2019-20 Absolute Basketball Preview

The 2019-20 Absolute Basketball Preview provides an in-depth look at all of the top teams and players in the country.

2019-20 NBA season Preview

2019-20 NBA season Preview
The 2019-20 NBA season is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated in recent memory. After a thrilling offseason that saw a number of marquee free agents switch teams, the league is poised for an exciting campaign.

The reigning champion Golden State Warriors will once again be the team to beat, but they’ll have plenty of competition. The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers have both reloaded with All-Star caliber talent, and the Milwaukee Bucks are primed to take the next step after an impressive 18-19 season

In the East, it will be interesting to see how the new-look Brooklyn Nets fare. They’ll be led by Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant two of the best scorers in the league. The Philadelphia 76ers and Toronto Raptors are also expected to be near the top of the Conference Standings

It should be a great year for basketball fans so be sure to catch all the action!

Eastern Conference Preview

The Eastern Conference is loaded with talent this season, and it looks like it will be a close race to the Finish Line The Milwaukee Bucks look like they will be the team to beat, but the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors will give them a run for their money. The Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers are also Teams to Watch out for. It should be an exciting season of basketball in the East!

Western Conference Preview

In the Western Conference there are a number of teams that could make a run at the title. The Warriors are still the favorites, but the Rockets and Nuggets will be right there with them. The Blazers and Jazz are also teams to watch out for.

The Warriors remain the team to beat in the West. They added All-Star Demarcus Cousins in the off-season, making them even more dangerous. With Stephen Curry Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson leading the way, they will be tough to stop.

The Rockets had the best record in the regular season last year, and they added Carmelo Anthony in the off-season. With James Harden leading the way, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Nuggets finished last season with a strong push, and they added Paul Millsap in the off-season. With Nikola Jokic leading the way, they will be a tough team to beat.

The Blazers had a disappointing end to last season, but they added some quality players in the off-season. With Damian Lillard leading the way, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

The Jazz are coming off a disappointing season, but they have a talented roster. With Rudy Gobert leading the way, they will be a tough team to beat.

Key Storylines

The 2019-20 NBA season is upon us, and there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on. Here are some of the key ones:

Can the Warriors three-peat?
The Warriors are coming off back-to-back NBA titles and will be looking to make it three in a row this season. They’ll have their work cut out for them, though, as they’ll face stiff competition from teams like the Houston Rockets Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks

What will happen with Kawhi Leonard?
Kawhi Leonard shocked the Basketball World when he opted to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers in Free agency this offseason. He’ll team up with fellow superstar Paul George to form one of the most talented duos in the league. The Clippers will be aiming to dethrone the Warriors as NBA champions this season.

Can Zion Williamson live up to the hype?
Zion Williamson was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft and he is already one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. He’ll make his much-anticipated debut for the New Orleans Pelicans this season, and all eyes will be on him to see if he can live up to his lofty expectations.

Players to Watch

As the 2019-20 season approaches, there are a handful of players who have the potential to have breakout years and emerge as stars in the league. Here are five players to keep an eye on this season:

1. Zion Williamson New Orleans Pelicans
The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft, Williamson is one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory. The 6-foot-7 forward is an explosive athlete with the ability to finish at the rim with power. He also has a versatile skill set that allows him to contribute in other areas, such as rebounding and defense. Williamson is expected to make an immediate impact for the Pelicans and could be one of the league’s top rookies this season.

2. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
Fox had a solid rookie season last year, averaging 11.6 points and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 41 percent from the field. The 20-year-old guard took a big step forward during Summer League play, averaging 21.8 points and 7.5 assists while leading the Kings to a perfect 5-0 record. With more experience under his belt, Fox could be in store for a breakout year and emerge as one of the league’s top point guards

3. Lonzo Ball New Orleans Pelicans
Ball struggled with injuries and inconsistency during his rookie season, but he still managed to flash glimpses of his potential when he was on the court. The 6-foot-6 guard is an excellent passer with remarkable Court Vision and he has the ability to significantly impact the game on both ends of the floor when he’s at his best. Ball will look to take another step forward this season as he teams up with Williamson in New Orleans’ backcourt.

4. Tobias Harris Philadelphia 76ers
Harris was acquired by the 76ers midway through last season and quickly became one of their go-to scorers down the stretch. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 18.2 points per game after joining Philadelphia, and he played well in their playoff run, averaging 20 points and 7 rebounds per game against Toronto in round two of the playoffs Harris will be counted on to provide scoring and leadership for the 76ers this season as they attempt to make a deep playoff run

Teams on the Rise

The following teams are on the rise heading into the 2019-20 season.

