'%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)
#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.
