NBA 2014-15: Top 5 contenders to the title

11 days.That’s all that remains for NBA action to tip-off once again. Once the countdown is past 30, team previews and predictions for the upcoming season are a usual and regular all across the internet. Calling previews/predictions usual will not reduce or stop them as they produce useful insight into the team’s preparation and status prior to the season.So continuing on the trend of predictions, here are the top 5 contedners for the NBA 2014-15 Championship:

#5 Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors have the talent on the roster to be a legit threat to the Spurs repeating this season provided they remain healthy come Playoff time. They have consistently improved over the last 2 seasons but have not been able to make an impact in the post-season due to injuries to key players.

Without key players, the Warriors still managed to play one of the most exciting brand of basketball in the league, imagine how far they can go if they have a completely roster when its most needed. Their starting line-up of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, David Less and Andrew Bogut is one of the best balanced in the league in terms of offense and defense.

Couresty of past struggles in the Playoffs they have a second unit which runs pretty deep into their roster. This team is sort of a dark horse contestant for the title as we are only anticipating what is possible when they are fit based on their performance through turmoil and the current pre-season where they are undefeated.

#4 Los Angeles Clippers

With the roster that they have, anything less than a championship is a disappointment for the Los Angeles Clippers. Its been three seasons since they signed All-Star Chris Paul and there is no denying the impact he has had on the team but the franchise has failed to achieve the end result of a title.

In three seasons, Paul has led the team to three post-seasons yet not a single one of those trips to the Playoffs did the team make it past the Conference Semifinals. Blake Griffin’s game has improved by huge strides every season and after the appointment of Doc Rivers as Head Coach DeAndre Jordan has also emerged as a potential All-Star candidate.

They are a high octane offence team with defensive stoppers like Matt Barnes as well. They have always managed to maintain a deep bench before every one of the last three season. It’s time the Clippers utilize the talent on the squad and rise to the roster’s full potential of a championship.

#3 Cleveland Cavaliers

Kevin Love, Kyire Irving and LeBron James.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are among the top 5 contenders for the title only because of the players they brought in the off-season not only on the starting line-up but also for the bench. The Big 3 of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James made an immediate impact when they came together in Miami during the 2010 off-season making it to four NBA Finals in four years.

The Cavaliers are hoping for something which could match that achievement with their Big 3 they assembled this off-season of Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving and James. As mentioned earlier it was the all the players they added on the bench and starting line-up that puts them in the top 3 contenders to the title this season.

In the reserves, they added handy perimeter shooters and floor spacers in Mike Miller and James Jones along with veteran specialist defender Shawn Marion. When the All-Star trio came together many believed they didn’t have the same co-ordination as the Heat’s Big 3 but then again the team is 4-0 in the pre-season which does show some indication of his capabilities.

#2 Chicago Bulls

Just like the Cavaliers, the Chicago Bulls also feature into the top 5 contenders list because of their player recruitment in the summer. With the addition of veteran Forward Pau Gasol and the return of Former MVP point guard Derrick Rose, the Bulls have their best chance since the Micheal Jordan era to bring a championship to Chicago.

Along with Gasol they also signed European youngster Nikola Mirotic to have a loaded front court which already had Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson. In jimmy Butler, the Bulls also have one of the best perimeter wing defenders in the league.

Defense wins championships and the Bulls have one of the best, if not the best defensive coaches in their Head Coach Tom Thibodeau. Given the talent their starting line-up and bench has it would be safe to say that the team can handle itself on offense as well. If not this year, the Bulls will be contenders again next season but one thing is for sure is that they have the best chance of winning a title with the group of players they currently have.

#1 San Antonio Spurs

Forget the scoreline of 4-1, it was the manner in which the San Antonio Spurs decimated the two time defending champions Miami Heat with their execution in the NBA Finals that makes the reigning champions the favorites to repeat and win back to back for the first time in franchise history.

Other than the league best season record of 62 wins and 20 losses, last year was a perfect campaign for the Spurs. They have injuries to multiple players yet due to the team oriented play that Head Coach Greg Popovich had emphasised on they reached the top of the mountain not only in the regular season but in June, when it really matters.

Heading into this season, the Spurs are once again battling injuries to key players such as Patty Mills and Tiago Splitter still they are at the top of the list of contenders for the title, says a lot about how much the team depends on each player on the roster.

This is the one team you dont want to count out based on their regular season performance, they leave their best performance for the Playoffs.

Edited by Staff Editor