So far, the 2023-24 NBA season has been filled with surprises. Whether it's unfortunate injuries or surprise team success, there have been several unexpected occurrences, leading to a close knit and shocking top 3. In this article, we will go over the top 3 teams just past the midway point of the season.
#3) Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder organization has done a great job. With a young and largely inexperienced group of players, the coaching staff and front office have earned the #2 seed in the west headed into the All Star Break. All around guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been a serious MVP candidate, and (sort of) rookie Chet Holmgren has looked exactly as he was advertised in college. One huge strength of this team is that they have no real weak links. From top to bottom, their roster is well built out, and considering how young each player is, they should be able to contend not just this season, but for many years to come.
#2) Minnesota Timberwolves
Led by former first overall picks Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony Towns, the Minnesota Timberwolves hold control of the west more than halfway through the season. The team acquired Rudy Gobert in a big trade with the Jazz during the offseason before the 2022-23 season, and that trade has payed off this year, as his constant defensive presence has elevated the team multiple times throughout the season. Additionally, they have strong role players as well as bench guys who can come in and bear the load when their stars are resting. If they can get the same type of consistent play in the postseason that we are seeing now, the Timberwolves will be a force and the top contender to take home the NBA Championship.
#1) Boston Celtics
The Celtics' star tandem of Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown have worked extremely well with offseason acquisition Kristaps Porzingis, bumping the team into the east #1 seed. Despite trading away a defensive force in Marcus Smart, Derrick White has more than held his own, giving solid production on both sides of the floor, and successfully keeping the team balanced. Head Coach Joe Mazzula has also used new guard Jrue Holiday effectively to maximize the production of each star player, and trust me, there are a lot. In my opinion, the biggest key to this team's success has not been a specific player, but the availability of their most important guys, allowing the team to have the same strategy without fluctuating it too much from game to game.
-Eli Knight
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