ESPN is divided into championship teams: the Celtics are the only one and the Clippers are in the second gear and the Lake Yongs are all in the fourth gear

On February 22, Beijing time, the NBA is about to start the second half of the season, ESPN data expert Pelton wrote an article for the championship teams, a total of 15 teams on the list, the Celtics were placed in the first pot, and they were alone in this bracket. The Clippers are in second gear, the Suns are in third and the Lakers and Warriors are both in fourth gear. The specific classification and brief analysis are as follows-

Pot 1: Celtic

The Greens are the top favourites this season and are on track to become the 13th team in history to win by at least 10 points per game. Of the 12 previous teams that had achieved this achievement, the only one who failed to win the championship was the Bucks in 1971-72. However, whether the Green Army can maintain their efficiency in the regular season in the playoffs is a big question. At least during the regular season, the Green Army's offensive efficiency in crunch time has improved significantly compared to the previous two years, ranking 5th this season, compared to 11th last season and 26th in 2021-22.

Tier 2: Nuggets, Clippers, Bucks

This bracket can be defined as teams that have home field advantage in the first round and have playoff winning experience. As last season's champions, the Nuggets have maintained their core roster, with their starting five winning games by 13 points, almost the same as last season's 13.1 points. That's the 4th best for a team with at least 250 minutes on the pitch. However, their overall rotation was put to the test, and Braun's growth fell short of expectations.

The Clippers have climbed to third place in the West, and as long as Kawhi Leonard stays healthy, coupled with Harden's playmaking skills, the Clippers will undoubtedly be the favourites for the Western Conference title. The Bucks' starting five won 15.3 points per 100 possessions, which is still the best in the league, but the question is whether Rivers can adjust a better rotation lineup, and their defense will also be tested.

Pot 3: Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Knicks, Thunder, 76ers and Suns

This gear is mainly a new face in the championship group. There is a certain amount of vigilance to be on the part of a team at this level, but given the importance of playoff experience, the Cavaliers, Timberwolves, Knicks, and Thunder do need to prove themselves.

The other two teams in this bracket, the 76ers and the Suns, have more experience, but both have their own problems at the moment. The Suns struggled to gain home-court advantage due to previous injuries and roster depth, but the Suns' starting five won 14.9 points per 100 possessions.

The 76ers' main difficulty is Embiid's health, and if his knee surgery doesn't prevent him from continuing to play MVP level in the playoffs, the 76ers are still a formidable opponent, but the 76ers' projected dip in the rankings could see them up against a formidable opponent in the first round.

Tier 4: Clippers, Warriors, Lakers, Heat, Pelicans

Considering the Heat reached the Finals last year, they can't be underestimated, but since the Rockets in the 1994-95 season, no team has won less than 52 games in the regular season. And the Pelicans, who have the best record in this bracket, will need to have a 19-10 record in the remaining games to meet that standard.

Even so, the Lakers' odds to win the championship are still better than the 76ers, and one reason is to respect James' career resume. The Lakers have indeed turned their tide lately, winning 6 out of 7 games, but they could face a strong Western opponent in the playoffs. The Warriors are also getting better, especially with Green returning and their roster rotation improving.

ESPN believes that this season's Kings have declined significantly and will not be contenders for the championship, so the Kings are not in the bracket list.