NBA: Who's Good Enough To Make a Run This Year?

Nearly midway through the season, we are starting to get a better idea of which teams are true contenders and which teams are likely either headed for an early playoff exit or towards not making the playoffs at all.

Contenders

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets are the hottest team in the NBA right now, as they have won 18 of their last 20 games.

However, Kevin Durant recently went down with a knee injury, and it’s unclear how much time he’ll miss for certain.

The Nets are in a position to weather the storm without Durant with Kyrie Irving running the show and the depth they have at the wing position, but they will definitely need Durant healthy sooner rather than later if they hope to make a legitimate championship run.

Boston Celtics

The Celtics have cooled off a bit from their hot start to the season, but they still have the best record in the NBA, and all of their main guys remain healthy.

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown strike fear into their opposition on both sides of the ball, as they are elite scorers and defenders.

With the Celtics’ size, length, and physicality to complement both players, they will not be an easy team to beat in the postseason.

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Milwaukee Bucks

Any team with Giannis Antetokounmpo will always be in the mix, but Khris Middleton has essentially been out the entire season and the depth beyond the other main guys, such as Jrue Holiday and Brook Lopez, is thin at best.

If the Bucks hope to contend for a championship yet again this season, they’re going to need Middleton to get healthy.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Sixers will go as far as Joel Embiid will take them, but Embiid finally has a co-star that can help him score the ball in James Harden, with Tyrese Maxey also being there.

However, both Embiid and Harden need the game to slow down to be at their absolute best, so it may be difficult for them to advance very far in the postseason.

Cleveland Cavaliers

The addition of Donovan Mitchell to a group featuring Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley makes this squad dangerous. However, they may need a season to really find the right chemistry to be true contenders.

Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant is always a threat to score the basketball, as he can get above the rim with the best of them.

With the shooting and defensive grit the Grizzlies have around Morant, they will be a tough out in the playoffs.

Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokic finally has a healthy team surrounding him, as Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. have been available all season long.

The Nuggets have a ton of players that complement Jokic well on both sides of the ball, which makes this team very dangerous.

New Orleans Pelicans

Zion WIlliamson has proven to be an elite player this season, as he is a load to handle inside the paint.

Pair him with a healthy Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Jonas Valanciunas with the defenders they have, and you have yourself a contender with this team.