Some people claim that the most wonderful time of the year is Thanksgiving or Christmas. If you’re a diehard sports fan you know both those answers are false. For sports fans, the best time of the year is none other than playoff time. The playoffs are special almost every single year, (save for those four years in a row it was Golden State vs the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals), and anybody who has the sheer determination can end up winning it all.
Just look at the Milwaukee Bucks last year, who finally broke through their playoff demons and capped off an incredible postseason run with the Larry O’Brien trophy. We’re they the best team heading into the playoffs? No, many saw the Lakers or the Nets as the team destined to win the ‘chip, but through momentous playing, the Bucks took it all.
It’s not always about the team that finishes #1 in the standings, it’s more about the team that has picked up the most team in the last three weeks heading into the playoffs. With this in mind, I was thinking who would I choose today, based on their play, to go and win the championship if the playoffs started three weeks from now. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in and see if you all agree with these picks of mine (if not, please let me know in the comment section:) Let’s get into it!\
Boston Celtics
Things are heating up in “Beantown”, and it’s caused by two words, or shall I say one name, Jayson Tatum. Tatum has been lighting it up as of late, and his 54 point performance against the Nets the other night had the entire NBA on alert. It’s not like he put up those numbers against the Nets bench squad; he was cooking these numbers while Kyrie and Kevin Durant were on the floor!
The team in general is looking much more like a unit, and it has paid off with a current four-game winning streak. The Celtics are getting hot at the perfect time, and even though they are slated 5th in the Eastern Conference standings, I could see them doing some heavy damage in the playoffs. Could they be what the Bucks were last year? I definitely think so.
Dallas Mavericks
Similar to the Celtics, the Mavs have been getting hot at the perfect time. Luka Doncic has been essentially playing like Superman, and the team has been riding a four-game winning streak as well. It seems that after getting rid of Kristaps Porzingis everybody has bought in on the Mavs. Porzingis is doing excellently with the Wizards as well, so it looks like the trade has worked out well for both sides.
With Luka leading the way, anything is possible for this team, and I would count them in as my #1 dark horse championship team. Who wouldn’t want to see Mark Cuban celebrating another NBA championship? I sure would!
Milwaukee Bucks
With all the talk of the next NBA champions being either the Nets, the Suns, the Warriors, or the 76ers, it seems everybody has written off the Milwaukee Bucks, AGAIN! Did we not learn our lesson the first time? This is a team with certified killers on the court (Giannis and Khris Middleton), as well as beautiful depth options that create one of the deadliest rosters in the NBA.
It seems that because they are a small-market ball club the Bucks gets passed over in the conversation on national television, which I understand because naturally larger cities bring in more revenue. However, we cannot deny that from all of the teams heading into the playoffs, the Bucks are the team that looks the most dangerous, and I do think they are the safe bet if you are asking who’s going to win the “chip” this year.