The Upcoming NBA Season

[Lipoli390]

We're all Wolves fans on this Board, so not surprisingly we've been posting all sorts of thoughts on the Wolves - Rosas, hiring Ryan Saunders, the Wolves draft and free agent signings, etc. But I think most if not all of us are also NBA fans. As an NBA fan myself, I have to admit I'm excited about the upcoming season.

Why am I excited? Mainly because this is the first season in a long time when we don't have a preordained Western Conference champion. The Warriors lost Durant and, more importantly, have lost Klay Thompson until January or February. The Lakers thought they would step in as the new anointed super team when they acquired AD to team with LeBron. Meanwhile, they cleared additional cap space thinking they had a good chance of landing Kawhi. And if they didn't add him, they figured he might stay in Toronto.

Then the Clippers pulled a surprise. They not only signed Kawhi (which wasn't all that surprising); they also shocked the world by acquiring Paul George as well. From that moment it became clear that the Lakers would have at least one rival for an advance claim on the Western Conference title.

Not too long after that, we all heard the news that the Houston Rockets acquired Russell Westbrook. They now have a core of Westbrook, Harden and Capella along with some excellent complementary players in Eric Gordon and Tucker. So now I think it's fair to say we have at least three teams in the West who will challenge one another for the Conference title.

And you can't sleep on the Denver Nuggets either. When you look at how well they did last season and factor in their youth, you have to consider the possibility that they'll be in the mix to come out of the West.

Finally, let's not completely dismiss the Warriors. They had the best record in basketball with a core of Curry, Green and Klay. They will start the season with two of those three and they picked up D'Angelo Russell. They lost Iggy, but he isn't what he was back before Durant signed with the Warriors.

Yes, the Wolves appear headed back to the lottery next season. Yes, I'm disappointed that the Wolves failed to draft the guy I think they should have drafted and were unable to sign D'Angelo Russell. But as an NBA fan, I'm looking forward to seeing the emerging rivalries in the West and what should be a hotly contested battle for supremacy in the West. Meanwhile, the Sixers, Celtics and Bucks should be really good and could present a formidably challenger to the winner in the West.

As for the Wolves, I take some solace in knowing that we appear to have a front office that has it's act together, methodically implementing a coherent plan to build fo the future around KAT. I'm intrigued by what we might see from Culver, Nowell, Vonleh, KBD and Bell. While disappointed in Okogie's lack of offense development displayed in Vegas, he still brings it defensively and is young enough to give us hope he can eventually take a big step forward.

So there you have it. I'm looking forward to this upcoming NBA season. My expectations for the Wolves are limited. But my expectations for the League are high.

[thedoper]

I'm really down on this upcoming season because I feel like we're moving even farther away from teams like the wolves being able to compete. I feel like we will forever be a minor league franchise that grooms players for other teams. I don't see the owners making the necessary changes required for small market success because the league as a whole is still very profitable. The freedom of movement, free agency, etc are all great arguments for players in an open market. But the NBA is not a free market, it is heavily controlled to promote profitability. I've never hoped that fans start checking out of the league because I love the game, but this off-season is pushing me to the edge.

[Coolbreeze44]

I don't see any real reason to look forward to this Wolves season. And I absolutely loathe the big market franchises getting the help they always get to become relevant. But damn, I have to admit this upcoming season is about as compelling as I can remember. The two LA clubs are absolutely loaded. Houston has a great starting unit, maybe even the best. And of course Golden State will eventually get Klay back and that will make them dangerous. Health is going to play a major factor in the Western conference. I'd be a little leery if I was a Lakers fan because they are really rolling the dice on players staying healthy. If Houston had a different head coach I might favor them to emerge. But with Dantoni in place I see the Clippers winning the West and hopefully playing the Bucks in the finals. Although Philly is going to be very dangerous if they can stay healthy. Get used to the term "load management".

[WildWolf2813]

the regular season will be very compelling. It just sucks that of course, every team has a duo except us seemingly which I broke down earlier this offseason.

The season is about hoping someone can emerge to where Wiggins' role on this team is reduced.

[Monster]

the regular season will be very compelling. It just sucks that of course, every team has a duo except us seemingly which I broke down earlier this offseason.

The season is about hoping someone can emerge to where Wiggins' role on this team is reduced.

So...you are saying we are 1 player away? :)

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Saunders on the lowe podcast.

http://pc-cdn.espnradio.com/audio/303/2889/25370/3660983/lowepost_2019-07-15-082923-6427-0-120-0.128.mp3

[crazy-canuck [enjin:18955461]]

Omg, i burst out laughing at Ryan's sam cassell story.

