Every NBA season, there are turnovers, and not just those caused by dribbles off the foot.
And because a few of the clubs who didn’t advance to the postseason in 2021–22 are returning healthier or, simply put, better, it will be exciting to watch in 2022–23.
Both conferences are strong, and nearly all of the 16 playoff teams that made it back are still together and have players who are in their prime.
Who will thus have their season extended this time: the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, or someone else?
The non-playoff teams from 2021–2022 have the best chance of bouncing back and joining the party this season.
L.A. Clippers
New York Knicks
Cleveland Cavaliers
Portland Trail Blazers
Teams
L.A. Clippers
The Clippers will advance to the postseason, though, assuming all of their key players remain (and improve) healthy.
Two well-known people play a crucial role in this tale: Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
Speaking of wealth, club owner Steve Ballmer will use any strategy to assemble a contender and openly mocks the luxury tax.
With Leonard, George, Wall, Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Marcus Morris, Norman Powell, Robert Covington, and Terance Mann, the Clippers will therefore bring star power as well as experience and depth in 2022–23.
Oh and Ty Lue is a championship-winning coach with experience.
New York Knicks
Furthermore, one would anticipate that the Knicks would participate in the Play-In Tournament after signing Jalen Brunson in free agency.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Having successfully recovered from the ruins of LeBron James’ departure with a solid group, this team entered the 2021–22 All-Star break (which, coincidentally, was held in Cleveland) as one of the league’s inspiring stories.
Portland Trail Blazers
The problem is that the West is violent.
The Clippers will grab that slot even if you believe that among the postseason eight from the previous season, the Utah Jazz doesn’t make the playoffs after trading Rudy Gobert (and all the uncertainty surrounding Donovan Mitchell).
This implies that the Blazers must be superior to the New Orleans Pelicans with a healthy Zion Williamson or the Minnesota Timberwolves with Gobert.
Last season’s final two slots in the West were won by Minnesota and New Orleans, and those clubs should improve this year given the expected effects of Williamson and Gobert.
But the Blazers improved the most among all the West teams that missed the postseason.