I want you to know that I forgive you. As Robin Williams famously (and repetitively) told a spiraling Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting,” it’s not your fault. The odds have simply been stacked against you. The World Series. The
I want you to know that I forgive you.
As Robin Williams famously (and repetitively) told a spiraling Matt Damon in “Good Will Hunting,” it’s not your fault. The odds have simply been stacked against you. The World Series. The NFL. High school playoffs. Waves. There’s a lot to digest right now.
So I won’t hold you in low regard for probably not realizing that the NBA season starts on Tuesday. Tuesday! As in 48 hours from this very moment! As in a full two days even before Halloween! As in … well I think you understand the concept of Tuesday.
I can’t put you at fault because, honestly, it totally snuck up on me, as well. I used to work for the NBA, I’m about as big a basketball junkie as still exists and even I’m not entirely ready for the regular season. But tip-off is inevitable, so why fight it? Let’s embrace it together and talk some hoops, shall we?
As far as offseasons are concerned, this was a relatively quiet one. I say relatively because NBA summers have become so dramatic that they now send soap opera writers into fits of both disbelief and jealousy. All this summer had to offer was the 14th edition of “Dwight Howard: A Nomadic Lifestyle” and the Boston Celtics choosing to go all hipster and move to Brooklyn.
But as training camp has come and gone and the final preseason games have been checked off the schedule, let’s take a serious look at what the 2013-14 season should have in store.
– The Lakers will open the year without three of their five starters from last season, with Howard having made the unprecedented decision to spurn L.A. and head for Houston, Kobe Bryant recovering from a torn Achilles and Metta World Peace now a member of the Knicks. While L.A. finished strong after an abysmal start, it was only good enough for the 7-seed and an uncompetitive sweep at the hands of the Spurs in the first round of the playoffs. They are now less talented, but this team is actually better suited to run the typical Mike D’Antoni offense than last year’s club. If Steve Nash gives the team 75 percent of what he still had two years ago in his final Phoenix season, he can team with Pau Gasol to be competitive until Kobe returns. Jodie Meeks, Nick Young, Shawne Williams and Wesley Johnson can space the floor and pop threes, just as D’Antoni loves to do, but even the most optimistic realist can see that the Lakers are no better than a playoff also-ran and first-round appetizer for some of the West’s top tier teams.
– Speaking of the West’s elite, the Oklahoma City Thunder will be eyeing a return to the NBA Finals after losing Russell Westbrook during last year’s playoff run. But the Thunder lost sharp shooter Kevin Martin and didn’t add much, so even with Kevin Durant in MVP consideration, OKC will have a tough time treading water with the best in the West.
– The Rockets hope to be on par with other title contenders and the Howard-James Harden duo is one of the best inside-outside combos in the game. Jeremy Lin, Patrick Beverley and Chandler Parsons give the team more perimeter flexibility and if coach Kevin McHale can get the most out of Howard, Houston will win a lot more than the 45 games it did last season.
– The Timberwolves and Pelicans (yes, the New Orleans Pelicans) are the West’s young up-and-comers, but I think both are another year from the playoffs. While the Nuggets and Grizzlies will each take a step back, they’re not ready to completely bottom out. The Warriors and Clippers are the wild cards, each feeling like a Finals run is doable. For one of them, I think those ambitions are realistic.
– The Spurs are still the Spurs. Yes, they’re older, as we say every year. But they still have Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Gregg Popovich. That’s all you need to know.
– The East is less interesting from a competitive standpoint. It’s going to come down to three teams – the Heat, Pacers and Bulls. Chicago is back with former MVP Derrick Rose and Indiana has the league’s next superstar in Paul George, but who is really picking against LeBron James?
– Brooklyn has become Boston East after Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry were traded to the Nets. Despite combining with Deron Williams, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez, the Nets can’t compete athletically. They’ll need to play the role of the bullies and I think LeBron is a little too mature now for that tactic to be effective.
– I’m a huge Knicks fan, but I see a major downward trend this season after last year’s 54-28 record. I might just be keeping my expectations low so as not to be disappointed, but New York had a lot go right last season and is due for some course correction. They look more like a 44-win team this time around.
– The 76ers will be actively trying to be the worst team in NBA history. Philadelphia is eyeing the 2014 draft and doing everything in its power to be young, stupid and uncompetitive. It should be a sight to see, in a sort of car accident/Amanda Bynes kind of way.
– Once the Finals roll around, I expect the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers to be the last two teams standing. The biggest obstacle the Clippers have had to overcome in the past couple seasons has been head coach Vinny Del Negro, who is now out the door in favor of Doc Rivers.
That’s like Forrest Gump shattering his leg braces and finally running for the first time. With Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, DeAndre Jordan and Matt Barnes already in the mix, the Clippers added Jared Dudley, JJ Redick, Antawn Jamison, Darren Collison and Byron Mullens. They’re ready.
Hopefully, now so are you. Enjoy the NFL, World Series and HHSAA action, but be sure to leave some room for the NBA.
