The NBA season is around the corner and the top teams coming into 2015-16 include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies and Chicago Bulls.
The Cavaliers and Warriors made it to the NBA finals last season and Golden State emerged as the champions over Cleveland. The Cavs dealt with injuries in the postseason and they are looking to take it back after keeping their roster together through the offseason. The Warriors are returning a similar lineup and those teams are considered favorites in the east and west.
Here is a look at the top 5 teams coming into the season:
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors are coming back as the top team in the league after winning the NBA championship last year. Stephen Curry is coming in as the reigning MVP and the Warriors kept Draymond Green with a contract this summer. The team still has a great offense with Curry and Klay Thompson and even with Steve Kerr recovering from surgery, the Warriors should be in the top part of the west again.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavaliers won the east last year and they made it through the playoffs without Kevin Love and the team lost Kyrie Irving in the finals. LeBron James returns along with Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, Matthew Dellavedova, James Jones and JR Smith after signing contracts this summer and the team has their main roster intact. The team added role players in Mo Williams and Richard Jefferson and they should be able to overcome Irving missing the start of the season.
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs finished on game out of the division title last season and the team added one of the top free agents in LaMarcus Aldridge. Most around the NBA think the team can make a deep run this year after adding Aldridge and the Spurs also kept Kawhi Leonard on a contract extension. The Spurs have the Big 3 of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili coming back and they are looking to make another deep run.
Los Angeles Clippers
The LA Clippers have their main trio back with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and the team has also added some notable players on the roster for depth. The team signed Wesley Johnson, Pablo Prigioni, Josh Smith and Paul Pierce as free agents and brought in Lance Stephenson in a trade to give Doc Rivers more bench options.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets had a strong season and finished in the top part of the west as division champions and they advanced to the western conference finals. James Harden was second in the MVP voting and he is expected to be in the mix again this season. Dwight Howard is an elite player and if he can avoid injury, the Rockets should be a strong team in the west. The team kept Patrick Beverley on a free agent deal and also traded for Ty Lawson.
Check here for more on the NBA season and the opening schedule.