The 15 Teams That Could Surprise in 2016
We're just a few days away from the year 2016, which means that 2015 ends and a new year is the beginning of great sports predictions for the next 365 days.
Rather than sit here and tell you my boldest predictions for next year, though, I figured I'd try to see which teams might surprise in 2016, with players getting healthy or squads finishing strong used as a basis for my picks.
Just as fans see every year, here are the teams that could shock the world as another calendar year hits us.
Sacramento Kings
1 of 15
I know, I know—the Sacramento Kings might appear to be hopeless on the surface with a bunch of dysfunction. But guess what? They actually have a shot at reaching the playoffs this season.
With the Western Conference not as dominant and deep as it has become known to be, the Kings are currently just two games out of the eighth spot in the race to the postseason and have a couple solid pieces in DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo who could give them a push.
While the team might not understand the whole defense thing, its offense is one of the best in the league, averaging the third-highest points-per-game average right now, meaning it might just be able to outscore opponents to reach the playoffs.
Minnesota Twins
2 of 15
After narrowly missing out on the playoffs in 2015 when they finished three games out of the second wild-card spot, the Minnesota Twins have a real shot at becoming a major player in the American League in 2016.
With a young and exciting roster, Minny enters 2016 with some experience and a chip on its shoulder after fading in the second half of last season. And Twins owner Jim Pohlad gave general manager Terry Ryan the "go-ahead" to do what he wants to upgrade the roster, according to ESPN 1500's Darren Wolfson.
A core made up of potential stars blended with a solid leader in Joe Mauer makes the Twinkies an exciting team as spring training approaches in a few months—even if no one is talking about them.
Seattle Seahawks
3 of 15
Go ahead and call me biased because I live in Seattle, but the fact of the matter is that the Seattle Seahawks are still a team that can go out and win the Super Bowl this season.
That might sound crazy to think about after they just lost another game at home against the fading St. Louis Rams—their second defeat to them this season—but after a slow start to the 2015 campaign and some soul searching, they appear to be the same old Hawks.
There are still ongoing question marks with the offensive line and running game, but if the mammoth men blocking up front can continue to play as they did during Seattle's five-game winning streak and star running back Marshawn Lynch gets back on the field, this team could find itself in a familiar spot—playing on Super Sunday.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Oklahoma Sooners Men's Basketball
4 of 15
Unless you've been paying really close attention to the wacky, early college hoops season, you might not know that the Oklahoma Sooners are actually the No. 3-ranked team in the nation right now.
While that's surprising for you and me, for those who have followed the Sooners, it's probably something they're not shocked about.
Led by star Kahlil Felder—the nation's second-leading scorer at a 26.6 clip—OU has shown it's more than just a football school, and it has solid pieces to make it a legit threat as conference play begins and March inches closer and closer.
Go ahead and talk about Kansas, Duke, Kentucky and other blue bloods, because the Sooners will quietly go about their business and win games.
Chicago Blackhawks
5 of 15
It's not as if many in the NHL are surprised by the Chicago Blackhawks these days—after all, they've won three of the past six Stanley Cup titles—it's that the Hawks haven't played to their potential this season and remain a threat to make a deep playoff run once again.
Much like the aforementioned Seattle Seahawks, Chicago's version of the Hawks have experience at nearly every position and a superstar in Patrick Kane, who has been there and done that in leading his team to a title—he also leads the league in points this year.
Underachieving and currently in the fourth position in the Western Conference so far this season, Chicago might just be at that point where it goes through the year and saves its best for the playoffs, so don't be shocked if the Hawks are champs once again come June.
Washington Wizards
6 of 15
The Washington Wizards are one of the trickiest NBA teams to figure out because they have all the talent in the world to be a top-three team in the Eastern Conference, yet they find themselves currently under .500 and out of the playoff picture.
Unhealthy and inconsistent all year, the Wiz and their fans have hope for a turnaround in 2016 because of John Wall and Bradley Beal, who have the ability to take over a game and, if they reach the playoffs, a series.
With experience and a solid offense, if Washington can shore up the defense, it could shock one of the favorites in the first round of the playoffs should the team get in.
Oakland Raiders
7 of 15
Don't look now, but yes, the Oakland Raiders are actually a competent NFL team, guys. That's a far cry from what many of us know the silver and black as, with the franchise failing to reach the playoffs every year since losing the Super Bowl in 2002.
With a chance to end the 2015 campaign at .500 after a short hope of reaching the postseason earlier this year, the Raiders have a young nucleus on both sides of the ball that gives fans hope about the direction of the team.
Of course, it's still yet to be seen if they'll be in the Bay Area or in Los Angeles next season, but with the parity in the NFL these days, it's not crazy to think this team could become a postseason contender in 2016.
