The World Series is about to begin, but my Cubbies aren't in it. Nevertheless, the baseball season is wrapping up, the NFL is reaching its midpoint, and the college football season is reaching the mark where the games are starting to get serious. But more importantly another NBA season is about to begin. It only seems like it was just weeks ago that Stephen Curry and his buddies were hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy while Lebron James looked on in exhaustion from trying to carry the undermanned Cleveland Cavaliers to their first NBA championship. Can the Warriors repeat as NBA champions, or is the talent in the Western Conference too much to overcome, especially now that they have a target on their backs? Will Lebron finally win that NBA title for his home state? Let's take a look at how some teams stack up going into this season.

Golden State Warriors - The Warriors had been a great offensive team before last season thanks to exciting players like MVP Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Harrison Barnes, but first-year head coach Steve Kerr ramped up their defense as well with improved play from Andrew Bogut, putting Draymond Green into the starting lineup, and signing Andre Iguodala, which led to them becoming one of the top defensive teams in the NBA last season and eventually landing their first NBA title since 1975. The team has said they feel as though they can and should repeat as NBA champions, but they still play in a bruisingly competitive Western Conference, and they may have difficult time advancing to the NBA Finals this season.

Cleveland Cavaliers - Most experts are picking this team to win the NBA title this season thanks to Lebron James and a healthy Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love. Also, despite some bad blood regarding contract issues, the Cavs did sign Tristan Thompson to a new contract. They're expected to dominate the Eastern Conference this season even though they finished behind the surprisingly strong Atlanta Hawks last season. That didn't stop them from sweeping the Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals and getting the team to the NBA Finals. Once again, most experts predict their biggest obstacle may be the Chicago Bulls, but they expect the Cavs to edge them out on their way back to the NBA Finals.

Oklahoma City Thunder - The Thunder missed the playoffs for the first time since the first season the franchise set up in OKC. Kevin Durant was injured most of the season with a foot injury, and though he did attempt to come back in midseason he reaggravated his injury, and their playoff homes went down with it, despite Russell Westbrook's MVP efforts to lead the team to the playoffs. Durant is healthy this time, but there's a growing sense of urgency to win a title this year because he is in the final year of his contract, and other marquee franchises are expected to bid heavily for his services in the offseason. OKC also comes into this season with a new coach in Billy Donovan, who has only previously coached in college.

Houston Rockets - The Rockets were led last season to the Western Conference Finals by James Harden, who nearly won the MVP, and Dwight Howard, who despite a shaky start finally broke out to his dominating form in the playoffs. They also signed Ty Lawson in the offseason, but will this be enough to advance to the NBA Finals?

Los Angeles Clippers - The Clippers looked as though they were easily on their way to their first trip to the Western Conference Finals in team history after defeating the then-NBA defending champion San Antonio Spurs and taking a 3-1 lead over the Houston Rockets in the conference semifinals. But then they choked big time. The Clippers return with Chris Paul, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan, who initially was about to sign with Dallas but changed his mind at the last minute. Provided they stay healthy they should get through the regular season, but they will have to improve their free throw shooting if they hope to advance in the playoffs. There's also a sense of urgency to win now, as they may radically rearrange the team if they fail to advance.

Atlanta Hawks - The Hawks surprised everyone last season, winning a franchise high 60 games thanks to improved play from Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver, and DeMarre Carroll. But DeMarre Carroll left the team in free agency, and Thabo Sefolosha is still recoverinfg from a broken leg after being arrested outside a nightclub in New York City in what appears to be an incident of excessive police force. Is this team competitive for the long haul or was last season just a fluke?

San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs made a valiant effort to defend their NBA title last season only to fall to the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. Once again the storied but aging big three of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili are making one more chase for an NBA title, but this time they are also relying on Kawhi Leonard and Lamarcus Aldridge, who they signed in free agency. Do the Spurs have enough left in the tank to win an NBA title?

Chicago Bulls - The Bulls are once again expected to challenge the Cleveland Cavaliers for supremacy in the Eastern Conference this season, but their fortunes again rest on the fragile body of Derrick Rose, who fractured his face just below his eye this preseason. Rose is expected to open the season, but he will need help from Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah, Pau Gasol, and Nikola Mirotic. They are expected to focus on offense this season after firing coach Tom Thibodeau and hiring Fred Hoiberg.

Memphis Grizzlies - While most of the Western Conference focused on run-and-gun offenses, the Grizzles were decidedly old school, relying on a low post game from Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. While this was good enough in the regular season, they were not able to overcome Golden State in the playoffs. Can the Grizzles advance with their style of play?

