With a month to go in the NBA’s regular season now is the perfect time to evaluate team’s contention chances. Throughout the season three teams have stood out to me as the clear title contenders. That’s not to say these are the only teams that can win a title but these three stand head and shoulders above the league as unquestionable contenders. Let’s dive into the three teams.
3 Clear NBA Contenders
Boston Celtics
There should be no questioning the Celtics’ status as contenders. The Celtics have been the most dominant team throughout the regular season. With a 48-14 record they are on pace for 63 wins and have the most talented roster in the league. Statistically, the Celtics rank first in offense, third in defense, and first in net rating. Impressively they are the only team in the league with a top-five offensive and defensive rating. All of this makes the Celtics the odds on title favorite via Bet365. The Celtics’ elite play and all-around excellence at each position make them a matchup nightmare. Elite three-point shooting is the Celtics’ offensive identity, it allows them to build huge leads and dominant games.
For years the Celtics have been on the verge of winning the title but this roster feels different. Kristaps Porzingis was clearly the missing piece and has unlocked a new element for the Celtics on both ends of the floor. He gives the Celtics one of the league’s most efficient post-up scorers and lob threats while playing a versatile role defensively. Porzingis’ impact can not be discussed enough; he gives the team both more stability and upside. As long as Porzingis stays healthy this is the most complete and talented roster in the league. With this elite surrounding core, it’s on Jayson Tatum to be a superstar and lead this team to a title.
Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets are having a solid title defense but are clearly saving their best for the playoffs. Nikola Jokic is head and shoulders the league’s best player and quickly rising on the best offensive players of all time list. Whenever you have a player as talented and impactful as Jokic your team is somewhere within the contention conversations. Jokic generates incredible looks throughout the game for his team while being an impossible individual matchup. This combination makes the Nuggets offense elite and a nightmare to game plan against.
What makes the Nuggets stand out even more is their elite five-man lineup. The Nuggets starting lineup of Jamal Murray, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Michael Porter Jr, Aaron Gordon, and Jokic leads the league in minutes out of any five-man lineup. This continuity is a huge advantage for Denver in the playoffs as we saw last year. Furthermore, this lineup has the second-best net rating of any five-man lineup. The Nuggets also have the league’s best net rating in clutch time. Closing games is crucial for playoff success. Last year and this year the Nuggets have proven to be better than anyone in late-game situations. Ultimately the Nuggets are at their best when the stakes are highest and this is a team nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
Los Angeles Clippers
Despite a questionable post-all-star break stretch, the Clippers belong as contenders. The Clippers 4th ranked offense has some of the most versatile options in the league. The wing duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George hasn’t looked this good since 2020. Both wings’ health is an encouraging sign and Kawhi has once again established himself as a top-10-level player. Kawhi’s ability to elevate himself during the playoffs makes this team even more dangerous. For the Clippers to make a title run Kawhi will need to have an incredible run which all signs point to in regular-season play. James Harden’s playmaking helps elevate the wings and gives the Clippers a quality pick-n-roll game. This role is also great for Harden because it alleviates the pressure of being an elite scorer in the playoffs.
Furthermore, the Clippers stars are surrounded by one of the deepest rosters in the league and great shooting. The Clippers’ balance and versatile methods of scoring stand out, especially in a playoff setting. There’s not a team in the West outside of the Nuggets that can truly match up with the Clippers and contain their elite wings. The Clippers’ combination of stars that complement each other and elite roleplayers makes them one of the league’s most complete teams. Barring injury the Clippers check all the boxes of a top-tier contender.
