ESPN s biggest dark horse next season! The Spurs lead, the Rockets are fifth!

T1. San Antonio Spurs/Atlanta Hawks: 55 points

2. Philadelphia 76ers: 49 points

3. Orlando Magic: 48 points

4. Minnesota Timberwolves: 6 points

5. Houston Rockets: 5 points

The Spurs entered the playoffs for 22 consecutive years from the 1997-98 season to the 2018-19 season, and finally ended the six-year absence record after choosing the top 10 players in the draft for four consecutive years (2015-2019). The health and development of San Antonio's young talents, especially Victor Wynbanyama and Stephen Carlson, who won the NBA's best rookie for two consecutive years, will be crucial, and they will lead a fresh lineup that includes another best rookie candidate Dylan Harper, selected at the second pick, as well as the addition of veterans such as Luke Kennard and Kelly Olynik.

But don't ignore the Atlanta Hawks, who are second only to the Spurs in the vote, or the Philadelphia 76ers. Five years ago, the Sixers and the Hawks fought fiercely in the Eastern Conference semifinals, with Trae Young and Joel Embiid scoring 39 and 37 points respectively in Game 7. Philadelphia's fate depends largely on the health of veteran stars Embiid and Paul George, as well as the continued progress of Terre Maxi. Meanwhile, the Hawks have teamed up with Trae Young by adding scorers like Christaps Porzingis and Luke Kennard, along with solid defender Nikil Alexander Walker, to piece together a potentially transformative offseason. The young and hungry Orlando Magic are lurking here as they hope to break through the first round for the first time in the playoffs, since the 2009-10 season.