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The 2020 NBA Finals saw LeBron James and the LA Lakers tear through the competition, winning the franchise's 17th NBA title.
The Bubble also marked the emergence of underdogs making their presence felt in the playoffs. Miami Heat were the biggest surprise, as they went all the way to the Finals as a fifth seed. The Heat fought fearlessly in the final series against the Lakers but got thwarted by multiple player injuries.
The Denver Nuggets pulled off a major upset by defeating a top contender in the West - the LA Clippers. Even the Portland Trail Blazers were on fire in the bubble and clinched the eighth seed by going on an impressive winning streak.
5 NBA teams that are one piece away from becoming title contenders
The 2020 postseason displayed how vital a single player can be to a team's success. Damian Lillard, Jamal Murray and Goran Dragic went down with injuries that changed the trajectory of their teams' playoff runs.
The NBA is teeming with talented teams that are just one piece away from taking a leap and reaching the Conference Finals this year; a few of them could reach the summit and get a chance to play in the NBA Finals too.
In this article, we will take a look at five such teams that are one piece away from taking the next step and realize their full potential as a title contender.
#1 Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics have the best chance of becoming an NBA title contender in the coming season. However, that may not happen with their current roster.
The Boston Celtics have been one of the top teams in the NBA regular season for the past few seasons but have not managed to go deep in the playoffs. Something is holding them back.
It could be that the team is young and lacks experience or that the Boston Celtics are missing a piece.
Trading for a solid All-Star-caliber front -ine player could do the trick for the Boston Celtics.
They have many weapons in offense but lack the mental toughness required for the postseason. While Tristan Thompson should help in that regard, he might not be able to do it alone.
There have also been rumors around the Boston Celtics being interested in acquiring Victor Oladipo. A move like that could bolster their NBA title-winning hopes further.
#2 Philadelphia 76ers
Like the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers haven't managed to realize their full potential in the playoffs. The 76ers are teeming with raw talent and are led by arguably the best center in the game right now in Joel Embiid.
However, the 76ers have not made it to the Conference finals since AI (Allen Iverson) wore the franchise's jersey.
The NBA franchise needs to shake things up with a move that could help them play well when it counts the most — during the playoffs.
The 76ers are so close to making it happen but need to add one more piece that could help get there.
Ben Simmons is relieved he didn’t get traded in the James Harden deal, but now he needs to show up big time in the NBA playoffs. Rumors surrounding Bradley Beal and the 76ers have been doing the rounds lately though.
#3 Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets surprised everyone last year by going on a deep NBA playoffs run before they were stopped by the eventual champions, the LA Lakers. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were key players during their run and could repeat the magic in this NBA campaign too.
Fast forward to 2021, and Jokic has switched gears this season. He has been posting MVP-caliber numbers for the Nuggets while his playmaking abilities on the floor are at par with the best point guards in the NBA.
The Nuggets could look to bringing in more offense to their team by adding a three-point specialist who could make the trey regularly, giving them a dependable scoring option when they hit a rough patch offensively.
#4 Dallas Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks are looking primed to make it big, as they have two of the brightest stars - Luka Donic and Kristaps Porzingis - in the NBA on their roster.
However, the Mavericks are facing an issue with Porzingis's health. The 25-year-old missed the 2020 NBA playoffs with an injury. He has since made a full recovery and rejoined his team, but it remains to be seen how he fares in the NBA this campaign.
If Luka Doncic and Porzingis are at their hundred percent, the Mavericks could be scary good in the coming years. All that the franchise might require is the presence of veterans who could guide the young players during crucial moments during the postseason.
Another area where the Dallas Mavericks could add more depth is the center position. Perhaps a trade that brings in someone like Nikola Vucevic could elevate them as legitimate title contenders.
The Mavericks have a good track record with international players flourishing in their system.
#5 Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers are one of the most gifted offensive teams in the NBA, with Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum tearing it up on a nightly basis.
The main reason behind them not yet being a legitimate NBA title contender is their lackluster defense though. While the Trail Blazers have rectified that by bringing in two-way players in the off-season, it may still be short of what is needed.
The Trail Blazers are the dark horses in the NBA this season. But if they don't make the conference finals this campaign, a big roster change could be on the horizon.
CJ McCollum campaigned to get Draymond Green to come over to the side earlier in the season, but that didn't happen. This season could determine the future of an otherwise promising Trail Blazers unit.
