As the 1st round of the playoffs heat up, the NBA title race feels more wide open this year than it has in the previous three seasons. The legion of NBA fans itching for a Finals narrative that doesn’t include LeBron chasing a ring or a Warriors repeat have reason for optimism. Let’s take a look at the dark-horse title contenders in each conference. These are the the number one threats to the respective No. 1 seeds, the Rockets and Raptors besides the Warriors or Cavaliers. Let’s call these teams the “hottest underdogs.”
Western Conference
—New Orleans Pelicans—
At the start of the season, no one thought we’d be here with the Pelicans.