As the NBA Season Draws Near, Here’s What You Need to Know
Contents
- The NBA season is almost here- what you need to know
- Key dates for the upcoming NBA season
- The NBA’s new TV deal and how it affects fans
- The biggest story lines heading into the new NBA season
- New faces in new places- a look at the offseason’s biggest trades
- The NBA’s rookie class- who to watch out for
- Can anyone dethrone the Golden State Warriors?
- Predictions for the upcoming NBA season
- What to expect from the NBA’s All-Star weekend
- The NBA playoffs a preview
The NBA season is just around the corner, and we’ve got everything you need to know to get ready! From Key Players to watch out for to must-see matchups, we’ve got you covered.
The NBA season is almost here- what you need to know
The NBA season is just around the corner and there is a lot to be excited about. Whether you are a die-hard fan or just getting into the sport, here are the key things you need to know heading into the new season.
First and foremost, the silly season is over and all of the big name free agents have found new homes. This includes superstars like Kevin Durant Kyrie Irving Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard With these names off the board, it completely changes how we expect the season to play out.
In terms of title contenders, it looks like the Golden State Warriors will once again be at the top of the pack. However, with Durant gone and Klay Thompson sidelined with an injury, they will be vulnerable this season. The Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers will also be in contention for a championship, while teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers will also be in contention.
There are a lot of intriguing storylines heading into this season and it should be a great one. Be sure to stay tuned for all of the action!
Key dates for the upcoming NBA season
With the NBA season set to resume on December 22, here are some key dates to keep in mind:
-December 22: First day of the 2020-21 NBA regular season
-January 13-15: NBA All-Star break
-April 10: Last day of the 2020-21 NBA regular season
-April 16-May 16: NBA Playoffs
The NBA’s new TV deal and how it affects fans
As the NBA season approaches, fans are gearing up for another exciting year of basketball. One of the biggest changes this season will be the new TV deal that the league has signed with ESPN and Turner Sports The nine-year, $24 billion deal will see games air on ABC, ESPN, TNT, and NBA TV. Here’s what you need to know about how this new deal will affect your ability to watch games this season:
ABC will air 15 regular season games, as well as the All-Star game and select Playoff Games ESPN will also air 15 regular season games, as well as the Conference Finals TNT will televise 52 Regular Season games, including a doubleheader on Opening Night, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and All-Star Weekend NBA TV will air 100 games during the regular season
If you’re a fan of basketball, you won’t want to miss a minute of action this season. With games on four different networks, there’s sure to be something for everyone. So make sure you tune in and catch all the exciting action of the NBA season!
The biggest story lines heading into the new NBA season
The new NBA season is just around the corner, and there are plenty of story lines to keep an eye on. Here are some of the biggest:
Can the Warriors repeat?
The Golden State Warriors are coming off a season in which they won a franchise-record 73 games. They then added All-Star Kevin Durant in Free agency making them even more formidable. Can they repeat as champions?
Can LeBron reclaim his throne?
Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Warriors in the Finals last season, despite James’ herculean efforts. He’ll be looking to lead his team back to the Promised Land this season.
Is this Carmelo’s final season with the Knicks?
Carmelo Anthony has been the subject of trade rumors for months now, and it seems increasingly likely that he’ll be dealt before the trade deadline Where will he end up? And can he finally lead the Knicks to glory?
These are just a few of the many story lines to keep an eye on heading into the new NBA season Tune in starting October 25th to see how it all unfolds.
