With the Eastern Conference Boston Celtics being the reigning champs and beating the Dallas Mavericks last season in the finals in just 5 games, and Jaylen Brown being the finals MVP, he and his superstar team are looking to go back to back and win it all again. However, a few teams made some changes that could stop them from going all the way and winning.
In the West, some major changes were made. The Oklahoma City Thunder finished the season last year 1st in the Western Conference, 57-25 on the season, but unfortunately lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2nd Round of the playoffs, they’re looking to do the same thing in the regular season, but this time, go even further in the playoffs, potentially making it to the finals and winning it all. The Oklahoma City Thunder already have a great team but with the addition of Alex Caruso, they can be even better.. Alex Caruso averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.7 steals while going 46.8% from the field and shooting 40.8% from the 3-point line. Caruso is a great 2-way defender guard who can help get good defensive stops and be a huge factor to this team.
“I think the Knicks will be the first seed for the East at the end of the season if there are no injuries, then the Boston Celtics right behind them, and the Philadelphia 76ers at the 3rd seed. And for the West, the Denver Nuggets first, the Minnesota Timberwolves 2nd, and the Memphis Grizzlies 3rd. I think the 76ers will play against Dallas in the finals and the Dallas Mavericks will win it all.”
The Mavericks coming up short last year, losing in 5, they want vengeance and are looking to bounce back with their same returning guys and adding a lethal shooter to the squad, Klay Thompson. Klay Thompson can help this team stretch the floor and with Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic being the main focus to most teams, it gives Klay Thompson many options to score the ball and help the team succeed. Klay Thompson averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.6 steals, going 43.2% from the field and shooting only 38.7% from the 3. Klay normally shoots better from the 3 and went on a slump but he and his team are hoping for him to bounce back and perform at his best.
Anthony Edwards and his team, the Minnesota Timberwolves had a great run last season but are hungry for more. They needed another piece to help them win, and that’s what they got. They acquired all-star Julius Randle who averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.3 steals per contest while shooting 46.1% from the field and 35.1% from the three-point range. Julius Randle is a great addition to this team with his grit & grind play style. They also got Donte DiVincenzo who is a great shooter and averaged 15.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.7 steals, shooting 44.3% from the field and 40.1% from the 3. These 2 additions are great to this team and just makes them even scarier with so many options while getting rookie superstar Robert Dillingham, who averaged 15.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.9 assists, while shooting 47.5% from the field and 44.4% from the 3 point line. But they had to give up superstar Karl-Anthony-Towns to the Knicks.
“There’s no way the Celtics won’t win it again. They have a whole superteam, no one can stop them.” Cole Fisher
The New York Knicks finished 2nd last year in the regular season, behind the Celtics and just acquired star, Karl-Anthony-Towns who is a great stretch big man and can space the floor, Towns averaged 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3 assists, finishing 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from the 3.
There are so many more additions from all teams around the NBA, this season is one not to miss and anything could possibly happen this upcoming year.
