The NBA regular season is also gradually coming to an end, and during this critical period, the teams on the edge of the playoff seats are transformed into championship-winning teams, trying to choose to win every game to ensure their playoff seats or playoffs. At present, the East has been basically determined, the top 10 teams have been fully determined, the rest depends on which four teams will eventually play the playoffs, and the Cavaliers still have the hope of directly determining the playoff seats. The West End is relatively chaotic, although the Lakers lost the game with the Pelicans, but there is still a theoretical possibility to advance to the playoffs, but with the current position of the Lakers and james' horror in the playoffs, I believe that several teams in the West End will join forces to send Zhan Huang to fish. Five dark horse teams have been born in this season's game, with the Timberwolves and Pelicans on the list, and the top of the list has the strength to win the championship.
5. Lone Rangers
Putting the Lone Ranger in the dark horse position, I believe many fans will oppose, after all, the Lone Ranger has reached the playoffs for two consecutive seasons, and this season is currently ranked fourth in the West End. But one thing to know is that the mid-season trade deadline, they have sent away the core of the interior of the wave, in exchange for Dinwiddie, it can be said that the current team is Doncic in a single core team, in the strong and contentious West End can be ranked in this position is not easy. Doncic has averaged 28.3 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game so far, still the omnipotent Doncic, he needs to pay attention to the offseason to pay attention to maintaining his body shape, has been two consecutive seasons in the beginning of the season is completely out of shape, the team record is very poor, and then try to play back later. It is optimistic that Doncic can lead the team through the first round this season.
4. Cavaliers
It's a shame that the Cavaliers this season are not affected by injuries, then the Cavaliers are stable in the top four teams in the Eastern Conference in terms of their performance this season. Garland is the core leader of the Cavaliers' new entry this season, successfully reaching the All-Star with the statistic of averaging 21.7 points and 8.7 assists per game, and also beating Syxton's top salary contract. But the offensive end Garland can control, but the defensive end is not what he can control, the inside allen and rookie Mobley this season into a defensive gate, a good help for the Cavaliers to improve the defense, recently in the case of two consecutive injuries and falls, the Cavaliers began to lose consecutively, and the playoff seat that was originally in hand has now become a playoff seat, if the playoffs can not come back, then the Cavaliers are likely to not even enter the playoffs. But overall, the well-groomed Cavaliers are definitely one of the strongest dark horses of the season.
3. The Pelicans
The Pelicans in the first half of the season, Zion was suspended due to injury, although Ingram was in ok form, but because the defensive end had no sense of presence, the Pelicans record was completely the bottom team in the West End. With the arrival of the midseason trade deadline, they chose to change the right, with Hart led the chip in exchange for Blazers guard McCollum, although his double gun composition of the Blazers and Lee's coach was not very successful, but after he came to the Pelicans, the team's record improved by leaps and bounds, and the record also went from the bottom position in the West End to the West Play-off position. McCollum's arrival gives the Pelicans a real guard, and he has more stability than the guard in the previous team, and can also contain a certain defense for Ingram, and today with the Pelicans winning and the Lakers losing, the Pelicans have locked up the playoff playoff position. When the Fat Tiger returns, the Pelican's strength will be even higher.
Second, the Timberwolves
Although the Timberwolves have a good rookie every year, they can't play the results they want almost every year, except for the season when Butler was in, the other seasons can't make it into the playoffs at all, and this season has completely transformed. Russell + Towns + Edwards, the three high-ranking rookies, broke out collectively this season, averaging 63.8 points, 17.9 rebounds and 14.5 assists per game, the data is very luxurious, completely supporting the offensive end of the team, and Beasley on the bench also provides a stable output for the team. The defensive end is completely led by Beverly, his kind of unyielding, tear-up defense can easily drive the mood of the whole team, and the Timberwolves as long as the defensive end improves, then their record will improve, so far they are seventh in the West Zone, or have a good chance of reaching the final playoffs.
First, the Grizzlies
Although the four teams mentioned earlier are all dark horses, their strength is limited and have no impact on the championship, but the team at the top of the list has the strength to impact the championship. The Grizzlies managed to eliminate Curry's Warriors into the playoffs last season with Morant's outstanding performance, but were eventually eliminated in the first round due to the team's limited strength. And the new season of the Grizzlies began to erupt, Morant has also evolved in the final, This season can average 27.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game, with his personal excellence, he also successfully reached the All-Star starting lineup, and the team under his leadership soared, currently ranking second in the West Division, and the more terrifying point is that during Morant's absence, the Grizzlies lineup can still win steadily, which is the strength of the current Grizzlies, and it is no exaggeration to say that they already have the strength to impact the championship this year.