With well over half of the NBA season already elapsed, there are some very talented and unexpected teams that have a shot at winning the NBA Finals. Seeing the reigning champs, the Golden State Warriors, struggling to solidify a spot in the playoffs and the Sacramento Kings jumping from one of the worst teams in the league to third place in the Western Conference call for some major changes in the NBA world. With that being said, here are the top three teams that have a shot at winning this year’s NBA Finals.

Phoenix Suns

Before the NBA Trade Deadline expired on Feb. 9 2023, no one expected any blockbuster trades to happen with the Phoenix Suns. However, the night before the deadline, the Suns gave away Mikal Bridges, Cameron Johnson, Jae Crowder, four unprotected first-round picks and a 2028 pick swap to the Brooklyn Nets for T.J. Warren and former-MVP Kevin Durant. Durant made his Suns debut on Mar. 1 2023 and played incredible. This now gives the Suns a potential starting lineup consisting of Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Josh Okogie, Kevin Durant and DeAndre Ayton. They now have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA right now, being favorites to win the West and potentially the championship. The playmaking of Paul combined with the shooting of Booker and Durant alongside Ayton’s dominance in the paint is a recipe for success.

Boston Celtics

One of the hottest teams in the entire league, the Boston Celtics, are projected to win the NBA Finals. After losing in six games to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals, Boston has bounced back with lots of momentum and determination to win it all this year. Led to one of the top seeds with the driving force of Boston’s star guards, Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Boston is currently third in the entire league in offensive rating and sixth in defensive rating. The main reason that Boston has been able to maintain such consistency is because of the depth of the team. They have one of the best benches in the league with players such as Malcolm Brogdon, Derrick White and Grant Williams. The only competition that might be a roadblock for Boston is the Cleveland Cavaliers and Milwaukee Bucks, but if they can manage to make it past them, they are in a fantastic spot to win it all.

Milwaukee Bucks

It is not hard to think that the Bucks will or at least make it there when they have someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo on their team. Antetokounmpo is averaging 32.4 points per game, 12.3 rebounds per game and 5.4 assists per game. He is currently in second place in the MVP race, with the possibility of overtaking the number one spot from back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic. Milwaukee has one of the best defenses in the league because of star guard Jrue Holiday locking down the perimeter and Antetokounmpo taking care of the paint alongside 7-foot center Brook Lopez. The tenacity and talent amongst these players creates an incredible dynamic, both offensive and defensively. They have been a tough team to stop, with few teams in the East having the potential to take them over.