New faces in new places- a look at the offseason’s biggest trades
As the new NBA season rapidly approaches, fans are eagerly awaiting to see how their favorite teams will stack up. One of the biggest story lines heading into this season is how different many teams will look, due to the offseason’s most impactful trades. Here’s a look at some of the most significant Offseason Moves and what they could mean for the upcoming season
The most high-profile move of the offseason was undoubtedly Kyrie Irving being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Boston Celtics In exchange for Irving, the Cavs received Isaiah Thomas Jae Crowder Ante Zizic, and a 2018 unprotected first-Round Draft pick. This move sent shockwaves around the league, as it completely changed the landscape of both conferences. For Cleveland, they receive a solid point guard in Thomas and a young big man in Zizic to help shore up their frontcourt rotation. However, they also take on a huge risk in acquiring Thomas, who is still recovering from a hip injury that sidelined him for the end of last season. The Celtics, on the other hand, add an elite level talent in Kyrie Irving to pair with fellow All-Star Al Horford. With Horford and Irving leading the way, look for the Celtics to be one of the top contenders in the Eastern Conference this season.
Another significant trade that took place this offseason was Jimmy Butler being dealt from the Chicago Bulls to the Minnesota Timberwolves In exchange for Butler, Chicago received Kris Dunn, Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. This move signaled a rebuild for the Bulls, as they unload one of their best players for two young prospects and a promising rookie big man. For Minnesota, they add a much-needed veteran leader to help mentor their talented young core featuring Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins With Butler now in tow, expect Minnesota to make noise in the Western Conference playoffs this season.
The offseason was marked by numerous other trades that involved All-Star caliber players such as Paul George (OKC Thunder), Carmelo Anthony (OKC Thunder), Chris Paul (Houston Rockets), and Gordon Hayward (Boston Celtics). With so many star players changing teams this offseason, it’s anyone’s guess as to how this upcoming NBA season will play out.
The NBA’s rookie class- who to watch out for
The NBA Season is just around the corner, and with it comes a rookie class loaded with potential. Zion Williamson Ja Morant, and RJ Barrett headline a group that also includes dynamic scorers like Tyler Herro and shooting specialists like Coby White
This year’s rookie class has the potential to be one of the best in recent memory, so here’s a look at some of the players who could make an impact this season.
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 center is an explosive athlete with a rare combination of size, strength, and speed. He’s also an excellent finisher around the basket, which should make him a favorite target of Pelicans point guard Jrue Holiday
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies
The second overall pick in this year’s draft, Morant was one of the most productive players in college basketball last season. The 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 24.5 points and 10 assists per game for Murray State leading the Racers to the NCAA tournament Morant is an excellent scorer and playmaker who should have no problem adjusting to the NBA game
RJ Barrett, New York Knicks
The third overall pick in this year’s draft, Barrett was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball last season. The 6-foot-7 wing averaged 22.6 points per game for Duke, shooting 45 percent from the field and 33 percent from three-point range Barrett is an excellent shooter with a High Basketball IQ, which should make him a valuable asset for the Knicks this season.
Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
A first-round pick out of Kentucky, Herro is a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who can score from anywhere on the court. He averaged 14 points per game last season while shooting 35 percent from three-point range. Herro is an excellent shooter with good size and length, which makes him someone to watch out for on the Heat this season.
Coby White, Chicago Bulls
The seventh overall pick in this year’s draft out of North Carolina White is a 6-foot-4 point guard with elite scoring ability. He averaged 16 points per game last season while shooting 35 percent from three-point range. White is an excellent shooter with good size and length for his position. Look for him to be a key contributor for the Bulls this season
Can anyone dethrone the Golden State Warriors?
The Warriors have been the NBA’s dominant team for the past few years, winning multiple championships. But as the new season approaches, there are a few teams that could dethrone them.
The Houston Rockets are one of those teams. They added All-Star point guard Chris Paul to an already strong lineup that includes James Harden and Clint Capela The Rockets also have a deep bench, which will be important in the playoffs.
Another team that could challenge the Warriors is the Oklahoma City Thunder They made some big moves in the offseason, acquiring All-Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony With a core of George, Anthony, and Russell Westbrook the Thunder could be a force to be reckoned with.
The Warriors will still be the favorites to win it all, but there are a few teams that could give them a run for their money.
