NBA Championship Contenders
The NBA regular season is in full swing and is about two months old. The standings pretty much tell us who is a legit contender for the NBA title this season and who is a legit fraud. Overall, there have been some surprises in the NBA standings this season, but there are some things that are not surprising at all.
With the way the NBA standings are, who are some of the contenders? Also, who could be some of the pretenders as well?
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are currently 22-8 in the Eastern Conference and are one of the best teams in the NBA. They will be a Top 3 seed once again in the east and look to make noise. Their biggest hurdle could be the Boston Celtics and Giannis Antetokounmpo is playing out of his mind once again.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are currently 22-9 in the Eastern Conference and Boston is one of the best bets to win the 2023 NBA title. The Celtics have a dynamic duo in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, along with other quality supporting pieces. For this season, the coaching with Joe Mazzulla compared to Ime Udoka compares to be different stylistically.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently 21-11 in the Eastern Conference. Cleveland is a very young basketball team with Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt and Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in the frontcourt. They feel like a legit NBA title contender this season, but will their youth be a problem for them moving forward or not?
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies appear to be on their way to a potential top seed in the Western Conference this season with a 19-10 record. Memphis was no fluke from a season ago when they were the number two seed in the west. Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. appear to be their big 3.
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have climbed their way to a number two seed in the Western Conference with an 18-11 record so far this season. Denver is being carried by once again center Nikola Jokic, who might have a shot to three-peat as NBA MVP. The Nuggets' biggest x-factors are going to be the health of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns have been climbing up and down the Western Conference standings this season and are currently the three seed. Monty Williams is their head coach and he has to deal with a Chris Paul injury this season. Phoenix has a 19-12 record and Devin Booker is their main leader, but DeAndre Ayton, Cameron Payne, and Mikal Bridges have stepped up for them in a big way and were the number-one seed in the west a season ago.