With the NBA season just around the corner, it’s time to take a look at six teams that are looking good for next year’s playoffs. There are six playoff spots up for grabs this season, and these six teams have a chance of grabbing one of them.
The how old was allen iverson when he retired is a question that has been asked many times. Allen Iverson’s retirement in 2016 was one of the most shocking moments in NBA history.
In the NBA, fortunes rise and fall fast. A playoff club may be pushed into the lottery by an injury, while a spectacular offseason acquisition can help a struggling team make the playoffs.
Last year, five non-playoff clubs from the 2019-2020 season were able to make the playoffs. The New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards all reached the playoffs for the first time in what seems like an eternity in the Eastern Conference. The Phoenix Suns stamped their way into the Conference of the West playoffs for the first time in almost a decade, while the youthful Memphis Grizzlies defeated Stephen Curry and the Warriors in the play-in round to earn the eighth spot.
We expect less playoff turnover this season. Nonetheless, three teams have a chance to reverse their fortunes in 2020-2021 and get to the playoffs.
The Eastern Conference is comprised of the following teams:
Which Teams Might Be Excluded?
The 76ers are a basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
On the surface, the 76ers seem to be a shoe-in for the playoffs. However, go deeper and you’ll discover that they’re on the verge of collapse.
The Houston Rockets were in a similar position to the 76ers last season. James Harden, the former MVP, wanted out of Texas, so he skipped the most of the 2020 training camp, and when he did show up, he was ten pounds overweight, furious, and uninspired.
The Houston Rockets, who had new immigrants Christian Wood and John Wall, as well as returning veterans P. J. Tucker, Eric Gordon, Danuel House, and, of course, James Harden, went 3-6 in their first nine games. As a result, Houston management decided to trade “The Beard.” The Rockets finished last in the Western Conference after a disappointing season.
After a year, Ben Simmons is furious, uninspired, and out of shape, and he urgently wants to start over in a new place. Following recent events, it seems that this scenario is now a question of “when” rather than “if.”
We’re not claiming that Ben Simmons has had the same effect on the 76ers as James Harden had on the Rockets. Simmons isn’t even his team’s top player; that distinction belongs to Joel Embiid. But here’s the thing: 76ers MVP candidate Joel Embiid has only appeared in 260 of a possible 555 games in his career. Many of those games were missed by Embiid during his rookie and sophomore seasons, when he didn’t play a single game. Even yet, he’s never played a full season, and excluding his first two years in the league, he’s only appeared in 75% of his potential games.
An angry Ben Simmons + a probable Joel Embiid injury + a significantly deeper Eastern Conference + heckling 76ers supporters Equals a terrible season for Philadelphia, according to my calculations.
Things may work out in Philadelphia, but don’t assume the 76ers’ 49-23 record from last season guarantees them a playoff berth. The Lakers last won a championship two years ago. The following season, they were plagued by injuries, and they finished seventh in the west, forcing LBJ and his teammates to compete in the play-in tournament against the Warriors. With one minute left in the game against Golden State, the Purple and Gold were down by one point when LeBron hit a (miracle) three-pointer from five feet beyond the arc. The 2020 champions were on the verge of missing the playoffs in 2021.
Daryl Morey has always been preoccupied with numbers and has ignored factors such as culture and chemistry. We’ll see how significant the intangible elements of basketball are now that everyone knows Ben Simmons doesn’t want to be a part of the Philadelphia 76ers, which has to have an impact on team morale. Perhaps Joel Embiid’s brilliance and Tobias Harris’ midrange game will be enough to mask the inevitable chemistry issues. However, if Embiid suffers an injury, the 76ers’ season may rapidly spin out of hand.
The Wizards of Washington
The Washington Wizards have a good chance of missing the playoffs in 2022.
They completed the regular season with a 34-38 record last year. They were all but written off for the playoffs until Russell Westbrook went off in the final 15 games, averaging 23.8 points per game, 14.4 assists per game, and 13.5 rebounds per game, leading Washington to a 10-5 record and a berth in the play-in round. In the first round of the play-in, the Wizards were comfortably dispatched by the Boston Celtics, and then eked out a victory over a Pacers team desperate to get away from Nate Bjorkgren and his erratic mood swings.
