The 2012-2013 NBA season has begun and LeBron James and the Miami Heat will look to defend their title.
For once the hometown Golden State Warriors look like they could have a solid team this year. But these are false hopes for the league’s best fans. The new management, blindly led by Joe Lacob, is ready to prove that trading for center Andrew Bogut was the best move for the franchise.
But growing health concerns revolving around Bogut and guard Stephen Curry provide reasons for fans to be pessimistic. Bogut is playing limited minutes for the Warriors and it seems that every day the Bogut trade for Monta Ellis looks like a bust.
Bogut has been shut down for this week because the coaching staff feels he is not fully recovered from his ankle surgery earlier this year.
Second year guard Klay Thompson is expected to have a breakout season after his great performance as a starter as a result of the Ellis trade.
Rookie forwards Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, and center Festus Ezeli will offer some of the best immediate talent from June’s draft class.
Off the bench, new contracts for respected veteran forward Carl Landry and guard Jarrett Jack will provide rest for the injury-prone starting five.
Landry offers some of the best bench talent in the league. In his first three games with the Warriors, Landry has averaged 20 points and seven rebounds in only 27 minutes per game.
And Jack appears to be a quality point guard off the bench. The lingering effects of Curry’s injury, however, leaves Jack with more responsibility than Curry to run the floor.
The latest stroke of bad luck came when highly respected guard Brandon Rush tore his ACL in the home opener on Nov. 2, putting him out for the season. Because of injuries the Warriors look like it will be another year not in the playoffs.
There are only a few teams that actually look like they could win the NBA Finals.
The Miami Heat are once again loaded with talent and they have added another key player by signing Ray Allen, who left the Boston Celtics after five great seasons that included an NBA title. The Heat look like they are once again the best team.
The Lakers made the biggest offseason moves by signing former Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash and trading for former Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. Along with guard Kobe Bryant and forward Pau Gasol, the Lakers form an impressive lineup that looks ready to win the Finals.
The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder will also be strong candidates to compete for the Finals. The Spurs have been the league’s most consistent team over the past 10 years. Even though they are led by older players, center Tim Duncan and guard Manu Ginobili, they still manage to end up with a top seed.
The Thunder are different because of their youth lead by forward Kevin Durant and guard Russell Westbrook. Even though the team surprisingly traded top sixth man guard James Harden to the Houston Rockets, the Thunder still look to have the best chance at beating the Lakers this year.
In the Eastern Conference, the playoff teams will likely be the Heat, Pacers, Knicks, Nets, Celtics, Hawks, Bulls, and 76ers. The Brooklyn Nets are primed for a good season after relocating from New Jersey. The Chicago Bulls would be a top team, but without injured point guard Derrick Rose, the team is at best mediocre.
In the Western Conference, the Lakers, Thunder, Spurs, Clippers, Mavericks, Grizzlies, Nuggets, and Jazz look like the playoff teams. Even though the Houston Rockets signed Jeremy Lin and traded for Harden, they will still be on the outside looking in.
The Eastern Conference Champion will once again be James and the Miami Heat. None of the other teams really pose a deep threat to them. The New York Knicks are always overhyped and the Celtics are aging quickly.
In the Western Conference, the Lakers and the Thunder will battle for a spot in the title. But the Thunder are just the better team. Durant should lead the Thunder to an epic win over the Lakers to reach the Finals.
It will be another rematch between the Heat and the Thunder. But this time Durant will lead his team to victory over the Heat because James & Co. will falter under the pressure of being repeat champions.
