The Lakers remain the championship favorite after restocking their roster in the offseason, but we still have a healthy crop of legitimate title contenders entering 2020–21. The Clippers represent the most direct challenge to LeBron & Co. out west, though playoff stalwarts in Denver, Portland and Utah could seize the conference crown with a couple of breaks.
As for the East, there’s little telling who will represent the conference in the Finals. Miami is anything but a true favorite despite an impressive run in the NBA bubble, and the remaining contenders each sport a potential fatal flaw.