Which teams have the advantage these 2019 NBA playoffs?

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As of this writing, the 2019 NBA playoffs have just begun, and it’s promising to be a wild ride on the way to the Finals with sixteen hungry teams duking it out. But while defending champ Golden State is still the hands-down favorite this year, there are several formidable teams on both conferences that should give the Warriors a run for their money. Aspiring sports writer Michael Volitich lists down these top contenders.

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Houston Rockets

Arguably the second-best team in the West, the Rockets already took the Warriors to a Game 7 in last year’s conference finals. And there’s no reason to think they can’t beat Golden State if they meet again, especially with Chris Paul healthy and James Harden again posting MVP-like numbers. Center Clint Capela has also been a revelation in the post.

Boston Celtics

Despite the team’s inconsistency throughout the regular season, the Celtics still boasts of the most talented roster in the Eastern Conference. If Kyrie Irving manages to finally gel with other stars Jayson Tatum and Gordon Hayward, Boston should be on its way to another conference finals appearance.

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks held the best league record during the regular season and are thus guaranteed homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. While it doesn’t have the star power of certain other teams, Milwaukee is the most cohesive and most committed to defense in the East. Giannis Antetokounmpo is unstoppable this year, too, and is likely to be crowned MVP.

Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio Spurs

Two wildcard teams that might just upset higher-seeded franchises are the Nets and the Spurs, adds Michael Volitich. Brooklyn barely managed to squeeze into the postseason but has already gotten an away-win over the Sixers, thanks to the stellar game of D’Angelo Russell. The Spurs have also beaten the second-seeded Nuggets in Denver, largely due to its teamplay and the talent of coach Popovich.

Michael Volitich is a Creative Writing student at the University of Florida. He likes to blog about books, sports movies, sports teams, and the lives of the greatest athletes. For more sports-related reads, go to this page.