Another NBA season is upon is. The Golden State Warriors won their third NBA title in four seasons against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, but this season showed several moves in free agency which made dramatic changes to a number of NBA lineups; nost notably the Los Angeles Lakers. How does this season stack up as we approach the first game tip-off? Let us examine...

Golden State Warriors - The Warriors managed to survive some late regular season injuries, particularly to Stephen Curry, and got some help due to an untimely injury to Houston Rockets point guard Chris Paul in the Western Conference Finals to edge past Houston and dominate Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers to win their second consecutive NBA title and third in four years. And they followed up their title run by reloading their roster, signing DeMarcus Cousins during the offseason, giving them a truly athletic big man in the post. Barring injuries they look poised to with their third consecutive NBA title.

Houston Rockets - The Rockets came this/close to dethroning the Golden State Warrors in the Western Conference Finals last season before Chris Paul went down with a hamstring injury. Last Season's NBA MVP James Harden was able to light up the scoreboard but didn't have enough firepower or defense to stop the Warriors. They are likely to be the biggest threat again to unseat the Warriors and advance to the NBA Finals.

Los Angeles Lakers - Of course, the team making the most massive splash during the past offseason was the team from Hollywood, winning the Lebron James free agent lottery. The question is whether the Lakers have enough firepower to be a true title contender or just enough to make the early rounds of the playoffs. Lebron did get some free agents to sign with the Lakers to help, most notably Rajon Rondo and Lance Stephenson, but he is expected to rely on sophomore players Kyle Kuzma and Lonzo Ball to help carry the load and hopefully develop into young superstars.

Boston Celtics - With Lebron James now out of Cleveland, the Boston Celtics are now the favorites to advance to the NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference, and they get Kyrie Irving and Gordon Heyward back from season-ending injuries. They also argurably have the best coach in the NBA this side of Gregg Popovich. But they still have competition in the....

Philadelphia 76ers - The Sixers made huge gains last season, finishing on a huge run at the end of the season thanks to NBA Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons and up-and-coming superstar Joel Embiid and from veterans like J.J. Redick. Do they have enough talent to possibly unseat the Boston Celtics in the east?

San Antonio Spurs - The Spurs made some drastic moves during the offseason, saying goodbye to Manu Ginobili to retirement and letting Tony Parker go in free agency. But more notably, they appeased Kawhi Leonard's desire to leave the franchise and traded him to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan. They now will have to rely on DeRozan and Lamarcus Aldridge to carry the load for this team to make the playoffs.

Toronto Raptors - The Raptors earned the best record in the Eastern Conference last season but after getting swept by Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, they fired their coach and traded for Kawhi Leonard. However, DeMar DeRozan was their most reliable scorer last season, and they will need to rely on Kawhi Leonard, Kyle Lowry, and Fred VanVleet to carry the offensive load this season.


Utah Jazz - The Jazz surpised a lot of people with their record last season, particularly after losing Gordon Heyward to free agency but made up for that with arguably the best rookie in the NBA last season in Donovan Mitchell. The question is whether Mitchell and Rudy Gobert can turn the Jazz into the dark horse contender in the Western Conference.

Portland Trail Blazers - Once again the Blazers relied heavily on their backcourt of Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to get into the playoffs but it wasn't enough to get past the upstart New Orleans Pelicans. Will the Blazers amp up or will this season just be a repeat of last season?

New Orleans Pelicans - The New Orleans Pelcians were the surprise upstarts in the NBA last season, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals due to the outstanding play of Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday. But they lost Rajon Rondo and DeMarcus Cousins during the offseason, so are they ready to advance again or was last season just an anomaly?

Oklahoma City Thunder - The Thunder made a solid move in the offseason to re-sign Paul George to a long-term contract and shedding Carmelo Anthony, but will this even reigster enough for them to make a splash and return to the playoffs, let alone make an extended run?

Milwaukee Bucks - The Bucks are expected to make a huge move in the Eastern Conference with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Malcolm Brogdon, and their offseason acquisition of Brook Lopez. But are they dark horse contenders or will they be stuck in the middle of the playoffs again?

Miami Heat - The Miami Heat made the playoffs last year thanks to the play of Goran Dragic and Hassan Whiteside, but they also got Dwyane Wade back late last season, and he has announced he will be playing his final NBA season this year. Can they possibly cap off Wade's last hurrah into a surprise NBA title run?

