NBA Teams to Look out for in 2016/2017
- netrom88
- Oct 24, 2016
- 5 min read
It's that time of the year again! It's time to watch grown men play with balls. They throw them to each other, and then they try to put it into a basket. In other words: The 2016/2017 NBA regular season starts today!
Last season was an amazing adventure, with a fairy tale ending. The Chosen One, who left his hometown in search of gold, who then returned in hope of bringing glory to his city and state, did just that. LeBron James was able to carry his Cleveland Cavaliers to an NBA title, despite facing the team that beat them the year before, the Golden State Warriors.
This year, the Warriors have brought in a supreme sharpshooter in Kevin Durant, while Cleveland was able to maintain their championship core of guys. There's no doubt that this season will be full of excitement, drama, heartache, and victory.
While all regular season games are filled with spectacular action, all of the teams are not equally worthy of the same amount of attention. Some teams are spending this season as a re-building phase, while others are aiming for that Larry O'Brien trophy. Here's a little guide to some of the teams that you might want to keep an eye on:
BOSTON CELTICS
This old powerhouse of an organization has something cooking. While they have been nowhere near the epic heights of the Russell or Bird years, they have seen some recent success with the Big Three: Pierce, Allen, and Garnett. But since their breakup, the Celtics have been in a constant state of re-building. While they probably won't be at the very top of the podium when this upcoming season is over, a trip to the play-offs might be in the cards. They do have some exciting players, and they should be fun to watch.
CHICAGO BULLS
The team who plays in the House that Michael built hasn't been able to actually win anything since His Airness departed, but that doesn't mean that they don't deserve any attention. This off-season was marked with the departures of several players, especially Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah. Luckily for them, a new star player has emerged over the last few seasons, namely Jimmy Butler. Along with some championship caliber imports such as Rajon Rando and Dwayne Wade, the team should be able to make up for their lackluster performance last season. While there's probably not any rings in the near future for the Bulls, the play-offs should be a realistic goal for them.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
They have Uncle Drew. They have the Love. And they have the King. They have everything they need. They proved that last season, and they will prove it again this year. There's no reason to doubt that the Cavs will be going back to the Finals again. Love and Kyrie are looking for more rings, and LeBron is chasing that ghost from Chicago. This should add up to a very exciting season in Cleveland. Their season, including play-offs should amount to something around 100 games.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks is a wild card this season. Phil Jackson has made some moves, but it's way to early to tell if they will pay off or not. Carmelo Anthony is still there, and with the addition on Derrick Rose, a former MVP of the league, and Joakim Noah, this team might be cooking with some spice again. Include Kristaps Porzingis, and we might see some meaningful games in Madison Square Garden once the regular season is done.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS
MJ's own team is on the rise. They have been for a few years now. The only thing they need to show is that they are able to build upon that and take it a step further. It's not a team full of superstars, but their players have been able to squeeze some magic out of their squad over the last few years, and it will be very exciting to see if they can do it again. It's always fun to see videos of Michael Jordan celebrating a Hornets win, so let's hope we get to see more of that this season.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
If any of the teams in the NBA needed reinforcements, the Warriors was not one of them. They won the title two years ago, they were in the Finals last year, and they have the two-time MVP, Steph Curry on their roster. They should be fine. They have Klay Thompson, the second half of the Splash Brothers, along with Curry. They have Draymond Green. They even have an Olympic champion coming off their bench. And yet, they go ahead and add Kevin Durant to their squad. Unfair? Maybe. But there's no denying the fact that they will be entertaining to watch, and they should also be making it back to the Finals. See you in June.
LA CLIPPERS
Is this the year that the Clippers will make it big? We've been waiting for a few years now. Chris Paul was supposed to lead this team to the promised land by now. With this being the last year of play for Paul “The Truth” Pierce, it would be a pretty sweet sendoff. Coach Doc Rivers might be able to motivate DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin sufficiently enough to take them to the play-offs, but to tell you the Truth: Most likely a second round exit.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
They lost a legend. “The Big Fundamental,” Tim Duncan is no longer on the active roster. Will this team still be able to reach 60 wins this season? They still have some quality players, but they lost their foundation. It will be very interesting to see how well they'll do, but they seem like a team full of players past their primes. They will try to make up for it by playing their own kind of basketball, as well as relying on Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, but will it be enough? The next 82 games will tell.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
They're one franchise player down. Their biggest star, Kevin Durant, left without saying good bye, and that's the type of stuff that will make Russell Westbrook say hello in a big way. Probably the player in the NBA with the biggest killer instinct is now super motivated to make certain teams pay. While the rest of the OKC squad might lag a little behind, Westbrook will force them on with his thirst for blood. They probably won't be getting any rings at the start of the 17/18 season, but this team, and Westbrook in particular, should be fun to watch. Get the popcorn ready.
These are only a few of the teams who will be making impacts all over the new NBA season, but they are also the ones who will provide the most entertainment. Rivalries are heating up all over the map, and some are certain erupt in fiery displays of spectacular basketball. Pick your teams and see how they do. Will your team be this year's Cinderella story? Only way to find out is to tune in. Let's play ball!
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