I've been following my Cubbies lately as they try to repeat as World Series champions, yet even though my mind has been preoccupied with baseball lately, the start of a new NBA season is upon us, and even earlier than usual due to players complaining about playing back-to-back games. As if that wasn't enough drama, there has been even more drama during the offseason in the wake of the Golden State Warriors winning their second NBA title in three seasons. This has resulted in some major offseason moves by marquee franchise players to different teams in a desperate effort to try to steal the NBA crown from the aforementioned Warriors. Here's a preview of the most relevant teams.

Golden State Warriors - The Warriors were able to dominate the Western Conference and the NBA Finals thanks to their acquistion of 2015-2016 NBA MVP Kevin Durant, and they are expected to reload and make another return to the NBA Finals this season barring any major injuries. As would be expected, there was little to no drama regarding the NBA champs this offseason. The same could not be said for the....

Cleveland Cavaliers - The Cavs were a hotbed of drama following the NBA Finals. Lebron James apparently has had enough of the owner of the team and is in all likelihood on his way out of Cleveland again after this season. That exit couldn't come soon enough for Kyrie Irving, who demanded a trade to a team where he could be the leading man, so he was shipped off to the Boston Celtics for Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder. The Cavs also signed Derrick Rose from the Knicks and Dwyane Wade from the Bulls in the hopes of recreating some magic from the old Miami Heat championship teams.

Houston Rockets - The Rockets were also active this offseason, picking up Chris Paul in free agency from the Los Angeles Clippers and adding some MVP-caliber talent to a squad that already has James Harden. The question is whetrher they have enough defense to unseat the Warriors and head to the NBA finals themselves.

Boston Celtics - The Celtics made some major upgrades to their lineup with the trade for Kyrie Irving and also signing Gordon Heyward from the Utah Jazz as well as dropping down to 3rd in the draft to pick Jason Tatum. But will this be enough to challenge the Cavs and Wizards for the Eastern Conference title this season?

San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs are proabbly the oldest team in the NBA but also have the most experience, and Gregg Popovich always seems to have the team ready to make a serious playoff run. They will rely heavily on Kawhi Leonard but also will need Lamarcus Aldridge to improve his play if they expect to make a challenge to the Warriors and Rockets for the Western Conference title.

Oklahoma City Thunder - The Thunder made some very splashy moves in the offseason, trading for Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, even though both players originally wanted to move to other teams. They should be able to light up the scoreboard this season, but have they seriously weakened their defense in the process?

Washington Wizards - The Wizards had one of the best starting five in the NBA last season outside of Golden State and Cleveland but were hampered in the playoffs with a suspect bench. Their chances of advancing to the NBA Finals are contingent on their starters playing like they did last season and getting some serious contributions from their bench.

Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks surprised the NBA and surged into the ranks of contending teams thanks to the "Greek Freak" Giannis Antetokounmpo. He is expected to be a dark horse candidate for MVP, and they expect to go deep into the playoffs with Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, and a hopefully healthy Jabari Parker.

Toronto Raptors - The Raptors relied heavily on theit backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan to carry them to the playoffs, and when they were hot they dominated other teams. However, when they hit the wall the team suffered, and they have even more challenges ahead this season after losing DeMarre Carroll and Cory Joseph.

Los Angeles Clippers - The Clippers took a huge hit when they lost Chris Paul to the Spurs but re-signed Blake Griifin to a long-term contract. But can Griffin and DeAndre Jordan be able to carry this team to a possible NBA Finals or has their window already passed?

Portland Trail Blazers - Like the Raptors, the Blazers relied heavily on their backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to get into the playoffs. But is it enough to advance in the talented Western Conference?

Utah Jazz - The Jazz had one of the best defenses in the NBA last season thanks to the likes of Rudy Gobert, but they lost their best offensive weapon in Gordon Heyward when he went to the Celtics.

Minnesota Timberwolves - The Wolves are the sexy pick to become the most improved team in the NBA thanks to their acquisitions of Jimmy Butler and Jeff Teague to a team that already has Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns. And while coach Tom Thibodeau is known as a coach who preaches stilfing defense, they struggled defensively last season with a young squad. They should improve in that department with the veteran additions.

