The best part about football season is basketball is looming right around the corner.
After being robbed of a full slate of games last season due to the lockout, NBA diehards like me couldn’t wait for the 2012-2013 campaign to get underway last night. Only three contests were on the docket Tuesday, but the majority of teams play their first of 82 games tonight instead of going trick-or-treating.
The NBA is different from all other professional sports leagues because it’s so top heavy.
Mediocrity is the worst place to be. Just ask the Atlanta Hawks.
Once again this season, there are only a few teams who have what it takes to challenge the defending champion Miami Heat. I give you the contenders, pretenders and dark horses in the quest for the 2013 NBA Title.
THE CONTENDERS:
Miami Heat
The Heat got help from a foe when Ray Allen ditched Boston for South Beach. With no true center, coach Erik Spoelstra won’t be afraid to send James, Allen, Dwyane Wade, Mario Chalmers and Chris Bosh out on the court at the same time.
Throw Rashard Lewis in the mix and Miami arguably has a better team than the one that captured the 2012 NBA Championship. With a depleted Southeast division, the Heat might win 65 games.
Los Angeles Lakers
Just when you thought Kobe Bryant didn’t have enough horses to add a sixth NBA Championship ring, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak pulled in perennial All-Stars Dwight Howard and Steve Nash.
Acquiring Howard and Nash, along with Oklahoma City trading James Harden to the Houston Rockets, puts the Lakers at the top of the Western Conference totem pole. With the best high-low combination, a veteran backcourt of Bryant and Nash, and a dose of the always exciting Metta World Peace, anything short of a championship will be a disappointment for the Lake Show.
THE PRETENDERS:
San Antonio Spurs
The Spurs are old. Like AARP old.
I’m not taking anything away from the best power forward of all-time, Tim Duncan, or two of the best international players currently in the NBA, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, but let’s face it – the Spurs’ reign of dominance is coming to an end.
San Antonio will once again have one of the best records. I just don’t see them being able to get past the Lakers, Thunder or Nuggets in a seven-game playoff series.
Brooklyn Nets
A new city, new arena and new set of superstar players still won’t mean sniffing a title in year one for Brooklyn. The Nets resigning Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace while adding Joe Johnson gives them one of the best starting fives. There’s no question Brooklyn is now the best team in New York City (looking at you, Carmelo Anthony). I don’t think they’re ready to compete with Miami or Boston yet.
THE DARK HORSES:
Boston Celtics
Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have one more run left.
While losing Ray Allen hurts, the additions of Courtney Lee and Jason Terry along with the continuing development of Avery Bradley more than make up for him. Rajon Rondo is the most complete point guard in the game and doesn’t have to impact a game by scoring 30 points. If there’s one team that can dethrone the Heat in the East, it’s Boston.
Denver Nuggets
Who’s happiest about the Thunder’s choice to part ways with last season’s NBA Sixth Man of the Year James Harden? The Nuggets.
Denver should win the Northwest division. It took the Lakers to seven games in the first round of last season’s playoffs and is one of the deepest teams in the league. Despite the Lakers getting their man in Dwight Howard, you could argue the Nuggets got the better end of the trade by adding Andre Iguodala. Led by Ty Lawson at the point, the Nuggets will find a way to be in the conversation for the NBA Title.
