With Less Than 30 Days Until The NBA Season Returns, Here Are Some Reasons To Be Excited For All 30 Teams
It may seem like it’s taking forever, but real NBA games are officially back 30 days from today. Training camp opens 5 days from today for those playing in the 2019 Preseason Global Game and in 7 days we’ll have actual real fake basketball games to watch as preseason opens. What should be the craziest season in recent memory is only a stones throw away, so why not take some time and give some reasons why every single fanbase should be excited for this upcoming year. What’s crazy is I didn’t even have to stretch the reasons so that every team had something to be excited about, that’s how loaded the league is right now. With that said, let’s dive in.
Atlanta Hawks
Over the second half of the season both Trae Young (24.7/4.7/9.2) and John Collins (20.3/10.3/1.8) both averaged over 20ppg and the Hawks had the 11th best offense in the NBA. With more firepower added this summer, the Hawks are going to be fun as hell to watch.
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum had the highest offensive rating in the NBA in clutch situations of players that played at least 38 of those games. With Kyrie now gone, already one of the best fourth quarter scorers in the league, clutch time Jayson Tatum should become a regular thing.
Brooklyn Nets
Year 1 Kyrie. I can tell you from experience Year 1 Kyrie is so goddamn fun to watch. None of the bullshit that he pulled in Year 2 in Boston will be present this season in BKN. He’s going to be must watch, trust me.
Charlotte Hornets
It’s going to be a long season, so why be excited? Easy. Miles Bridges dunks
Chicago Bulls
Zach LaVine is healthy and coming off a career year, Baby Dirk proved to be a legit unicorn with his second season 18.7/9.0 and 2.3 3PM, they finally have their point guard of the future, and Wendell Carter Jr is going to be healthy. Why can’t this team have an ORL type season where they snag an 8th seed if everyone stays healthy?
Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland and Colin Sexton could very well be the next legit backcourt of the future in the East. Plus there are no expectations for this team heading into the year, and it’s always fun when wins/losses don’t matter and you can watch stress free.
Dallas Mavericks
Year 2 Luka. Maybe a little Porzingis too but Year 2 Luka has me itching to watch the Mavs. Imagine the follow up to this
now that he knows what it takes to play in the NBA.
Denver Nuggets
One team in the West was Top 10 in offense AND defense last season. It was the Denver Nuggets. Already a loaded roster, they get to add Michael Porter Jr this season. Jokic is an MVP candidate and while you may not be able to watch them on TV due to their cable issue at the moment, this is going to be one of the most fun teams to watch all year.
Detroit Pistons
People sometimes sleep on a healthy Blake Griffin. You should not do that because a healthy Blake Griffin is one of the best players in the NBA. Last year we got a taste of what that looked like and it seemed to be devastating. There’s no reason this team shouldn’t make the playoffs again, something they haven’t done in back to back seasons since 2007-09.
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Golden State Warriors
The Fuck You season we’re about to get from Steph Curry. Everyone’s saying they’re cooked and the dynasty is over. The internet is giving Steph Curry bulletin board material and when has that ever worked out well? We could very well see something crazy like 35 a night and an MVP type of season from Steph. Don’t you even think of going to sleep early, deprive yourself and watch Steph not give a fuck and bomb it from 40ft.
Houston Rockets
The Harden/Westbrook dynamic should be enough to get you excited, but we’re also getting a pissed of Harden after his MVP snub and his new secret move, and then there’s the fact that everyone in this organization can’t stop talking about winning the title next year. Gigantic put up or shut up type season in Houston.
Indiana Pacers
Before Oladipo got hurt, this team was 32-15 and had the 2nd best defense in the NBA with the 4th best net rating. He could be back by December and in a wide open East and a very solid summer with key additions like TJ Warren and Malcolm Brogdon, this could be a team that once again flirts with 50 wins.
LA Clippers
Well I mean, they’re the favorites to win the NBA title and added two superstars so yeah, that’s sort of easy
LA Lakers
Sure they may be the second best team in their own city, but don’t tell that to Lakers fans. A motivated LeBron and the injection of AD into that offense/defense means maybe just maybe their season won’t be over by January.
Memphis Grizzlies
Young talent. Who cares about the wins and losses, Ja Morant/Jaren Jackson Jr/Brandon Clarke will make this team worth watching.
