For the last seven years, the NBA has had new champions. Last season, everyone touted OKC to win, a jab surgically executed. They are back on top for a third straight year. Yet, here’s what the most experienced playoff candidate in NBA history had to say about the upcoming stretch. “Listen, the postseason is about to be, as the young kids will say, lit,” said LeBron James, a four-time champion with all the knowledge about what it takes to get over the hump.

Despite the Thunder’s dominance this season, fans aren’t fully confident to call them runaway champs. History hasn’t had back-to-back winners since 2018. Each time, an obstacle emerges. This season, it’s a bare-knuckle fight in each conference. Just as Thunder showed signs of being vulnerable against an energized Victor Wembanyama, the Celtics look reinvigorated with their Jays operating together again.

The brackets are splattered with enticing matchups. And the ‘parity era’ in the NBA is unleashed. This season, three teams got 60 or more wins, a rare occurrence in the league. Furthermore, there are nine teams with at least 50 wins. That could very well have been 10, a record-matching mark had the Timberwolves been consistently healthy.

The conversation from this stat goes something like this. One can’t confidently say there’s a definitive winner that could emerge. That’s the story of the brutal competition across both conferences.

The West’s bloodbath

Look, I am not suggesting every team has an equal chance to win the championship. But there are several who have a genuine shot at claiming the prize. It’s only right to start with the defending champions. OKC won 64 games and remained dominant on both sides of the floor.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a perennial MVP candidate, is slated to go back-to-back for the individual throne. They recorded the best defensive rating in the entire NBA, attributed to Chet Holmgren finishing second in DPOY voting. The Thunder play with high intensity, and then switch to a poised system when attacking. It’s their tenacity and a core of highly skilled players that saw them finish with the best record in a West where a few bad games could drop teams out of the top six. They completed a first sweep, making light work of the Phoenix Suns in the first round. But making it back to another Finals means getting through their arch-nemesis.

The San Antonio Spurs have a 3-1 record against OKC this season. Victor Wembanyama seems energized when taking on the defending champs. Each of their win was a celebration. But this Spurs team also won 60 games, and by no coincidence. Although Wemby turns into an unstoppable offensive juggernaut at times, the Spurs culture prevails. It focuses on being selfless and involving every person on the floor. The result was seven different players averaging double-digits And defensively, they have the 7’4” giant who can block shots without needing to jump. They are short on experience, but thrive when playing connective basketball. The Trail Blazers got one game, but were eventually overwhelmed by the Spurs’ superior talent.

Slashing through them would need an expert at breaking defenses apart. In seven games against Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic is averaging close to 38 points per game. But the Nuggets’ greatest strength is their league-leading three-point efficiency. Jokic is surrounded by sharpshooters. And there’s always his prolific partnership with Jamal Murray that’s arguably the most polished in the league. And this year, Murray is averaging career-highs across the board. With 54 wins under their belt and ending the season on a belligerent run, Denver is in the mix again.

The Minnesota Timberwolves exposed the Nuggets’ weakness, countering them with physicality on both ends of the floor. However, injuries have left them drained. Anthony Edwards is out for the entire series, and Donte DiVincenzo tore his Achilles. So despite every indication of them upsetting the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic and Co. hold an advantage born out of luck.

The playoffs so far have underscored the need to be perfect. The Los Angeles Lakers have upset the Houston Rockets without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. A 41-year-old LeBron James is bamboozling analysts by seamlessly switching from the third option to the anchor. Two straight losses later, it seems Houston could complete a comeback from down 3-0.

The Houston Rockets found their shooting rhythm. They went 9-1 over their last ten regular season games while beating their opponents by an average of 15 points. That’s a team with Kevin Durant and a lot of athleticism and size, who, in this state, could win the race to four games against most teams in the West. They are pushing the Lakers without the Slim Reaper, with disruptive defense and a much better three-point conversion rate.

Then there’s the complex case of the Lakers. If Luka Doncic can get healthy, he’s an automatic 35-point scorer who flirts with a triple-double. Austin Reaves made his return in Game 5. JJ Redick now has to integrate the dynamic scorer without disturbing the Lakers’ chemistry with LeBron James as the conductor.

