The zaniness of the NBA looks ready for a new season, with an imminent Chris Paul trade or a lofty buyout as the last domino of a chaotic summer. Every year, the NBA product offers fans and writers alike the opportunity to eat crow. The NBA also gives us great theatre and there are many top NBA storylines.
Five Intriguing Storylines of the 2019-2020 Season
Honorable Mentions
There are not enough words in Webster’s Dictionary to describe the emotional pendulum the NBA gives us each season. It seems the anticipation of the league builds on a higher echelon with each year.
The Dallas Mavericks Playoffs Potential
Dallas Mavericks fans, you finally have a roster worth a playoff prediction. Dirk Nowitzki is resting somewhere with his stomach poking out relieved he won’t have to risk breaking his back putting Dallas in postseason contention. Rick Carlisle has Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Doncic at his disposal.
Regardless of what you think about the outcome of Dallas’ free agency, the two key pieces are young and savvy enough to wreak havoc on the lower levels of the Western Conference playoff picture. It’s not only Mavericks fans who are confident in the two European studs. Five Thirty-Eight projects Dallas as a seventh seed in the playoffs.
For what it’s worth, last summer the ESPN affiliate correctly projected the Toronto Raptors to win the NBA championship. There are plenty of reasons to be excited about the young core in Dallas. Doncic, early in the season, put Dallas on his back and had the eventual lottery-bound squad in the playoff picture with a better record than the Houston Rockets.
Add in NBA all-star Kristaps Porzingis, and Dallas has the potential for its first playoff berth since 2016. Between the unpredictability of Doncic on offense and the balanced play of Porzingis on both sides of the ball, Dallas is to be respected.
The efficient shooting of Seth Curry is dangerous considering Doncic didn’t have a reliable marksman hanging in the corner. Dwight Powell, Maxi Kleber, and Boban Marjonivic, all fit with their respected strengths. Jalen Brunson‘s potential as a top backup point guard is promising.
Dallas is in a position for NBA playoff relevance. The mere idea of playoff success is goo-goo eye inducing for Mavs fans everywhere.
The Next Step for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis Antetokounmpo, as an honorable mention in NBA discussions, is insane. In light of the wacky offseason activity rivaling the infamous summer ’16, the Milwaukee Bucks aren’t a “sexy” talking point. Antetokounmpo is on a campaign to remind everyone he isn’t at the peak of his powers.
“But I think I can get better. I think I am at 60 percent of my potential, as good as I can be. I just want to be better. If I am in the same situation again, react better, play the game better, play better, execute better.”
The 2018-2019 regular season MVP confidently told ESPN he isn’t a finished product. There is no question he is unstoppable in transition. However, despite attempting a career-high 203 three-point shots, the room for improvement in the said department is a problem for Antetokounmpo. The next obvious point of emphasis is his perimeter shooting.
For a team with only one superstar, the Milwaukee Bucks need its franchise player to keep the defense honest from distance. Antetokounmpo, a career 27 percent shooter from deep, is talented and driven enough to improve upon such a low percentage.
From a young teenager who didn’t know the beauty of the smoothie to an MVP of a season, Giannis Antetokounmpo is primed for another successful campaign.
The Top NBA Storylines
The Reshuffling of the Eastern Conference
A year after LeBron James left the Eastern Conference he dominated since 2011, the window of opportunity is even more open after Kawhi Leonard‘s departure from the NBA champion Toronto Raptors. According to Oddshark, the Milwaukee Bucks are +500 to win the 2020 NBA title, which is good enough for third in the league.
The plethora of players who moved teams is astonishing.
Al Horford, (the Joel Embiid stopper) signing with the Philadelphia 76ers holds the most weight for at least this season. Consequently, the Horford for Enes Kanter swap leaves the Boston Celtics in a dreadful situation come playoff time.
Danny Ainge‘s signing of Kemba Walker balances out the telegraphed departure of Kyrie Irving. The Boston Celtics are running in place while the rest of its conference counterparts look to overlap the once promised team.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Butler got his wish to be the first option with the Miami Heat. Speaking of polarizing players, Pat Riley shipped Hassan Whiteside to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Miami Heat are also rumored to be interested in Chris Paul.
The Grand Prize of the NBA
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The Brooklyn Nets are the ultimate winner of the Eastern Conference, for at least the next two to three seasons. Not only did they acquire 2016 NBA champion Kyrie Irving, but Sean Marks‘ hard work also paid off with the signing of two-time NBA champion, 2013-14 regular season MVP, two-time NBA finals MVP, Kevin Durant.
Regardless of injury status, the failure of obtaining Kevin Durant was the final nail in the coffin for the New York Knicks and the delusion of the “stars want to play in Manhattan” narrative. Despite suffering an Achilles injury in Game Five of the NBA Finals, the setback doesn’t doom the superstar’s career.
Durant’s game isn’t centered around hyper-athleticism nor do the Nets expect first-team defensive expectations. The Nets are NBA Finals bound if Durant returns to at least 80 percent of his former self.
Stephen Curry and the New Look Golden State Warriors
Stephen Curry is the sole unanimous regular-season MVP in NBA history. There is no debate or statistic which can be used to take away such a historic feat. The Golden State Warriors weren’t a product of Kevin Durant. These facts are forgotten after Kevin Durant dominated headlines and NBA Finals as a Warriors, winning two Finals MVPs in three seasons.
