Travis Marmon
The NBA season began on Tuesday, which feels remarkably fast after last year’s lockout-delayed start. Despite this, a lot has happened in four months. Now that LeBron James finally has that elusive ring, we can actually focus on the rest of the league. As a fan of the Detroit Pistons, a team that will probably win less than 35 games and will only be on television here when they play Cleveland, these are the stories that I am most looking forward to in the 2012-13 season.
The Brooklyn Nets
After spending the last few years as a laughingstock, all eyes have suddenly turned to the Nets after their move from New Jersey in the offseason. With new uniforms, a new location and a brand-new arena, will the Nets make some noise in the East?
Probably not. While the team has a talented corps in Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez, they have done little to improve after a 22-44 season. Their one advantage? The Atlantic division is utterly mediocre. The Celtics will win it, but everything else is up in the air, especially with the Knicks losing Amare Stoudemire for six whole weeks.
The Los Angeles Lakers
The Oklahoma City Thunder may have swept the Lakers in the Western Conference semifinals last season, but LA went all-out in the offseason to craft possibly the hungriest team in the league. A starting lineup of Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace may be terrifying on paper, but it will take time for chemistry to build between them, and they may be too old to go deep in the playoffs.
Who Will Challenge Miami
in the East?
The Heat have represented the Eastern Conference in two consecutive Finals now, and they’re heavy favorites to do it again. After all, who is going to stop them? The Boston Celtics made a key signing in Jason Terry and could have some talented rookies up front in Jared Sullinger and Fab Melo. But last year may have been their best shot for the time being, as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett are simply getting too old.
The Chicago Bulls have the deepest all-around team, but without Derrick Rose at 100 percent they have slim chances; just look at how they crumbled in the playoffs after he went down.
My choice to knock off Miami is the Indiana Pacers, who play unbreakable defense and have a great coach in Frank Vogel. But those hopes are in danger if leading scorer Danny Granger can’t get past his knee pain, which has him out indefinitely at the moment. Will somebody please step up in the East?
Let’s not forget stories such as the James Harden trade to the Rockets and rookies Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist trying to improve terrible teams.
With a full slate of games again, there is a lot to watch out for in the upcoming season. The NHL remains locked out, so spend your weeknights watching basketball this winter. It’s something to do while you’re cooped up in your room and hiding from the snow.
Also, don’t forget that the college season starts next week.