Contender or Pretender: Who can win the CSL Title?
As we enter into March of the 2022-23 CSL season we’re about three quarters of the way through. It's time for the real teams to stand up and separate themselves from the pack. Today, we sort through who the real contenders for the CSL title are, and who will choke when it starts to matter.
1. Phoenix Suns
After following up their 2020 CSL Championship with getting swept in the first round last season, Phoenix and GM GreenBear hold the best record in the CSL right now at 46-16, and have been steady and consistent all year long. Led by all-stars Isaiah Taylor and Isaiah Austin, this team has all the makeup of a true contender once again. Elite on the defensive end, steady on the offensive end, and a smart general manager at the helm to take them all the way.
Additionally, this is a team with a ton of depth. Regularly going 10 deep, Greenbear has a lot of reliable options at his disposal, although, this may not be a strength that matters all that much come playoff time, when starters are relied on much more heavily.
The Suns biggest weakness, which may lead to some serious issues in the postseason, is a lack of outside shooting. They rank in the bottom third of the league in 3P%, and none of their starters can be considered good three point shooters. Isaiah Austin is shooting 44% from outside, but has only shot 32 total threes on the year, and their best three shooters TJ McConnell, Isaiah Whitehead and Terrance Ferguson, aren't their best players and may have too many shortcomings in other areas to receive huge playoff minutes.
Regardless, with a great defense, and still an ability to score with the best of them without outside shooting, this is a formidable contender. They may risk getting zoned pretty hard in the playoffs, but with smart managing they should still be a serious threat to win it all.
Verdict: CONTENDER
2. Sacramento Kings
The next best CSL team this year also comes from the Pacific division, as Bt and the Kings have been right at the top all season long. As balanced a team as you’ll see around the CSL, the Kings aren’t led by a single star, but more of a collective effort from a whole rotation’s worth of players who can play on both ends of the floor. The league’s stingiest defense, the Kings allow just 96 points per game, while still being solid enough offensively scoring 105.
After a last minute deadline deal that saw Sacramento deal starting point guard, and impending free agent, Elfrid Payton for a package around Ricky Rubio and Nick Johnson, a few questions were raised. Payton is a solid floor general and a truly elite defender, however, Rubio’s lesser but still good defense and the addition of Nick Johnson as a yet another very capable guard still leaves them in a very good spot. Those two, to go along with Isaiah Cousins, Derrick White, Jaylen Adams and the impending return of a CSL all-star Russell Westbrook, this team is still absolutely loaded at guard.
While the Kings have been just mediocre lately, just 6-6 in their last 12 games, I’m going to chalk that up to more of just experimenting than a sign of future things to come. Bt has been testing out some different lineups and is also preparing for a Westbrook return. Can they get through the rest of the crowded top of the Western conference though? After losing to the champs last year in the second round, I think they’re poised to be once again in the thick of it in the top of the Western.
Verdict: CONTENDER
3. Oklahoma City Thunder
Even if Andrew might not think all too highly of me, respect is given where it’s due. After going on an amazing run last year as the 4th seed to win the title, Andrew and his Thunder have been even better this regular season. A team filled with elite talents on both ends of the floor, OKC is set up to make another run.
A dynamic backcourt featuring Thompson and Bledsoe, (though Andrew has been playing Thompson off the bench in favor of the better defender Jordan McRae), to go along with elite defenders on the wing and a dominant big man in Stanley Johnson, the Thunder are balanced and deadly across their rotation. Their biggest weakness seems to be depth, but that isn’t really an issue come playoff time.
Andrew has figured out his strategies needed to compete at the highest level in the CSL. Of course this is a team to take seriously, and seems poised to battle to become the first ever back-to-back CSL champion.
Verdict: CONTENDER
4. Boston Celtics
Finally, we get to take a look at a team from the Eastern Conference. Dennis has his Celtics in the thick of it every year in the East, however hasn’t gotten the job done come playoff time. After a 4-1 loss to Miami last year in round two, Dennis has managed his team to lead the Eastern Conference so far this season. Is he poised to finally make the move and make the CSL Finals?
They’re led by second-year guard De’Aaron Fox, who despite being so young, seems primed to be the centerpiece on a championship contender. He’s terrific offensively and surprisingly good defensively. Two-guard Isaia Cordinier is also a great defender, but the frontcourt leaves a bit to be desired on that end of the court for a potential title team, leading to a team that just doesn’t stack up defensively with the other title contenders.
Boston is set up to win both now and in the future, with their core guys all under the age of 24, as well as two potential top 10 picks with the Clippers and Hornets picks. They could have made moves to win-now and put themselves in position to be a title favorite, but chose to stay put and take the long-view. As a result, they’re not a true title contender to me. They’re still to be taken seriously though, and will absolutely be no pushover come playoff time.
Verdict: PRETENDER
5. Miami Heat
After a tough loss in the CSL Finals last season, Silo has the Heat back in contention for another chance to win it all. Loaded with talented players and a dynamite offense, the Heat are dangerous and seem to me like the top contender from the East once again.
They’re led by Ben Simmons who’s been one of the top players in the CSL this season, just a dominant offensive player across the board despite being a poor outside shooter. Miami has plenty of good shooters around him however, as their 40% three-point shooting has them atop the league in points per game by nearly 5 points a game.
Defensively, like Boston they struggle a bit in comparison to other contenders. A few of their key players, Simmons, Kyle Kuzma, Dennis Smith, PJ Washington and Tony Carr aren’t very good defenders. While they can outgun any team, when things tighten up in the playoffs and they’re playing the elite, will they be able to get away with max zoning everyone?
It worked well enough last year to get themselves to the CSL Finals and they are absolutely stacked with offensive talent at all positions. This team to me is definitely a contender and the favorite to make it out of the east once again.
Verdict: CONTENDER
6. Houston Rockets
Despite starting the season just 11-13, Biz and the Rockets have rebounded to put themselves in the mix as a top team heading into the playoffs. They fit Phil Jackson’s “40 wins before 20 losses” rule as he pointed out, so does that make them a true contender?
A huge early season trade to bring in Kemba Walker fortified the Rockets and gave them one of the most interesting and dynamic backcourts in the league. While they struggled immediately after the deal, they found a combination that works with Kemba, the natural point at the 2 and Malik Monk, the natural two-guard at the point. It allows Monk to create and limit the turnovers, and they get Kemba’s better defense at the two.
With Monk being a poor defender, they have to hide him defensively and they done a solid job so far this year. Filled with decent enough defenders throughout their rotation, they’re not enough of a liability defensively to prevent them from being a true contender. Additionally, they’re the best shooting team we’ve listed so far. Great shooting with solid enough defense should be a recipe for success.
An incredibly hot stretch should put them right in the mix, however, they’re still looking up at some real powerhouses. While Houston does have the star power with Karl Anthony-Towns, Monk and Kemba, I just don’t know that they have enough juice throughout the rest of their rotation to take down the top dogs. As a result, purely because of being in a really tough conference, I’m not sure they have enough to be a true contender.
Verdict: PRETENDER
2028
