5 Teams Besides the Miami Heat that could Compete for NBA Title

We all know that the two-time defending NBA Champions Miami Heat and their superstar LeBron James are all poised to continue their domination over professional basketball, but where the San Antonio Spurs pushed the 2013 NBA Championship to a full 7 games, perhaps there is a team out there that could actually go on to beat the Heat.  Here are 5 such teams that just might give it a real go this year and can potentially win the title, other than the Heat:

1.  The Indiana Pacers – With the best record in basketball, the Pacers are a potentially dangerous team for the Heat.  They play great defense and have a balanced attack, with 5 players averaging more than 10 points per game.  Paul George is a rising star and would love to lead the Pacers to success.  They took Miami to 7 games last season and will be desperately looking to usurp them in 2014.  This is definitely a team to look out for that successfully frustrated the Heat is last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.  Might they beat Miami this year?

2.  Oklahoma City Thunder – This team is rated in the top 10 for both offense and defense and are led by the sensational star Kevin Durant, who went on a 12 game streak of scoring over 30 points per game.  At 25, he is ready to take that next step and win a championship.  It seems the question is quickly becoming when rather than if he will win it all.  When Russell Westbrook returns, this team should become a contender again.

3.  San Antonio Spurs – The team that simply cannot age is at it again, and nearly won it all last year save for a dramatic Ray Allen 3-pointer at the end of Game 6.  The Spurs are led by the maturity of Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker, who would simply love another shot at knocking LeBron back a peg.  They could definitely find themselves back in contention for a title and would love to get another championship together, and have not won it all since 2007.

4.  Houston Rockets – This team is a force offensively, as Dwight Howard, James Harden, Jeremy Lin, and Chandler Parsons are all effective scorers.  Yet, as a team they are quite average defensively and I simply cannot see them matching up against James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade.  They will be outscored in a shootout against top opposition.  However, the future is certainly bright in Houston and they could become a force in the Western Conference in the long term.

5.  Los Angeles Clippers – Certainly one of the most enjoyable teams to watch this season, the Clippers have finally gained control of the City of Angels (thanks in large part to Kobe Bryant’s injuries).  Behind Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, and Chris Paul, the Clippers are going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs this year, even though things haven’t gone well for this team in recent NBA playoffs.  Another offensive powerhouse, the Clippers may get stunted by a stern defense, but there is a definite possibility that the team could make some greatness happen!

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NBA Season Preview: It’s All About LeBron James

 As the NBA returns to competitive action, fans will be thrilled to see their basketball heroes return to the court and compete for the brilliance that only an NBA Championship can bring.  Although LeBron James and the Miami Heat are the undisputed kings of basketball after consecutive NBA titles, a series of returning stars should make the three-peat a very difficult proposition.  Here are the 5 NBA teams worth watching in the upcoming season:

1.  Chicago Bulls – Fans have been eagerly anticipating the return of Derrick Rose for months.  Just as he was reaching his peak abilities in 2012, Rose tore his ACL and has been out of action ever since.   Nevertheless, the Rose-less Bulls managed to make the NBA playoffs last season and won a series before being eliminated by the eventual champions Heat.  All eyes will be on Rose as he returns.  His play is simply incredible and he can take over games.  With a team that has proven itself in his absence, the Bulls can take on anyone, including LeBron James.

2.  Oklahoma City Thunder – After winning the Western Conference top seed last season, the Thunder’s hopes were derailed when Russell Westbrook was injured in the playoffs.  Superstar Kevin Durant wasn’t able to do it all on his lonesome, and it was really a shame.  With Westbrook back in the fold, this team should once again be contenders.  They should win a lot of games and hopefully make a serious run at the title.  Remember, Westbrook and Durant are still just 24 and 25 respectively.  They can get even better!

3.  Houston Rockets – With Dwight Howard in the mix, this team can be a dynamic force in the NBA.  Teaming up with James Harden and Jeremy Lin, the Rockets may be the surprise team in the league.  They have had excellent 3-point shooting, but now with a serious force in the middle, their offence will be dominant!  Howard will have learned some humility over his Los Angeles Lakers fiasco last season, and he should come in with a chip on his shoulder and a more hardworking team-oriented effort.  I foresee this as a great opportunity for Houston, and if they face the Lakers in the playoffs, we could be in for one enormous treat!

