Disney dream … or disaster? How every contender is placed before the NBA’s restart – Fox Sports

Well, at least, thats how fans will see it. That is, largely fans of teams who dont look like winning anything this year.
Maybe more than any other major sports organisation in the world, the NBA has had to reimagine how everything works just to find a restart plan that allows basketball to return.
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Whether its made it harder or easier to win a title is an argument for when weve actually seen some basketball. The one certainty, though? Itll be different, if it happens at all.
The season and the world came to a grinding halt back in early March when Rudy Gobert pulled off the biggest stop of his career. And now its July, with the NBA if all goes to plan around three weeks away from their July 31 (AEST) restart date.
A league that has separated itself in recent years from all others in terms of the access it provides to those who want it, has been strangely anonymous in recent months. We cant, and dont know who has been slacking, who has been grinding, and how a break like this one, and the conditions that await in Orlando, are going to change things.
But hey, we can try make some calculated judgments, and pick out the teams with a real chance at winning the title if we get that far.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Los Angeles Lakers (No. 1 seed)
The biggest cause for concern for the Los Angeles Lakers back in March was also the reason they were sitting comfortably atop the Western Conference.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis were playing a lot, like a lot, of minutes.
James had played 60 out of a possible 63 regular season games and averaged 34.9 minutes a night for the No. 1 seed Lakers when the season came to a stop. Next to him, Davis averaged 34.3 minutes a game in 55 outings as the Lakers built a 5.5-game lead in the Western Conference.
Rested.Source: Getty Images
The lay-off means a 35-year-old James, and injury-prone Davis have had months to recharge and ready themselves for what they hope will be a rapid run for the trophy.
As mentioned earlier, we cant be sure that players have done the right things in isolation, but for James, who reportedly spends around $1 million a year on his body, its safe to say hell be in shape when basketball returns.
In the biggest blow to their title chances, Avery Bradley, a lockdown defender who the Lakers could put on the oppositions best guard scorer, will not travel to Orlando. Hes opting to stay home due to the current political climate in the United States.
The loss of Bradley cant be overstated; especially when were talking about post-season basketball. When stopping a teams No. 1 or 2 option becomes the most important thing, losing a guy like Bradley, who makes life difficult for even the most talented of scorers, is a genuinely tough pill to swallow for Frank Vogel.
With Bradley out, Los Angeles is bringing in J.R. Smith to plug the hole at guard. Its anything but a like-for-like replacement, but Smith has plenty of Finals experience; even if some of it isnt entirely positive.
Meanwhile, in a sentence I didnt expect to be writing in 2020, the Lakers will be celebrating Dwight Howards decision to join them in Orlando.
Dwight Howard is going to Orlando.Source: Getty Images
Los Angeles Clippers (No. 2 seed)
Arguably the most talented roster in the NBA, there are a couple ways we can look at the Clippers chances in Orlando.
They were sitting in the second seed when play stopped, but things werent as smooth as they probably would have hoped; especially given how things are going to look when the NBA resumes. With just eight regular season games left, which is likely going to involve a lot of rusty basketball, the Clippers still have some unanswered questions.
While they found relative success with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, both players sat out a sizeable portion of the season choosing to focus on being at 100 percent for the playoffs and a lack of cohesion was the price they had to pay.
But it also means that Leonard, who looked broken physically despite going on to win Finals MVP in last seasons playoffs, should be in peak condition.
Kawhi Leonard is looking to go back-to-back.Source: AFP
There were rumblings of discontent in the locker room during the season over the preferential treatment the teams two stars received, but talent was often enough to overcome a unit that wasnt quite clicking on all cylinders.
On the plus side, this Clippers team is simply made for postseason basketball. Defensively, theyre terrifying. Meanwhile on offence, having guys who can get their own basket in the playoffs is massive, and they have four experts in Leonard, George, and the scary scoring tandem of Lou Williams who isnt a confirmed in for Orlando and Montrezl Harrell.
They still dont really have that lead ball-handler and playmaker, although Reggie Jackson helps, but Patrick Beverley makes up for it on the defensive end, and the need for a playmaker is somewhat dealt with by the isolation scoring they have in both the first and second unit.
They have the highest ceiling, but whether the Clippers find it is the biggest question right now.
For the Clippers, a team without a genuine home court advantage (especially when playing their cross-town rivals), Orlando will even the playing field for them.
Denver Nuggets (No. 3 seed)
Nikola Jokic is skinny. So, theres that. Whether that is a good thing, or not, is another thing entirely.
Some of the frustration that has surrounded Jokic, and therefore the Nuggets, has been the big mans reluctance, at times, to just take over the game, like we know he can.
Hes dominated the NBA, despite being relatively far from perfect shape, so the idea of a fit Jokic is exciting to consider. Although, a big part of his game revolves around his physicality, which is now in question. The big Serbian did contract COVID-19 last month but is expected to be ready to go for the restart.
