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3 weeks ago
What I’m astir looking guardant to
If we’re lucky, a afloat patient run from Victor Wembanyama. He’s already shown flashes of his insane ceiling successful his erstwhile 2 seasons. He’s specified a difficult matchup pinch nan shot successful his hands, and connected defense, he changes nan full calculus of opposing teams’ schemes pinch his length. Jakub Frankowicz
From Wembanyama’s looming superstardom (he’s 7ft 5in now?!) to 18-year-old Cooper Flagg’s rookie spark, this play feels for illustration a generational crossroads. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s encore, Paolo Banchero’s breakout and Nikola Jokić’s quiet power each converge. The aged heads still matter, but nan convention now genuinely belongs to its twentysomethings: audacious, unpredictable and already rewriting nan hierarchy. Bryan Armen Graham
The revamped Atlanta Hawks, whose summertime waste and acquisition for Kristaps Porziņģis sent shockwaves crossed nan league. The mobility isn’t if nan unicorn large man will vibe pinch Trae Young, an unselfish constituent defender celebrated for scoring threes successful bunches; nan mobility is, erstwhile will Porziņģis autumn injured and really overmuch clip will he yet miss? Andrew Lawrence
The conflict of emerging contenders successful nan wide-open Eastern Conference. With Tatum and Haliburton sidelined pinch achilles injuries, aggregate teams will person an opportunity to prehend power. I expect much strength successful nan East now that earning a travel to nan NBA finals seems much attainable. AR Shaw
Biggest offseason development
The off-court issues pinch nan Los Angeles Clippers and nan allegations they circumvented nan net headdress to motion Kawhi Leonard. As specifications proceed to travel out, it leaves a achromatic unreality hanging complete nan squad and a convention until they reason their investigation. JF
Two earthquakes: Kevin Durant to Houston, and nan East losing Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton to season-long achilles rehabs. KD supercharges a massive, beingness Rockets core, while Boston and Indiana’s injuries fling nan East wide unfastened for New York, Cleveland and (my sleeper finals pick) Orlando. Secondary wave: Denver bolstering Jokić’s minutes pinch existent chair competence. BAG
Kevin Durant move to Houston was significant, fixed that nan league’s astir promising young squad now has 1 of nan champion scorers successful convention history connected their side. (They’d springiness up Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green and a number of draught picks in a grounds seven-team swap.) After having to stock nan shot pinch Devin Booker and Bradley Beal for truthful long, Durant, 37, tin get backmost to what he does best: being nan undisputed No 1 option. AL
Durant joining nan surging Rockets. Last season’s No 2 seed took nan biggest measurement guardant by adding nan league’s astir lethal scorer who will besides supply activity to a youthful group. The Rockets were bullied and ousted successful nan first information of nan playoffs by nan seasoned Warriors. But nan summation of Durant ensures that they will nary longer beryllium pushed astir successful their quest for a first NBA title since 1995. AS
Young subordinate to make nan superstar leap
If we presume that Wembanyama is already a superstar (which I do), my prime is Cooper Flagg, who has been connected nan radar of nan NBA since he had a now-mythical scrimmage arsenic portion of nan believe squad went toe-to-toe pinch nan USA’s men’s Olympic squad, pre-Paris. JF
Orlando’s Paolo Banchero. The scoring was already location for nan No 1 prime from nan 2022 draft. Add Desmond Bane’s spacing, Franz Wagner’s two-way glue and a meatier on-ball domiciled for nan 6ft 10in powerfulness forward. If Banchero tin trim nan midrange fare and make a location astatine nan stripe, he goes from All-Star to nan All-NBA first squad conversation. BAG
Wembanyama’s glabrous adventures successful China learning nan creation of warfare from Shaolin monks made headlines. But nan visit he made to spot Hakeem Olajuwon is nary little significant. Big men person been seeking retired nan Dream to study nan secrets of his devastating low-post crippled for decades. Wemby, though, is already applying those lessons while showing flashes of Shaq, Giannis and much NBA greats. Add each that pinch nan 2 inches Wemby grew complete nan summer, and what you person is nan makings of nan NBA’s adjacent apical superstar. AL
The Hawks’ Jalen Johnson averaged 18.9 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists earlier suffering a season-ending injury. With Porziņģis joining him successful nan Atlanta frontcourt, Johnson will person much one-on-one violative opportunities and a chance to summation his statistical averages. Look for nan dexterous guardant to person a breakout play and gain his first NBA All-Star appearance. AS
The astonishment package will beryllium ...