In the first round of the playoffs, the eighth-seeded Wizards were crushed by the Philadelphia 76ers, thus ending their season. Russell Westbrook is now in Hollywood, and Spencer Dinwiddie has taken his position, having missed all but three games last season due to a ruptured ACL. Former Lakers players Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Kyle Kuzma, and Montrezl Harrell are also in, but no one knows whether they’re really IN after spending last season in Los Angeles with LeBron James.
On offense, small-ball combinations including Rui Hachimura at center, Davis Bertans at power forward, Kyle Kuzma at small forward, and Bradley Beal and Spencer Dinwiddie in the backcourt could be entertaining to watch. On defense, though, this squad will be unable to stop anybody. Last season, they were tied for 20th in defensive rating with the Dallas Mavericks. With negative defenders on the roster next season, it’s easy to imagine them finishing last in the NBA in total defense, which isn’t exactly a playoff formula.
Which Teams Might Be Involved?
The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago,
The preseason is just that: it’s the preseason. The games have little significance, superstars seldom appear, and coaches utilize the opportunity to assess young players vying for a spot on the squad. It makes no difference whether you win or lose. Even yet, when you’re watching a team during the preseason, you feel that tingling going up and down your spine. Sometimes you have the sense that something extraordinary is about to happen.
This season, the Chicago Bulls will be excellent, and they may even be great.
Lonzo Ball and Zach Lavine create a powerful backcourt. Both players are capable three-point shooters who are also eager passers. When it comes to isolation settings, Lavine is one of the finest in the league, and he’s more than capable of bearing the burden in the halfcourt when things go stale. Add in Alex Caruso’s IQ and three-point shooting ability off the bench, and you have one of the league’s most dynamic guard rotations.
DeMar DeRozan is also in the mix. He’s another player who can create his own shot, but he’s also one of the league’s greatest passing wings.
Nikola Vucevic is a double-double machine with silky three-point shot and great post moves (40 3P percent last season).
Lonzo Ball, Zach Lavine, Alex Caruso, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic swung the ball around the floor during preseason, generating open shots beyond the arc and towards the basket. When you consider that Ball, Lavine, Caruso, and Vucevic can all shoot over 40% from three-point range, you have the makings of a team that will be exceptional on offense this season.
The Chicago Bulls were a lot stronger on defense last season than you may expect. They completed the season with a defense rating of 11th. If Bulls head coach Billy Donovan can force a top-ten defense out of this group, the Bulls may transform into the Atlanta Hawks of last season’s playoffs and reach the Eastern Conference Championship round, if not the Finals.
The Indiana Pacers are a basketball team based in Indiana.
The Indiana Pacers struggled last season under first-year head coach Nate Bjorkgren’s leadership.
- Bjorkgren, according to one league official, “He’s simply totally out of his element as a leader; he’s not a d—k.”
- Bjorkgren’s communication skills, according to another unnamed source, are “aggressive and confrontational” with everyone in Indiana, including the players.
- Bjorkgren was also renowned for “erupting” about minor gaffes.
Mice aren’t good in high-stress situations. Monkeys don’t either. Yes, when people are treated with respect and optimism, they achieve more. Who’d have guessed?
After just one season in Indiana, Pacers management dismissed Nate Bjorkgren and rehired the legendary Rick Carlisle for a second tenure.
On defense, Rick Carlisle’s teams usually seem to do well. Malcolm Brogdon, Myles Turner, and Domantas Sabonis are three outstanding defenders on this Pacers squad. Last season, Indiana finished 13th in the NBA in defensive rating with Nate “I may blow up at any moment” Bjorkgren at the helm (112.4). It’s easy to envision this squad moving up into elite status as a top-five defensive club now that the more cerebral Carlisle is in charge.
