At the beginning of the 2023-24 NBA Season, the list of championship contenders included (in no specific order) the Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, both the LA Lakers and Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and the Miami Heat.

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Thanks to crafty trades, free-agent pickups, and the simple fact of actually meshing together as a healthy cohesive unit, the parity in the NBA standings has made this season one of the closest in recent memory, minus the Boston Celtics running away with the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

However, the NBA title is not won during the regular season. Last year the Miami Heat proved that they could slide into the post-season with a 44-38 record, good enough for what would amount to being the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket. A demolition of the Bucks, followed by a 4-2 series victory over the New

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