NBA Showdown: Best teams of the 2020s

 Thanks to help with the formulas and calculations from Matt, my main card creator buddy and the undisputed master of bringing NBA Showdown into the modern age (including his awesome re-imagining of the game with offense/defense rather than speed/power), I went on a bit of a card creating binge. Like, a lot of cards from a lot of teams. And I want to share them with y'all!

I'm going to start with 234 cards from the 2020s -- I made 8 players per team, plus some scattered superstar cards here and there that seemed fitting from the past few years. I hope you enjoy, and let me know which teams were better/worse than you anticipated!

2020 Los Angeles Lakers (52-19, #1 Seed in West, NBA Champions)

Starting

2020 Milwaukee Bucks (56-17, #1 Seed in the East)

The Bucks were a colossal disappointment to this fan for their Bubble exit in the second round of the Eastern playoffs after cruising to the #1 seed in the regular season. Middleton and Giannis are an excellent duo, but the players around them (*cough* Bledsoe) were just too unreliable... but on paper, may that can all change!

2020 Denver Nuggets (46-27, #3 Seed in West)

The Nuggets made a good run in the Bubble, as we see Jokic near the 1000 point monster he's about to become (check back in below at 2022)... if Murray and MPJ come back healthy in 2023 to pair with 2022 Jokic, watch out for Denver!

Assorted 2020 Players

Frankly, I didn't make a lot of teams from the "Mickey Mouse" season, although I think the playoffs in the bubble was some of the most compelling basketball I've ever watched. I'll never forget being at my buddy Mikey's bachelor party in the rockies and watching Luka drain game winners against the Clippers, who felt like the favorites to me! Speaking of, the assorted star players I made had to include Kawhi ;)

2021 Milwaukee Bucks (46-26, #3 Seed in East, NBA Champions)

In 2021, my beloved Bucks took a step back from their regular season successes of 2019 and 2020, but it paid off in the playoffs -- NBA CHAMPIONS BABY!!! Finally, Giannis was able to silence the haters with an absolutely insane playoffs run, and his card reflects what a fantastic player he continued to be in 2021. There are two big differences between this team and the 2020 squad -- (1) upgrading Bledsoe for Jrue Holiday; (2) adding Bobby Portis as another awesome big man. These two in the starting lineup are HUGE for this Bucks squad, which is absolutely loaded!

2021 Phoenix Suns (51-21, #2 seed in West)

The Suns ended up in the second seed, but before long found themselves up 2-0 on Milwaukee and looking to close out their first ever NBA Championship. It didn't work out (Giannis is TOO GOOD), but this Chris Paul-led squad was an absolute unit in the playoffs until the wheels fell off.

2021 Utah Jazz (52-20, #1 Seed in West)

The Jazz were unfortunate in the playoffs, but they've got a legit "Big Three" in Conley-Mitchell-Gobert that's supported by very stellar role players!

2021 Brooklyn Nets (48-24, #2 Seed in East)

Purely on paper, this is the best NBA Showdown team that I've assembled in the 2020s, period. Frankly, they're competitive with the Warriors of 2016-17 as well. They're the only team I've seen (including the '17 and '19 Warriors) that have THREE 1000 point players in the lineup. 

2021 Philadelphia 76ers (49-23, #1 Seed in East)

The '21 Sixers are a wonderfully versatile squad, particularly with Ben Simmons' PG/PF eligibility. He can play the point or PF spot, allowing them to rotate between players like Green or Curry for the fifth spot in the lineup, depending on who they're taking on. Unfortunatley, in real life, it wasn't enough to overcome the Hawks because Simmons played more like a 180 pt player than a 880 pt player when the moment was at its largest... but that won't matter in Showdown!

2021 Los Angeles Clippers (47-25, #4 Seed in West)

The Clippers cruised in the regular season before turning it on in the playoffs... only for Kawhi to get injured and tank their chances of winning LA's second team its first title.

2021 Atlanta Hawks (41-31, #5 Seed in East)

Because of the run they went on in the postseason, even seriously pushing the Bucks in the Eastern finals after knocking off the #1 seeded Sixers in 7 games, it should not surprise me that this Hawks team looks so good on paper! 

Assorted 2021 Players

2022 Golden State Warriors (53-29, #3 Seed in West, NBA Champions)

The Warriors found their legs again, winning their fourth title in eight years behind their superstar Steph Curry and their revamped "lineup of death"... frankly, with scoring fire like these guys have, it's not a surprise! I love that Payton II is the other "star" on the team and he's frankly almost better off the bench for defense while the other players light it up. Curry-Pool-Thompson-Wiggins are all very capable of scoring 30.

2022 Boston Celtics (51-31, #2 Seed in East)

This is a team very near and dear to my heart! Unlike many of our readers, I'm not from Boston and not a Boston fan, per se. But I do know a couple of biased Bulls fans (managers of the Rangers in 30 for 30) that I consider great fans, and our friendship definitely has more NBA than MLB in it. After the Demar signing this offseason, these buddies were convinced the Bulls were a "top four team in the East." I said no way! (1) Bucks, (2) Sixers, (3) Nets, (4) Celtics, (5) Bulls and probably (6) Raptors, maybe (7) Hawks all better, I says. They staunchly disagree and, long argument shortened, we make a Panda Express bet on who finishes higher -- the Celtics or the Bulls.