Only trailing last season’s MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Curry is +500 per Odd Shark to win the 2020 regular season MVP. Even if fellow Splash Brother Klay Thompson is out for the season, the Warriors aren’t out for the count. Since his babyface Davidson years, Curry hasn’t had the opportunity to fire shots without disregard for his teammates.
Despite the concerns for the offense sans Durant, the defense still has Draymond Green as its anchor. Perhaps Green is back to his old self with the elephant finally vacated from the room. A hungry Draymond Green is a formidable opponent, especially when his back is against the wall.
The Warriors’ brain trust didn’t lose Durant in vain. Although the first reaction was head scratches and arched eyebrows, the acquirement of D’Angelo Russell has multiple possibilities. There is a legitimate chance he performs at an all-star level, thus allowing Curry to play off-ball guard for decent stretches during the regular season.
If Russell does indeed give off all-star vibes, perhaps, the Warriors trade him for multiple role players to supplement a starving for good players bench. Therefore, the fit doesn’t ultimately matter in the grand scheme of things in regards to the Warriors’ future.
What To Think About the Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets are the team in pickup basketball who gets beat three consecutive times and still keep its base players.
However, in an obviously desperate attempt at literally reaching for stars, Daryl Morey traded for the triple-double machine, Russell Westbrook. On paper, the dynamite dynamic of Westbrook paired with the methodical offense of James Harden makes for “fun” basketball.
On the court, there are some obvious red flags, which are worrisome for Rockets fans. No matter the athleticism Westbrook possesses, he doesn’t exactly fit with Harden’s play style.
Westbrook will give James Harden some relief in terms of pressuring the defense and creating a legitimate force in transition. Chris Paul, the better choice for a halfcourt offense, isn’t built for the chaos Westbrook brings to the game.
Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said D'Antoni was offered a $5 million one-year extension with an additional $1 million per round he won. The base salary is a slight raise, but under the current market of recent veteran coaches (Stotts, Casey, etc.)
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) May 30, 2019
Not only did Daryl Morey give up on Chris Paul with three years left on his deal, but the star obsessed GM also fired all of Mike D’Antoni‘s coaching staff. The Rockets owner, Tilman Fertitta, has yet to give the head coach with a career 623 wins an extension. The writing is on the wall, this is a make or break season for the D’Antoni era.
The regular season isn’t where Houston should have a problem. It’s the playoffs. Westbrook has not gotten out of the first round for three seasons. Houston has a lot at stake this season, the run it back squad is in peril, especially in how they deal with the imminent issues moving forward.
Zion Williamson and the Other New Orleans Pelicans
When the media is hyping you up as the biggest prospect since LeBron James came out of high school, you know the pressure is real. Zion Williamson is an out-of-this-world rookie with much expectations already planted by NBA media.
If Five Thirty-Eight’s prediction comes to fruition, the New Orleans Pelicans will win 43 games next season. For a team void of a superstar and a core of players who failed to make the playoffs with LeBron James as its best player, the doubt is real and deserving. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, respectively, aren’t minus players, although their league status is in question.
Sure, the addition of lethal sharpshooter J.J. Redick bodes well for the locker room and on-court situations, but the success is dependant on the hype at least somewhat translating into reality for Zion Williamson. If Ingram and Ball failed to sniff the playoffs, despite James averaging an impressive 27 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists as a 34-year-old small forward, why think they can do it with a rookie?
Nonetheless, the team is already an NBA League Pass darling and Williamson’s presence only adds to the fun product. The New Orleans Pelicans fans grieving process of losing Anthony Davis is cut short after getting a shiny new superstar potential of a player.
Jrue Holiday, at least according to David Griffin, is the main player of the Pelicans. In terms of defense and overall ball movement, this may be true, but the narrative of the league doesn’t seem symmetrical with the views of Griffin. Either way, Holiday is a pro’s pro who’s play won’t waver due to league expectations.
Zion Williamson is the face of the Pelicans in the league’s eyes, and quite possibly, the face of the league in the near future.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers Rivalry
The Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers have never had a significant rivalry as the historical matchup is a majorly slanted towards the Lakers. It seems when the Clippers are figuring it out, the Lakers are at the bottom of the crab barrel and vice versa. The last time both the Staples center roommates were in the playoffs together was 2006.
The Lakers and its fans were sure Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard was going to be in purple and gold by free agency’s end. However, despite the fake sources and bold proclamations from NBA morning talk show heads, Leonard chose the Clippers. Leonard’s influence also caused a massive trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder for Paul George and a multitude of picks.
The Lakers and Clippers represent two sides of the team-building spectrum. On one end, you have the Clippers; a team with a healthy front office and a franchise void of dysfunction. The Lakers, are a product of dumb luck and lean on its history.
This is not to say the Lakers aren’t a formidable team in the 2019-2020 season but between the bizarre exit of Magic Johnson and the ridiculous stories of Rob Pelinka, it’s hard not to look at the LA franchise with a slant eye.
No matter how you look at the two opposite franchises, it’s apparent they are the talk of the league.
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