The 8 NBA groups that may win the championship this season

The All-Star break is over and it’s time to sit up for the stretch run of the NBA season.

The Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets sit atop their respective conferences. The Phoenix Suns and Dallas Mavericks took enormous swings on the deadline to attempt to keep within the hunt. Groups just like the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers and Los Angeles Clippers will likely be within the combine once more — and you’ll’t sleep on the defending champions Golden State Warriors or younger and hungry Memphis Grizzlies.

Whereas many groups possible nonetheless assume they’re in competition, eight groups are at +1600 or higher to win the Larry O’Brien trophy, based on DraftKings. Let’s check out these eight contenders and the place they stand because the NBA races to the end line.

Boston Celtics (44-18, +250)

The Celtics seem like simply the deepest workforce within the NBA. They’ve had key gamers miss time all through the season and nonetheless managed to have the league’s finest file on the break — although they’ve since fallen behind red-hot Milwaukee. They received even deeper on the deadline buying stretch massive Mike Muscala from the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder.

It seems the important thing to Boston’s quest to a title is solely well being. The workforce that was adequate to succeed in the Finals final season is generally intact with Malcolm Brogdon and Muscala becoming a member of a powerful bench unit alongside Derrick White and Grant Williams. Marcus Sensible, Al Horford and Robert Williams, three of the keys to the Celtics’ top-rated protection final 12 months, have missed chunks of the season. If that trio is wholesome — and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown preserve enjoying at such a excessive stage — Boston nonetheless seems just like the East favourite.

Phoenix Suns (32-28, +450)

The Suns haven’t been capable of climate the harm storm in addition to the Celtics. Devin Booker and Chris Paul have each missed a number of time and Phoenix sits at fourth within the West. However by touchdown Kevin Durant in a commerce deadline blockbuster, the Suns have the second-best odds of profitable the NBA title.

Well being goes to be enormous for Phoenix. Durant, 34, has missed his final 20 video games with a MCL sprain and Paul, 37, has missed 21 video games this season. Continuity will likely be an element too, however Durant might simply slot in to only about any workforce. If the trio of Durant, Paul and Booker is wholesome, the Suns would be the most harmful workforce within the West. Deandre Ayton ought to eat off of these three perimeter threats, however we’ll see how their bench holds up after shedding a lot depth to accumulate Durant.

Milwaukee Bucks (44-17, +500)

The Bucks got here into the break because the East’s hottest workforce and have saved it going, extending their win streak to fifteen. Giannis Antetokounmpo is nursing a proper wrist harm, however Milwaukee reportedly dodged a bullet with the severity of that harm. The Bucks overtook the Celtics for the East’s prime spot, regardless of three-time All-Star Khris Middleton enjoying simply 20 video games and nonetheless rounding into kind.

What’s largely fueled Milwaukee’s current run is the the workforce’s supporting forged. Jevon Carter and Grayson Allen have been fixtures within the Bucks’ beginning lineup and each are contributing in an enormous means, flattening over 40 % of their threes. Jrue Vacation (lastly) was an All-Star once more and Brook Lopez is growing older like Benjamin Button. Including Jae Crowder, who’s appeared good in three video games after a lot day off, might add one other playoff-proven contributor to the rotation. With Giannis avoiding severe harm, the Bucks appear poised to maintain rolling down the stretch.

Denver Nuggets (42-18, +750)

The Nuggets have the reigning two-time MVP and the perfect file within the West … but discover themselves with the fourth-best odds. Tough scene. Nikola Jokic is the favourite to seize his third straight MVP award and the remainder of the roster is wholesome for the primary time in perpetually, establishing what needs to be a deep playoff run for Denver.

Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. discovering their groove has been enormous, however so have the additions of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown. KCP is flattening 45 % of his threes and becoming in to the Nuggets’ equal alternative offense. Brown’s Swiss Military Knife talent set has been welcomed. Denver additionally added Thomas Bryant to repair their backup heart points and plucked Reggie Jackson off the buyout market — although the early returns on these additions haven’t been as promising.

Los Angeles Clippers (33-30*, +1000)

The Clippers are such a wildcard. They’ve a deep rotation that hasn’t been totally wholesome after which shook up their rotational combine on the deadline. Gone are Reggie Jackson, John Wall and Luke Kennard. In are Eric Gordon, Bones Hyland, Mason Plumlee, and Russell Westbrook. So, what are we to make of the new-look Clippers?

Well being (are you sensing a theme?) will likely be virtually all the things for L.A. Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have been out and in of the lineup. Although, in case you’ve watched Kawhi lately, he’s appeared like second three-peat Michael Jordan. Over his final 18 video games, he’s averaging 28.7 factors with bonkers taking pictures splits (54.4/49.5/91.6). The acquisitions of Gordon and Plumlee really feel like upgrades. The Westbrook pickup is complicated, particularly with the previous MVP getting the chance to start out and taking minutes from Gordon and Terance Mann. We’ll see if the signing works out, however shade me skeptical.

Philadelphia 76ers (39-21, +1200)

Talking of wildcards, who is aware of what to make of the Sixers. Philly was the most well liked workforce within the NBA from early December by means of January and adopted it up by shedding three of 5 — with the losses being arguably their three worst of the season. In addition they have a gauntlet March schedule and have already misplaced two of three popping out of the break.

The Joel Embiid-James Harden duo has been glorious. In over 1,000 minutes collectively this season, the duo has produced a 9.84 internet score. The problems for Philly come up when these two are off the ground, and Doc Rivers’ insistence on utilizing bench-heavy lineups. The Sixers might need discovered their reply at backup heart within the rugged P.J. Tucker, however Philly’s bench — and Rivers’ deployment of that bench — stays suspect.

Memphis Grizzlies (37-23, +1600)

The Grizzlies have been a bit of up and down this season, however nonetheless sit in second out West. The workforce has desperately missed Steven Adams, who’s been out since Jan. 22 with a PCL sprain. Memphis has dropped 5 of eight throughout that point.

There’s possible no person that misses Adams greater than All-Star Ja Morant. Morant has seen a slight dip in effectivity with out Adams’ bone-crushing screens serving to pave the best way. Nonetheless, the Grizzlies are a deep squad. Jaren Jackson Jr. is the favourite for Defensive Participant of the Yr and Desmond Bane’s ascension continues. Luke Kennard provides elite taking pictures to the combo, and Memphis’ slew of younger and prepared defenders present steadiness.

Golden State Warriors (31-30*, +1600)

The Warriors really feel like a sleeping big … which might be why DK is giving them the eighth-best title odds regardless of Golden State being the present seventh seed. The West could be very bunched up. The Warriors are solely a sport again of the fourth-place Suns within the loss column.

It’s all about well being. Steph Curry has solely performed in 38 video games and is at the moment out of the lineup with a number of leg accidents. Draymond Inexperienced had a current harm scare however needs to be returning to the lineup. And who is aware of what’s going to occur with Gary Payton II, a key cog from final season’s workforce that was reacquired however is coping with an adductor harm. By all of it, Klay Thompson has been enjoying at arguably an All-Star stage, averaging 22.1 factors a sport whereas hoisting over 10 threes a sport and hitting over 40 % of them.

Steph missed the final 12 video games of the common season final 12 months earlier than main a Finals run. Can the Warriors get wholesome simply in time once more?

*This submit was accomplished earlier than the conclusion of the Clippers’ and Warriors’ video games went remaining Tuesday night time