Contenders

Toronto Raptors

The Main Attraction: Was It All Kawhi?

Despite entering the season as reigning NBA Champions, some questioned the future success of the Raptors without last year’s Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard on the team. But, with the third-best record in the league entering the bubble, the Raptors have proven their championship DNA wasn’t limited to one superstar. 

The Raptors’ biggest strength lies in their lack of a major weakness. They are a complete and cohesive team, proficient at both ends of the floor, and led by Coach of the Year candidate Nick Nurse. Six-time All-Star guard Kyle Lowry is playing some of the best basketball of his career at age 34, and first-time All-Star forward Pascal Siakam has rapidly developed into one of the league’s most imposing matchups. The Raptors haven’t tried to fix what isn’t broken, which might lead them to the same winning formula that brought home a championship just over a year ago, with or without Leonard. 

Potential X-Factor: (F)ready for Another Title?

Raptors’ guard Fred VanVleet went on a historic shooting streak in the 2019 playoffs, hitting 53% of his threes in the last nine games of the postseason following the birth of his first child on May 20. While he appeared to be a role player going through a random hot streak at the time, VanVleet has proven he’s more than capable of being one of the better starting point guards in the league. The 25-year-old is up to an 18 ppg average and is third in the league in steals per game (1.9). If VanVleet can continue his form into the postseason, the combination of him and Lowry will provide the Raptors with one of the league’s most formidable backcourts. 

 

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

🎲

A post shared by Fred VanVleet (@fredvanvleet) on

An Interesting Stat: 5

The Raptors are the only team in the league to have five different players who have competed in at least 10 games averaging at least 15 ppg. Their selfless, multidimensional offense has the depth to keep defenses guessing. 

Houston Rockets

The Main Attraction: Morey Ball

Driven by General Manager Daryl Morey, the Rockets take an extremely analytics-based approach to the game of basketball. The name of the game for the Rockets is spacing, electing to rarely use a conventional center and instead employ 6-foot 5-inch forward P.J. Tucker. While matching up a 6-foot 5-inch forward against the 7-foot giants of the NBA seems self-destructive, opponents often find themselves failing to use their size alone to outmuscle Houston’s defenders. The result of this “small-ball” approach is a super high-scoring, heavy three-point shooting game that usually plays into the Rockets’ strengths. 

The reason small-ball especially works for the Rockets is that the spacing gives offensive mastermind guard James Harden an ecosystem in which he can thrive. Small-ball gives the former league MVP the opportunity to isolate defenders in many one-on-one situations; any attempts for a double team often give one of the other four players enough space for clear driving lanes or wide-open threes. Consequently, Harden has led the league in scoring the past three seasons and is constantly smashing scoring records. If Harden is at his best, the Rockets will be a difficult opponent to manage for even the best teams in the league. 

Potential X-Factor: The New Rocket Set for Take-Off

Rocket’s guard Russell Westbrook is one of the league’s most dynamic talents. The nine-time All Star has explosive athleticism that constantly has defenses on their heels. However, the former MVP’s fearless mentality hasn’t always resulted in team success, as his past few playoff runs on the Oklahoma City Thunder have been plagued by poor efficiency, questionable decision-making and first-round exits

Despite Westbrook’s prior postseason struggles, there’s increased optimism that his new home in Houston will result in success. The spacing on the floor creates clearer paths to the basket for one of the game’s best rim attackers, as he is more comfortable and efficient with his drives than his jumpshots. If this trend continues into the playoffs, Westbrook will be a deadly secondary weapon when defenses focus on Harden. 

An Interesting Stat: 4/5

Four out of the last five Houston playoff campaigns were ended in the postseason by the Golden State Warriors. Over that stretch, the Rockets have gone 6-1 in series against any other opponent. With the injury-ridden Warriors out of playoff contention this year, someone else will have to prove they are capable of beating this unique Rockets team. 

Boston Celtics

The Main Attraction: Budding Stars

Celtics wing duo Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are improving at freighting speeds and seem destined for future NBA stardom if they are not already there. Tatum, only 21-years-old, made his first All-Star game and has shown shades of the late Kobe Bryant in his shot creation. Brown, while just narrowly missing an All-Star selection himself, has developed into a powerful perimeter shooter and possesses the craft and athleticism to finish in the paint as well. Both have reached new career highs in just about every statistical category, including averaging over 20 ppg for the first time in their careers. The Celtics are 17-0 when Brown and Tatum both score 19 or more points, and the team will need them firing on all cylinders if they want to make a deep playoff run. 

Potential X-Factor: Kemba for Kyrie 

The Celtics were fortunate enough to immediately fill the hole left by the departure of guard Kyrie Irving last summer with the arrival of guard Kemba Walker. While Irving and Walker are both All-NBA talents, Irving has the edge when it comes to playoff experience as he was a crucial piece for the Cleveland Cavaliers team that reached the finals three years in a row, whereas Walker has only appeared in the postseason twice in eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets. But, Irving’s experience for the Celtics could not overcome his shooting woes last postseason. If the Celtics want to improve on their Eastern Conference Semifinals appearance last year, they need Walker to do what Irving couldn’t and carry his sharp perimeter shooting into the playoffs. 

