# SLEEPER: Which Eastern and Western Conference Team Could Be A SURPRISE Championship Contender

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-nba-daily-podcast-on-the-national-basketball-association-217331/sleeper-which-eastern-and-western-conference-team-could-be-a-surprise-championship-contender
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-nba-daily-podcast-on-the-national-basketball-association-217331/sleeper-which-eastern-and-western-conference-team-could-be-a-surprise-championship-contender.md
Podcast: [Locked On NBA – Daily Podcast On The National Basketball Association](https://stenobird.com/podcast/locked-on-nba-daily-podcast-on-the-national-basketball-association-217331)
Published: 2026-09-02T04:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-nba/
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pdrl.fm/24ecd9/lockedon.simplecastaudio.com/34cc63d8-5d65-4225-ba1a-8d0a09eb5218/episodes/e24b4361-b469-4f38-be61-a9e81b2fa197/audio/128/default.mp3?aid=rss_feed&awCollectionId=34cc63d8-5d65-4225-ba1a-8d0a09eb5218&awEpisodeId=e24b4361-b469-4f38-be61-a9e81b2fa197&feed=XThpxTzR
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/locked-on-nba-daily-podcast-on-the-national-basketball-association-217331/episodes/sleeper-which-eastern-and-western-conference-team-could-be-a-surprise-championship-contender
Duration seconds: 1889

## Resource

Eastern Conference race wide open as Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors emerge as this season’s potential shock contenders. Could Kawhi Leonard’s return to Toronto alongside Scottie Barnes push the Raptors back into elite territory? The hosts break down why the Hawks, with new defensive stoppers like Lu Dort and scorers including CJ McCollum, might have all the ingredients for a surprise playoff run—even if top-tier star power seems in short supply. Over in the Western Conference, Denver Nuggets look to silence doubters despite criticism of their depth, as Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray anchor a lineup hoping for a healthy Aaron Gordon and a bounce-back from Christian Braun. The Minnesota Timberwolves also make a case for a breakthrough behind Anthony Edwards and newly acquired LaMelo Ball. Plus, a spirited debate: With league parity at an all-time high, could as many as 11 Eastern teams realistically claim Finals aspirations?

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