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Several contenders and pretenders have already emerged as we near the first half of the 2020-21 NBA season. No doubt the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are currently pegged as favorites to win their division and be the last two remaining teams vying for the Larry O’Brien trophy come July.
While neither team is currently at the top of the standings in their respective conferences, the Lakers and the Nets have met expectations and looked like world-beaters so far.
The reigning NBA champions are still getting MVP-level production from its 36-year-old megastar LeBron James. The Purple and Gold also re-tooled nicely in the offseason as Montrezl Harrell and Dennis Schroder are fitting in quite nicely.
While they will be missing the services of superstar Anthony Davis for two to three weeks, the Lakers’ frontcourt is loaded with enough talent to hold the fort in his absence. Plus, the team is already looking at a suitable replacement big before the deadline.
Then, there’s the Nets, who have been considered as strong title challengers even before the season began.
The healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving combination has indeed been greater than advertised, as the 7-11 duo wreaked havoc early on. But it was the arrival of third superstar James Harden via that blockbuster 4-team trade that truly cemented Brooklyn as a team to be reckoned with.
The three supreme scorers have adapted to playing with one another rather quickly. Brooklyn also holds the best record against above .500 teams this season, going 9-1 so far.
While the Lakers and Nets are still favored to win a seven-game series against the 28 other teams in the NBA, nothing's set in in stone. The postseason is a whole different monster and both teams still have their respective flaws.
Let’s have a look at four teams with a legitimate chance to win the 2021 NBA title over the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets.
Utah Jazz
There’s not a team in basketball hotter than the Jazz right now. After seeing their league-best 11 consecutive wins snapped, they went out and created another long streak, winning their last eight contests.
Making that streak more impressive is the fact that Utah is totally annihilating the competition, with 17 double-digit wins during that 19-1 stretch.
Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert have both elevated their games to the next level after each being criticized by some analysts at one point this season. Jordan Clarkson has been sensational off the bench and already looks like a lock for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
In an ever-evolving game where 3-point shooting is now a must, the Jazz are currently the best in the biz leading the league in 3-pointers made per game (16.8) at a blistering 39.5 percent clip.
Utah plays eerily similar to the loaded Golden State Warriors dynasty of the 2010’s, who went on to win three NBA titles in five years.
The jury is still out if they can sustain the same dominance come playoff time, but they certainly have all the right tools to give the Lakers and the Nets a run for their money.
Philadelphia 76ers
It’s still too early to tell if the Sixers really do have what it takes to bring home the bacon this season. After all, we’ve seen them crash and burn when the light shone the brightest in recent years, while their head coach Doc Rivers also has the reputation for epic playoff meltdowns.
Still, we can’t deny the massive improvements that Philly has shown so far. Joel Embiid has become an early candidate for MVP this season. While he’s always been one of the best players at his position, no doubt he has truly become a top 5 talent in the NBA this season.
His second-in-command, Ben Simmons, has taken some major flak at the beginning of the campaign, but has recently reminded everyone that he’s still pretty darn good with that career-best 42-point explosion.
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The top end of the Eastern Conference has vastly improved this season, yet it’s the Sixers that currently lord above the standings. Like the Jazz, there are even more questions surrounding the Sixers’ chances, but no doubt they no longer look like the same underachieving team of the past.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers, of course, were the biggest disappointments last season after failing to set up what could have been an epic Battle of LA in the WCF with the eventual champion Lakers.
So much so, that the formidable team has actually gone under the radar in 2020-21 – which is good for the Tyronn Lue-mentored squad. With the spotlight no longer following their every move, the Clips have focused on simply becoming a much better basketball team than they were a year prior.
Paul George has shrugged off that terrible outing he had in last year’s playoffs and bounced back in a big way. Kawhi Leonard, meanwhile, is still the same consistent two-way superstar that he’s always been.
While the two perennial All-Stars are currently out due to injuries, the Clippers have somehow managed to record a four-game winning streak sans their two best players. They did lose to the Jazz on Wednesday while shorthanded, but it goes to show their team has become more than just their two superstars.
As pundits continue to downplay how well the Clips have played this season, they might just pull a fast one on us and be the last team standing.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are in the same boat as the Clippers, since they also flamed out from the hot contender conversations following two disappointing playoff exits. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be great, but has yet to prove that he can lead his team to the promised land.
Not a lot of fans would put their money on the Bucks winning a title right now, considering they have lost four games in a row. But Milwaukee has been missing Jrue Holiday due to COVID-19 protocols, and it does have plenty of time to get their act back together. They still boast a loaded roster at all positions and possess enough shooting and athleticism to become a formidable unit on both ends of the floor.
Giannis, himself, has revealed that the team has already learned from their mistakes in the past.
Will the third time be the charm for the Bucks? Only time will tell if they have what it takes to edge out title favorites like the Lakers or the Nets.
