For the first time in years, the NBA does not have an odds-on favorite to win the title. The dual impact of the Golden State Warriors falling in the NBA Finals then losing Kevin Durant in free agency (along with the expected loss of Klay Thompson for most of next season because of a torn ACL) created a power vacuum teams rushed to fill.
"This was a year where everybody saw the Warriors finally opened the door," a Western Conference executive said, "so the teams thought they could win.
"And they're going for it.