The Houston Rockets are poised for a big season after adding Russell Westbrook to their already stacked lineup. The Rockets will be looking to dethrone the Golden State Warriors as the top team in the Western Conference

The Brooklyn Nets made a splash in free agency by signing Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant The Nets will have one of the best offenses in the league and they should be a force to be reckoned with in the Eastern Conference

The Los Angeles Clippers made a big trade for Kawhi Leonard and also signed Paul George in free agency The Clippers have assembled a super team and they will be one of the favorites to win the NBA title

Teams on the Decline

The following teams are facing various degrees of adversity heading into the 2019-20 season and are prime candidates to take a Step Back

The Indiana Pacers made a bold move in the offseason, shipping off star forward Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. It was a clear signal that the Pacers were no longer interested in contending for an NBA title and were instead focused on rebuilding. It’s going to be a long process for Indiana, which is why we think they’re a team on the decline heading into the new season.

The Houston Rockets entered last season as one of the favorites to win the NBA title, but they fell short in the Western Conference Finals losing to the Golden State Warriors in seven games. This offseason, Houston made a few changes to its roster, most notably trading away key reserve player Trevor Ariza. The Rockets are still a talented team, but we think they’ll take a step back this season as they adapt to their new personnel.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are another team that disappointed last season, missing out on the playoffs despite having two young stars in Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins This offseason, Minnesota Made some changes to its Coaching Staff and front office but we don’t think that will be enough to get them over the hump and into the playoffs. We expect the Timberwolves to take a step back this season and finish near the bottom of the standings.

Must-See Games

The college Basketball season is just around the corner, and there are a number of great games to look forward to. Here are five must-see games of the 2019-20 season:

1. Duke vs. Kentucky (November 5th): This matchup between two of the most storied programs in college basketball will be must-see TV. Both teams are loaded with talent, and it should be a great game

2. North Carolina vs. Gonzaga (December 18th): This will be a rematch of last year’s National Championship game, which was won by North Carolina Both teams are expected to be near the top of the rankings again this year, so this should be a great game

3. Kansas vs. Villanova (December 21st): This is a matchup between two of the best teams in the country. Kansas is always near the top of the rankings, and Villanova is coming off of a National Championship win in 2018. This should be a great game between two powerhouse programs.

4. Virginia vs. Florida State (January 4th): This ACC matchup features two teams that are expected to contend for the conference title this season. Virginia is coming off of a National Championship win in 2019, while Florida State has a lot of talent and is looking to take the next step this season. This should be a great game between two evenly matched teams.

5.. Michigan State vs Purdue (February 8th): This Big Ten matchup features two of the best teams in the conference. Michigan State is always near the top of the standings, and Purdue is coming off of a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2019. This should be a great game between two contenders for the conference title .

Bold Predictions

The 2019-20 NBA season is finally upon us and there is no shortage of storylines. After an eventful offseason that saw more than a third of the league’s star players change teams, there are plenty of new faces in new places. The league’s two best players, Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo will square off in the much-anticipated Christmas Day matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks

But as we get ready to tip off the new season, there are a few bold predictions we’re making about what’s going to happen over the course of the next six months.

The Golden State Warriors Will Miss The Playoffs
For the first time in what feels like forever, the Warriors will not be one of the top four seeds in the Western Conference With Kevin Durant gone to Brooklyn and Klay Thompson sidelined for most of the season with a torn ACL, Golden State just doesn’t have enough firepower to compete with the likes of the Lakers, Clippers, Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz Don’t be surprised if they struggle to even make the playoffs.

The New Orleans Pelicans Will Make The Playoffs
With Zion Williamson set to make his long-awaited debut at some point this season, the Pelicans are a team on the rise. They also have a solid young core that includes Brandon Ingram Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart. Add in veteran leader Jrue Holiday and New Orleans has all the pieces in place to make a run at a playoff spot in the Western Conference

The Toronto Raptors Will Win 60 Games
With Kawhi Leonard now in Los Angeles many people re writing off the Raptors as title contenders. We’re not one of those people. Toronto still has a very good roster top to bottom and they proved last season that they can win without Leonard. We think they’ll win around 60 games this season and once again be one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference

Conclusion

It’s been a long journey, but we’ve finally arrived at the end of our 2019-20 Absolute Basketball preview. We hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together, and that it’s helped you to get excited for the season ahead.

There’s a lot to like about this year’s crop of teams, and we can’t wait to see how things unfold. The race for the playoffs is sure to be fiercely contested, and we wouldn’t be surprised if a few surprise teams managed to sneak their way in.

As always, thanks for reading, and enjoy the season!