As all NBA junkies would attest, maximizing your League Pass subscription is a must. It’s not enough to watch one or two games, but it’s important to take notice of all the action as they happen.
You’ve got to hit that early East coast game first and ride it out till the last game in the West finishes. But which games mean more? Which teams make the viewing experience a little more enjoyable than the rest? With some days featuring seven, nine, or even more games on the schedule, you have to know which teams deserve your attention.
Here are several teams that are worth the watch on NBA League Pass:
Philadelphia 76ers
Joel Embiid has been on an absolute tear for the Sixers this season. In the era of pace and space, Embiid is obliterating teams with his post-up game. His moves in the paint are like an ode to the towering centers of the 1990s and early 2000s, exhibiting Hakeem Olajuwon’s footwork mixed with a little of Patrick Ewing’s range. When he gets it going, it’s nearly impossible for teams to stop him. And as a fan, you just love to see it.
Brooklyn Nets
Obviously, you can’t go wrong with watching the trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and James Harden. There’s always a curiosity about what they’re going to do no matter who they’re up against. Will each of them drop 30? Will Harden finally shoot more or is he settling in into his playmaker role? Even in defeat, they bring out a peculiarity — how did they lose? Who didn’t score enough? Who had the ball in his hands late?
Charlotte Hornets
A lot of people thought LaMelo Ball would do just fine in the NBA when the Hornets drafted him. However, they didn’t know that it would be this entertaining to watch him in action. The behind-the-back passes, the lobs, the no-looks, and even that putback dunk against the Pacers have been pure bliss. Ball with the likes of Miles Bridges, Gordon Hayward, the Martin twins, PJ Washington, and Terry Rozier have been a fun group to watch.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz have seemingly transformed from being a first-round team to a top contender to start the season. After their Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the bubble last season, it’s as if they all collectively grew up and became better. Donovan Mitchell is still a maestro with the ball and Rudy Gobert is proving that he deserves that big paycheck. And the other guys have been stepping up, too: Mike Conley looks like his old self, Bojan Bogdanovic is as deadly as ever from deep, and Jordan Clarkson has been ballin’. The Jazz owned the longest winning streak of the season, having won 11 straight games, before fizzling against their rival, the Nuggets.
Phoenix Suns
With nearly 20 games in, we’ve passed the point of asking whether or not the Phoenix Suns are legit. It’s a fact that they’re going to be a contender in the Western Conference. Granted that things have been up and down so far with a couple of heartbreaking losses, injuries, and whatnot. Still, Chris Paul is LeBron James who is a couple of feet shorter. Paul is putting up stellar numbers across the board, defying Father Time and revitalizing the Suns.
Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers were down by five points, 117-122, against the Chicago Bulls with less than 12 seconds to go. Damian Lillard then hit a quick 37-footer to slice the deficit to just two. Tight defense by Gary Trent Jr. forced a jump ball which led to a scramble. The ball then somehow found its way in the hands of Lillard, who swished home the buzzer-beating trey. Two triples in a matter of seconds to win the game. That entire sequence is why you should keep an eye out for Dame Time and the Blazers.
Honorable mentions
New York Knicks. Remember when they had that hot start in early January when everyone became dangerously invested in them this year? They’re worth a peek every now and then.
Chicago Bulls. Grab a seat and watch the beginning of prime Zach Lavine unfold.
Sacramento Kings. The Kings are one of those fun and weird teams to watch. Are they good, bad, or just you know, the Kings of the last decade and a half? It’s tough to say. But listening to Mark Jones and Doug Christie calling a game on the broadcast is always a treat.
Golden State Warriors. Watching Steph Curry at his best is obviously a no-brainer, but seeing him score 25 points and heave a 30-footer in 2021? That’s a whole bag of excitement and nostalgia rolled into one. It’s like a semblance of normalcy when everything else is constantly changing. Well, if you count knocking down a 3-pointer from the logo normal, then yes.
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