The business end of the NBA season is fast approaching and with just a few games left of the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape.
In the Eastern Conference, the Celtics look like the team to beat. Having locked up the number one seed weeks ago, they look to be in a prime position to win their first championship since 2008.
The Western Conference is a lot tighter, the Nuggets, Timberwolves and Thunder are all within a few games of each other and any one of the three could end the regular season sitting atop the conference.
The NBA Playoffs always produce surprises and this year’s will be no different. Here we look at some of the contenders who hope to end the season in glory.
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are one of the most storied franchises in the NBA, but it’s been well over a decade since they last tasted a title and for a team who has won 17 championships that wait is simply too long.
Heading into the season, most sports betting sites had the Celtics as clear favourites and despite the pressure to deliver, it’s fair to say that they have certainly lived up to expectations.
Led by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, the Celtics can boast one of the most explosive duos in the entire league. At the back end of the court, the Celtics have been boosted by the elite defensive play of Jrue Holiday and they haven’t felt the absence of former defensive stalwart Marcus Smart.
A completely rounded team, it looks like something dramatic would need to happen in order for the Celtics to not reach this year’s Finals.
Milwaukee Bucks
Heading into the season, the consensus was that it would be the Bucks who would rival the Celtics as the top dogs in the East and that largely has proved to be the case.
The blockbuster trade of Damian Lillard has brought a different dynamic to the Bucks offense and despite trailing the Celtics in the Eastern standings, the recent victory over their great rivals suggests that if the two were to meet in the Eastern Finals, the Bucks wouldn’t have it all their own way.
Heading into the playoffs there are fitness concerns about star man Giannis Antetokounmpo who suffered a calf injury in the win over the Celtics and could miss the start of the Playoffs.
The Bucks should have enough quality to advance through the early rounfs without him, but to stand any chance of ultimate glory, the Bucks will need their star man fit and ready to roll.
Denver Nuggets
Just over twelve months ago the Denver Nuggets were basking in history as they lifted their first ever NBA Championship. Fast forward a year and the Nuggets currently hold the top spot in the Western rankings and remain on course to defend their championship.
Once again, the Nuggets have been led by the talents of Nikola Jokic and the Joker remains on track to win his second successive MVP title and third in total.
Having reached the top of the mountain last year, they have the experience and quality to make another deep playoff run this year.
Minnesota Timberwolves
After just sneaking into the 2022 / 2023 playoffs, few would have expected the Minnesota Timberwolves to be a major force in the playoff picture this year but that’s exactly what they have become.
Led by the talents of Karl-Anthony Towns and Naz Reid, the Timberwolves are a team stacked full of belief and certainly will hold no fears against whoever they face in the Playoffs.
Whilst the number one seed might be out of their reach, they will be a dangerous opponent for whoever they come up against.
New York Knicks
It’s been over fifty years since the New York Knicks last tasted championship glory and despite spending years in the NBA wilderness, the Knicks look on track to lock up the third seed in the Eastern Conference and will be hoping to reach their first Conference Final in decades.
Rocked by the season ending injury to Julius Randle, the Knicks have suffered offensively since their star man went down and will need to ensure that they are at their defensive best if they are to beat the best that the Eastern conference has to offer. If the Knicks were to go all the way, there would be no bigger story in sport. For too long the Knicks have been the sleeping giant of basketball, could this be the year where it all finally comes together?