Denver has found ways to win, especially in the regular season in recent years, but have fallen short in the run for the finish line. One of the best home teams in the league wont have any advantage in Orlando, and one of the hardest schedules heading into the playoffs.
Itll be a battle to hold onto that third seed, and Denver is probably the flakiest contender on this list, but with Jokic a player neither the Clippers or Lakers are very well suited to stop the Nuggets do have the potential to shock the NBA.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Milwaukee Bucks (No. 1 seed)
You can only control so many things when your world is turned upside down. And in that respect, the Milwaukee Bucks should feel about as good as any team heading into the Orlando bubble.
Sure, its not all perfect. But when were talking about on-court variables, this is a team, without much turnover, that has only gotten stronger since falling in the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
Its a roster, led by the best player in the league, that simply knows how to play together. Put simply, there should no teething problems, or chemistry issues when play resumes later this month for Mike Budenholzers team.
Who can stop Giannis?Source: Getty Images
They were close to unstoppable in the regular season with Antetokounmpo doing things that had him on track to win another MVP award. Defensively, theyre as good as any rival.
There will always be question marks over their post-season chances, because theyre yet to take that next step, but Antetokounmpos game has evolved, and the Bucks should be considered big favourites to come out of the East.
Toronto Raptors (No. 2 seed)
Knowing how to and that you can win in the NBA is almost as important as anything else.
And if this Toronto team was supposed to fall off after the departure of Leonard, then no-one told the players. Theyre the reigning NBA champions, and looked before things came to a stop in no mood to give that title up.
Pascal Siakam has continued to get better; finding gears we, and possibly he, didnt know existed. The rest of the roster is brimming with confidence after last years success, with the likes of Fred VanVleet playing at a level no-one saw coming. If teams struggle to find a rhythm in Orlando, expect this Toronto team to take advantage.
On paper, this Raptors team probably isnt in the top two, or even three, in the East. But maybe theres just something wrong with the paper.
Pascal Siakam is the man in Toronto.Source: Getty Images
Boston Celtics (No. 3 seed)
Boston is another team who have benefited from the break.
Kemba Walker told reporters recently that he really, really needed some time off to deal with his troublesome knee injury. And thats exactly what he got.
Before the break, Jayson Tatum had established himself as a legitimate No. 1 scoring option, while Jaylen Brown has gone from strength-to-strength since signing his big extension last year.
Gordon Hayward might never be the same guy he was in Utah but is an important piece to the Celtics puzzle; and unfortunately for Brad Stevens, one that might go missing when they need him most.
Hayward has already said hell exit the Orlando bubble when his wife gives birth September the month in question even if the Celtics are still alive in the race for a title.
As with every contender in the East, though, the biggest question lies in figuring out how to stop Antetokounmpo and the Bucks. They couldnt find the answer last year losing in five games in the Eastern Conference semi-finals and could be even less prepared to deal with him, with no Al Horford, this time around.
Jayson Tatum took some big steps before the season came to a stop.Source: Getty Images
Philadelphia 76ers (No. 6 seed)
Ah, dont know. There are a million and one situations that seem possible for this Sixers team in Orlando.
But taking a step back, the time off is only a good thing in terms of health; with the 76ers expected to be at full strength, including Ben Simmons, when play resumes.
Simmons was set for an extended period of time on the sideline with a back injury before the season stopped, but is raring to go now.
These two guys will need to be at their best if the Sixers are to succeed.Source: AFP
The problem is that the Sixers havent really got any closer to figuring out how to play consistent, winning basketball. And the only thing that was consistent their home form wont be a factor in Orlando.
Theyve got talent and lots of it but are yet to make a real case for why they can get past the best in the East, sitting in the sixth seed, with all the pressure on Brett Brown.
Outside shooting is a problem even with the addition of Australian Ryan Broekhoff for the 76ers, who still havent replaced what they lost with the departure of J.J. Redick.
If they can find a way to make Embiid and Al Horford work, which may mean the former Boston big man starting on the bench, then the Sixers could be the biggest surprise of the bubble.
They were a few bounces away from the Eastern Conference Finals last season, but their floor is as low as their ceiling is high.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Houston Rockets (No. 6 seed West)
It might be a bit harsh to not have the Rockets as a contender on talent alone, but at their core, theyre led by two players who havent exactly shone in the post-season.
Their (really) small ball line-up could throw up some interesting questions after some time to work on it leading into the bubble, but its hard to see them dealing with the best in the West.
Miami Heat (No. 4 seed East)
This is an environment that will likely suit Jimmy Butler. But he cant be the best player on a championship-winning team, and for that reason, the title looks out of Miamis reach.
Utah Jazz (No. 4 seed West)
With no Bojan Bogdanovic, or home-court advantage, its hard to see Utah making a splash in the post-season.
Indiana Pacers (No. 5 seed East)
They were always a long-shot. Without Victor Oladipo, theyre a no-shot.

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