Cleveland Cavaliers - Obviously the Cavs ware not the same team they once were now that Lebon James has left them a second time for greener pastures. But they still have most of their playoff roster from last season intact, but they will now have to rely on Kevin Love to be the superstar he was before he joined the Cavs in the first place. The question now is whether they are talented enough to make the playoffs this season.

Washington Wizards - The Wizards still have one of the best backcourt tandems in John Wall and Bradley Beal. but they traded away Marcin Gortat and signed Dwight Howard as his replacement. The question is whether they even have enough to make a splash this season in the east.

Minnesota Timberwolves - Last season the Wolves were poised to become the surprise contender in the NBA thanks to their bold trade for Jimmy Butler, but it appears that foundation is already crumbling, as Butler had difficulty jelling with Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns in particular. It also didn't help that their owner has already ndicated he wants to trade Butler and signed KAT to a huge extension. The question now is whether this team can stay together or will they take a huge step backward.

New York Knicks - The Knicks basically cleaned house during the offseason, hiring a new GM and coach and dumping dead weight players like Joakim Noah. But with Kristaps Porzingis still injured and expected to miss an extended part of this season, their focus is mainly on the 2019-2020 season.

[Edited 10/15/18 17:35pm]

In celebrating Lebron's debut this week as a Laker, and this new awesome thread.....lets go down memory lane shall we?........"Stop all the hate & buy my shoes"

Lebron James - My Perogative at the Espys (2007) good lord

[Edited 10/14/18 21:42pm]

After the abysmal season the Blue Jays had, I am super pumped for the Raptors and the new NBA season.

76'rs sleeper team. Lakers will never go back to the playoffs.

Knicks will be lucky to win 25-30 games.

uPtoWnNY said:

Knicks will be lucky to win 25-30 games.

I hear rumors Kevin Durant may transfer to the Knicks next year when he becomes a free agent?

Praying that doesn't happen. Warriors fan here.

The Carmelo Anthony acquisition seems to be playing out well. I'm still nervous, though. He's never been seen as locker room plus. But knowing this is your last and best chance to win a ring has a way of putting you in the frame of mind to do your job, even if it's not the job you did when you were the star.

But Boogie Cousins? Dang. If he's anywhere near the player he used to be, I don't see how anyone will beat the Warriors. Heck, they might challenge or beat the Bulls' regular season win total. I bet that's all the Warriors players talk about as a team goal, and it's one they could reach IMHO.

peggyon said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Knicks will be lucky to win 25-30 games.

I hear rumors Kevin Durant may transfer to the Knicks next year when he becomes a free agent?

Praying that doesn't happen. Warriors fan here.

Let Kevin "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" Durant keep his weak, bitch ass on the west coast.

RodeoSchro - don't buy into the Carmelo Anthony hype train until you see him give effort on defense. It's something he's never done his whole career. Dude couldn't guard a fire hydrant.

As for Philly, it's time for Embiid & Simmons to take their games to the next level. Anything less than a conference finals appearance would be a big dissapointment, IMO.

[Edited 10/16/18 11:09am]

uPtoWnNY said:

peggyon said:

I hear rumors Kevin Durant may transfer to the Knicks next year when he becomes a free agent?

Praying that doesn't happen. Warriors fan here.

Let Kevin "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" Durant keep his weak, bitch ass on the west coast.

RodeoSchro - don't buy into the Carmelo Anthony hype train until you see him give effort on defense. It's something he's never done his whole career. Dude couldn't guard a fire hydrant.

As for Philly, it's time for Embiid & Simmons to take their games to the next level. Anything less than a conference finals appearance would be a big dissapointment, IMO.

[Edited 10/16/18 11:09am]

LOL, well...our defense sure didn't look good last night, did it? Losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute - as well as our defensive coach Jeff Bzdelik - created a giant hole. We either need to fill it, or get used to the sucking sound.

Raptors played well last night. 1 down, 81 to go!

RodeoSchro said:

Boogie Cousins? Dang. If he's anywhere near the player he used to be, I don't see how anyone will beat the Warriors. Heck, they might challenge or beat the Bulls' regular season win total. I bet that's all the Warriors players talk about as a team goal, and it's one they could reach IMHO.