Seattle Mariners
8 of 15
Yep, another Seattle sports team is on this list, and it's well-deserved after a disappointing 2015 campaign left this squad making a few changes to help it in 2016.
That would be the Seattle Mariners, who have gone through a transformation by hiring a new manager in Scott Servais after bringing in Jerry Dipoto as general manager.
A trendy pick last year to make a deep playoff run, the core still consists of ace Felix Hernandez on the bump and All-Stars Kyle Seager and Nelson Cruz in the field, mixing those players with a handful of new guys who could help the M's finally reach their full potential.
Rather than blow things up and rebuild, Dipoto has been aggressive in adding pieces to make a push for the playoffs in 2016—and his plan may just pay off.
Xavier Musketeers Men's Basketball
9 of 15
Much like the aforementioned Oklahoma Sooners men's hoops team, the Xavier Musketeers are having a season many fans might not be aware of, currently sitting undefeated at 12-0 and ranked sixth in the country.
One of the better rebounding teams in the country with a blue-collar defense, the Muskies have a deep roster that enjoyed a Sweet 16 run in last year's NCAA tourney and is poised to take the next step in this year's March Madness.
Off to the the best start in program history—which is rich with tradition and consistency—you might want to start paying attention to Xavier to help fill out your bracket, because the Musketeers are really good.
Boston Celtics
10 of 15
After reaching the postseason last year as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics were a trendy pick to be a sleeper this year by a few different people.
While the C's haven't climbed to the top of the East standings, they are in position to reach the playoffs once again, proving that head coach Brad Stevens has rebuilt the team with a solid plan and a young core.
Boston doesn't do many flashy things or have big-name players who grab fans' attention, but the C's are like a solid car that always seems to run and be reliable. Boston has a serious possibility of becoming a team that could surprise in the postseason.
Ottawa Senators
11 of 15
When a team is currently tied for eighth in its conference standings and barely in position to reach the playoffs if the season ended today, you might not think it would be a candidate for a surprise team in 2016.
However, the Ottawa Senators have some pieces that could make them a dangerous club as the calendar turns—and as we've seen in the NHL before, it doesn't matter what seed a team is once the playoffs start.
Led by Erik Karlsson and Mike Hoffman—who are both top-11 in points—the Sens have an offense that can put up goals in a hurry, making them both exciting and dangerous, as they're seventh in the league in goals for right now.
Like other teams on this list in different sports, it'll come down to Ottawa's middle-of-the-road defensive play that ultimately decides its fate, though.
New York Jets
12 of 15
Don't look now, but with their win over the New England Patriots in Week 16, the New York Jets are riding a five-game winning streak and peaking at the right time of the year, controlling their own destiny in the AFC playoff hunt.
While Gang Green have always had a reputation for having a stout defense in recent years under former head coach Rex Ryan and current sideline boss Todd Bowles (a former defensive coordinator himself), the Jets offense has caught up, as that side has averaged 27.2 points during the win streak and put together a top-10 ranking in numerous categories.
With Ryan Fitzpatrick having big targets on the outside in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, the J-E-T-S could be a sleeper in the AFC with no clear dominant team this year.
Arizona Diamondbacks
13 of 15
With the moves they've made so far this offseason, consider the Arizona Diamondbacks as the sexiest pick in Major League Baseball to turn things around in 2016.
The prize jewel of their newest acquisitions is former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Zack Greinke, who came at a steep price of six years and $206.5 million but anchors a staff that now has an established star to complement other players—not to mention hurting the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers with the signing.
As Baseball Hall of Famer Tony La Russa assembles a balanced team, the D-backs have prospects at key positions that could lead them to a surprise 2016 campaign.
Miami Heat
14 of 15
Currently tied for third in the Eastern Conference, who says the Miami Heat are just a bunch of random pieces put together and are over the hill?
With a championship pedigree thanks to head coach Erik Spoelstra and All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, the Heat might no longer be the talk of the NBA now that LeBron James has been in Cleveland for a couple years, but they could still find themselves going against James deep in the playoffs.
Sure, the Heat struggle to score at times, but that defense of theirs is third in the league in fewest points allowed per game—and we all know that defense is what really leads teams to championships.
Kansas City Chiefs
15 of 15
Go ahead and consider me a believer in the Kansas City Chiefs, because, after a 1-5 start to the season that also saw them lose All-Pro running back Jamaal Charles, the team has been the hottest in the league, running off nine straight wins and clinching a playoff berth last weekend.
Allowing the second-fewest points per game on defense, what might be most surprising is that K.C. is ninth in the league in scoring offense, even finding itself successful on the ground without Charles in the backfield.
Go ahead and question how far quarterback Alex Smith can take the Chiefs if you want, but with the former No. 1 overall pick enjoying a career year, I'm buying this team as a Super Bowl contender that could wind up playing in the final game of the NFL season.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
