NBA 2023-2024 Season Preview
We are finally here; the 2023-24 NBA season is upon us! I will not talk in-depth about all 30 teams; we already did that on the podcast, so you can go back and listen to our incredible insight.
It has been about four months since the Denver Nuggets took down the Miami Heat in 5 games to capture their first NBA championship. Since then, Damian Lillard was traded to the Bucks, Bradley Beal was traded to the Suns, Chris Paul was traded to the Wizards and then to the Warriors, the Spurs won the Victor Wembanyama draft, and James Harden requested another trade. The NBA also instituted a no-rest policy for star players; some players are exempt, but seeing how teams deal with this new rule will be fun.
In the East, the Boston Celtics reloaded by adding Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, while the Bucks added Damian Lillard to be paired alongside Giannis Antetekumpo. With all of this, somehow, the Miami Heat have been almost forgotten after going on a magical playoff run that flamed out in the Finals. The Philadelphia 76ers have the reigning MVP and a disgruntled "star" in James Harden, and the Knicks and Cavaliers look to make the push into top-tier teams in the East.
Continuing in the East are some teams looking to make a bigger splash this year, like the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and Toronto Raptors. These three teams could contend or sell off star players; Buddy Hield, Mylers Turner, Demar Derozan, Zach Lavine, Alex GOAT Caruso, and Pascal Siakam are just a few names to watch as the season progresses.
The Nets and Hawks feel like, afterthoughts in the East, they definitely have talent, but they need the top-tier talent to compete in the current NBA. The Wizards, Magic, Hornets, and Pistons hope for better seasons after missing the playoffs last year.
We are going West; as mentioned above, the Denver Nuggets are the reigning NBA champs and are poised to do it again. Jokic, Murray, and Company must deal with the shortest offseasons of their careers and the highest expectations. All 4 California teams look to be contenders as well. Lebron James is officially the oldest player in the NBA; Chris Paul, who isn't too far behind, will bring his leadership and tenacity (that's the nice way of saying he can be an asshole sometimes) to join up with Steph and Klay, and Draymond in the bay.
The Sacramento Kings are coming off their first playoff series in the last 20 years, and Sac-Town is pushing for more, while the Clippers are just trying to stay healthy. Can Fox and Sabonis or Geroge and Leonard, the "B" teams to their geographic counterparts, push their teams to the next level?
In Memphis, the Grizzlies look to stay afloat while Ja Morant is suspended but don't sleep on them either. Bradley Beal, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant look to follow in the Nugget's footsteps and bring the first NBA Championship to the desert. They have the best Big 3 in the NBA, but will the rest of the supporting cast help out?
Dallas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma City each have a dynamic pair of NBA stars, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony Towns, Shai Gilegous-Alexander, and Chet Holmgren. Questions surround each of these teams for their reasons. How well did Luka and Kyrie fit together in Dallas, and can their defense stop anything? Is this finally the year KAT and Ant take the T-Wolves to the next level, and in OKC, will Chet stay healthy and productive, and what do they do with their million draft picks?
Utah, Portland, Houston, and San Antonio are young and have legitimate futures ahead of them. But with the West looking stacked, can any of them compete? So much of this season will be about Victor Wembanyama and how he performs; a lot of pressure being the highest-touted draft pick since Lebron James. Portland, Houston, and Utah should take steps forward realistically, but will we see growth from their young cores?
This NBA season looks to be one of the best in recent memory; at least eight teams, if not closer to twelve, have at least a good chance to make the NBA finals. As we follow the season, just like with Tyler and baseball, I will have the boys pick winners in marquee matchups and keep track to see who does the best at the end of the season.
Oh, also, there is the in-season tournament.