With the NBA season approaching in just the blink of an eye, there have been a lot of trades this off-season, for the better and the worse.. The era of duos is back, but which team will be dominant? And which team will have a turn-around season? 

     The first season tip off is Oct. 22, and some of the rosters have a different look than past seasons. It was a wild summer of player trades and NBA drama, adding up to the Western conference being much more dominant than the Eastern. Starting with the West, here are my top 5 team predictions:

1)Los Angeles Clippers– The Clippers acquiring both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George in the off-season increased their chances of winning the title. They now have the highest chance in the NBA with 117 points ( 54.5% first place votes), according to ESPN. Kawhi Leonard and Paul George being some of the league’s best scoring defenders will greatly benefit the clippers, but will they live up to expectations and have a turn around season from last year?

2)Golden State Warriors– Even with the loss of Kevin Durant, the Warriors have still proved they can win championships. The 2019-2020 Warriors team basically replicates the famous 2016 Warriors, which won 73 games in the regular season. Defensively, the warriors will struggle, but having some of the top scorers in the league will greatly make up for it. 

3)Los Angeles Lakers– The Lakers have one of the most, if not the scariest line up in the league. With the addition of Anthony Davis, many sports fans think they have the top duo in the league. Anthony Davis and Lebron James together have a mix of speed, strength, height and skill that will be a living nightmare for defenders. If both players stay healthy it will be a good season for the Lakers and their fans.

4)Houston Rockets– The addition of Russell Westbrook could go both ways for the Rockets. Many think Westbrook and Harden won’t be able to play side by side, considering they are both ball domaine players. According to ESPN, the Rockets have the highest chance for team drama with 69 points (21.2% first place votes). If Harden and Westbrook find a way to successfully share the ball, they can be a very dangerous team offensively.  

5)Denver Nuggets– The Nuggets have had an impressive 18-19 season, and it seems like it is only gonna get better for the Nuggets. The Nuggets have a lot of weapons this year that will add to their success: Nikola Jokic who was an all-star and MVP candidate, as well as Michael Porter Jr., who has yet to play an NBA game. Nuggets also got a steal in the drafting Bol Bol late in the draft. 

 Eastern Conference: 

1)Milwaukee Bucks– It sure does help having MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on your team, but that isn’t the only reason the Bucks were successful last year and are anticipated to be just as good this year. The Bucks lost some role players this off-season, including Malcolm Brogdon and Nikola Mirotic, but to re-sign Khris Middleton, sacrifices had to be made. Even with the losses the Bucks had this off season, they still have role players that will lead to their success this season. 

2)Philadelphia 76ers– Even with the loss of Jimmy Butler, the 76ers have a dangerous line up that can do some damage in the league. If you add to consideration that Ben Simmons has developed a jump shot, he and Joel Embiid could lead the 76ers to success. 

3)Brooklyn Nets – With the addition of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Jordan, the Nets team looks totally different from last year. If all their key players stay healthy and Kevin Durant comes off his injury better than ever, the Nets can compete with any team. If they perform to their abilities, they definitely have a title chance.  

4)Boston Celtics– Celtics lost their top stars, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford, but with the addition of Kemba Walker, it sure makes those losses hurt a little less. The Celtics’ young players like Jayson Tatum will get a lot more play time and have a chance to prove their worth. The Celtics have a chance to be a good team this year, but will role players set up and lead the team to success? 

5)Indiana Pacers– The Pacers picked up Malcolm Brogdon this off-season, who is a great shooter and defender. He and Victor Oladipo have the potential to grow and be a dangerous duo in the NBA. The Pacers have gone under the radar this off-season, but will they shock teams and be the underdog team going into this year?