'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The schedule for the NBA 2019-20 season has been released. The opening day features some tantalizing fixtures. The two Los Angeles teams are considered two of the top favorites for the NBA championship this season. They start off the campaign against each other on the opening day.
This is going to be one of the most open seasons in NBA history. With plethora of team changes during the Free Agency, there is no clear cut favorite for next season. There are plenty of teams that have strengthened their lineup from the previous season.
Some of the teams that received huge limelight during the off-season are Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers. They signed marquee free agents and are the top contenders for next season.
On the other hand, there are some teams that went under the radar but are still capable of producing great displays next season.
Let's have a look at the teams that could exceed expectations in the 2019-20 season:
#5 Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings were great in the 2018-19 season. They finished just one spot shy of the playoffs position in the tight Western Conference.
The Kings possess a great young core right now. De'Aaron Fox looks like a budding superstar. His speed, dynamism and play-making skills were on full display last season. Buddy Hield is also a great backcourt partner for him and he shot around 45% from three last season. Marvin Bagley III also had a great rookie season.
The Kings are poised to have a breakout campaign in the 2019-20 season. If they play at a high potential next season, they are certainly capable of raising a few eyebrows. They might finally make the playoffs next season.
#4 Detroit Pistons
The Pistons have two All-Stars big men in Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond. But they have still struggled in recent years. They have been a poor three point shooting team and struggled at the point guard position.
But they made a great acquisition of Derrick Rose during the NBA free agency. Rose showed flashes of old during the last campaign with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He was terrific from the three point line shooting around 45%. He solves both the problems for the Pistons.
Reggie Jackson is still present at the point guard position. Tony Snell adds shooting and depth to the side. The Pistons finished with a 41-41 record last season but they have great firepower for next season. If the players can gel together and play with great chemistry, then the Pistons have a great chance of exceeding expectations next season.
#3 Denver Nuggets
The Nuggets have rarely been talked about in the build-up to next season despite being fantastic in the past season.
The Nuggets fell just one game shy of reaching the Western Conference finals. They ended the regular season at the second spot. The only big move that they made in the off-season was signing their young star, Jamal Murray to a big contract.
Murray was very critical to Nuggets' success last season and he earned a 5-year $170 million contract from the organization. He also formed a great pick and roll partnership with the superstar, Nikola Jokic. The latter had a great season for the Nuggets and was one of the best players in the playoffs.
With Jokic and Murray set to become even better next season, the Nuggets might finally have a great chance of contending.
#2 Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz have been a great defensive team over the past few years. They boast the Defensive Player of the Year in Rudy Gobert.
But this off-season, the Jazz made some great moves and improved their team in almost all the aspects. They traded for Mike Conley and strengthened the one position that they surely lacked in. Conley gives them the leadership at the point guard position that they have been lacking in recent years.
They already have Donovan Mitchell who is still very young and has a bright future. He played like an All-Star last season and will be looking to improve further. The signing of Bogdanovic in Free Agency gives them great depth and shooting at the wing position. The Jazz are bound to improve next season and are one of the dark horses for the title.
#1 Golden State Warriors
The departure of Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala and Shaun Livingston has weakened the Warriors and nobody is backing them to reach the finals again next season. Klay Thompson is also out for an extended period and might return after the All-Star break.
But the Warriors still have the greatest shooter in NBA history, Stephen Curry playing for them. Curry will have a very high usage rate and he is also a very highly efficient player which gives the Warriors a very big advantage. He still has his pick and roll partner in Draymond Green who just recently signed a long term deal with the Warriors. The Warriors also got an All-Star in D'Angelo Russell who can play a very critical role next to Curry in the backcourt.
Thompson will definitely be returning for the playoffs. If he returns in good form, then the Warriors can have a very potent starting lineup. They will be able to challenge any other team in the league.
