ESPN takes stock of four teams that may return to the playoffs next season

When the season started, the most encouraging sign for all 30 teams was this: All teams on the start night were tied for first place on the start night.

Here are four teams that failed to make the playoffs last season but could make the playoffs this season:

1. Atlanta Hawks

Crazy but real--The Hawks entered the Eastern Conference Finals this decade. But they have never been close since that 2021 playoffs. This is because of the multiple factors involved in personnel and the Hawks' roster at that time had reached its maximum potential.

The team's core player Trey Young is still in the position. Meanwhile, the lineup surrounding him is almost completely different now, and it can be said that it is more promising. While the Hawks aren't often mentioned when the topic turns to the strong team in the East, it's not a very high requirement to ask the team to enter the playoffs.

The main reason is Jalen Johnson. He only played 36 games last season due to injury. Johnson almost burst out after averaging 18.9 points, 10 rebounds and 1.6 steals and showed signs of becoming a co-star who Yang needed. What is the good news? The small forward is ready to continue his previous performance.

Dyson Daniels was one of the league's best finds in the 2024-25 season, named Kia's best progressive player and ranked second in the Kia's best defensive player of the year. Speaking of defense, this is one of the problems with this team, Atlanta added Nikil Alexander Walker and suddenly, the backcourt had two defensive aces.

Young is the top and most creative passer in the league (the person who created the most assists in the 2024-25 season). Now he has Johnson, along with Christapus Porzingis and Zachari Rischer as shooting targets and finishers.

This team is heading in the right direction. If Young becomes a more efficient shooter, now with more teammates’ weapons, the playoffs are right in front of you.

2. The Dallas Mavericks

failed to enter the playoffs in the 2024-25 season was a mixed result. This is frustrating because it happened after the Luka Doncic trade and thus became the salt on the wound. But it is also a gift, because the Mavericks succeeded in getting the first pick and selected Cooper Flag, generally considered a generational genius through great luck.

This means that the Mavericks will enter the season with a good atmosphere. Anthony Davis is in good health (in prayer), Kyrie Irving is recovering from surgery with the goal of returning in the spring and the team has enough talent to fill the gap between now and then.

For example, the Mavericks did not require Dalius Russell to be the savior, despite his ability. But he should be able to play the point guard position for half a season. They hope he becomes more of a passer, giving Drake Livingston II, Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington a pass while creating open shots for Klay Thompson.

As for Davis, he might be committed to staying healthy and prove to Dallas fans that Doncic's deal does bring an elite player. He can also decompress the rare No. 1 pick Flag, who will start his rookie season with a playoff-level team.

There is still a lot to happen before we call the Mavericks a serious championship contender. But the playoff team? A healthy Carey and Anthony Davis will almost guarantee that.

3. The Philadelphia 76ers has become fashion for scolding the Philadelphia 76ers, and the process – forgive me for puns – has both damaged the team’s reputation and potentially injured one of their injured stars. There is no doubt that the Philadelphia 76ers, Joel Embiid and Paul George are low hang fruit, easily overlooked as contenders, and in some places are classified as a warning story after the disastrous 2024-25 season (24 wins).

But before applying pressure on Philadelphia, press the pause button first. Yes, they have been seen as laughing stocks for the past year, from Embiid’s misdecision to play for Team USA in the summer of 2024 rather than resting his body, to George was found to have knee surgery this summer, clouding his immediate future.

But let's look at this issue realistically and reasonably - if those two players are healthy, the Sixers are the top five or sixth team in the East, which is an acknowledged "if". Let's assume the best situation, Embiid, Kia MVP for the 2022-23 season, and George, an excellent two-way player, each playing over 50 games. This is not unreasonable.

If so, then the Phillies can act in a weakened East (no Jason Tatum or Terreth Halliburton). This assumes Embiid is back to the beast form and George is given trust after his only bad season in his career, returning to his best form. This is because the support lineup is solid: the contributions of Terreth Maxi, Kelly O'Bray, Jared McCallum (who could have been a Kia rookie), and the likes of rookie VJ Edgecom, who returned to the scene after a year of absence in the playoffs. If it weren't for injury

4. San Antonio Spurs

Everyone knows that the rising Spurs will enter the playoffs multiple times in a row. Just when to start this question. It looks like this will happen soon, probably just this season.

As long as Victor Vinbanyama is present for a full season, a place in the playoffs should be secured. His rise is truly breathtaking, he is an influential contestant on both ends and he is only 21 years old and just started. However, the efforts of the Spurs to be the top spot in the West weren't just dependent on him. The backcourt combination of

De Aaron Fox, Stephen Carter and Devin Vassel seems to be expected to achieve good results. While it's too early to call them the best three-back combination in the league, Carter looks ready for a bigger role. Other positions on the roster are players who can go further – including Jeremy Socharn and Kelden Johnson – Dylan Harper hopes to follow in the footsteps of Hunbey and Kassel to bring the Spurs’ Rookie of the Year for three consecutive years. The Spurs may still have some growth worries and lack playoff experience overall unless Harrison Barnes and a handful of other players. In addition, they are competing for the Western Conference. But Wemby gives them an edge over other teams on the edge of the playoffs.