NBA News: 10 Things to Watch This Basketball Season
This NBA offseason was a wild ride for fans.
We saw the best player in the game head home to Cleveland, and one of the best scorers in the league suffer a major leg injury at the FIBA Tournaments. A lot of coaches and players are with different teams this season.
Here are the Top 10 storylines for the 2014-15 NBA season:
1. The New Cleveland Cavaliers
There's no denying that the Cleveland Cavaliers had the best offseason. Adding the best player in the game, LeBron James, will help, but adding Kevin Love was also a great addition. Point guard Kyrie Irving should have his best season yet with the four time Most Valuable Player James and dominant power forward on the floor with him. The Eastern Conference isn't looking very good right now, so the Cavaliers are heavy favorites to come out on top.
2. San Antonio Spurs Look to Repeat
The San Antonio Spurs have been one of, if not the best sports franchise in recent memory. Since 1999, the Spurs have won five NBA Championships, including last season. However, this franchise has never been able to win two titles in a row. With Kevin Durant out until December, the West should be the Spurs to win, again. Notable players such as Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard will all be back.
3. Indian Pacers Without Paul George
The Pacers were the No. 1 seed last season with their elite defense. David West and Roy Hibbert don't score much, but they get stops. Paul George has been by far the best offensive player for the Pacers, but he is due to miss this entire season with a leg injury. This Pacers team has increased their win total the last five consecutive seasons, but this will be a tough task without their All-Star George with them. Coach Frank Vogel has a lot in store for this team.
4. New-New York Knicks
Former New York Knicks player Phil Jackson is now the team president and Derek Fisher is the head coach. Finally, it appears as if owner James Dolan is letting management do their job. Implementing the triangle offense has been off to a rough start this preseason, but Carmelo Anthony and J. R. Smith will have to adjust. The Knicks still have a lot to fix on defense, as well.
5. Miami Heat Without LeBron James
With James on the team, the Heat were dominant, almost perfect. The Heat won the Eastern Conference and made it to the NBA Finals all four seasons with James. But can that success continue? The Heat rewarded Chris Bosh with a huge contract, and Dwyane Wade decided to stay, as well. The Heat will be in for a tough test without James. Time for Mario Chalmers to show up.
6. Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is the "next big thing" in the NBA. The No. 1 overall draft pick from 2012 stands 6-foot-10, 220 pounds, and he hit 77 percent of free throws last season. Davis was one of the best shot blockers in the league last season, all while averaging 20.8 points per game. His style of play strongly resembles Tim Duncan.
7.Oklahoma City Thunder Without Kevin Durant
The best scorer in the NBA, Kevin Durant, is expected to miss a lot of time because of his fractured foot. The Western Conference is extremely tough enough with teams like the Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies and Houston Rockets. Russell Westbrook will be the No. 1 guy in Oklahoma, and he could be an early MVP candidate.
8. Derrick Rose's Health
The Chicago Bulls have a great defensive team led by head coach Tom Thibodeau. They also have the Defensive Player of the Year, Joakim Noah. Unfortunately, the Bulls had the worst offense last season, and Rose can't stay on the court. Rose has played just 49 total regular season games over the last three seasons, so many fans still have their doubts.
9. New Look Los Angeles Lakers
After a terrible disappointing 27-55 season, the Lakers brought in new head coach Byron Scott, new point guard Jeremy Lin and incoming veteran power forward Carlos Boozer. Kobe Bryant only played six games last season because of a terrible knee injury, and he's entering his 19th season. The Lakers have a lot of questions remaining heading into this season that will soon be answered. Lin and Bryant could be a lethal backcourt.
10. Los Angeles Clippers Continue to Improve
Since the 2008-09 season, the Clippers have increased their season win total every single season. This franchise is always viewed as the "other team in Los Angeles," but the Clippers have been the best L.A. team lately. The Clippers made it to the second round last season, much in part thanks to Blake Griffin and Chris Paul III. With Durant out for an extended period of time, this could finally be the season that the Clippers break through.
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