The Top 5 Teams to Watch Out for – 2013-14 NBA Season:
Over the years, the NBA League has been all about supremely
powerful teams and their dominating streaks. Whether it was Larry Bird’s Boston
Celtics or Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls or Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers
or Lebron James Miami Heat, the aura surrounding champion NBA teams has
propelled the league to where it is right now. Going into the 2013-14 NBA
season, thanks to some frenetic free agent signings during the offseason there
has been a paradigm shift in the team rosters leaving us with numerous
speculations. However, with what is available on paper here are the top 5 teams
with the best chance of having a crack at this year’s NBA title.
Brooklyn Nets:
Brooklyn Nets would hands down get the award for the most
interesting NBA team of this season. Travelling a year back to review their
performance, it is notable that this team finished in the 4th place
in the Eastern conference with a young roster. However, the team roster of
Brooklyn Nets this year is totally different. People who have missed out on the
offseason free agency drama might misunderstand this to be Boston Celtics
roster. Two superstars Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce who carried Boston Celtics
throughout the last decade are now a part of Brooklyn Nets. Combine these
superstars with the rising all stars Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko, the
roster of Brooklyn Nets looks as dangerous as it gets. On the other hand,
history tells that attractive transfers alone do not make a champion team.
There has to be actual chemistry in the middle. Speculation or not, nobody
cannot ignore Brooklyn Nets this season. They are certainly a team to watch out
for.
Indiana Pacers:
A team that dragged the 2013 NBA championships Miami Heat
into game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, can never be doubted of the
innate potential they possess. When Frank Vogel took over this team in 2011 as
an interim coach, not many gave them even an iota of a chance. Two years hence,
led on the court by NBA’s rising superstar Paul George and ably supported by
the ever dependable veteran David West, Frank Vogel rallied the Pacers to their
first Central Division title in over 10 years. It was in this same year that
the Pacers faced the eventual champions Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference
Finals. Although they lost the series in 7 games, Indiana Pacers managed to
leave a permanent mark in the NBA circuit making them a potential contender for
the upcoming 2013-14 NBA season.
San Antonio Spurs:
“Certain things hang on forever” is a world famous ad
campaign designed by ad agency McCann Erickson. The San Antonio Spurs is one
team in the NBA league which fits into this ad campaign perfectly. When every
expert felt that only youngsters can dominate this league, San Antonio Spurs
proved them wrong handsomely in the recently concluded 2012-13 NBA season. This
team has the potential to find inspiration from within time and again.
Potential future hall of famers Tim Duncan and Tony Parker have led this team
to 4 NBA titles over the past decade and a half and were on the brink of
grabbing a 5th title only to be perturbed by a Ray Allen three
pointer. While talking about contenders for the NBA title, the San Antonio
Spurs can never be far behind.
Oklahoma City Thunder:
Talking about excitement, exhilaration, adrenaline rush etc
there is just one NBA team that instantly comes to the mind, the Oklahoma City
Thunder. With two among the top 5 scorers in the league namely Kevin Durant and
Russell Westbrook, the bare minimum expectation from this team is a NBA title.
Despite trading the effervescent James Harden, this team still has the
capability to win multiple NBA titles. However, the only concern is the weight
of expectation on them. Being contenders is one thing and winning a
championship is some other thing, will they eventually cross the barrier is the
million dollar question. Only time can give us an answer.
Miami Heat:
Right in the beginning of the article, there was a small
mention about champion teams and their dominating streaks. The present day
example of one such team is the Miami Heat. Ever since the historic 2010 trade,
this team was expected to run over and win NBA championships right from day
one. Three years into the trade, Miami Heat has 2 more NBA titles in their
kitty. Lebron James in the company of Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh has redefined
consistency levels in the NBA league. A settled roster which knows the art of
winning NBA championships would be up for a fresh challenge again this season.
Although a third consecutive NBA title seems extremely tough, it is not beyond
them.
NBA is probably the best basketball league in the world and
it personifies highest levels of competition and intensity. Taking this into
consideration, all teams that take part in the NBA league do have a fair chance
of winning the title. However, based on current form the above mentioned teams
have the best shot of winning the 2013-14 NBA Title.
Image Credit : bleacherreport.com
Insightful write up Ashwin. All the best.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot :)
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