The Golden State Warriors seem unbeatable in the NBA world after claiming another Championship, but there are other teams in the NBA ready to step it up.
From the Denver Nuggets to the Los Angeles Lakers, there have been notable improvements across the league that should make this one of the most competitive years in recent history.
Here are six teams that are sure to take the NBA season by storm.
L.A Lakers
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With the recent signing of LeBron James, the L.A Lakers are sure to be playoff contenders after finishing 11th in the west last season. They’ve also got a promising core of young players like Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma.
Last season, the Lakers had trouble staying consistent, but the additions of proven veterans should help them. Luke Walton will have another season under his belt, as the young coach will look to guide his side to their first postseason in six years.
Denver Nuggets
Whether or not the Nuggets succeed will be heavily dependent on the form of Millsap. He only played in 38 games last season thanks to a bothersome wrist injury. Denver also has a young talented backcourt of Jamal Murray and Gary Harris. Porter Jr. also has one of the highest ceilings in this draft class and could turn out to be a big steal for Denver.
The Nuggets got better this offseason but so did the Spurs and Lakers. The west will prove challenging yet again, but Denver has a good chance to reach the playoffs.
Dallas Mavericks
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The Mavericks finally got their man in DeAndre Jordan. They also have a versatile backcourt in Dennis Smith Jr. and Luka Dončić. Dončić is coming off of a fantastic season in Europe and should have a great mentor in Dirk Nowitzki.
The Mavericks would be smart to run the pick and roll with Dončić and Smith linking up with Jordan and Nowitzki. They could be a dark horse contender considering the talent they have acquired this summer.
Indiana Pacers
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Shooting guard Victor Oladipo is coming off an All-Star season and his confidence is through the roof. He’ll also be looking for redemption after a disappointing Game 7 loss to LeBron and the Cavaliers last season.
But Indiana’s improvement will be determined by Myles Turner’s success, who’s coming off a down season. If Turner can get his blocks and points back up, their defense should be even better than they were last year. Domantas Sabonis and Bojan Bogdanović showed a lot of improvement and could be key contributors next season.
San Antonio Spurs
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First-round draft pick Lonnie Walker could be a great asset for the Spurs. He is humble, has a great work ethic and should be able to fit into their system flawlessly. San Antonio lost veteran point guard Tony Parker, but Dejounte Murray has the potential to be a great replacement. They should still have a solid team with DeRozan, Patty Mills, Pau Gasol, Rudy Gay and Lamarcus Aldridge on board.
The Spurs have a well-balanced team, but their best offensive players — DeRozan and Aldridge — will be the primary targets. They could threaten top teams with their ball movement and post play. Look for the Spurs to be a top four team in the west next season if everyone stays healthy.
Boston Celtics
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The Celtics are early favorites to win the east and have the potential to be a future dynasty. If Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward stay healthy, they should be able to get to the Finals. They could even be a worthy matchup for the Warriors.
Tatum had a tremendous rookie season last year and was great in the playoffs. If he continues to improve at this rate, the Celtics will have four legitimate NBA stars on their roster. Retaining Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier were smart moves for the Celtics as it gives them the depth they’ll need to make it through the playoffs.
So what do you think is going to happen in the new NBA season? Got any favourites?
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