By Charlie Miller, Staff Writer
New faces in new places have NBA fans buzzing about this upcoming season. What should we expect from Damian Lillard, known as one of the most clutch players in the league, now united with Giannis Antetokounmpo for the Bucks? How will Chris Paul mesh with the star-studded Warriors? Will Boston bounce back from their heartbreaking defeat in the Eastern Conference Finals? Many eyes will also be on top pick Victor Wembanyama and the young Spurs, as San Antonio opens their season against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. The league is packed with thrilling stars and intriguing teams, as each conference offers many things to watch.
Eastern Conference Preview
The Eastern Conference looks a bit wide open, as juggernauts like the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics are accompanied by talented squads in Philadelphia, New York and Miami. Philadelphia looks to get over their playoff struggles, and a lot hinges on how many minutes sharpshooter James Harden is on the floor. “The Beard” requested a trade back in June, but it is unknown whether he will be traded, sit out, or play. The Knicks, to the delight of their fans, who are desperate for their first title since 1973, will also be in the mix. They are led by star Jalen Brunson, player of the month last February who also averaged a solid 24 points per game. Teams like Miami and Cleveland also look to have a say in the postseason, while lower-seed and play-in hopefuls Chicago, Toronto, and Atlanta will look to build around young talent and avoid injury. The Bulls will miss Lonzo Ball, as he will spend this whole season rehabbing a bum knee. Of course, the favorite in the East must be overwhelmingly the Celtics, who are coming off two years of success, and with talent headlined by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and new addition Kristaps Porzingis, the Celtics are hungry for their record eighteenth title. Obstacles could arise in Porzingis’ health and the uncertainty at head coach, but the Celtics and Bucks are the top dogs in the Eastern Conference.
Western Conference
The Western Conference is perhaps the deeper conference right now, as the defending champion Nuggets and Nikola Jokic look to go back-to-back. Other teams will have a say about that, namely Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the LA Clippers. The Nuggets may have more competition this year, as young teams like the Kings and Thunder look to break out. Oklahoma City also has some nice depth, particularly Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, who earned his first career All-NBA first-team selection last season. Sacramento had two third-team selections at center and guard, and top 5 pick Keegan Murray was an NBA All-Rookie team member. Teams like Minnesota and Dallas have questions, but a certain upside. Luka Doncic is joined by the highly controversial Kyrie Irving, who is a wild card in every sense of the word. Brunson’s departure two years ago still stings, which will lead Dallas to perhaps monitor the chemistry and efficiency of Irving and Luka before considering a trade for more depth. Anthony Edwards will try and establish himself as a top player, as the prodigy from Georgia improved his shooting and awareness to complement his great talent. A common pick for the favorite in the Pacific division, and the West as a whole, are the elite Phoenix Suns. Despite some injury concerns, Kevin Durant still defies reality, and with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal by his side, they will prove to be a devastating threat. Both leagues have many elite teams, with plenty of others looking to ascend to that level.