Memphis Grizzlies - The Grizzlies had been the throwback post-up team in the NBA the past few seasons, but with Zach Randolph going to Sacramento and Tony Allen retiring, their main holdovers are Mike Conley Jr. and Marc Gasol, who look like they may be at the end of an era in Memphis.

Miami Heat - The Miami Heat got off to a miserable start last season but rebounded in the second half only to fall short of the playoffs in the final weekend of the regular season. Should they play more consistently this season with Goran Dragic, Dion Waiters, and Hassan Whiteside, they should make the playoffs this year.

Philadelphia 76ers - The Sixers are also one of the sexier teams to make some huge strides this season, but they are contingent on Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons staying healthy and somehow getting a very young but talented lineup to play consistenty good basketball.

Los Angeles Lakers - The Lonzo Ball era officially begins this season, and while the Lakers aren't expected to challenge for a playioff spot, they should be inetersting to watch. The question is whether Lonzo Ball is hampered more by opposing players or his stage dad Lavarr Ball.

New York Knicks - The Knicks finally dumped Phil Jackson from his executive position and traded away Carmelo Anthony, but got little to no help for Kristaps Porzingis. Of course, a lot of fans wished the owner had been sent out the door as well.

Knicks will be lucky to win twenty games.

First time in several years I have been this excited about Philly basketball. They have a roster

now that gives fans hope instead of being told to Trust The Process. Of course even with a more talented roster it's still going to be a maturation process that has to take form. I'm not sold on '

Markelle Fultz yet and not to sure if they shouldn't have stayed put in the draft and take wingman

Josh Jackson. Nevertheless I expect Ben Simmons to show why he was chosen number 1 last season and a healthy Joel Embiid to make an impact on the court this season. These guys should at least compete for a the number 6 spot in the East and the East is improved now.

This will be a season to watch individual talents grow. I'm hoping for continued strides out of the big men -- Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokuonmpo, Karl Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis.

The rooks will be compelling to watch: Simmons, Fultz, Ball, Fox, et al.

Can OKC and HOU really push for homecourt against GSW? Can Aldridge really lead SAS?

Kyrie can now Kobe to his heart's content in BOS, but it will still be Hayward's town.

Will the Warriors go for 70?

namepeace said:

This will be a season to watch individual talents grow. I'm hoping for continued strides out of the big men -- Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokuonmpo, Karl Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis.

The rooks will be compelling to watch: Simmons, Fultz, Ball, Fox, et al.

Can OKC and HOU really push for homecourt against GSW? Can Aldridge really lead SAS?

Kyrie can now Kobe to his heart's content in BOS, but it will still be Hayward's town.

Will the Warriors go for 70?

Yeah, lot of young cats I'm looking forward to seeing. Lonzo bounced back nicely after a rough first game. But thanks to his dad talking shit, Lonzo has a target on his back the size of the Grand Canyon. And the Western conference is no joke.

Houston & OKC will win a lot of games during the regular season but can they step it up on defense in May & June? That's how you make deep playoff runs. Trying to outscore Golden State will get you blown out. You have to make the game ugly - slow things down, get physical and get stops. Carmelo, Westbrook, Harden....those cats aren't known for staying with their man.

uPtoWnNY said:

Yeah, lot of young cats I'm looking forward to seeing. Lonzo bounced back nicely after a rough first game. But thanks to his dad talking shit, Lonzo has a target on his back the size of the Grand Canyon. And the Western conference is no joke.

The league is deeper at PG than maybe any other time in history, with most of the elite ones in the West, and they all want their shot at Lonzo thanks to his daddy.

Houston & OKC will win a lot of games during the regular season but can they step it up on defense in May & June? That's how you make deep playoff runs. Trying to outscore Golden State will get you blown out. You have to make the game ugly - slow things down, get physical and get stops. Carmelo, Westbrook, Harden....those cats aren't known for staying with their man.

