The buzz surrounding this year’s NBA competition is reaching fever-pitch. It has been a tightly contested battle so far, with several times vying to claim the ultimate prize and bring home the trophy.
When studying such a tight table, it can be almost impossible to predict which teams have the best shot at lifting the crown. To help you back your favorite, we’ve analyzed the tournament and listed the three teams that we think have the strongest shot at winning the title this season. Read on to check them out.
Boston Celtics
Way back at the start of the NBA season, the Boston Celtics were among the strongest favorites to go all the way and lift the trophy. The team certainly lived up to expectations, cruising through the early stages of the season and establishing a foothold at the top of the Eastern Conference table.
The Celtics are led by coach Joe Mazzulla, and have star players such as Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, who is tipped for this year’s MVP award, at their disposal.
However, after a stellar start, the Celtics’ form took a dip and they slipped to second in the table. Despite this, they still hold the tournament’s best stats and are likely to reestablish themselves at the top sooner rather than later.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks had a rather lukewarm start to the season. However, they have since found their form and then some, reeling off an incredible 14 straight wins that have propelled them to the top of the Eastern Conference table, knocking the Celtics off of their perch in the process. This is why we’re seeing increasingly favorable NBA odds for the bucks, as they look set to make a late-stage push for the title.
This comes despite the Bucks being ravaged by injuries. Key players Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton have been sidelined with respective hamstring and knee injuries, while Greek-Nigerian star Giannis Antetokounmpo has also faced spells on the bench through injury. If the Bucks can continue their incredible run of form until these players return, they could be serious contenders for the NBA title.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets were seen as something of a dark horse this season, but they have come good in recent weeks and demonstrated why they cannot be counted out when predicting who could lift the NBA trophy.
They have held onto the top spot in the Western Conference table for a number of weeks, fighting off stiff competition from the Grizzlies, Kings, Suns, and Clippers. However, many experts are predicting that the relative inexperience of the Nuggets’ players may prove instrumental and could see them fall at the final hurdle.
Conclusion
It’s been a fantastic NBA season so far, and the drama certainly isn’t over yet. As we head ever closer towards the home stretch of the season, who could realistically be holding the trophy at the end? We think the Celtics, the Bucks, or the Nuggets have the best shot at a title win this season.