4.  Los Angeles Lakers – The hopes of this team fall squarely on Kobe Bryant’s ability to rebound from his injury.  With veteran players Steve Nash and Pau Gasol in support, the Lakers can beat anyone, as long as Kobe is healthy and producing.  This team could struggle early as he tries to regain his groove, but I think things will pick up later in the season.  Last season was built on title hopes but ended in disaster.  I think that experience will bring the team together and lead to greatness.  Is a title in their future, I still doubt it.

5.  Miami Heat – The reigning kings of the NBA have every reason to believe they’ll win it all again.  We all know about LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade, and about how great they are, and about how much they love each other, and frankly, it’s getting old.  But such is the way of competitive sports.  Until someone beats this team, they’ll be all smiles and fun up all the way to another championship.  But if there’s one reason for hope it’s this:  every major contender last season took on a terrible injury that ruined their season; Kobe in Los Angeles, Westbrook for the Thunder, and Rose’s absence all season for the Bulls.  The Heat had it easy last year and may grow complacent from their simple march to the title.  If another great team can avoid injury in next year’s playoffs the Heat just might be truly challenged for the NBA title.  Until then, be sure to watch the Heat this year because it will surely be professional basketball at its absolute finest!

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The 5 Top Contenders for the 2014 NBA Title

Yes, this is an extremely premature prediction regarding the potential title contenders for next year’s NBA title, but with the 2013 NBA Finals having just wrapped up and with the NBA Free Agency Period having just begun this month, why not speculate ahead as to which teams will be competing for the ultimate prize in basketball? Here are 5 teams I expect to be right in the thick of the action 10 months from now:

5. Houston Rockets – By accumulating superstar center Dwight Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers last week and by bringing in shooting guard James Harden last season, the Rockets have two star players, which is often what it takes to gain an NBA Championship. Harden is still just 23, but had his best season last year, averaging over 25 points per game. Another factor in the Rockets’ favor is their point-guard Jeremy Lin. Although he has yet to match the kind of play that brought about “Linsanity” in New York, Lin has shown moment of brilliant play and is also still developing at age 24. Although they may be too young to claim an NBA title next season, if this team develops well together, the sky is the limit down the road with a center like Howard!

 

4. Los Angeles Lakers – The team is currently in shambles having lost their prized free agent, Dwight Howard, who deserted the team after a disastrous first season. Injuries derailed the Lakers’ title hopes last year as Steve Nash missed time and Kobe Bryant was injured before the NBA Playoffs. Now in the dumps, there are two paths that the Lakers can take. They can collapse and come out terribly next year. Or, they can come out firing and re-conquer the Western Conference. I suspect the latter, considering the team still has Bryant and Nash. Although they are aging, I think the entire focus around Howard hampered the cohesiveness of this team last year, and I think that without that distraction, the Lakers will have a chance to contend with veteran maturity.

 

3. Los Angeles Clippers – With Blake Griffin and Chris Paul last season, the Clippers were one of the strongest teams in the NBA. Both players are young and extremely talented, bringing hope to the “other” team in LA. Now they have Doc Rivers as manager, and that makes the Clippers contenders for the 2014 NBA Championship. Rivers worked magic with the Boston Celtics and helped the team come together to win the 2008 NBA Championship. I expect him to get the best out of this team and help them contend for a title.

 

2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant’s hopes of avenging the 2012 NBA Finals loss were dashed in the NBA Playoffs when star teammate Russell Westbrook went down with an injury. Proving that no single NBA player can do it on his own, Durant wasn’t able to lead his team past the second round of the playoffs. However, with both players in the lineup, the Thunder was the strongest team in the Western Conference. With both players healthy and maturing well, this team should be in contention for the 2014 NBA Championship.

 

1. Miami Heat – Unfortunately for the teams listed above, the 2-time reigning NBA Champions are simply too strong for anyone other than the Heat to really challenge for an NBA Championship. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh make up by far the NBA’s strongest team, and all three players are well within their prime years. Additionally, all the fun has inspired other talented players like Ray Allen and Chris Andersen to come to South Beach and join the party. It makes for the deepest team in the league, and although once contracts expire in 2015, the future of the Heat’s “Big Three” will be in question, for the short term there is really only one team that anyone should expect to win the 2014 NBA Championship: The Miami Heat.

 

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