I was nervous for a VAST majority of the year, as the Bulls jumped out to the #1 seed early and held onto it for a considerable portion of the season. But the Celtics really gelled around the midway mark and went on an absolute heater, jetting up the standings and finishing two games out of the #1 seed and FIVE games ahead of the #6 (read, not top four) seeded Bulls. Those two Panda Express dinners that I was awarded were excellent... and all thanks to these Boston Celtics!

2022 Phoenix Suns (64-18, #1 Seed in West)

I'm not sure how this team lost to Dallas, but it's devastating for Chris Paul's legacy. This team is absolutely loaded and looks like it's easily the best team on paper in the West.

2022 Miami Heat (53-29, #1 Seed in East)

On the flip side, I'm surprised this team ended up in the top eastern spot and shocked they pushed my Celtics to seven games. It just goes to show you what my Bulls fan friends already knew -- Jimmy Butler is definitely a top 15 player in the league (even if he isn't via points on his card ;)).

2022 Memphis Grizzlies (56-26, #2 Seed in West)

Tied for the best record in franchise history, this Memphis squad did it with a bit more dazzle and glam than the 'Grit and Grind Grizzlies of the early 2010s. JA Morant is the only "star" but that's all they need with so much great depth around him... although these cards are helped by everyone stepping up during the time that Morant was out with injury. Still, love to see a good Grizzlies team (especially since their throwbacks are some of the best unis in basketball)!

2022 Milwaukee Bucks (51-31, #3 Seed in East)

As a Bucks fan, I'm going to keep this simple -- Giannis almost carried them to another title while severely out-gunned, and if Middleton was healthy, this team stomps the Celtics and Heat, and I think it matches up extremely well with Golden State.

2022 Dallas Mavericks (52-30, #4 Seed in West)

All the proof you need that Luka is "that guy" is looking at this team and knowing that he dragged them to a Western Conference finals when, by all rights, they should've been bounced by the Jazz team below.

2022 Utah Jazz (49-33, #5 Seed in West)

Honestly, an embarrassing playoff performance to get knocked out by Dallas while Luka missed some games. They aren't as good as their 2021 squad, but there's still depth and starpower! I see why they're blowing it up after failing again.

2022 Philadelphia 76ers (51-31, #4 Seed in East)

While they were the four seed, they were tied with Boston and Milwaukee in record... frankly, getting Miami in the second round seemed easier than either of those teams too! But alas, another season were Embiid and Harden were unable to make a serious dent in the postseason, although they'll run it back next year. I do love Joel, as a fellow Shirley Temple stan.

2022 Toronto Raptors (48-34, #5 Seed in East)

My other favorite team is Toronto, born of being a giant dinosaur nerd and a team with an awesome dinosaur mascot coming into existence during my kindergarten days! I really enjoyed seeing this team come into its own last season and hope that Barnes can take another big step forward in 2023!

2022 Chicago Bulls (46-36, #6 Seed in East)

Injuries are ultimately what knocked the Bulls down to the six seed and getting hammered by the Bucks... but also the Bulls were *never* good against the top teams last year (I know they were 2-20 against playoff teams in April). Still, this guard-heavy squad - seriously, they were playing Demar at the FOUR most of the year - was a handful during the grind of the regular season and I'm excited to see how they follow it up in 2023.

2022 Denver Nuggets (48-34, #6 Seed in West)

Outside of the MVP, this team suuuuuuucks... not a surprise the Warriors destroyed them in the first round. Bigger question is who did more to carry their team in 2022 - Luka or Jokic? Either way, if you slot in the 2020 cards for Murray and MPJ (both out with injury in 2022), suddenly this looks like a contender for best team in the West!

2022 Minnesota Timberwolves (46-36, #7 Seed in West)

The TWolves celebrated winning the play-in like they won the West, and I don't blame them with how putrid the team has been the last several years. With Gobert joining the squad in 2023 and the Jazz in free fall, maybe they move up in the standings next year (but good luck with the Clippers and Lakers also getting healthy, the Nuggets regaining health, etc.)

2022 Brooklyn Nets (44-38, #7 Seed in East)

What an absolute mess for this seeming contender, especially after assembling the best "on paper" basketball team of the 2020s the prior season. The first three games of the Boston series were very tight, but in the end, this dysfunctional team just couldn't crack it... and now both stars may be shipped out before 2023 even begins!

2022 New Orleans Pelicans (36-46, #8 Seed in West)

Speaking of re-gaining health, I love how the Pelicans went in on CJ McCullom to set themselves up very nicely for the 2023 return of Zion Williamson. Seriously, just plop that 2021 Zion card above into this lineup and it looks like a legitimate contender (much more so than Minnesota, I'm sorry to say).

2022 Charlotte Hornets (43-39, #10 Seed in East)

So they lost in the play-in round, but I wanted to make this team more than making a worse re-do of the Hawks. They've got some fun players to build around for the future, but are definitely a move or two away. It's also hilarious to me that, technically, the Hornets are a "Big Three" team with the three star cards from Ball-Bridges-Harrell. Something tells me that will NOT be happening again in 2023.

2022 Cleveland Cavs (44-38, #9 Seed in East)

When HEALTHY this was a legit contender for the 5 or 6 seed... so much to love about this young Cavs team, and considering how many readers from Cleveland we have, I wasn't going to leave them hanging!

Assorted 2022 Players

Well, I hope you've enjoyed this post! I know we're more MLB than NBA here at the blog, but I'm hoping to bring some more of these posts to you about teams from the 2010s, 2000s, 1990s and 1980s! Let me know what team you want to see next!