That's why none of them have gone that deep in May and June. OKC has a better chance than HOU, as I see it. By "better chance" I mean going beyond 5 games.

namepeace said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Yeah, lot of young cats I'm looking forward to seeing. Lonzo bounced back nicely after a rough first game. But thanks to his dad talking shit, Lonzo has a target on his back the size of the Grand Canyon. And the Western conference is no joke.

The league is deeper at PG than maybe any other time in history, with most of the elite ones in the West, and they all want their shot at Lonzo thanks to his daddy.

Houston & OKC will win a lot of games during the regular season but can they step it up on defense in May & June? That's how you make deep playoff runs. Trying to outscore Golden State will get you blown out. You have to make the game ugly - slow things down, get physical and get stops. Carmelo, Westbrook, Harden....those cats aren't known for staying with their man.

That's why none of them have gone that deep in May and June. OKC has a better chance than HOU, as I see it. By "better chance" I mean going beyond 5 games.

Sam Mitchell brought up an excellent point after OKC lost a close one to Minnesota. He said until Carmelo & PG13 make a committment to doing the LITTLE things you need to do in order to win, they won't go far. Anthony only had TWO rebounds in that game...c'mon.

uPtoWnNY said:

namepeace said:

Sam Mitchell brought up an excellent point after OKC lost a close one to Minnesota. He said until Carmelo & PG13 make a committment to doing the LITTLE things you need to do in order to win, they won't go far. Anthony only had TWO rebounds in that game...c'mon.

He's right. They have to realize it's Furious Styles' team and if they want to contend they'll have to adjust their games.

LaVar Ball says Wizards 'better beware' with matchup vs. Lakers approaching, Marcin Gortat fires back

uPtoWnNY said:

LaVar Ball says Wizards 'better beware' with matchup vs. Lakers approaching, Marcin Gortat fires back

Goodness gracious. This man is going to get swung on before New Year's.

Dennis Smith Jr. (who the Knicks passed on) had 19 points, 5 assists and 1 rebound in last night's win over Memphis. Our 1st round pick can't even get on the court without hurting something.

namepeace said:

uPtoWnNY said:

LaVar Ball says Wizards 'better beware' with matchup vs. Lakers approaching, Marcin Gortat fires back

Goodness gracious. This man is going to get swung on before New Year's.

I think Lonzo is showing alot of promise so far, and yeah his dad is a bit much

Goddess4Real said:

namepeace said:

Goodness gracious. This man is going to get swung on before New Year's.

I think Lonzo is showing alot of promise so far, and yeah his dad is a bit much

I'm really encouraged by Lonzo. Maybe LaVar is crazy like a fox, taking pressure off his teenage son, but his hustle has a short shelf life.

namepeace said:

Goddess4Real said:

I think Lonzo is showing alot of promise so far, and yeah his dad is a bit much

I'm really encouraged by Lonzo. Maybe LaVar is crazy like a fox, taking pressure off his teenage son, but his hustle has a short shelf life.

Did you catch Thunder/T-Wolves & Wizards/Warriors over the weekend? Really good games. T-Wolves beat the Thunder again. Jimmy Butler is the closer Minnesota needed. I hope they meet in the playoffs.

uPtoWnNY said:

namepeace said:

I'm really encouraged by Lonzo. Maybe LaVar is crazy like a fox, taking pressure off his teenage son, but his hustle has a short shelf life.

Did you catch Thunder/T-Wolves & Wizards/Warriors over the weekend? Really good games. T-Wolves beat the Thunder again. Jimmy Butler is the closer Minnesota needed. I hope they meet in the playoffs.

