The NBA begins with many candidates and the eternity of a few Golden State Warriors who refuse to give up the throne
The Western Conference is wilder than ever: Kawhi’s return, Doncic and Ja Morant phenomena, Embiid-Harden in Philadelphia …
The NBA is back. Four months and three days after the umpteenth coronation of the Warriors, the American competition kicks off with two high-level matches: Philadelphia 76ers – Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers – Golden State Warriors.
They will be the first bouts of a total of 1,230 to be played during the regular season: each franchise will compete in a total of 82 games until April 9th. It will be then when the posts in the game to then face the postseason in the form of playoff. A total of 16 teams will try to inherit the hegemony of the San Francisco franchisewhere the eternal Curry, Thompson y Greenthe latter as noted at the beginning of the season with his clash with Jordan Poole: his training punch set off all alarms. The 2022/23 NBA winner will be announced in June.
Steve Kerr’s guys shot experience and epic to beat the Boston Celtics at the end of the previous edition. A great basketball exercise that catapulted them back to the top: four rings in the past seven years, plus six finals played. Only the years marked by the Covid-19 (Lakers-Heat) and for the injuries of Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson (Suns-Bucks) they were excluded from the best teams of the season.
Stephen Curry poses with his rings
| SPORT.es
It won’t be easy for them in this new edition: Kawhi Leonard’s return to the Clippersphenomena Luca Doncic y I Morantethe consolidation of the Embiid-Harden couple in philadelphia or the always dangerous ponds leave a wilder Western Conference than ever. Not to mention the other side of the painting: Donovan Mitchell joins Ricky Rubio on the Cavaliersthe Nets add more artillery to the equation with Ben Simmons y Dollars or Raptors They return to the scene with consolidated projects.
The return of Kawhi Leonard
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonardis back. After an empty year and having overcome his physical problems, the cyborg threatens the Western Conference: his return raises the competitive roof of the Los Angeles conference and maintains supreme equality on the left side of the United States. Giovanni Murowho abandoned the Magicians with the aim of fighting for the title, e Paolo Giorgiohelpless in some grays Clipper last season, the team led by Tyronn Lue bursts among the great candidates along with other franchises like Warriors, Grizzly, alone, Mavs or Nuggets.
KAWHI HEAR IT! pic.twitter.com/7PDY8t0Ab7
– LA Clippers (@LAClippers) October 4, 2022
The native of California he underwent surgery on his right knee to relieve a ligament rupture last July 2021 and recovery has kept him off the rails ever since: their last meeting dates back to June 14, 2021, in Game 4 of the series against the Utah Jazz. Despite the good feelings transmitted throughout the preseason, the level of the star is unknown. Hero of the Toronto Raptors champions in 2019his time in Los Angeles had many faces. The five-time All Star and two-time Finals MVP averaged 19.2 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists. throughout his career in the NBA.
Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio, together again
With some Utah Jazz in sharp decay, Star Donovan Mitchell has finally left for the Cleveland Cavalierswhere is it will reunite with his former partner and friend Ricky Rubio, who returns after an empty year with the Pacers due to an injury. Despite the rumors that placed him in the orbit of the New York Knicksthe shooting guard arrives to lead the franchise and confirms the excellent management of the squad since the departure of LeBron James y Kyrie Irving: both were fundamental to conquer the first ring in history in 2016 in an agonizing series (3-4) against the Golden State Warriors.
Donovan Mitchell and Ricky Rubio reunite in Cleveland
| EFE
The commitment to young talents and the adaptation of the different pieces in the system of JB Bickerstaff It can be one of the highlights of the season and one of the great confirmations of the Eastern Conference. After a more than promising 2022 edition, despite the bittersweet ending, the presence of exciting names like Garland or Jarret Allen plus Donovan Mitchell’s artillery and Ricky Rubio’s experience in rotation they excite and stimulate in equal parts.
Boston Celtics drama
The NBA finalists have suffered a serious setback in these first months of the season: Boston Celtics manager Ime Udoka violated franchise policies by establishing a personal relationship with a female staff member. Although he has been married to actress Nia Long for more than 12 years, the technician was immediately removed from office and assistant Joe Mazzulla took the helm of one of the strongest projects of the Eastern Conference.
