'%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)
Forming a super team with a big 3 nucleus seems to be the best way to contend for the NBA championship. With the probable exception of Dirk Nowitzki’s 2011 Dallas Mavericks, every team in the last decade or so had a legitimate all-star core in the prime of their careers. The 2020-21 Milwaukee Bucks are the latest edition and example of a super team to raise the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of the season.
A trio of superstars does not guarantee an NBA championship. There have been sensational flops before when teams formed a big 3. But having three All-Stars to throw at opposing teams is so much better than one or two. A team with a triumvirate of legitimate scoring threats is harder to contain than a team with a single option. Logic and numbers dictate that a super team has more chances of competing for a crown than a team without one or none at all.
With the 2021-22 NBA season opening on October 18, it’s time to take a look at some of the strongest teams in the league currently.
The five super teams that could dominate the NBA this season
#5 The Golden State Warriors are upbeat with Klay Thompson's return
The last time Klay Thompson appeared on the court for a meaningful game, Kevin Durant was still causing Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors serious headaches. KD, of course, is now with the Brooklyn Nets and playing lights out yet again. Klay suffered a torn left ACL during that same final with the Raptors and later a torn right Achilles heel trying to recover from that injury.
The Golden State Warriors have missed the playoffs the entire time Klay Thompson was out with an injury. It underlines just how crucial and important Klay has been in Steve Kerr’s rotation and game plan. He is one of the best catch-and-shoot players the game has ever seen. The Warriors are just a different team with Klay in the lineup.
Stephen Curry led the league in scoring last year and proved he has plenty left in the tank. Draymond Green placed third in the Defensive Player of the Year rankings. If Thompson comes close to his old form, this is a Big 3 that can vault the Golden State Warriors to the top five teams in the league.
#4 The Phoenix Suns will remain a top contender in the West
The Deandre Ayton, Devin Booker and Chris Paul combination was a revelation in the playoffs. Last year’s Western Conference champions deserve a spot in the Top five by virtue of their solid and smart play to come out of the punishing West playoffs. While it’s easy to say that they could have lost to the Los Angeles Lakers if the Purple and Gold were not decimated by injuries, the Suns' performance in the NBA finals more than certified their lofty ranking as an NBA super team.
Coming into this season, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton have added a year of playoff battles under their belts. This can only get them better when the postseason arrives. A more experienced Booker and Ayton could potentially be a top duo in the league. Chris Paul running the plays could only highlight what these two can do on the floor. If Paul stays healthy and keeps the bad luck out of his way, the Suns could make another run at the NBA championship.
#3 The Los Angeles Lakers have retooled for a serious run at the NBA championship
The Los Angeles Lakers' trade for Russell Westbrook set the NBA on fire. There are several questions regarding how a ball-dominant point guard who is a poor shooter will affect the Lakers' spacing. How Westbrook moves off the ball while LeBron James runs the offense is another thing that will be an area of concern for this lineup. Frank Vogel will have his hands full in the offseason trying to figure out the best way for this season to work.
Despite the uncertainties, the Los Angeles Lakers are adding a player with insane athleticism and a burning desire to compete. He's an unmatched triple-double menace in the league. No one has even come close to what Russell Westbrook brings as a threat to fill up the most significant stats on the sheet.
The potential of an Anthony Davis, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook trio can be almost unbelievably good. If there’s one guy who can make sacrifices and make players around him better, it has to be King James. The grind of an 82 game schedule will tax all teams, including the Lakers. Having Westbrook give James a breather is almost as important as the points, rebounds and assists that Russ will pile up.
Keeping James healthy is the top priority for the Lakers and Westbrook might be the best solution to this. The move to get Westbrook is LA's attempt to maximize LeBron's NBA championship window. If they mesh well, the Lakers’ 18th banner could be added to the rafters at Staples Center when the season ends.
#2 The Milwaukee Bucks are looking to repeat as champs
The Milwaukee Bucks just won the NBA championship. It almost feels like blasphemy to put them second on this list except that it isn’t because of the team that comes out on top of this list. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday are proven winners who have played their best on the biggest basketball stage.
Giannis Antetokounmpo has vowed to be even better than the player who dominated the NBA finals. If his shooting pushes him to league average, he would completely terrorize the NBA. Khris Middleton has stamped his clutch genes in the NBA Finals. He gave the Bucks a bonafide scorer when the games were on the line.
Jrue Holiday is the team’s unsung hero. He forms a stifling 1-2 defensive net with Giannis Antetokounmpo that will be a pain to deal with in a whole series. It’s not a coincidence that the Bucks won the championship when Holiday was added to the lineup.
For the Bucks, they have a collection of stars who do more than score. They also put pride in the way they play defense and lead. The road to the Finals in the East will most likely have to pass through this trio in the next couple of years.
#1 The Brooklyn Nets is the team to beat
No other group of superstars is as mesmerizing as Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets. Although they played only eight games together, it was nirvana for many basketball fans. Chemistry and fit issues were immediately set aside when Harden decided to play point and two of the best scorers in the league surrounding him. Just how potent the KD, Irving and Harden trio can be was clearly evident in the minutes they shared the floor together.
The Nets, without Kyrie Irving and a hobbled James Harden, pushed the eventual and near full-strength Bucks team to a classic Game 7. When fully healthy and engaged, these superstars can put a stranglehold on the NBA championship for years to come.
Guess the Lakers players!
