Ranking NBA title contenders
The NBA season is halfway through. The year 2023 is approaching. There are more title contenders this year than ever.
Cleveland and New Orleans are young teams that need playoff experience before they can win a ring. Both teams have some reinforcements in the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Zion Williamson.
Phoenix Suns are struggling. Devin Booker is injured and Chris Paul is getting older. The team is only three games behind first place in the West.
The Grizzlies are 8th in the NBA standings. They have played only four games and 55 minutes together this season. The team needs to improve its shooting. They need to play more together.
The 76ers are ranked 7th in the NBA's list of title contenders. They have been playing well this season, but they are not as good as other teams on this list.
The Dubs have a league-worst road record. They need to add some vets to their team before the start of the postseason.
The Joker is playing MVP-level basketball for the third straight season. Jamal Murray is rounding back into normal form and Aaron Gordon is a stealth All-Star. This is the best team Denver has put around Nikola Jokić. The team's defense is seventh-worst in the league.
The Clippers are starting to put things together. Kawhi is showing flashes of being the two-way Terminator again. Los Angeles has a proven playoff coach and a two time Finals MVP.
Milwaukee's defense and half-court offense are good, but the offense is in the bottom third of the league. The team should integrate Joe Ingles and Khris Middleton into the rotation.
The Nets are the hottest team in the NBA. Kevin Durant is playing like an MVP. Ben Simmons is looking comfortable in his new role. If the Nets avoid distractions in a playoff series, they could be a serious problem for the rest of the league.
The Celtics are on pace to have the best offense in NBA history. They are seventh in defense.
