The NBA 2021-2022 season has now begun! Let’s go!
Here are the four teams to most likely win this year’s championship!
Brooklyn Nets
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The Brooklyn Nets were the heavy favorite to win last year, but injuries to their main stars ruined their potential title run.
They have kept all three of their main stars, and have arguably gotten better with the addition of new players in the offseason, such as Patty Mills and Lamarcus Aldridge.
The healthy trio of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving are enough to win this year’s championship, however only two of these players are cleared to play.
Irving has refused to receive the vaccine and is currently not allowed to play games until he is vaccinated. This is a huge blow for the Nets, and it could have massive consequences if Irving does not play this season.
Assuming he does receive the vaccine and the team stays healthy, the Nets will be the team to beat.
Los Angeles Lakers
Similar to the Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers were widely expected to reach the finals last season, but were derailed by injuries to their stars.
Having a healthy LeBron James and Anthony Davis will keep the Lakers in the title hunt, as they are arguably the second best team, behind the Nets. The duo won the 2020 championship, and now have a more well-rounded roster around them.
They added former MVP Russell Westbrook, who led the league in assists last season. The addition of a third star allows James and Davis to have less of a burden on their shoulders, which was a huge issue last season.
They also added former All-Stars Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Rajon Rondo and DeAndre Jordan.
If this team stays healthy, they will make the finals and potentially win it all.
Milwaukee Bucks
This list would not be complete without the reigning champions, the Milwaukee Bucks.
After the media stated for years that Giannis Antetokounmpo would never be able to win a title with the Bucks, he finally did it.
Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, one-time Defensive Player of the Year, six-time All-Star and now has a championship. He is only 26.
We most likely have not seen Antetokounmpo reach his max, which is scary for the rest of the NBA. Any team with him will always be in contention for a title.
Regardless of roster talent, health is the most important tangible in the NBA. The Bucks have a younger team, which are less injury prone than the Nets and Lakers — this may come in their advantage.
The Bucks have the potential to win back-to-back titles, but it would take another huge leap from Antetokounmpo to beat the Lakers or Nets.
Phoenix Suns
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The Phoenix Suns were stunned last season as they blew a 2-0 lead in the finals, losing the next four games. They entered the finals as the favorites to win over the Bucks, but were unable to win it all.
Chris Paul has struggled with injury issues, and we will likely start seeing a decline in his production. However, judging by the last few seasons, it isn’t smart to count out Paul’s team.
He is flanked by two young stars — Devin Booker and DeAndre Ayton — both played vital roles in last year’s finals run. The two will continue to get better, and with the Suns being a relatively young team, they will remain a threat to win it all.
The NBA is unpredictable, so any of these four teams could be the next NBA champion. It might even be a team not on this list. But judging by rosters, these are the best four teams in the NBA.
