The 2015-16 NBA season has been going on for a couple of weeks now and we’re really not that far off of what we expected going into the season. It’s early, some teams are banged up and the picture could really clear up in another month or two, but we still should have an idea as to who some of these teams really are.
The Warriors are undefeated and the Cavaliers have one loss. In fact, Cleveland hasn’t lost since their opener, having won eight straight. So last’ year’s NBA Finals reps are well on their way to a rematch.
But that might not happen. After all, it’s pretty safe to say no one expected the Warriors and Hawks to have the two best records in all of the NBA a year ago, and even fewer people would have given Golden State a serious shot at winning their first championship in 40 years.
That’s exactly what happened, though, so we need to continue to embrace the potential for the unexpected.
I doubt it’s to an extreme like that, however. That being said, it still makes you wonder which teams that weren’t in the Finals a season ago could get there now. The Pistons come off as an upstart unit, seemingly out of nowhere too, as they’ve got off to a solid 5-3 record. Detroit seems legit at first glance, as they have the inside/outside duo of Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond, while summer trade acquisition Marcus Morris has also fit in well. They’re in the same division as the Bulls and Cavs, though, so their path up the ladder comes off as quite difficult.
There are the Toronto Raptors out East, too. The Raptors got off to a hot 5-0 start, dropped three in a row and still sit atop the Atlantic Division at 7-3. When DeMarre Carroll suits up this is a balanced offensive team that can defend at a high level. In a cakewalk division that only boasts the Celtics and Knicks as true contenders to their crown, Toronto is a lock for the playoffs and probably a top three seed.
The Eastern Conference has some other mild gems like the veteran Heat, the rising Magic and others, but if you’re looking for two teams that could make some real noise and be mildly surprising while doing it, it’s Detroit and Toronto.
But that’s just in the Eastern Conference.
Out West things still have to come together for struggling teams like the Clippers, Grizzlies, Rockets and Pelicans (1-8!), but the top teams are still the top teams, for the most part. The Warriors keep the crown at 10-0, the Thunder are back at 6-3 and the ageless wonders that forever are the Spurs are a stellar 6-2.
Injuries and slow starts have pushed the competition down, and it’s quite possible this first month has a lot of teams showing their true colors. Odds are the Cavs will make it through an improving Eastern Conference, and hey, if Kyrie Irving (knee) can make it back and the Cavs are 100%, they’ll probably live up to their preseason odds and win the whole thing – for the first time ever. And odds are they’ll have to do it against the team that beat them last year – Golden State. And if not them, just like the early records suggest, it will probably be the Thunder or the Spurs they have to try to take down.
But if you’re looking for someone else to realistically root for, teams like the Raptors and Pistons sure don’t leave you short on the fun.
Toronto and Detroit probably aren’t winning it all this year, but you just don’t ever know. Got a sweet sleeper of your own? Tell us in the comments below!