A loaded team like BOS, or even a team with a franchise player like LAL, could with the signing of Anthony Davis.

RodeoSchro said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Let Kevin "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em" Durant keep his weak, bitch ass on the west coast.

RodeoSchro - don't buy into the Carmelo Anthony hype train until you see him give effort on defense. It's something he's never done his whole career. Dude couldn't guard a fire hydrant.

As for Philly, it's time for Embiid & Simmons to take their games to the next level. Anything less than a conference finals appearance would be a big dissapointment, IMO.

[Edited 10/16/18 11:09am]

LOL, well...our defense sure didn't look good last night, did it? Losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute - as well as our defensive coach Jeff Bzdelik - created a giant hole. We either need to fill it, or get used to the sucking sound.

Hey, I told you during the off-season the Rockets would suffer letting those tough-minded defensive cats go. Stephen A. said you had to put out an APB for the Rockets defense.

Typical D'Antoni - thinking you can win by just outscoring the other team. That'll work in the regular season, but you have to get stops in May and June.

Empress said:

Raptors played well last night. 1 down, 81 to go!

Toronto added two former NBA champions, one of them a Finals MVP. No offense to DeRozan, but he's not in Kawhi Leonard's class. Leonard's one of the top 5 players in the league. I expect Toronto to compete with Boston & Philly for tops in the eastern conference.

Yep, I'm ready. Got my samiches, craft beers, and polish all ready to go. I haven't picked what team I'm going to cheer/support but it won't be the Bulls. Until Johnny Pax is fired, I'm through with the Bulls. Let the games begin!!!!

uPtoWnNY said:

RodeoSchro said:

LOL, well...our defense sure didn't look good last night, did it? Losing Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute - as well as our defensive coach Jeff Bzdelik - created a giant hole. We either need to fill it, or get used to the sucking sound.

Hey, I told you during the off-season the Rockets would suffer letting those tough-minded defensive cats go. Stephen A. said you had to put out an APB for the Rockets defense.

Typical D'Antoni - thinking you can win by just outscoring the other team. That'll work in the regular season, but you have to get stops in May and June.

Yes, you did and you were right.

That Rockets/Lakers game last night was pretty interesting.

RodeoSchro said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Hey, I told you during the off-season the Rockets would suffer letting those tough-minded defensive cats go. Stephen A. said you had to put out an APB for the Rockets defense.

Typical D'Antoni - thinking you can win by just outscoring the other team. That'll work in the regular season, but you have to get stops in May and June.

Yes, you did and you were right.

That Rockets/Lakers game last night was pretty interesting.

So was that fight

[Edited 10/21/18 21:07pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

Empress said:

Raptors played well last night. 1 down, 81 to go!

Toronto added two former NBA champions, one of them a Finals MVP. No offense to DeRozan, but he's not in Kawhi Leonard's class. Leonard's one of the top 5 players in the league. I expect Toronto to compete with Boston & Philly for tops in the eastern conference.

Agreed! I expect nothing less than the finals this year and I think we have a great chance. So far, I'm very impressed with the team and how they're handling the changes. Now if we could just get someone to put a stop to Golden State...........

Here is the best headline of the year:

Anthony Kiedis ejected from Lakers game in the city he lives in, the city of angels

https://news.avclub.com/a...1829909529


I have to ask: did the dude have a stroke or something? Or is this what four decades of sex, drrugs and rock 'n roll does to your face? Dang.

Goddess4Real said:

RodeoSchro said:

Yes, you did and you were right.

That Rockets/Lakers game last night was pretty interesting.

So was that fight

[Edited 10/21/18 21:07pm]

The funniest part was seeing Carmelo doing his usual woofing act. Fake tough guy.

Lakers are having drama already. Funny that both the Lakers and Cavs are winless.

https://www.usatoday.com/...729447002/

[Edited 10/22/18 15:22pm]

Shannon Sharpe had me dying with his thought on the brawl in LA....

