The Three Must-See, Sleeper Teams This Upcoming NBA Season

As a proud NBA nut, there’s likely no one chomping at the bit more than me anticipating the season’s return. 

Would I like for them to play incessantly? Maybe. But then I realize the games would lose their  quality.

I also respect those guys too much. They need rest. 

All in all, I’m pumped to see teams return after some offseason movement that’s made the league more competitive. Every year, it seems to be moving closer to parity. It’s becoming harder to say “THAT team is head and shoulders above everyone else.” 

Right now, most would say Denver fits that description. They are, however, beatable. They’re good, but not scary. They’re the favorite, but not invincible. 

Denver is the team to watch but there are three teams that would be more intriguing follows. They’re not championship contenders but rather sleepers, shockers, ball clubs that will shake up the standings. 

I can’t wait to see how they muck up everything. 

OKC Thunder 

Four words: CHET HOLMGREN IS BACK. The second-overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft is feeling good again. He’s already been putting in work this summer. 

I saw Holmgren at Summer League in Las Vegas last year, and he is really HIM. Link that guy with Josh Giddy, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort, Lindy Waters (I like him) and Davis Bertans and we have the  Noughties Thunder 2.0. 

They have the potential to shock a lot of people like the Kings did last season. They’re young, fearless and ready to win now. You can see it in how they play. Just looking at them, their demeanor tells me that if you asked if they were ready win a CHIP tomorrow, they’d inquire, “What time do we play?” 

I can’t wait to see if they realize they’re potential and truly rattle the NBA like their team’s namesake. 

Indiana Pacers 

The pickups of NBA champion Bruce Brown and former New York Knickerbocker Obi Toppin did it for me. I’ve got to watch this group now.

They join Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, Serge Ibaka (Rick, please play him well), Bennedict Mathurin (!!!), Myles Turner, Buddy Hield and T.J. McConnell. 

LET’S GO INDIANA! They’re making the playoffs. That’s for one. And for two, they’ll finish as a sixth or seven seed. 

The East is weak. Hate to say it (not really) but just calling it as it is. Boston debilitated itself with the loss of Marcus Smart, who gave the C’s an identity and heart. Milwaukee has a coaching and shooting problem; Philadelphia is a mess. Miami is the only real threat because, well, it’s Miami. As long as Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley are around, look out. 

And Cleveland, meh. Last year’s first round flame-out against the Knicks was a horrendous look. The Pacers have a legitimate chance of finishing top six. Maybe even top four… 

Houston Rockets 

Whether Dillon Brooks messed up in Memphis or not is debatable. He gave that team his heart and soul, played and fought hard for his ball club. And they repay him by shipping him off to  Houston?  

I digress. To the Rockets, Dillon! He joins Fred VanVleet, new coach Ime Udoka, young studs Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Kevin Porter Jr. Not sure if you noticed but they beat some good teams last year and scared some folks. The defensive minds of Udoka and Brooks alongside an talented offensive core led  by VanVleet and H-Town’s got something. 

They can achieve much more than simply reaching the play-in. 

Yes, the West is a gauntlet. They’d have to fight and REALLY want to make it. But with the combined postseason experience VanVleet, Udoka and Brooks,  don’t be surprised when they’re pushing the top-seeded Nuggets to a sixth game in the first round..