The architect of the Boston Celtics, separated from the team for the entire season
| EFE / AFP
The green team confirmed its regularity throughout the regular phase, coming up against the NBA final some Warriors who used artillery and experience in the Finals to liquidate one of the most tactically worked teams. The names of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al-Horford or Smart Marco They lead a project destined to win the title and end a drought that has lasted since 2008. Brad Stevens’ commitment to youth and talent at the time had its first prize in the form of a final and the most logical and sensible thing is that this generation of great players will have another opportunity in the short and medium term future. Will it be this year too?
New opportunity for Embiid and Harden
The Philadelphia 76ers scout, James Harden, is one of the key names of the Eastern Conference. After leaving the Nets mid-season, the American forms a luxurious and dangerous couple with Joel Embiid, the undisputed leader of the Pennsylvania franchise. Both will coincide from the preseason and with the help of Glenn Rivers aim high: their chemistry on the track will be fundamental to discover how far this franchise can go, constantly marked by high expectations. Pieces like those by Tobias Harris, Danuel House or PJ Tucker can give you an edge to a model destined to fight for the title.
Will the Lakers return to the scene?
It is, without a doubt, the big question of the season. Champions in the strange 2020 edition thanks to its two protagonists, Anthony Davis and LeBron Jamesthe angelina franchise has been down ever since and last year confirmed all the ghosts: Darvin Ham’s team was excluded playoff . In the 2021 edition they fell at the first opportunity with the Alone Fenicebut in 2022 they did not find it a regularity point to be placed among the first classified of the Western Conference. At a crossroads with Russell Westbrook’s situation, the Californian team is an unknown.
The Doncic phenomenon wants more
To the Dallas Mavericks shooting guard, Luca Doncic, the march goes. Having reached the Western Conference final and succumbed to a titanic Warriors, the Slovenian is ready to take a step forward. With an average of 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game last season, the former Real Madrid player continues to grow by leaps and bounds and is aiming high: Winning his first ring and his first MVP title is presented as one of his great obsessions with only 23 years and an exciting career.
That smile though. @ Luca7doncic @carillon // #MFFL pic.twitter.com/zlSLTTbVKA
– Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) 1 October 2022
Despite losing his great companion on the track, Jalen Brunsonwho went to the New York Knicks. The New Jersey one received a stratospheric offer to lead the New York and franchise leaves the shadow of his inseparable companion Luka Doncic. At the same time, the Dallas Mavericks secured the arrival of Christian Woodwhich can bring a lot of dynamism to the whiteboard Jason Kidd this season.
Long live European dominance in MVP
The MVP of the season is another of the season’s strengths in the NBA. With Nikola Jokic (2) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (2) as the two great rulers of recent years, several players strongly focus on individual distinction. Names like those of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, LeBron James or I Morante, in addition to the last two winners. Also Luca Doncicwho continues to make one of the most important players in the history of American basketball game after game.
His coronation as MVP would mean a radical change in the dynamics of the competition. Already exceeded the number of consecutive titles (3) that end up in the hands of non-American players, the Dallas Mavericks champion could give life to something that was not seen by the subsequent awards of Steve Nash (2) and Dirk Nowitzki. He would also become the fourth European player to join him, thus confirming the good health of continental basketball.
And the Spaniards?
A separate chapter for the generation of players trying to gain a foothold in the NBA. With the recovery of Ricky Rubio after a year in whitea total of five national players will participate in the American competition this season: Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies), Usman Garuba (Houston Rockets), Willy Hernangómez (New Orleans Pelicans), Juancho Hernangómez (Toronto Raptors) and Ricky Rubio (Cleveland Cavaliers).
With three of them with the Eurobasket gold medal in their pockets, It will be interesting to see the evolution of their respective franchises and the roles that brothers Hernangómez and Usman Garuba will take on this season.. You also have to keep an eye out the evolution of Ricky Rubio after his long injury and how Santi Aldama takes advantage of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s injury to have much more weight in the starting lineup by Taylor Jenkins on the Memphis Grizzlies.
