#3 NBA Contender Teams In Dire Needs Of A Pick Me Up

Table of Contents

3 NBA Contender Teams In Dire Needs Of A Pick Me Up

The 2021-22 NBA season is finally underway. While the season is still very young, with most of the top online sports betting platforms paying more attention to very early March Madness predictions than to the actual pro ball action, there are some teams already, especially teams that were meant to be top contenders for a postseason run and even held strong title aspirations, that are starting to show clear signs that they need some much-needed changes coming their way if they wish to continue being considered contenders.

Surprisingly and on a positive note, teams like the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls in the Eastern Conference and the Memphis Grizzlies on the Western Conference have been showing some very promising signs of improvement since last season. But, with the season still, only starting to warm up, and with teams starting to fall into their roles, we bring you three NBA contender teams that are in dire need of a pick me up if they wish to keep their contending status and not crack under pressure.

Los Angeles Lakers

If you had the roster that the LA Lakers have a good five or six years ago, there wouldn’t be a team in the world that could even stand a chance against them. I mean, we’re talking about LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Russell Westbrook, and Rajon Rondo all playing together. So yeah, five or six years ago, this team would’ve been the most dominant basketball machine in the world. But nowadays, it seems that age might end up being a problem rather than an advantage for the Lakers, especially with so much star power within the roster and egos that need to be checked at the door.

While it was specifically LeBron James who orchestrated all of the off-season moves to put this team together, choosing age over explosiveness, and on paper, it seemed like they would be the biggest threat to any team in the Western Conference, after losing for the second time against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and sporting a record that’s nowhere near what was expected from the team, questions are starting to arise. This team, if completely healthy can be a menace to the league, but given the advanced age of all the players and with LeBron currently sidelined with an abdominal injury, injury scares might be one of their biggest downfalls in the season. If for example, the Lakers can’t hold the injury-prone Anthony Davis as healthy as possible, while also tending to players like Carmelo Anthony and Westbrook, this mega-team could end up being a mega-disappointment.

Boston Celtics

What is it about the Celtics that even with having one of the most leveled and straight-up talented rosters in the Eastern Conference, they always end up seeming like they can’t keep their act together for the good of the team? While at first, this team seemed like it was the most season-ready squad to give teams like the 76ers, Bucks, and Heat a true run for their money in the Eastern Conference title chase, it’s pretty safe to say that nothing has gone Boston’s way thus far. From teammates calling themselves and the coach out, the coach calling teammates out, a defense that’s mediocre at best, and an offense where it seems like everyone wants to take the shot but nobody wants to take the shot as well, this team could very well be on their way to implosion if things don’t change fast.

Again, Boston has the roster and talent to be serious contenders. With players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Denis Schroder, Al Horford, Robert Williams, and Marcus Smart they should have easily come together and made up one of the most dominating lineups in the East, but from the looks of it, it’s easier to play the blame game in Boston so far than it is to try and come together. If the team can find some common ground and unify then they will be good, if not, then there’s not much else to say.

Phoenix Suns

Remember those magical times last season when the Phoenix Suns took the Western Conference by storm and with a team-first personality and focus, managed to make it to the NBA finals in a losing effort to the Milwaukee Bucks? Yeah, I do too. Now, with that said, it’s only logical for everyone who saw that team play to expect them to come out this season with a huge chip on their shoulder and gunning to smoke out all of their competitors in the west while trying to make it back to the finals once again. But from the looks of it thus far, it feels like nobody has told the Suns that the season has started. Yes, they have a winning record, but they’re far from being the team we grew accustomed to last season.

The mix of Chris Paul and Devin Booker worked marvelously last season, but this season it feels like they’re back at square one, with Paul looking like his age might be catching up to him, leaving Booker to do all the heavy lifting in Phoenix’s offense. Their defense though, that’s where the team needs a pick-me-up pronto. How they went from being an elite defensive unit last season to playing lukewarm at best is baffling. Yes, the season is still young but the Suns need to start heating up because if they don’t and the problems keep amassing, with off-the-court issues already piling up as well, they might end up on the wrong side of the Western Conference’s playoff standings.

by Jordan Espinoza

If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on Google News too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.