Miami Heat
A sleeper to be perhaps a top 5 seed this season with the addition of Jimmy Butler, things will be even more exciting if the Heat are able to pull off a CP3 trade. You may not have realized but this was actually a top 10 defense in the second half of the year, and I am really intrigued at the idea of Justise Winslow playing PG which is going to be a thing.
Milwaukee Bucks
Don’t overthink this. Giannis.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Maybe this is the year Andrew Wiggins figures it out! Probably not, but maybe!
New Orleans Pelicans
Another team full of young talent that has the city legit cumming themselves for this upcoming season. Why? Oh that’s right
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New York Knicks
How can you be excited for a team that just had a summer in which every big name free agent passed on them? Well you draft a potential stud in The Maple Jordan and you make sure Julius Randle keeps churning out workout videos
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Oklahoma City Thunder
Listen, OKC isn’t all that bad despite trading away their two best players. A healthy Gallo put up All Star caliber numbers last year and SGA is about as legit a point guard prospect as they come. Plus you’ll have a few months of CP3 to watch which should be fun before he’s eventually traded to the Heat. Also, you can’t underestimate how fun it is to talk about the potential of future draft picks. I say that with experience.
Orlando Magic
There’s a good chance we actually see Markelle Fultz play basketball which is good enough for me to watch the Magic play. Plus did you know over the second half of the year this team had the 5th best defense in the NBA? Their lineup combinations of Fultz/Fornier/Ross/Gordon/Isaac/Bamba/Vucevic is intriguing, and this absolutely could be another year this team makes the playoffs. Not bad!
Philadelphia Sixers
OK so they say this every season but once again the Sixers enter the year with their fans and pundits saying this is the most talented starting five in the NBA. I know, I know we heard this last year after they got Jimmy Butler and then again after getting Tobias Harris and the team lost in the second round…..again, but there’s no denying that a healthy Sixers team with a slimmed down Embiid should be worth your time. This could very well be the best defensive team in the NBA with the addition of Horford, and it’s now NBA Finals or shut the fuck up time for the Sixers.
Phoenix Suns
Personally, I enjoy watching Devin Booker do this
and him and DeAndre Ayton should be enough to have Suns fans excited. One of these years the Suns will show signs of actual progress, and honestly their Rubio/Booker/Oubre Jr/Saric/Ayton starting lineup isn’t the worth thing I’ve ever seen.
Portland Trail Blazers
They could very well have the best current backcourt pairing in the NBA, they’ll be contending for a top seed in a loaded conference, and this team had the #1 offense in the NBA over the second half of the season. Damian Lillard has turned himself into one of the best players in the entire league, and don’t sleep on Anfernee Simons. He should get a legit opportunity this year and he had a fantastic Summer League.
Sacramento Kings
The Baby Kings are coming off a season where they won the most games in a year since 2005. They are loaded with young talent, they play fast, Vlade rules, and De’Aaron Fox is on the verge of becoming a legit star. They’ll still make the lottery because the West is stacked, but the pieces are there for this team to flirt with being above .500.
San Antonio Spurs
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Some may say the Spurs are boring, but I cannot wait to see Dejounte Murray/Derrick White. Maybe you aren’t as familiar with Murray after he missed all of last season with a torn ACL, but this dude can fucking play
Toronto Raptors
Who cares what this season ends up being. They just won their first title in franchise history and you get a grace period. Having said that, the big question here will be if Pascal Siakam takes a leap and becomes a max level type player. Seeing as how he’s in the last year of his deal that’s pretty important.
Utah Jazz
The trendy summer pick to be a legit contender this year, this was a team that had the 4th best offense and the 1st ranked defense in the second half of the season where they went an impressive 18-7. There should be a leap year for Donovan Mitchell on deck which would be huge, and frankly this is the best team Mike Conley may have ever played on, and if you aren’t rooting for Mike Conley you’re a dickhead.
Washington Wizards
Just cherish Bradley Beal while you still can. Plus, once Isaiah is back from thumb surgery hopefully we’ll see him return to his 2016-17 level now that he as a legit opportunity and there’s basically a million shots to go around. Not only that, but I am predicting a huge year from Thomas Bryant
And that’ll do it. Yes I know it’s currently football season and playoff baseball is about to start blah blah blah. But basketball being so close you can taste it has me very excited. It’s been a long wait.