“You want this smoke? ...ok you bout to get it ..it’s bout to be a barbecue!”

https://www.youtube.com/w...W23QSMpHYU

[Edited 10/22/18 15:34pm]

Empress said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Toronto added two former NBA champions, one of them a Finals MVP. No offense to DeRozan, but he's not in Kawhi Leonard's class. Leonard's one of the top 5 players in the league. I expect Toronto to compete with Boston & Philly for tops in the eastern conference.

Agreed! I expect nothing less than the finals this year and I think we have a great chance. So far, I'm very impressed with the team and how they're handling the changes. Now if we could just get someone to put a stop to Golden State...........

Kawhi's stats from last night vs. Charlotte;

22 pts. on 9 of 14 shooting

4 of 7 from three

4 boards

3 assists

2 steals

He keeps that up, and Toronto will be in the conference finals.

How about this Luka Doncic on the Mavs? Dude is playing lights out.

uPtoWnNY said:

Empress said:

Agreed! I expect nothing less than the finals this year and I think we have a great chance. So far, I'm very impressed with the team and how they're handling the changes. Now if we could just get someone to put a stop to Golden State...........

Kawhi's stats from last night vs. Charlotte;

22 pts. on 9 of 14 shooting

4 of 7 from three

4 boards

3 assists

2 steals

He keeps that up, and Toronto will be in the conference finals.

How about this Luka Doncic on the Mavs? Dude is playing lights out.

I hope you're right! Kawhi was even more impression last night. I think he had 35 points. TO play the Mavs Friday night.

The Rockets are offering 4-count 'em-4 first-round draft picks for Jimmy Butler.

RodeoSchro said:

The Rockets are offering 4-count 'em-4 first-round draft picks for Jimmy Butler.

Those 1s aren't going to be worth much to them at the end of the day.

RodeoSchro said:

The Rockets are offering 4-count 'em-4 first-round draft picks for Jimmy Butler.

Saw this at ESPN;

FAILURE TO LAUNCH. When the Houston Rockets decided to part with Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute during the offseason, the general consensus was that their defense would suffer.

Those fears (if you love the Rockets) or joys (if you're a Warriors fan) have both been validated four games into their 2018-19 season.

Houston currently surrenders 115.2 points per game and their defensive rating is 21st in the NBA. Last season, they surrendered only 103.9 points per and their defensive rating was sixth in the league at 106.1.

Without Mbah a Moute, Anthony Davis waltzed to an effortless 32-point performance in the Pelicans' 131-112 drubbing of the Rockets at the Toyota Center last October 17. A week later, Donovon Mitchell, unburdened by Ariza's sticky perimeter D, lit the Rockets for 38 in Utah's 100-89 demolition job.

James Harden?

Well he's doing okay, 28.5 points per game average. The reigning MVP is his usual self, shooting in volumes - 79 field goals so far - and over-dribbling at a nauseating pace. He norms nine assists per, which is good. But he turns the ball over five times a contest, which is horrible.

Chris Paul?

He's 33 years and 173 days old. He has 31,555 playing minutes on his weary knees, too. He makes $35.6 million this season and the only noteworthy fight he's shown so far was against Rajon Rondo.

Carmelo Anthony?

He says he's still adjusting to life coming off the bench, going through a "learning curve."

Hhhm. The only education here is that Melo never liked to play defense. Sadly for Houston, this version of Anthony is old an 34 and no longer shoots like an All-Star - 40 percent from the field and 26.1 percent from long distance through four games.

In other words, Harden, Paul and Anthony are a Small Three.

Is this why, according to ESPN, the Rockets have offered FOUR first-rounders for disgruntled Jimmy Butler?

Somewhere out there, the Golden State Warriors are laughing.

In other news, the Cavs are winless and were charging $2.00 for some tickets Wednesday night vs the Nets. Hey Dan Gilbert, your franchise is back to being irrevelant.

[Edited 10/26/18 14:37pm]

Tonight's game between the Raptors and Bucks is going to be a real nailbiter. Both are 6-0! Of course, I'm hoping the Raptors win, but I'm not sure if the Greek Freak will allow it.

Cavs did Ty Lue a favor by firing him. They're a DISASTER. At least they got their championship.

uPtoWnNY said:

Cavs did Ty Lue a favor by firing him. They're a DISASTER. At least they got their championship.

They were always going to be after LeBron left.

I'm actually relieved for Lue. He had some health/stress issues and now he can take his buyout and decompress.