There’s something about this year and the West. One bad matchup could break a bracket just as easily as it could go right. Experience and health will play a pivotal role.

The East’s resurgence and potential

The common consensus is that the East is weak. From a straight comparison, the Western Conference’s top-heavy cluster showcases that. However, there are still a few teams on the other side who have achieved just as much. Take the Detroit Pistons, who have taken over as the number one seed, also winning 60 games this season.

They’ve experienced a stark resurgence, propelled by the franchise-altering All-Star Cade Cunningham. The Pistons have managed to revive their toughness, having a roster that thrives on the defensive end. Jalen Duren has turned into one of the most dynamic centers in the league, averaging a double-double. Ausar Thompson leads their elite defense. They don’t have a weak plug to upset their togetherness.

Then came the Orlando Magic, out of the Play-In, threatening the biggest upset of this season. Their matchup against the Pistons came down to physicality. Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr. has reduced Duren to averaging only 10.2 points per game. Where both teams haven’t shot well, Orlando’s raced to a 3-2 lead against the top seed. The playoffs have uplifted the Magic, the slowness favoring their roster with Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner.

Staying on the tangent of health, up come the Boston Celtics. Jayson Tatum’s return has immediately pushed them into title contention. Largely, it’s due to Jaylen Brown emerging as a two-way specialist and an MVP candidate. The celebrated Celtics tandem has a championship pedigree and is powered by Joe Mazzulla’s ruthless coaching. The Celtics can shoot the lights out while being just as terrifying on the other side of the court. They won 56, but with Tatum, they look like another team that belongs in the 60-win club.

These are the two teams heavily favored to get out of the East.

But once again, it’s not a guaranteed path. You still have the Cleveland Cavaliers. They have struggled to stay consistent but carry a complete roster. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden can single-handedly turn games around. And their double big combination of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley provides them with versatility. Although subject to playoff struggles, this year, they haven’t lost a game when leading by 20 or more. Harden’s entrance has added experience to a roster littered with stellar talents in their prime.

The case for the Philadelphia 76ers is brimming with uncertainty. Joel Embiid suffered a freak health incident before the playoffs once again. But they’ve seen a revitalised version of Paul George. The forward has consistently put the ball in the net while playing splendid defense since returning from suspension. And their backcourt, of Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe, is explosive. They only need ‘The Process’ to get back into the hunt.

Down the ladder are teams that picked up rhythm late this season. The Atlanta Hawks went 20-6 since the All-Star break, averaging 121 points with almost 30 assists. Their explosive athleticism has created a challenge for the New York Knicks. However, with Jalen Brunson as one of the most reliable closers in the game, they hold a slender 3-2 advantage. The Raptors are an exciting team with versatility. They are young and unafraid of a challenge. They’ve tested the seasoned Cavaliers team, throwing everything at them over five games. The Raptors, with their pace and agility, can make teams vulnerable.

The competition is thin in comparison to the West. However, the East leaves more space for shocks and surprises.

A race where every detail matters

Oddsmakers see a clear picture for this postseason. According to Basketball Reference, the Oklahoma City Thunder have a near 50% chance of winning the NBA championship this season. However, that is a harsh underestimation of the surrounding sharks that want to snatch that throne away from them.

Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs undoubtedly made a point of celebrating each win against the Thunder. The Nuggets are the best shooting team, led by Nikola Jokic’s imposing influence. The Rockets also pose a severe threat when their three-point shots are falling.

Over in the East, the Celtics and the Pistons are fighting for the power match. But there’s always the looming threat that the Cavaliers will figure things out. The Philadelphia 76ers, with Joel Embiid, have depth to take them deep into the playoffs.

At this point, even a small wound to a team hampers their chances. Can you confidently say the Thunder beat the Nuggets without Jalen Williams or the Celtics go past the Pistons if Jaylen Brown misses even a few games? Every detail will matter. Rhythm, momentum, and health are the primary factors that will dictate the NBA championship hunt this year.

Multiple teams from each conference, on their day, could be winning the title. All it takes is one moment for the tide to swing.