Predictions for the upcoming NBA season
As the NBA season Draws Near, Here’s What You Need to Know
The long-awaited NBA season is finally upon us, and there are plenty of storylines to keep an eye on. After a dramatic offseason that saw several All-Stars change teams, there are a number of new-look squads that will be vying for playoff positioning. Here are some of the biggest questions heading into the 2018-19 campaign:
Who will win the Eastern Conference?
The Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors are the two favorites in the East, but the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers could also be in the mix. The Celtics added All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward to an already loaded roster, while the Raptors acquired Kawhi Leonard in a Blockbuster Trade with the San Antonio Spurs. The Bucks made a splash by signing superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo to a four-year extension, and the 76ers will be looking to build on last year’s success with a healthy Joel Embiid leading the way.
Can anyone dethrone the Golden State Warriors?
The Warriors are once again heavy favorites to win it all, but they will have plenty of competition in what should be another highly competitive NBA season The Houston Rockets pushed Golden State to seven games in last year’s Western Conference Finals and have since added All-Star guard Carmelo Anthony to their already potent lineup. The Rockets will be looking to take that next step this season and dethrone the Warriors as conference champions. Other contenders in the West include the Utah Jazz Oklahoma City Thunder Denver Nuggets and Portland Trail Blazers
Which team is most likely to surprise people?
In the East, keep an eye on the Indiana Pacers They were one of last year’s biggest surprises, winning 48 games despite losing star guard Paul George to injury. With George healthy and ready to go this season, the Pacers could be even better than they were last year and could challenge for a top-four seed in the conference. In the West, keep an eye on the Los Angeles Lakers They missed out on Leonard in free agency but they did land superstar forward Lebron James With James leading a young core that includes Lonzo Ball Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma the Lakers could make some noise in what should be an eventful 2018-19 NBA season
What to expect from the NBA’s All-Star weekend
While the Main Event of the All-Star Game will take place on Sunday, there are a plethora of activities that fans can enjoy over the course of the weekend. The Slam Dunk Contest Three-Point Contest and Skills Challenge will all take place on Saturday night, while Sunday’s events will include the All-Star Game itself and the Shooting Stars Competition.
In terms of the All-Star Game itself, there have been some changes made to the format that fans should be aware of. Instead of two teams drafting players from a pool of All-Stars, as has been tradition in recent years this season’s teams will be chosen by two captains. Those captains will be the leading vote-getters from each conference, which means that Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are currently in line to be this year’s captains. From there, each captain will then choose their teammates regardless of conference affiliations.
The other significant change to this year’s All-Star game is that it will be played in a brand new format. Instead of being a traditional East vs. West matchup, the game will now feature two teams playing against each other in a playground-style contest. There will be no defined positions and no assigned defensive assignments, meaning that it will truly be an All-Star Game where anything can happen.
So whether you’re tuning in for the starpower on display or simply want to see how this new format plays out, make sure to catch the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night It should be a weekend full of fun and excitement for basketball fans everywhere.
The NBA playoffs a preview
The National Basketball Association (NBA) playoffs are a best-of-seven elimination tournament held annually to decide the league’s championship. The playoffs follow a Regular Season that begins in October and ends in April.
This year, the post-season will consist of 16 teams (eight from each conference), which will be whittled down to two over the course of several weeks. The NBA Finals will then take place between June 4 and June 19, with the winning team receiving the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy.
In order to make it to the playoffs, teams must first ensure they have one of the top eight records in their conference. If there is a tie for eighth place, then a series of playoff games will be played to determine who goes through.
Once the playoff field is set, the bracket is seeded so that the team with the best record plays the team with the Worst Record and so on. The four winners of those series then advance to the next round, where they are reseeded. This process repeats until two teams are left standing.
In each round, if a team loses four games before winning four, then they are eliminated and their opponents move on. All series are played in a best-of-seven format.
So there you have it! Be sure to follow your favorite team’s progress throughout the season and make sure you’re free to watch some exciting basketball come playoff time!