The 2022/2023 NBA season opens its doors on Tuesday, October 18 after a 4-month wait. And today, an overview of the teams that will aim for the title in the finals in June 2023. Will Stephen Curry’s Warriors retain their title? Can the Celtics, after a busy summer on all fronts, reach the final again? What about the Bucks, Suns and 76ers? We Sport offers you its NBA favorites for the 2022/2023 season.
NBA favorites season 2022/2023: the Warriors for the back-to-back?
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, here is a trio of four-time NBA champions since last June and a victory over the Celtics in the final. Can they aim for the double? Given their workforce, yes! Granted, the Warriors have lost soldiers like J. Toscano-Anderson and Gary Payton II. But the framework will remain identical to that of the NBA champion a few months ago. Jordan Poole is in constant progression, Andrew Wiggins has found his role perfectly, Kevin Looney returns to the fold and James Wiseman finally seems to have recovered from his injury. With the additional arrivals of Donte DiVincenzo and JaMychal Green, Golden State will have a solid strong core to earn it a 5th title in 9 seasons.
Can the Celtics get up?
NBA finalist last season after an incredible second half of the season, the Celtics of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown achieved a free agency with the arrivals of Danilo Gallinari and Malcolm Brogdon. What become the favorites for many bookmakers. But things accelerated from the end of August, in the wrong direction. First of all with the serious injury of the newcomer, Danilo Gallinari (knee ligament), absent for the season. Then it was the turn of Robert Williams III, also bothered with his knee, who was going to miss the first 3 months of competition. Finally, the sidelining throughout the season of coach Ime Udoka for an extra-sporting story. Negative circumstances that do not send good signals at the start of this NBA 2022/2023 season. So yes, the season is going to be long and the Celtics showed last season that we can get going after the All-star break. But will they be able to repeat this feat?
Still Strong Bucks
Defeated by the Celtics in the conference semi-finals after 7 games, the Milwaukee Bucks come with revenge this year. Deprived of Kris Middleton in the play-off, the Bucks retained their workforce by extending the soldiers of the team like B. Portis, Wes Matthews and Pat Connaughton. Still in the wake of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee can legitimately aim for the title. Giannis remains surrounded by players who can bomb from long range, and their defense can outmaneuver a lot of opposing defenses, especially in the post-season. With a solid big-three on both sides of the field, Milwaukee will have the assets to take back the property left to the Warriors.
An Ayton problem at the Suns?
Best record of the 2021/2022 regular season with 64 wins and 18 losses, the Suns advanced as the big favorite in the play-off. But after a complicated first round against the Pelicans, Phoenix suffered the wrath of Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. A new failure after the NBA final lost the previous season. If the Suns workforce for the coming season remains very close to that of the last 2 years (departure of J. McGee and arrivals of Damion Lee and Josk Okogie), the problem is elsewhere with the current difficulties around DeAndre Ayton. In cold weather with his coach Monty Williams, whose contacts have been broken since this match 7 against the Mavericks, the Bahamian pivot had not been extended before the season and the leaders still did not want to do so during the off-season. However, the choice was made to align with the offer of the Pacers (max contract) and thus to keep it for the coming season. A sporting choice that can be defended as D.Ayton is a top level player, but for the internal atmosphere, this decision may come as a surprise. However, on paper, the Phoenix Suns are once again among the NBA favorites for the 2022/2023 season.
The year of Joel Embiid and the Sixers?
With the arrivals of PJ Tucker, Montrezl Harrell and De’Anthony Melton, the 76ers have been active but above all intelligent. The objective being to surround Joel Embiid and James Harden in the best possible way, Daryl Morey added players from the shadows necessary to go (finally) far in the play-offs. James Harden rid of his physical problems (we are talking about injuries, not his weight…), the Philadelphia player will be there to assist the Cameroonian pivot. The constant progress of Tyrese Maxey is also an asset for the good season to come for the 76ers, while the addition of PJ Tucker, an indispensable element in the title of the Bucks 2 seasons ago and still author of the good season of the Heat the last season, will provide additional defense. Montrezl Harrell on his side will come with his energy inside in rotation of Joel Embiid, and we end up with a team cut out for the title.
This 2022/2023 season promises to be once again intense and if a team does not stand out, several franchises have carried out free agency in order to have every chance of playing for the title. So who of the Warriors, Celtics, Bucks, Suns or 76ers will lift the Larry O’Brien trophy? Unless another team thwarts the predictions, the NBA favorites for the 2022/2023 season will give us a show of beauty!