Didn't catch much this weekend, but I'll be looking forward to seeing the T-Wolves take another step.

uPtoWnNY said:

Knicks will be lucky to win twenty games.

nah, Fam...things are looking much better this week...Porzingis really is gonna be Nowitzski (or maybe better), and the baby rookie Frenchman looks smooth...shit, even Courtney Lee and Kyle O'Quinn look like actual NBA players now that they not standing around waiting for Carmelo Anthony to let them touch the ball for a second or 2...Melo seems like a cool brother, but his energy was almost always all wrong on the Knicks...even in Denver...his incessant and annoying smirking/pouting/sneering/whining/complaining/ballhogging/coach-GM killing/insubordinate/overdribbling/passive-aggressive/selfishness always seemed to keep a black cloud over wherever he played...im encouraged by the Knicks defensive energy and newfound willingness to share the ball...even tho Kristaps is getting most of the shots Melo would have gotten, he's getting them in the flow of the game, and hitting at a better % than Melo, from better spots on the floor...and even Jarret Jack is a little better than i thought he was...

uPtoWnNY said:

Dennis Smith Jr. (who the Knicks passed on) had 19 points, 5 assists and 1 rebound in last night's win over Memphis. Our 1st round pick can't even get on the court without hurting something.

give it time bruh... Smith Jr's surgical knee already had to be drained this year (missed a game), and Ntilikina appears to be healthy now....he may not jump like Smith Jr, but he appears to have better court vision and is a better passer and defender...Ntilikina is bigger too....Smith Jr reminds me so much of Steve Francis (when Francis was still good)...

RJOrion said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Dennis Smith Jr. (who the Knicks passed on) had 19 points, 5 assists and 1 rebound in last night's win over Memphis. Our 1st round pick can't even get on the court without hurting something.

give it time bruh... Smith Jr's surgical knee already had to be drained this year (missed a game), and Ntilikina appears to be healthy now....he may not jump like Smith Jr, but he appears to have better court vision and is a better passer and defender...Ntilikina is bigger too....Smith Jr reminds me so much of Steve Francis (when Francis was still good)...

I've just had it with this franchise. I was 12 the last time the Knicks won anything, and they've been a fucking laughingstock ever since Brain-Dead Dolan took over.

Suns trade Eric Bledsoe to Milwaukee for Greg Monroe.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/eric ... rs-a-mess/

Fuck everything having to do with Boston & the Celtics, but they are playing some beautiful basketball. Kyrie wanted to be the man, and so far, he's doing it.

uPtoWnNY said:

Celtics . . . are playing some beautiful basketball. Kyrie wanted to be the man, and so far, he's doing it.

Stevens is a great coach.

Let's see if they can sustain it.

I hate the C's too, especially after they beat my beloved Lakers so bad.

namepeace said:

Goddess4Real said:

I think Lonzo is showing alot of promise so far, and yeah his dad is a bit much

I'm really encouraged by Lonzo. Maybe LaVar is crazy like a fox, taking pressure off his teenage son, but his hustle has a short shelf life.

And now his other son LiAngelo got in trouble in China for shoplifting.

Goddess4Real said:

namepeace said:

I'm really encouraged by Lonzo. Maybe LaVar is crazy like a fox, taking pressure off his teenage son, but his hustle has a short shelf life.

And now his other son LiAngelo got in trouble in China for shoplifting.

That's about to get real for those kids.

LeBron should worry about his own team instead of commenting on the Knicks' first round pick.

Cavs-Knicks tonight at the Garden.

.....and in typical Knick fashion, they're fucking things up by bringing back Noah, only because they were stupid enough give him that insane contract.

[Edited 11/13/17 15:27pm]

Interesting development Trump personally asked Xi Jinping to help resolve case of UCLA basketball players arrested in China https://www.washingtonpos...e226866e4a

KNicks playing with alotta heart tonight...Tnilikina pushing Lebron in his chest 3 times in a row after a play, then when Lebron got up in his face, Enes Kanter jumped in and let LeBron know, he wasnt having it ..

Ntilikina with 6 steals so far, in 3 quarters...Lebron shoulda kept that boy's name out his mouth...Knicks by 15 to start the 4th quarter...

uh-oh Knicks trying to blow this lead...Lebron is pissed off and getting hot

The Rockets are looking very good - beating the Cavs without Chris Paul, no less. This could be a special year for us!

Liangelo is very lucky indeed.........Three UCLA players face punishment at home after China incident https://www.foxsports.com...63c28cd6a9