Caris LeVert is a better offensive player than you may assume. Across a wide sample of 47 games in the 2020-2021 season, he averaged 20.2 points per game, 4.6 rebounds per game, and 5.2 assists per game. He’s approaching his peak at 27 years old, and if the Pacers get out to a good start, he may earn All-Star consideration for his ability to create scores for himself and his teammates when the offense stops in the halfcourt.
Malcolm Brogdon averaged 21.2 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, and 5.9 assists per game. He doesn’t have LeVert’s ability to transform nothing into something, but he’s a top-tier point guard who many believe was overlooked when he didn’t make the All-Star team last season.
The Pacers’ equivalent of the twin towers is Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner, who are both just 25 years old. Myles Turner is a good three-point shooter and a killer at the rim, while Sabonis is one of the finest in the game out of the post.
This Pacers team is loaded with talented players who are only entering their peak. They’ll be well-coached, and they’ll put in a lot of effort on the less glamorous side of the game. They’re all set to advance to the playoffs.
Western Conference
Which team is the most likely to be eliminated?
The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon.
This season, the Portland Trail Blazers should be competitive. Last season, the Trail Blazers sneaked into the Western Conference playoffs in sixth place thanks to Damian Lillard’s brilliance, and… well, simply Lillard’s brilliance.
During the 2021 season, Portland ranked 29th in the NBA in defensive rating. CJ McCollum is a great offensive weapon in his own way, but he, too, does not play defense. Lillard is an offensive superstar, but he does not play defense. It’s more of the same in the middle. Jusuf Nurki is a capable post threat, but he glides around the perimeter like a 50-year-old math teacher and provides minimal resistance at the rim. Portland’s management wanted to improve the squad, bringing in more hard-nosed defenders in particular. Instead, they retraced their steps.
Sure, Portland should be good next season, but good isn’t good enough in the Western Conference.
Last season, the Memphis Grizzlies reached the playoffs, and they aren’t going away anytime soon. Ja Morant has the makings of a future superstar. Jarren Jackson Jr. comes back from injury to begin the season, and he’s on his way to become an All-Star. Kyle Anderson, Desmond Bane, and Steven Adams are all great two-way role players, while Dillon Brooks might be the best player you’ve never heard of.
Luka Doncic is a member of the Dallas Mavericks. That’s all there is to it.
The Clippers will be without Kawhi Leonard to begin the season, while the Nuggets will be without Jamal Murray. Nonetheless, the Clippers have Paul George and a strong supporting group, while the Nuggets have MVP Nikola Jokic and a strong supporting cast of their own.
The Golden State Warriors are a team from California. are the next team we’ll discuss.
Which team do you think you’ll be on?
The Golden State Warriors
Last season, the Golden State Warriors finished third in the Western Conference, three games behind the Portland Trail Blazers. While Portland has almost the same lineup as last year, the Warriors’ roster seems to be much superior.
Jordan Poole averaged 21.8 points per game in 23 minutes throughout the preseason. He seems to be on the verge of leaping. His outside stroke is crisp, and he’s explosive near the rim. Otto Porter Jr., a recent addition, played well in the preseason as well. He hit over 55% of his long-range shots while playing outstanding defense. Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins are still on the roster, and they can be relied on to play excellent defense and make sound offensive decisions.
All-Star five times Klay Thompson is expected to return sooner rather than later, and all indications indicate that he looks as good as new.
The Warriors are in in excellent shape, but we haven’t even addressed their two most important players: Stephen Curry and their defense.
If you’re reading this, you’re already familiar with Stephen Curry. He’s a two-time MVP and the greatest shooter the world has ever seen. You may not be aware that the Golden State Warriors, led by Draymond Green on the interior and Andrew Wiggins on the perimeter, had one of the strongest defenses in the NBA last season.
We’re picking Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson’s comeback, and a strong defense to lead the Warriors over Damian Lillard and the Trail Blazers into the playoffs.
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The allen iverson net worth is a question that has been asked many times. Allen Iverson’s contract with the Memphis Grizzlies will expire at the end of this season, and he could be looking for a new team. Here are 6 teams that could make or miss the playoff next season.
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