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NBA 2023/24 Season Preview: FLOS’ 5 Favourites

The Denver Nuggets’ celebrations (following their first championship in franchise history) have come to an end, and now the focus shifts to opening night and a long, eventful season ahead. Players are expressing their excitement for the upcoming season as teams conclude their training camps. The 78th season of the NBA is upon us, and the tip-off is right around the corner.

Numerous teams are entering the new season with the hope of making up for past shortcomings. The Miami Heat, in particular, are eager to take another shot at going one step further than a Finals appearance. Every team is gearing up to compete for the title, and there is no shortage of star-studded squads aiming to dethrone Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets.

With the start of the National Basketball Association (NBA) season just over three weeks away, it’s time for us to provide you with ‘FLOS’ favourites’ to go the distance and attain championship status.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Milwaukee Bucks once favoured to emerge from the Eastern Conference last year, suffered a shocking defeat to the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. Since their  NBA Finals victory in 2021, they have faced significant challenges. Over the past two seasons, they have suffered underwhelming playoff runs, dealt with injuries to key players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, coupled with encountering significant coaching changes following the departure of Mike Budenholzer in the postseason.

When having all their players fit, the Bucks are considered one of the favourites to get to the Finals and their chances have been given a massive boost following the acquisition of Damian Lillard via trade,  providing them with much-needed offensive firepower, particularly from range. The 7x All-Star and ‘NBA Top 75’ guard is still in his prime. Coming off the back of averaging 32 points per game season, the prospect of playing for a serial contender (after 11 years of being an underdog in Portland) and pairing with one of the best players in the world will only motivate an already driven Liilard to maintain his phenomenal levels. The beloved Jrue Holiday was sacrificed in the trade, and his defensive prowess and clutch plays will be sorely missed, however, Lillard and Giannis present a potentially unstoppable ‘pick and roll’ pairing and the perfect combination of size and shooting. Down the stretch, the Bucks also have a certified option aside from Giannis to act as a playmaker in the clutch. Retaining their core players in Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez also maintains stability in the locker room and new head coach Adrian Griffin will be relying on the vets to keep the roster focused on the task ahead. Giannis remains fully committed despite his reluctance to sign a contract extension this year but the pressure on the 2021 glories still looms- it’s surely championship or bust.  

Notable Off-season Additions: Damian Lillard, Malik Beasley, Robin Lopez, Andre Jackson Jr. (36th overall pick in the 2023 Draft), Chris Livingston (58th overall pick in the 2023 Draft)

Contract Extensions: Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, and Jae Crowder

Boston Celtics

After narrowly falling short of an NBA Finals appearance following their Eastern Conference Finals loss to the Heat, the talented Boston Celtics are setting their sights on returning to the championship stage in the upcoming 2023-24 season. While the ultimate outcome remains uncertain until the season concludes, the Celtics have garnered favourable offseason grades for their efforts in addressing key areas of improvement.

Among the significant moves made, trading for Kristaps Porzingis and (most recently) Jrue Holiday and extending Jaylen Brown notably stand out. Moreover, the team also bolstered their depth by adding players like Svi Mykhailiuk, Oshae Brissett, Dalano Banton, Neeimas Queta, and others to their roster. With the new additions to the roster, the Celtics are poised to build upon their 57-25 record from the previous season, provided they can avoid major setbacks due to injuries.

In addition, it appears highly likely that Jayson Tatum will ink a contract extension during the course of this season, further solidifying the Celtics’ prospects. With their eyes firmly fixed on the NBA Championship, the Boston Celtics are anticipated to once again emerge as frontrunners in the conference.

Holiday’s presence boosts Boston’s title chances for a host of reasons. They now have a playmaker who can be trusted with the ball in his hands in late-game situations- a clear deficiency the Celtics suffered from last year. Aside from having another guard who is proficient on the defensive end, Holiday brings a key ingredient in ‘championship experience’ and leadership qualities to a locker room whose franchise players are still relatively young and, despite their impressive playoff history thus far, have yet to taste title glory.

As reported by ESPN, Porzingis showcased his abilities in the 2022/23 season by averaging 23.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game. His shooting percentages were impressive, with a 49.8% overall field goal percentage, 38.5% from three-point range, and 85.1% from the free-throw line. The All-Star player, who signed an extension with the Celtics after, has maintained career averages of 19.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.8 blocks throughout his tenure with the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks, and Washington Wizards. His ability to perform as ‘stretch big’ will add another arsenal to an already lethal Celtics offence.