[Monster]

Omg, i burst out laughing at Ryan's sam cassell story.

Yep that was great! Thanks for posting!

[apollotsg [enjin:6592798]]

Yeah - this will be a fun year (as a NBA fan) - the Timberwolves are in hoping for hope mode so lets see if this board can get excited about building something again like the days when we had a young Love and a roster full of potential and lots of draft picks (just shit GMs that screwed it all up)

Teams that will be exciting and/or fighting for the top of the heap:
Clippers - should be at the top - we will see how load management impacts their record
Mil - I think they stayed mostly the same - could be the last year before it gets blown up?
Phil - I think they get better by swapping Butler for Horford - still won't win it all with Simmons being the primary ball handler (I'm going to call it Rubio disease)
Hou - Not fun to watch but they win

Most overrated
LAL - I think they miss the playoffs again - their big three (lol Cousins is bad but the media wants to treat him like a big-time player) are all major injury in waiting lineup. They got the rest of the leagues scraps - I think Lebron has worn out his status as the top player and can no longer draw in even avg players.
Bos - They will make the playoffs in the east - but they are taking another step back. It's interesting to see everyone point to them as the model of how to rebuild but now evaluate them...
Brooklyn - Irving is going to disrupt another team and it's just him and Jordan (lol) this year - they will replace their coach by midseason. I don't think Durant comes back even close to what he was NEXT year.
GS - I recall having a discussion on this board after they got Durant and everyone pretty much wrote off the NBA for the next 5+ years. Well - it all ended. They will never be the same, this year I think they start off poorly and don't recover - will they be healthy by the playoffs? Lets see what their coaching staff can do with only 2 Hall of Famers on the team.
Mia - I think they fall apart - they gave up so much to get Butler - I hope they give up thier last bits to get Paul


They are moving up
Utah - they are a much better model for small market teams - smart drafting and trades with a mix of FA - I like what they are doing
Den - Up and coming team not in CA or NY so I will always root for them

Solid but not at the top
Por
Tor - takes a big step back but should easily make the playoffs
San

[Monster]

Yeah - this will be a fun year (as a NBA fan) - the Timberwolves are in hoping for hope mode so lets see if this board can get excited about building something again like the days when we had a young Love and a roster full of potential and lots of draft picks (just shit GMs that screwed it all up)

Teams that will be exciting and/or fighting for the top of the heap:
Clippers - should be at the top - we will see how load management impacts their record
Mil - I think they stayed mostly the same - could be the last year before it gets blown up?
Phil - I think they get better by swapping Butler for Horford - still won't win it all with Simmons being the primary ball handler (I'm going to call it Rubio disease)
Hou - Not fun to watch but they win

Most overrated
LAL - I think they miss the playoffs again - their big three (lol Cousins is bad but the media wants to treat him like a big-time player) are all major injury in waiting lineup. They got the rest of the leagues scraps - I think Lebron has worn out his status as the top player and can no longer draw in even avg players.
Bos - They will make the playoffs in the east - but they are taking another step back. It's interesting to see everyone point to them as the model of how to rebuild but now evaluate them...
Brooklyn - Irving is going to disrupt another team and it's just him and Jordan (lol) this year - they will replace their coach by midseason. I don't think Durant comes back even close to what he was NEXT year.
GS - I recall having a discussion on this board after they got Durant and everyone pretty much wrote off the NBA for the next 5+ years. Well - it all ended. They will never be the same, this year I think they start off poorly and don't recover - will they be healthy by the playoffs? Lets see what their coaching staff can do with only 2 Hall of Famers on the team.
Mia - I think they fall apart - they gave up so much to get Butler - I hope they give up thier last bits to get Paul


They are moving up
Utah - they are a much better model for small market teams - smart drafting and trades with a mix of FA - I like what they are doing
Den - Up and coming team not in CA or NY so I will always root for them

Solid but not at the top
Por
Tor - takes a big step back but should easily make the playoffs
San

The Nets have guys like Joe Harris, Jarrett Allen, Dinwiddie and a hopefully healthy Lavert. They can play Irving 60 games and if he doesn't undermine things they will still make the playoffs.

One reason i think the Lakers will stay legit is they added Danny Green. He is probably one of the best complimentary (not all star level) players Lebron has ever played with. I think other than injuries what I don't know about is their coaching staff. Do they get something out of the roster or hold them back? I have no idea and that's not knocking Vogel it's just gonna be a different animal coaching that group.