… nan Sacramento Kings. Domantas Sabonis is astir apt 1 of nan astir under-discussed players successful nan NBA, and while nan Kings person grounded to motorboat connected a number of occasions, this year’s version is filled pinch seasoned players who could make it activity nether nan correct system. JF
… nan Toronto Raptors. Scottie Barnes positive Brandon Ingram gives nan Raptors nan length, changeable creation and lineup versatility to skip nan play-in entirely. Immanuel Quickley’s gait and RJ Barrett’s downhill juice stabilize nan half court, while Darko Rajaković pulls nan strings of a top-10 defense. It won’t ever beryllium pretty, but it will beryllium effective. BAG
… nan Sacramento Kings. I know, I know, nan roster makes moreover little consciousness now that it did earlier nan last-minute pickup of Russell Westbrook. But remember: nan Wizards didn’t look for illustration they were going anyplace erstwhile Westbrook joined that squad 5 years ago, and each he did was lead them to a uncommon playoff berth and move Bradley Beal into nan league’s apical scorer while averaging a triple-double. I could easy spot Westbrook pulling disconnected nan aforesaid instrumentality pinch nan cap-crunched Kings, aka nan California Chicago Bulls. AL
… nan Philadelphia 76ers. Due to a disastrous play marred by injuries, nan 76ers person go an afterthought. Their large 3 (Joel Embiid, Paul George, Tyrese Maxey) only played 15 games together, but tin alteration nan dynamics of nan East if they tin stay patient this season. Combined pinch emerging young talent specified arsenic VJ Edgecombe, Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes, a patient Sixers squad will person capable firepower to make a heavy tally successful nan playoffs. AS
One bold prediction
The Lakers miss nan playoffs. Los Angeles’s extent remains an rumor and unless Deandre Ayton makes a leap, they’ll struggle pinch bigs arsenic well. Without different splashy midseason trade, I don’t spot this roster making nan tourney contempt their abundance of top-end talent led by LeBron James, Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. JF
The Thunder go nan 3rd 70-win squad ever. With a league-best defense, absurd extent and a patient Chet amplifying Shai’s late-game mastery, OKC steamroll nan regular play moreover while load-managing. Whether they tin drawback nan 2016 Dubs will beryllium an unfastened mobility until springtime. BAG
Steve Ballmer is forced to waste nan Clippers aft nan full no-show occupation debacle pinch Kawhi, who becomes a free agent. AL
Wembanyama will grounds nan first quadruple-double since Spurs fable David Robinson successful 1994. Wemby will score, rebound and artifact shots pinch easiness connected a nightly basis, but he’ll besides person a fewer games pinch double-digit assists. This season, he’ll execute a quadruple-double and attack a quintuple-double, a feat only accomplished by Wilt Chamberlin successful 1968. AS
Most Valuable Player
Jokić has won 3 of nan past 5 MVP trophies and vanished runner-up twice. With a style that will property good arsenic he starts his first afloat play since turning 30, it’s safe to presume he’ll beryllium a apical contender until Denver neglect to put a playoff squad astir him. JF
Anthony Edwards. Narrative, numbers and squad occurrence align. The Wolves’ continuity positive a top-five defense keeps them adjacent nan West’s acme and Ant’s improved changeable floor plan fuels a 29-6-5 statement pinch late-game résumé moments. Jokić will beryllium superior by metrics (and hamstrung by elector fatigue, again), while Edwards will nick nan balloting connected victories and vibes. BAG
Wembanyama. See above. AL
Wembanyama’s numbers will summation successful each statistical class connected his measurement to becoming nan NBA’s astir unguardable unit since Shaquille O’Neal’s 2000 MVP season. If nan Spurs negociate to triumph much than 45 games successful nan treacherous Western Conference, Wembanyama will usurp Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokić successful nan MVP race. AS
Eastern Conference playoff teams
New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks. JF
Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics. BAG
New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers. AL
New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics, Milwaukee Bucks. AS
Western Conference playoff teams
Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings, Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs. JF
Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, LA Lakers, Dallas Mavericks. BAG
Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, LA Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies. AL
Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Denver Nuggets, LA Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors. AS
Eastern Conference finals
Cleveland Cavaliers complete New York Knicks. JF
Orlando Magic complete Cleveland Cavaliers. BAG
Cleveland Cavaliers complete New York Knicks. AL
New York Knicks complete Cleveland Cavaliers. AS
Western Conference finals
Houston Rockets complete Oklahoma City Thunder. JF
Oklahoma City Thunder complete Houston Rockets. BAG
Oklahoma City Thunder complete Minnesota Timberwolves. AL
Houston Rockets complete Oklahoma City Thunder. AS
NBA finals
Houston Rockets 4-2 Cleveland Cavaliers. The Kevin Durant waste and acquisition was a immense scatter for a Rockets squad already connected nan rise. Durant’s ratio will let youngsters for illustration Şengün, Thompson and Smith Jr to still get their touches while giving nan squad a superstar. JF
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-0 Orlando Magic. Orlando’s magnitude and defense support each crippled tight, but Oklahoma City’s acquisition and half-court precision beryllium decisive. SGA masters nan matchups, Holmgren stretches Banchero and Wagner disconnected nan floor, and Jalen Williams’ late-game poise is capable to wrest MVP honors. Let nan dynasty chatter begin. BAG
Oklahoma City Thunder 4-2 Cleveland Cavaliers. Shai wins finals MVP again, but Donovan Mitchell shows grit and grace successful defeat. The dynasty talk starts successful earnest, and nan team’s young roster talks a bully crippled astir staying together. But egos and marketplace forces group disconnected nan beginnings of a talent and encephalon drain, making it that overmuch harder for nan squad to stay connected its winning rotation going forward. AL
Houston Rockets 4-2 New York Knicks. Coach Mike Brown will maximize nan Knicks’ violative capabilities and lead nan franchise to its first travel to nan NBA finals successful 26 years. The Rockets will coming 1 of nan tallest starting line-ups successful NBA history, posing a matchup nightmare pinch Amen Thompson (6ft 7in) astatine constituent guard. Durant’s scoring expertise and nan Rockets extent will beryllium excessively overmuch for nan scrappy Knicks to overcome. Once nan last buzzer sounds, nan Larry O’Brien title trophy will return to Houston for nan first clip since nan 1994-95 season. AS
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