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With the NBA 2020-21 season now a month old, we have a clearer picture of which sides look like genuine contenders and which were overhyped in preseason. However, there were also those sides that were given little chance of succeeding this year amid rebuilds or lacking star talent.
After the Cleveland Cavaliers knocked off the star-studded Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday night, the Cavs climbed to sixth in the East turning heads on the way. With this in mind, we decided to compile a list of five teams that we believe have the potential to go the distance this season and end up in the NBA playoffs.
NBA 2020-21: 5 teams emerging with potential playoff hopes
#1 Cleveland Cavaliers
Expected to be cellar-dwellers by many amid a rebuild, the Cleveland Cavaliers have been one of the league's standout performers in the NBA's 2020-21 season so far. The Cavs currently have a 7-7 record and sit sixth in the East, one place behind the Brooklyn Nets, the most recent side to be humbled by coach Bickerstaff's team.
It was in Wednesday night's overtime win against the Nets' big guns that the Cavaliers very own star shone brightest - Collin Sexton. Returning from injury, the guard scored 42 points, bringing his average for the season after nine games up to 27 points. In his third year with the Cavs, it appears the franchise is now seeing the rewards of an offensive structure based around a player that can consistently put up shots and sink them. His ability to do so was no more apparent than against Brooklyn, scoring 20 straight points during both overtimes.
The reason for Cleveland's fine start does not rest on the young Sexton's fine performances but on a collective team effort. Currently, the Cavaliers have the fifth-best defense in the NBA and due to their size have grabbed the fourth-most defensive rebounds.
#2 New York Knicks
Staying in the East, we come onto another of the league's surprise packages having been written off by many before the NBA 2020-21 season tipped off.
Coach Thibodeau has transformed the psychology at Madison Square Garden and made fans believe that his young Knicks side can push for a playoff berth. One hurdle they may have to face compared to the Cavs is that inexperience, though they play with a freedom that can drive them against tougher opposition, such as in their wins over the Jazz, Pacers and Bucks.
The Knicks have the sixth-best defense in the NBA and sit atop numerous variables, such as fewest points allowed and fewest field goals allowed. On the other end of the floor, the Knicks have benefitted from their two stars, Julius Randle and RJ Barrett, having career-high years and will be further bolstered by the return of Alec Burks this week.
#3 Golden State Warriors
One side who is no stranger to the playoffs is the Golden State Warriors. Though the franchise has had to adapt their expectations due to significant injuries last season and the absence again of Klay Thompson this year, the Warriors have beaten the Lakers and Spurs in their last two games, bringing them up to fifth in the West with an 8-6 record.
Steph Curry and Draymond Green are having stellar seasons, the former leading the way on offense, averaging 28 points, while the latter has taken his leadership on defense to a whole new level having to coach the Warriors young stars.
With the second pick in this year's draft, the Warriors brought in James Wiseman as the traditional center that coach Kerr wanted. Wiseman has settled into life in the NBA under the tutelage on-court from Green and is an early contender for Rookie of the Year. Having stuttered at first, the Golden State Warriors are slowly coming together and look a promising prospect to breach the Western Conference's top eight sides.
#4 Atlanta Hawks
Having just as quickly blown the 4-1 start they earned, the Atlanta Hawks looked as though they were living up to expectations as inexperienced outsiders for the East's playoff positions. John Collins had expressed his displeasure with the team's offense after the Hawks had thrown away two 15-point leads in as many games and it began to look as if the Hawks were headed for an early derailment of their season.
Although it remains that Collins may be traded from the franchise who is committed to the future of young guard Trae Young, they have found a way to steady the ship with three wins in the last five.
Atlanta currently sits on the same record as the Cavs and one game ahead of the Knicks, though have a deeper array of scoring talent that these two sides have lacked at times. This may just enable them to pip their rivals come the end of the season.
#5 Memphis Grizzlies
Heading back to the West, the Memphis Grizzlies have made a surprising case for themselves recently, winning their last five games and climbing to a 7-6 record.
The worst was feared for the Grizzlies season after young superstar Ja Morant went off injured in Brooklyn at the end of December and Memphis soon fell to a 2-6 record. However, with their traditionally solid defensive unit, the Grizzlies were able to grind out wins against the Nets, Cavs and Timberwolves before Morant's return in a victory at home to Philadelphia.
Memphis has the second-best defense in the league and currently tops the NBA in steals. Though their offense is in the bottom-six, they have not had to worry in the absence of Morant considering their stolid defensive performances. Now that their point guard is back, the Grizzlies have every reason to believe they can make a run at the postseason.
Guess the Lakers players!
