Piece By: Zach Milaszewski
With basketball back, there are obviously some favorites to win it all. The Lakers and Bucks seem to be the consensus favorites to come out of their respective conferences. The Nets and Clippers are of course star studded rosters. But as we see every season, the favorites don’t always make it. Who expected the Heat to be in the finals last year? The Nuggets in the WCF? Anything can happen.
Here are some of my sleeper picks to contend for a ring this year.
Nuggets:
The Nuggets aren’t completely a sleeper team to win it all this season, considering they made it to the conference finals last year. They have one of the best centers in the league in Nikola Jokic, and the emergence of Jamal Murray in the postseason last year takes them to a new level. If he can maintain the level he was at in the postseason the Nuggets will be one of the best teams in the league.
In order to really win it all, they need their secondary players to really take a step. Michael Porter Jr., a guy who has shown flashes of elite basketball, but has yet to be able to maintain that level of play. Another player they could use production out of is Bol Bol. Bol didn’t play much last season, but he could give the Nuggets good backup center minutes. His abilities are as good as anyone’s, his biggest issue is staying healthy.
The Nuggets had a good draft, taking RJ Hampton with the 24th overall pick. Hampton, still 19 years old could be a key role player this season. Having played overseas instead of in the NCAA, he has professional experience. They have also signed Facunda Campazzo, who could be an impact player off the bench. The 29 year old Argentinian, EuroLeague champion has been a preseason/training camp standout and is looking like he will be a rotation player once the season starts.
Celtics:
It’s strange to call a team that has made it to the ECF 3 of the past 4 years a sleeper. But they have yet to be considered favorites by any means. Led by Jayson Tatum, coming off his first all-star and all-NBA selections, he’s looking to get them over the proverbial hump. Inconsistencies in their offense have held them back and dug them in holes in key games. They have a lot of question marks this year, they continue to have roster turnover every year, so chemistry is a big question, along with health.
Starting with Kemba Walker, he’s starting the season resting his knee after he got stem cell shots. The Celtics need Walker to be at full strength come playoffs to be real contenders. That is going to take some load management throughout the season.
In terms of chemistry, the core guys (Tatum, Brown, Smart) have been together for years now. Adding vets like Tristan Thompson and Jeff Teague are great moves for a young team. Thompson has championship experience, and Teague has playoff experience. Thompson fills the void of a rebounder that has been missing in Boston for a while.
They’ll also need their young players to step up. Grant Williams was a key rotation player last season and needs to continue his shooting and defensive skills. Romeo Langford, in small stints last year looked great on the defensive end, but could not stay healthy, if he can stay on the court this year, he will be a key player. And finally, Aaron Nesmith. Considered to be the best shooter from this years draft class, he could play a large role on this team if his skills transfer over from college to the pros.
Rockets:
This may sound crazy with all the James Harden trade rumors going on. But the additions of John Wall, Demarcus Cousins, and Cristian Wood are all great moves by Houston’s front office. I also expect them to get a hefty return from whatever team Harden goes to. I don’t necessarily think that Harden was the “issue” in Houston, but I think getting multiple assets in return could be great for them.
Personally, I think Philly has the best trade package for Harden, including Ben Simmons in the deal should make the Rockets intrigued. Pairing up Wall and Simmons in the backcourt and Wood and Cousins in the frontcourt is a really good starting lineup.
Health is the huge question mark though. Wall and Cousins both coming off injuries. Wall of an achilles injuries, and Cousins off back to back season ending leg injuries. If, and it’s a big if, those two can be healthy for the entirety of the season, expect the Rockets to be competing with the best teams.
They have the surrounding players that played well with Harden, I would expect them to continue to contribute if and when he leaves. If they can just be catch and shoot guys, or cutters surrounding the stars of the team, they will be more than capable of making a playoff run.
Honorable Mentions:
Some of these teams I didn’t feel were really sleepers to win it all, but could be teams who make it to the conference finals.
Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Portland Trailblazers.
All three of these teams have star players and good to great role players, It would take some things going in their favors but I wouldn’t count any of these teams out.