NBA 2018/19: 3 teams that could end the Warriors dominance this season

The Golden State Warriors entered the 18/19 season as the heavy favourites due to their recent dominance of the NBA. Since the organization appointed Steve Kerr as head coach in 2014, the Warriors have won three of the last four Championships, smashing a number of records along the way.

The franchise also enjoyed a terrific 2018 offseason, as they pulled off one of the biggest deals of the summer by signing DeMarcus Cousins to a one year deal. The acquisition of the 28-year-old centre means that the Warriors now have a starting five consisting entirely of All-Stars.

Cousins is yet to play, as he is still recovering from a serious Achilles injury, although the former Pelicans man looks set to return in January. Steph Curry and Draymond Green have also missed time through injury, but that hasn't stopped the Warriors from maintaining an impressive record of 19-9.

While many fans and analysts alike expect the NBA postseason to be a foregone conclusion, a number of teams from both the East and West are impressing. Here we will look at the three teams who could provide the biggest threat to a Warriors team that has not lost in the playoffs since 2016.

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#3 Los Angeles Lakers

Magic Johnson believes the Los Angeles Lakers can compete for the Championship this year

LeBron James is still the only man who has been able to lead a team to victory over Steve Kerr's Warriors, and he will be hoping to do it for the second time in 2019. While the Lakers clearly need to add a second All-Star, James has a much stronger cast in Los Angeles than during his final two years in Cleveland.

The Warriors would enter a postseason series against the Lakers as the heavy favorites, although you can never discredit the impact of LeBron, who has already appeared in nine NBA Finals. Ultimately, the Lakers are continuing to get better, and the team could always pull off a shock move for someone like Bradley Beal.

#2 Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are currently top of the Western Conference

At the start of the season, the Houston Rockets were expected to provide the biggest opposition to the Warriors in the West. Nevertheless, Mike D'Antoni's team are in disarray and are well outside the playoff places.

In comparison, the Thunder have recovered from their worst start in history (0-4) to top the Western Conference after 25 games. The Thunder's run has been fuelled by All-Stars, Russell Westbrook and Paul George, who are both having incredible individual seasons. Westbrook is once again averaging a triple-double for the season, whereas PG13 is averaging career highs in points, assists, rebounds, and steals.

The Thunder recently destroyed the Warriors 123-95, and Steve Kerr's men looked overpowered by OKC's depth. Thunder General Manager, Sam Presti, prioritized improving the team's bench over the summer, and this could ultimately prove the decisive factor in a lengthy playoff series against the Warriors.

#1 Toronto Raptors

Kawhi Leonard joined the Raptors from the Spurs

The Raptors have been a good team for years, although they have always struggled in the postseason Last year they were swept by LeBron James and a poor Cavaliers team, and in the aftermath of their disappointing exit, the organization made the bold move of trading All-Star DeMar DeRozan for Kawhi Leonard.

While there is no doubting that Leonard is a better player than DeRozan, the 27-year-old becomes a free agent in the summer, and it is essentially a one-year rental. Nevertheless, Leonard has taken the Raptors to the next level, and the team currently has the best record in the NBA.

The Raptors cannot meet the Warriors in the playoffs until the Finals, and the team will provide a much sterner test than the Cavaliers have provided in the last two years. The Raptors seem like they are well equipped to deal with the Warriors on both ends, and Leonard could be the vital factor in bringing a first NBA Championship to Canada.