBA offseason.
Ball has had his NBA rookie lumps, but he has more than proved that he was the top talent in the 2020 draft. His court vision is parallel to his older brother Lonzo Ball, and at 6’7 he has provided a boost in the Hornets’ rebounding.
Gordon Hayward has reverted to his former NBA All-Star form. He is averaging 24 points per game on 51% shooting. He has been money in the crunch and has been able to get his teammates involved.
The main issue with the Hornets is their rotations. Currently, they play units that see Rozier or Graham acting as the primary decision-maker, a formula that doesn’t showcase their best strengths. In due time, the coaches will figure out how to maximize their strength and the Hornets record will likely match their NBA roster.
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