The Favorites

Los Angeles Lakers

The Main Attraction: Does Greatness Have an Expiration Date?

Lakers’ forward LeBron James, one of the game’s foremost legends, is ostensibly heading toward the twilight of his career. Yet, even in his 17th season, the 35-year-old shows no signs of slowing down. Averaging close to 25 points per game (ppg) and a triple-double, the 16-time All-Star, three-time NBA champion and four-time MVP will be hoping to take the No. 1 seed Lakers to their first championship in 10 years. The extended time off may prove beneficial for the team too, as a groin injury last year played a large role in ending James’ historic streak of competing in eight straight NBA Finals. If James at the peak of his powers shows up in Orlando, the Lakers will be the team to beat. 

Potential X-Factor: Second Chances 

The Lakers’ most recent additions — guards J.R. Smith and Dion Waiters — have made national headlines in the last couple seasons for all of the wrong reasons. In 2018, Smith was suspended while on the Cleveland Cavaliers for throwing a bowl of soup at assistant coach Damon Jones. He also made one of the worst mental blunders of all time when he infamously forgot the score at the end of regulation time in Game 1 of the 2018 NBA Finals. Waiters was released by the Miami Heat earlier this season after being suspended for “conduct detrimental to the team” on three separate occasions, totaling 17 missed games. 

Despite the clear concerns over Waiters and Smith’s attitudes and focus, the Lakers are willing to give them another chance due to the scoring punch they can provide off of the bench. If the Lakers’ exhibition game against the Washington Wizards on July 28, where the two combined for 38 points, is any indication of what’s to come, this gamble will prove worthwhile. 

An Interesting Stat: 5

In his entire eight-year career, All-Star forward Anthony Davis has only won five playoff games. However, this is Davis’ first year with the Lakers and with a teammate of James’ stature. With his new team, the 27-year-old should finally be able to make a deep postseason run. 

Los Angeles Clippers

The Main Attraction: Klaws and Clamps

The Clippers spent the summer of 2019 reconstructing their roster around the acquisitions of All-Star wings Paul George and Kawhi “The Klaw” Leonard. George and Leonard are exceptional defenders and lead a team chalked full of defensive talent; four different Clippers have been named to the NBA All-Defensive team at one point in their careers. If the Clippers want to bring home a championship, their suffocating defense will have to prove that defense does win championships and give new life to the thus far unpopular mantra “Clamp City.”

Potential X-Factor: Pocket Sixes

Most teams are fortunate enough to have one sixth man that can provide a scoring spark off the bench. The Clippers, though, have two of the best bench scorers in the league. Guard Lou Williams and forward Montrezl Harrell both come off the bench to run a pick-and-roll offense that usually accounts for close to 40 ppg and has smashed NBA records for bench production. If Leonard and George can keep the starting unit ticking, and Williams and Harrell do their usual damage off the bench, few teams will be able to keep pace, especially against the Clippers’ defense. 

An Interesting Stat: 37%

Thirty seven percent is James’ field goal percentage from the four 2020 regular season games between the Lakers and Clippers, 13% lower than James’ career average. Is this too small of a sample size to make a stout prediction for how he will perform in a playoff matchup against the Clippers? Absolutely, but the Clippers’ path to success is nonetheless rooted in their defense making opponent star players very uncomfortable. 

Milwaukee Bucks

The Main Attraction: The Most Valuable Player

Bucks’ forward Giannis Antetokounmpo once again terrorized the NBA this season. The reigning MVP averages 30 ppg, is a front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year and led his team to the best record in basketball going into the break (53-12). Standing at 6-foot-11-inches with guard-like agility and explosiveness, the “Greek Freak” is the definition of a match-up nightmare, often eliciting a double-team from the defense hoping to slow him. Remarkably, the 25-year-old seems to still be improving, reaching new career highs in both scoring and rebounding (14 rebounds per game). 

Last year, the only thing standing in the way of Antetokounmpo’s first trip to the NBA Finals was the wall of lengthy defenders the Toronto Raptors threw at him. Now that the Raptor’s former best defender, Leonard, is out West, Giannis and the Bucks, starting this year, are eyeing prolonged domination of the Eastern Conference. 

Potential X-Factor: The Sharpshooting Robin

Bucks’ guard Khris Middleton has taken another leap forward this season to solidify his role as the optimal “Robin” to Antetokounmpo’s “Batman.” Scoring efficiency is the name of the game for the two-time All-Star, as he is right on the brink of joining the historic 50-40-90 club, shooting at least 50% from the field, 40% from three and 90% from the free throw line. If he can finish the regular season with those numbers, he would be only one of nine players to ever do it, joining Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry as the only 50-40-90 club member to attempt at least five threes per game. If Middleton stays lethal from the perimeter, his pairing with Giannis could prove unstoppable. 

An Interesting Stat: 9th

The 2020 Bucks have the ninth best average point differential of all-time. Only two of the nine teams with better point differentials didn’t win an NBA championship. If this Bucks team plays as well as their record so far shows, the Larry O’Brien trophy will find a new home in Milwaukee.