by Kurt Jon Lapeciros |
It’s the most fantastic time of the year- for basketball fans.
While it has been only three months since the Milwaukee Bucks raised the Larry O’Brien trophy for its 2nd championship all time, these months felt like an eternity for sports enthusiasts and NBA fans. After the nail-biting 2021 NBA Draft, blockbuster sign and trades during the free agency, and the much-awaited pre-season, the long wait is finally over. If you have been craving for some NBA action for more than two months then worry not, because the NBA Season is back! Returning for its 75th season, the NBA has been much more competent and exciting than before. With its latest adjustments on and off the court, the league is expected to be at its full capacity than its preceding season last year.
With a whole new season comes new stories to tell. Here are five of the hottest storylines that will give a brand-new flavor for the upcoming NBA Season:
New and improved? The King and his entourage
Coming back for his 19th season, there is no denying that Lebron James’ longevity is the best among the NBA. After averaging 25 points, 7.8 assists, and 7.7 rebounds per game last season, the King and his crew bowed down to the Phoenix Suns on the 1st round of the playoffs. However, with all the adjustments during the offseason, the King and the Lakers Organization is now ready for redemption.
During the free agency, the Los Angeles Lakers immediately made their move and signed some notable players in Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, and Kendrick Nunn. However, their biggest acquisition by far would be the 2016-2017 Most Valuable Player Russell Westbrook.
With the formation of a new big 3 repping the purple and gold in James, Davis, and Westbrook, a lot of expectations has been cashed in early this season. However, their new and improved lineup has been quite disappointing during the NBA preseason as they lost all of their games as their new players struggle on the court.
Given all these things, there is only one question for us. Will the King take his throne back?
The League’s Vaccination Program and How it affects the game
With response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the NBA has been careful on their framework to provide entertainment to their fans all over the globe, and one of their responses is the NBA Vaccination Policy. With the policy, players are not required to be vaccinated but the NBA has given incentives with separate protocols for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. The biggest difference is that unvaccinated players could miss home games for the rest of the season, and that could affect a team’s performance all throughout.
With 95% of the NBA’s players already vaccinated, the league has prioritized the safety and well being of their players and staffs. However, for the 5% antivaxxed community, they could miss the chance to contribute to their teams’ success for the rest of the season.
Adding Fuel to the Fire: The Scorching Heat blazes the battlefield
During the 2019-2020 NBA season, the Miami Heat made an impressive bubble run after their unexpected finish as the runner up, bowing down to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals. For the next season, expectations have been raised and the bar has been set high, but their season run has been disappointing for the most part as they got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks during the 1st round of the playoffs. But this time, the Heat have made sure to add more fuel to the fire as their quest for redemption starts with a stronger, bolder, and a fiercer line up.
The acquisition of the championship point guard Kyle Lowry has been one of the hottest topics during the NBA offseason. The addition made a big 3 possible in Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Lowry for the South Beach. Moreover, additional role players have been included to the lineup with Markieff Morris and PJ Tucker to provide more depth in the offensive and the defensive end of the court.
With their impressive run in the preseason where they won 5 of their 6 games, things have been so far so good for the Heat. However, this leaves us the question of: Will they maintain their scorching heat, or will they start to cool off like last year? Nobody knows. But one thing is certain, the Heat is starting to blaze the battlefield.
Splashing and Swishing: The Return of the Splash Bro’s Other Half
It has been two full seasons and a pandemic since we last saw Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson play on the court. After suffering from a torn ACL on December 3, 2018 against the Hawks, the Warriors struggled in reaching the playoffs without the other half of the Splash Brothers for the succeeding seasons. However, the explosive guard is targeting this season for his return, and the Dubs could not wait any longer.
There is no doubt that watching the Splash Brothers play was quite a show. However, the team struggled for the most part after losing Thompson to the injury. With Steph Curry playing his best basketball season last year, Thompson’s return could amplify the Dubs’ firepower in the offensive end. With role players led by former all-star Draymond Green backing up the defensive side of the court, the Warriors could be title contenders once again.
It has been a long wait, but will Thompson’s return enough to launch the Dubs for another title run?
The Bucks backing a back-to-back
After defeating the Phoenix Suns for 6 games during the NBA Finals, the Milwaukee Bucks is surely a force to be reckoned with. With their outstanding run last season, they proved that the Deer should definitely be feared. But with all the changes around the association, are the Bucks still the title favorites?
Led by 5x all star and the last year’s Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks are eyeing for back-to-back championships as they still retained their core in Jrue Holiday and Khriss Middleton. However, the offseason and free agency has been quiet for the Bucks, as they lost role player PJ Tucker that has been one of the reasons for the team’s success last year.
Even if the team has been inactive in getting reinforcements for the new season, they are still contenders to win the Larry O’Brien. And that leaves us to the question: Will the fans chant Fear the Deer again, or will they fear that the deer won’t reach their desired goal?
Surely, the NBA opening night will give fans something to look forward to again. The new season could definitely provide a wide array of competitive basketball while giving fans the entertainment that they want. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy as we proceed on our trip down NBA lane.
Photo from CGTN News
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