An Interesting Stat: 3rd

Boston’s defense allows the third fewest points per game in the league. This is a very encouraging sign considering the loss of former All-Defensive forward Al Horford to the Philadelphia 76ers last summer. Forward Daniel Theis has done an excellent job in taking over the role of defensive anchor and leads the team in blocks per game. 

Denver Nuggets

The Main Attraction: Slim Joker

Nuggets’ center Nikola Jokic grabbed headlines during the shutdown for looking a fraction of the 284 pounds he was listed as at the beginning of the season. While that usually would be a positive indication of getting into competing shape for a player of his size, some were concerned that the weight loss would hurt the 7-foot Serbian’s strength in the post and on the glass. However, Jokic himself believes that losing weight only improves his play.

 

No matter his weight, Jokic is one of the league’s most interesting talents due to his ability to dominate games with his unique combination of size and skill. Practically, no other centers can match Jokic’s shooting, passing and handling levels which often combine to produce jaw-dropping highlights. No center has averaged as many assists per game for over 40 years, and he still averages 20 ppg himself. The Nuggets will only go as far as “The Joker” can take them. 

Potential X-Factor: Risky Draft Picks Paying Off?

Nuggets’ forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Bol Bol shared similar draft experiences in 2018 and 2019 among fears that injuries would stunt their development. Porter Jr., considered talented enough to be a lottery pick, fell to 14th overall due to a spinal operation that forced him to sit out the vast majority of his college career at the University of Missouri. Bol, considered to be a first-round pick, fell all the way to the second round due to a broken bone in his foot he suffered his last year at the University of Oregon and his atypical slender frame. 

The Nuggets took a chance on both of them, and they might reap the rewards for years to come. Porter Jr.’s athleticism and scoring ability is comparable to some of the league’s best, and while he still is prone to mental mistakes, flashes of a future superstar are becoming more visible and frequent. Bol, a 7-foot 2-inch sharpshooter and rim protector, has a combination of size and skill that the league has never seen before. If Porter Jr. and Bol can show glimpses of their high-ceiling futures in these playoffs, the Nuggets might get a pair of invaluable contributors off the bench, aiding their championship chances. 

An Interesting Stat: 6-foot 10-inch

Six-foot 10-inch was the average height for the Nuggets’ starting lineup in a scrimmage against the Washington Wizards on July 22. It was one of the tallest starting lineups ever in NBA history. While it remains to be seen whether the Nuggets would actually roll out this lineup in a meaningful game, it is a testament to just how versatile and skilled some of their taller players are. 

Miami Heat

The Main Attraction: Butler’s Battlers

The Miami Heat have built a team filled with hard-working talent centered around the offseason acquisition of All-Star wing Jimmy Butler. Known for his work ethic and absurdly early workouts, Butler has led a relatively young team to surprising results this season. The 30-year-old leads the Heat in points, assists and steals, and his influence in the locker room has reinvigorated the Miami Heat’s mind over matter culture. 

Forward Bam Adebayo is the most notable example of a young Heat player improving, as the third-year player has morphed into a two-way star. The first-time All-Star is averaging 16 points, 10 rebounds and five assists per outing while also playing a significant role in the Heat’s resolute defense. Undrafted rookie guard Kendrick Nunn has also transformed himself, going from a G-league regular to a Rookie of the Year candidate that averages over 15 points a game. Going into the bubble with a 43-27 record — their best since 2014 — the Heat will be a tough team to overcome in the playoffs, especially if the team’s chemistry remains rock solid.  

Potential X-Factor: Splash Brothers 2.0?

Guard Tyler Herro and forward Duncan Robinson have made a huge impact for the Heat this season, drastically improving the team’s perimeter shooting. The Heat went from 14th and 21st in the league last season in three-point attempts and percentage, respectively, to ninth in attempts and first in percentage this season. Herro and Robinson combine for 14 three-point attempts a game and connect on a staggering 42% of them, drawing comparisons to the “Splash Brothers.” 

While this level of shooting was expected from Herro, the No. 14 overall pick in 2019, there was less excitement surrounding Robinson. After going undrafted in 2018, the Heat took a chance on Robinson, now a starter, which has paid off immensely. Robinson is now the only player to attempt over 500 threes and make at least 40% of them, making him one of the year’s best underdog stories. If the Heat want to continue to exceed expectations, they will need some clutch shot making down the stretch from their two best shooters.

An Interesting Stat: 16-12

The Heat’s record against teams above .500 is 16-12, one of only two Eastern Conference teams (Milwaukee) with a positive record against above-.500 teams. If the Heat continue this pattern into the playoffs, they will make a deep run.