With the National Football League season underway and the Major League Baseball playoffs starting on Oct. 6, this is an exciting time for sports fanatics. To make things even better, the first National Basketball Association teams will start reporting to preseason camp on Saturday Sept. 26 with the first preseason game on Oct. 2.
Excitement is in the air and teams could not be more excited to get back on the court. With numerous offseason moves, a team seeking revenge for a Finals loss and the NBA Champions back in full strength, there are many questions to be answered.
For starters, the San Antonio Spurs are looking like their old selves with a few improvements. People forget that the Spurs were NBA Champions only two years ago, but suffered a heartbreaking first-round loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Clippers. But with the addition of superstar forward LaMarcus Aldridge and veteran big man David West—along with the “Big 3” of long standing Spurs forward Tim Duncan, guard Manu Ginobili and guard Tony Parker—the Spurs should be one of the top Western Conference challengers to the Golden State Warriors.
In the Eastern Conference, there should be a few more teams that can contend for the championship. Last season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were head and shoulders above the competition in the conference—largely due to the return of forward LeBron James, who teamed up with guard Kyrie Irving and forward Kevin Love. Those players alone could propel the Cavs into the Finals. Other teams that can make a run for the Eastern Conference title are the Chicago Bulls and the Atlanta Hawks. With a healthy guard Derrick Rose and center Joakim Noah—as well as veteran players guard Jimmy Butler and forward Pau Gasol—the Bulls can contend for championships for years. The Atlanta Hawks—who finished with a regular season record of 60-20 and always have a solid team—can win games at any time.
As for the Most Valuable Player race, guard Stephen Curry of Golden State is the front-runner, but we cannot count out Houston Rockets guard James Harden, New Orleans Pelicans Center Anthony Davis and—as always—LeBron James.
The season is always an exciting time for basketball fanatics everywhere; and with the unpredictability and overall drama that defines the NBA, this will be one interesting year.