It’s Going to Be Warriors/Cavs Again … What Don’t We Know?

If you don’t think it’s going to be the Warriors against the Cavs again in the NBA Finals again this season (barring injury), you’re kidding yourself. Maybe you’re talking yourself into the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. They added Kyrie and Hayward to a lineup that already featured Al Horford. So you’re talking yourself into Marcus Morris and Hayward guarding LeBron and Isaiah Thomas not punishing the Celtics for dealing him. Good luck with that. Also, for those of you non-die hard fans wondering why Kyrie left Cleveland, pretty sure this is the reason:

In the Western Conference, two teams went about assembling their own super rosters. The Rockets of course added CP3, while Paul George and Carmelo joined Russell Westbrook’s Thunder. One question for both teams: How many basketballs do they think they get to play with? There is a zero percent chance that either of those teams remotely challenges the Warriors. You’re much better off praying that Rudy Gay has a career resurgence with the Spurs and San Antonio somehow puts it all together with a hopefully healthy Kawhi. It’s possible but not probable in the least. The Warriors now have a year playing with KD under their belts and they definitely won’t be worse off for that.

Naturally we’ll still watch the games this season and be highly entertained by the marquee match-ups in the regular season and playoffs that follow. The Warriors are one of the most entertaining teams of all time. You don’t need a column telling you to watch them, or LeBron, or the revenge narrative games. Therefore, rather than spend the rest of the column dissecting a foregone conclusion, let’s look at some lesser mentioned NBA topics. Here are 5 plot lines to keep an eye on that might make your NBA season more enjoyable.

5.     TRUST THE PROCESS? . . . WILL THE 76ers 5-YEAR PLAN PAN OUT?

If you haven’t been paying attention for the past few years, the Philadelphia 76ers have taken tanking to a whole new level. Their end of season lineups might have given some high school JV teams a run and that’s the best thing we’ll say about them. Now they’re reaping the benefits of all of that putridity in the form of a team comprised of lottery picks. Philly will roll out Markelle Fultz (2017 #1 overall), Ben Simmons (2016 #1 overall), and Joel Embiid (2014 #3 overall). They’ll have Dario Saric (2014 #12 overall), Nik Stauskas (2014 #8 overall), and Jahlil Okafor (2015 #3 overall, although they still don’t know if he understands how to play defense) coming off the bench.



Here’s what we know: They will be unbelievably entertaining to watch. Simmons and Embiid could change franchises by themselves, let alone together. And Fultz? Who knows? But someone had better fix his free throw form or he’ll be fun to watch for all the wrong reasons. Hack-a-Markelle?At a minimum, even if the 76ers get bitten by the injury bug again, we know Embiid will figure out a way to entertain the masses.

4.     WHO WILL WIN THE MVP?

This doesn’t seem like something one would need a reminder to watch for, but with all of these great players teaming up, who’s going to win the MVP? Kawhi Leonard is actually the betting favorite at +350 because he’s the only one of the usual suspects (LeBron, Durant, Steph, Westbrook, Harden) who isn’t on a “super team.” So who is going to separate himself? We think Steph Curry is actually going to have a career year. If you’re a coach scouting the Warriors, it’s clear that Kevin Durant is THE MAN. So what if the Warriors adjust? What if they have KD take it a little easier in terms of the scoring load, turn him into a LeBron-like distributor during the regular season and Steph hits something crazy like 350 3-pointers this year? If the defenses are keying on KD, it could happen.

Of course we’re not willing to put our money where our mouths are on that, but if we had to make a pick, we’d take a guy at 8:1. Who is that you ask? Look down at Number 1 in this column. He’s our favorite for the MVP race.

3.     REMEMBER WHEN THE KINGS TRADED DEMARCUS COUSINS?

NBA trades and signings have become like the Trump Presidency. So many crazy things have happened that it’s tough to keep track. Admit it, you completely forgot that Boogie and Anthony Davis are on the same team this season. You’re probably looking it up right now just to make sure that we’re not messing with you. If the Pelicans can make a move to upgrade at the 3 from Dante Cunningham, they could give a lot of teams some problems with a core of Jrue Holiday and the aforementioned Boogie/Davis combo.

In the last five years, the entire NBA went small and New Orleans went ginormous. It may not be pretty every night, but it will be interesting to watch. We know that we’re not the only ones hoping for a 1 vs. 8 match-up between the Warriors and Pelicans in the Western Conference Playoffs. How great would it be to watch the Pelicans’ bigs and the small ball Warriors death lineup play against each other? Cousins matching up with Draymond and KD with Anthony Davis? We’re intrigued.

2.     LONZO BALL, LIKE YOU’RE NOT GOING TO WATCH.

Let’s face it, LaVar Ball accomplished his mission. Everybody is talking about his son. Now, his son must deliver. Most people outside of Los Angeles are probably rooting against him. However, we’re based in L.A. and have had the opportunity to watch Lonzo all year long at UCLA and even before that in high school. We can tell you, unequivocally, that he is a game changer. When he wants to, he’ll play defense. You just didn’t see it because Steve Alford forbids defense. But as you know, Lonzo’s chief trait is his ability to see the floor.

If you watch him for five minutes, Lonzo will show you the innate ability to see everything a second or two before the rest of the guys on the court. And for those of you thinking that he’s a glorified Ricky Rubio, a.k.a. someone whom you can leave wide open, you’re wrong. Lonzo’s shot is unorthodox and yes, if a rangy guy is in his grill he’ll have a tough time getting it off. But Lonzo won’t be asked to shoot contested 3’s. He’ll be asked to lead the offense, get to the rim, and hit a wide-open three if the ball gets swung to him. Lonzo is a game-changer. Hate on him at your own peril.

1.     WILL THE GREEK FREAK TAKE ANOTHER LEAP TOWARD SUPERSTARDOM?

Kevin Durant beat us to the punch here but the fat still remains: Giannis is a freak of nature, hence his nickname, The Greek Freak.

Giannis is 6’11” with a 7 foot wingspan. He has tremendous upside potential . . . Sorry, when we hear wingspan, we immediately go into NBA Draft cliches. But seriously, how many guys who have Giannis’ physique can do things like this?

Or this?

Yea, we’re going to agree with KD on this one. Giannis has the potential to be the best ever. He’s that good and you should make him appointment viewing this season so you don’t miss out on his journey to the top. One day you’ll be telling your grandchildren that you saw Giannis Antetokounmpo play. We even know how to spell his name correctly now without looking it up! That has to mean something, right?! Enjoy the season everybody!

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