Toronto Raptors - The Raptors jumped out to their best franchise record in history last season thanks to Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan, but they struggled in the second half of the season and were swept in the first round by the Washington Wizards. They signed DeMarre Carroll in the offseason and are focusing on improving their defense. But will it be enough to advance in the East?

Washington Wizards - The Wizards got off to s strong start last season due to their backcourt of John Wall and Bradley Beal, but their frontcourt of Nene, Marcin Gortat, and Paul Pierce was hit or miss for much of the season. Nevertheless, Paul Pierce played well for them down the stretch and into the playoffs, but he is now with the Los Angeles Clippers. Does Washington have enough to make waves in the East?

Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks went from the worst record in the NBA in 2013-2014 to a playoff conetnder last season thansk to the hiring of Jason Kidd as coach and the play of Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and midseason acquisition Michael Carter-Williams from Philadelphia. With the return of Jabari Parker from a knee injury, Milwaukee is expected to improve wven more, but enough to be a title contender?

New Orleans Pelicans - The Pelicans made their first playoff appearance last season since they were the Hornets and Chris Paul was still with the team. They were led by Anthony Davis, who is quickly turning into the dominant superstar everyone expected him to be coming out of college. But does he have enough of a supporting cast to rise in the competitive Western Conference?

Los Angeles Lakers - The Lakers are still in rebuilding mode, with Julius Randle recovering from a seson-ending leg injury that occurred just 15 minutes into his first game last season and drafting promising point guard D'Angelo Russell. But it appears they won't be able to take the next step until Kobe Bryant decides to hang up his sneakers for good, which he is apparently loathe to do.

New York Knicks - What else can be said about the Knicks? They finished with their worst record in franchise history and finished out of the top three in the draft lottery, leading them to draft an untested project from overseas. Will anything cause them to improve this season?

So let the season begin.

Should be an interesting season for sure but I think Pop, Manu, Tim & Tony Parker will make it their goal to go out in one last blaze of glory and win the NBA Championship. That's if they manage to keep to their set minutes and don't pick up any injuries. I think we won't see much from the Knicks this season either which is a shame since you'd think the Zen Master could work his magic like he did with the Bulls & Lakers. Perhaps he needs to step back on the court in a coaching capacity and turn the team around so they are atleast in the Playoff's then once the team is set and in a winning mindsight go back to his current role because right now the Knicks are in a total lose-lose situation.

My prediction: The Clippers finally win one.

I can't se Lebron winning a title with the Cavs. Lebron is 2 win, 4 losses in the Finals.

It will be 2 - 5 in June 2016.

It's gonna be another long season for my Sixers

30 wins for the Knicks....another year in the lottery, but wait - Knicks don't have their first round pick. They traded it for Bargnani. Fucking great.

Abdul said:

It's gonna be another long season for my Sixers

Man I hear you talking. It's like we're on a damn 7 year rebuilding plan.

I'm glad we have Okafor. He is gonna be a baller. But outside of him

and Nerlens Noel, do you believe in the rest of the castoffs?

We got roasted at home by the Utah Jazz.

[Edited 10/30/15 22:22pm]

phunkdaddy said:

Abdul said:

It's gonna be another long season for my Sixers

Man I hear you talking. It's like we're on a damn 7 year rebuilding plan.

I'm glad we have Okafor. He is gonna be a baller. But outside of him

and Nerlens Noel, do you believe in the rest of the castoffs?

We got roasted at home by the Utah Jazz.

[Edited 10/30/15 22:22pm]

The Sixers don't seem 2 have a clue in the front office. NONE.

Graycap23 said:

phunkdaddy said:

Abdul said:

It's gonna be another long season for my Sixers

Man I hear you talking. It's like we're on a damn 7 year rebuilding plan.

I'm glad we have Okafor. He is gonna be a baller. But outside of him

and Nerlens Noel, do you believe in the rest of the castoffs?

We got roasted at home by the Utah Jazz.

[Edited 10/30/15 22:22pm]

Yeah I watched every minute of it , the Jazz showed us no mercy

We lost another legend - R.I.P. to ABA/Pacer great Mel Daniels.

http://www.nytimes.com/20....html?_r=0

The Rockets cannot suck any more than they are sucking right now. First team in NBA history to lose its first three games by 20 points.

I blame the Kardashian Kurse.

The quicker James Harden splits with Khloe Kardashian, the better off he and the team will be. The Beard was an astounding 2 - 16 from the field last night. He's Kursed, Kursed I tells ya!

.

[Edited 11/2/15 12:20pm]

Well I guess Derrick Rose's performance tonight against the Thunder will kill those reports of the Bulls being done with Rose.