Notable Off-season Additions: Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis.

Contract Extension: Jaylen Brown

Denver Nuggets

The reigning champions are arguably the best team in the league when they fully fit and by the incredible talents of two-time MVP, Nikola Jokic. Their NBA Championship triumph showcased Jokic’s potential as the league’s best and most influential player.

The Nuggets’ success was further bolstered by outstanding contributions from their entire roster under the guidance of head coach Michael Malone. Additionally, they enjoyed stellar seasons from Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown, who played dominantly in the NBA playoffs, ultimately securing the franchise’s first-ever NBA championship.

However, heading into the new season, The Nuggets face a significant challenge in the offseason, as they opted to let Bruce Brown go as part of a deal with Indianapolis– losing a key defensive stalwart to the roster. They plan to groom Christian Braun and elevate Peyton Watson’s role, increasing their minutes on the court. Nevertheless, they must acknowledge the substantial gap left by Brown’s absence, as his exceptional defensive skills, and energy were instrumental to their success in the 2023 season.

There are lots of teams looking to knock off Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets. However, if their core group of players stay healthy during the playoffs, the champions will prove to be hard to beat.

Notable Off-season Additions: Hunter Tyson, Julian Strawther, Jalen Pickett and Justin Holiday.

Contract Extension: Reggie Jackson

Miami Heat

Recent history has taught the NBA world one undeniable truth: the Miami Heat can never be underestimated when it comes to championship contention. However, the 2023 offseason for the Heat has left many feeling disappointed. While acquisitions like Thomas Bryant and Josh Richardson are expected to bolster the team to some extent, fans had bigger aspirations at the outset of the offseason. The failure to secure Damian Lillard from the Portland Trail Blazers was a significant blow to Miami’s hopes.

The  2022-23 season was a tale of two halves for the Heat. They performed decently in the regular season, amassing a record of 44 wins and 38 losses, barely clinching a playoff spot through the play-in tournament. Yet, in the playoffs, the Heat turned heads by defeating the Chicago Bulls in the single-game knockout play-in match, 102-91. They followed this up by upsetting the pre-season favourites Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, then dispatching the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, and finally overcoming the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference finals despite surrendering a 3-0 lead.

As the 2023-24 season approaches, the Heat are expected to find more consistency. With a roster, led by ‘emo’ Jimmy Butler, boasting seasoned players like point guards Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro, shooting guard Duncan Robinson, power forward Kevin Love, centre Bam Adebayo, and the guidance of head coach Erik Spoelstra, the team should easily attain the 50-win mark when they are at full strength.

Additionally, the return of shooting guard Josh Richardson, hailing from Edmond, Oklahoma, adds an intriguing element. Richardson had previously played for Miami from 2015 to 2019 before being part of the blockbuster NBA deal that involved Heat star Jimmy Butler. His experience, selflessness and dogged defensive ability fully imbibe ‘Heat culture’ and regardless of where Miami finishes in the regular season, no one will want to face them in the playoffs.

Notable Off-season Additions: Josh Richardson, Thomas Bryant, Jaime Jaquez Jr.

Contract Extension: Kevin Love

Phoenix Suns.

The upcoming season promises a considerable amount of novelty for the Phoenix Suns. It marks the first time since 2019 that Monty Williams won’t be pacing the sideline, and it also sees Chris Paul donning a Warriors jersey after a memorable three-year stint in the Valley.

In addition to these changes, the Suns are introducing star guard Bradley Beal, former 2020 NBA champion coach Frank Vogel, and a host of veteran minimum players who aspire to make meaningful contributions to a team poised to contend at the highest level. The possibilities for Phoenix seem boundless, yet there are still unexpected achievements both the team and individual players can pursue this season.

Last season, the Suns’ quest for the NBA championship was marred by injuries. This year, the team has pulled out all the stops to assemble a super team around Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, with the acquisition of Bradley Beal viewed as a statement of intent. The addition of Jusuf Nurkic, Nassir Little, Keon Johnson and Grayson Allen from the 3-team trade involving Damian Lillard gives the team much-needed depth, particularly with the injury-prone nature of some key players. Phoenix might have quietly been the largest benefactors from that trade and come a long complete roster going into the season.

Health permitting, the team undeniably possesses the potential to go on a deep playoff run and secure an elusive first NBA title. 

Notable Off-season Additions: Bradley Beal, Eric Gordon, Yuta Watanabe, Bol Bol, Chimezie Metu, Drew Eubanks, Grayson Allen

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