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#6 The underdog story
We always love the underdogs. It gives us a certain type of joy when someone weaker beats the superior adversary - it's true in all situations and basketball is no exception, of course when we look at it from a completely neutral perspective.
Last year, both the Jazz and Celtics gave us a pleasant surprise by showing that they can challenge the big boys. In the end, the heavily-favoured sides won but it provided us with some entertaining playoff series to watch. The big boys have improved in the West, while the East are powered by the Celtics and 76ers. A dark horse? The Denver Nuggets.
#5 Overrated or justified superstars?
This season the spotlight will again be on these superstars, on who would have to fight in the packed Western Conference to justify not being regular-season wonders. There is always a saying in the NBA, that the real stars shine during Playoffs. LeBron, Durant, Curry, Kyrie, Kawhi and many others have displayed how superstars play when it really matters.
However, a few superstars in the current association have regularly performed below their high standards when they're needed most. People might debate that the likes of Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Anthony Davis have not lived up to their billing during playoff time in recent seasons.
Harden may have won the season's MVP accolade and reached the Conference Finals last season, but he wasn't even the best player on his team when Chris Paul was running the show during their seven-game series against the Warriors. It also seemed as though he was ready to give up when the Spurs beat them during the previous year.
After Durant's acrimonious departure, Westbrook has won MVP and recorded consecutive triple-double seasons. But in the playoffs, it seems as though he always runs out of steam. Meanwhile in Davis' case, the Pelicans roster is the weakest among the accused, but his playoff runs are pale in comparison to his excellent standard of play during the regular campaign.
