During the off season trades have been filling up the NBA headlines. Trades that are mainly making the favorite teams to contend for a title next season arguably better.
Ron-Ron to the Los Angeles Lakers, The Big Aristotle to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mr 'Half-man-Half amazing' to the Orlando Magic, and Richard Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs.
These teams are just cementing themselves in the race for the Larry O'Brien trophy, but what about the forgotten teams in the NBA. The "underdogs" per se. The ones that many people have written off as playoff contenders.
The Los Angeles Clippers
It's highly unlikely for them to compete with the better teams in the league, but having players like Baron Davis, the rising Clippers' star Eric Gordon, and the newly added member of the group Blake Griffin, they have the potential to pull out a few surprises next season.
Baron Davis averages 16.9 points, 1.9 steals, and 7.3 assists a night. On the the other hand, Eric Gordon whose Rookie season averages were 16.1 points, one steal, and 2.8 assists a game. With Blake Griffin, who is a double-double machine and the number one overall pick of the NBA draft, they have the talent to silence their critics.
The Dallas Mavericks
The Mavericks surprised me by beating the San Antonio Spurs last season in the first round, but were humiliated by the Denver Nuggets in the second round of the playoffs.
If they can get their hands on Shawn Marion, they can surely pull out a few shockers here and their during the regular season and the playoffs.
They have a veteran's determination in Jason Kidd, the reigning 6th Man of the Year in Jason Terry, and a superstar in Dirk Nowitzki. That's a formula for a great threat in the NBA.
They have the potential to make a push at the title.
The Chicago Bulls
The Bulls lost in dramatic fashion against, the used-to-be defending champion, Boston Celtics. The Bulls/Celtics series was the best playoff series in NBA history in my eyes. They surprised us and the injured Celtics by making it into a seven game thriller, with numerous overtimes in the thick of it.
I'm sure with Derrick Rose, the reigning Rookie of the Year, the Bulls franchise could go further than they have ever been since the Jordan-Era.
The Bulls have players like John Salmons, Brad Miller, Kirk Hinrich, and Loul Deng teaming up with Rose. They are regaining their spot in the Eastern Conference.
The bad side is they lost Ben Gordon, who was clutch during the Bulls/Celtics Series.
The Washington Wizards
The Wizards had a 19-and-63 2008-2009 season. They were tied for the second worst record in the NBA with the L.A Clippers. Only the Sacramento Kings had a worst regular season record than the Wizards. Their previous regular season record was 43-and-39.
The thing they were missing through most of the 82 games played in the 2008-2009 season was Gilbert Arenas. I guess one player could lift up a team and take down a team with him, which was proved by Dwayne Wade.
If Arenas stays healthy throughout the whole regular season next year, then it would be foolish of us to think that the Wizards will not be playoff contenders.
Arenas, who averages 22.8 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds will be a stretch for next year. Teaming up with players like Caron Butler, who averages 16.7 points, three assists, and six rebounds per game, and Antawn Jamison, whose career averages are 19.9 points and eight rebounds per game, makes the Wizards a threat coming off next season.
The key to the Wizards hopes to a successful season is keeping Arenas healthy and ready to play.
In closing
Their are many teams outside from the chosen few I've picked to write about that are capable of surprising the NBA next season. Teams like the Atlanta Hawks and the Miami Heat (if they are able to get the help Dwayne Wade needs).
Heck, even the Oklahoma Thunder could pull out some shocking victories during the regular season.
It's just great to watch underdogs prove the majority wrong time and time again.
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