NBA 2022-23 Season Previews
After an epic finals battle between Boston Celtics and Golden State Warriors, The spotlight will be on both franchises. Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
The NBA 2022-23 season kicks Tuesday with the first game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the reigning Eastern Conference champions Boston Celtics. It's time for our annual NBA season preview. Several story-lines are out this season. Does Brooklyn have the firepower to become a title contender? Will the absence of Coach Udoka pose long-term effects on the Celtics? Will this be Draymond Green’s last season with the Warriors? Looking at teams on both sides of the spectrum helps us identify possible contenders and season projections. After an epic NBA finals battle, the Boston Celtics made some changes this off-season. As for the Golden State Warriors securing contracts for their young stars, Jordan Poole and Andrew Wiggins, was the main priority. The spotlight is on the Celtics and Warriors as they power through turbulent times. The Celtics will have to move forward without Head coach Ime Udoka, who received a one-year suspension for violating team policies. In his first season as Head coach, Udoka led the Celtics to a remarkable playoff run, which ended in an NBA final appearance for the first time in 12 years. The Celtics enter this season under Coach Joe Mazzulla.
Will the absence of Coach Udoka pose long-term effects on the Celtics?
After a remarkable NBA finals run, the Boston Celtics will be without Coach Ime Udoka who received a one-year suspension for violating team policies. Photo by Associated Press
After a miraculous NBA finals run, the Boston Celtics gained much-needed experience. Celtics forward Jayson Tatum enters this season with a new sense of stardom. Tatum was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, averaging 25.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. The emergence of Tatum and Brown silencing media critics after the duo led the Celtics to a remarkable playoff run. Throughout the last post-season, Tatum and Brown out-duelled Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and Giannis Antetokounmpo before falling to Step Curry and the Warriors in six games. Entering their sixth season together, Tatum and Brown have their eyes set on winning a championship, this time without Coach Udoka. Coach Joe Mazzulla has won the respect of the Celtics' core, and Tatum has expressed his support for the youngest head coach in the NBA.
“ You could tell how passionate [he is] about the guys and his craft. He's gotten so much more knowledgeable, more detailed, and just vocal. More comfortable in his role as a coach. You've seen growth from his first year”.
Without Coach Ime, the Celtics will still be a top contender in the Eastern Conference. The off-season acquisitions of Malcolm Brogdon and Blake Griffin give the Celtics flexibility with smaller lineups. With the emergence of Tatum and Brown, The Celtics will secure between the three-fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Future of The Golden State Warriors in Shambles?
Will the Warriors let the Poole-Green altercation derail their championship run this season? Photo by Getty Images
The Golden State Warriors have been moving forward since a staff member leaked the video of Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole. Many have speculated that the Green-Poole altercation would derail their championship hopes. The unique pattern shows the Warriors' ability to rally together despite insurmountable challenges. Throughout the last three seasons, the Warriors battled through injuries, roster reconstructions, and losing a generation of talent in Kevin Durant. Still, the Warriors managed to win another championship title.Now the Warriors have the chance to defend their title, but the contract arrangements of Poole and Wiggins need to be the priority. Veteran leader Draymond Green needs more productivity because his stats have declined over the past three seasons, the big question is, what is Green's foreseeable future with the Warriors?
Draymond Green is under contract through 2024, guaranteeing him $25.8 million this year and includes a $27.6 million player option next season. On Saturday, the Warriors announced the contract extensions for Jordan Pool and Andrew Wiggins. Poole agreed to a four-year, $140 million contract extension, his agents, Drew Morrison and Austin Brown of CAA Sports, told ESPN. Andrew Wiggins agreed to a four-year $109 million contract extension. The deal includes a player option in the final year that ties him with the warriors for five-year $143 million, his agents, Drew Morrison and Steven Heumann of CAA Sports, told ESPN. The Warriors are boxed in a financial corner to keep together their championship roster. The Warriors sit with the second-highest payroll and luxury tax of $483 million, something Owner Joe Lacob refused to do.
Next off-season, the Warriors will have to see what other teams have available cap space to take on any aspiring contracts. The possibility of Golden State retaining an extension for Green is very low. With the Warriors securing the contracts of Poole and Wiggins, they will insert them as the cornerstone for years to come. Veteran sharpshooter Klay Thompson looks to ramp up into peak form in his second year back from his catastrophic injury. The return of Wiseman will provide the Warriors depth with versatility and defensive intensity. Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody will find notable roles this season as the Warriors make a deep playoff push. The youthful energy, exuberance and championship pedigree make the Warriors a clear-cut title contender.
Will Kevin Durant and The Nets be a Contender in the East?
All eyes will be on Brooklyn Nets Big Three (Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, and Ben Simmons) this season. Photo by @sportingnews
After the off-season season drama of Kevin Durant trade requests, Kyrie Irving's long-term contract deal, and the status of Ben Simmons, the Nets are focused on putting their best foot forward. Kevin Durant expressed the importance of building a reputable brand in Brooklyn while gaining admiration around the league. Entering year three of the Kevin Durant-Irving era, will the Nets make it to the Conference Finals? The return of Joe Harris and Ben Simmons gives Brooklyn much-needed help to make a deep playoff run. This season all eyes will be on Simmons and how he inserts himself in the Nets System. Defensively, Simmons will provide interior rim protection and the versatility to guard multiple positions. In addition, Simmons' playmaking ability will lighten the load for Irving and create open kick-outs for Durant, Harris, and Curry. Coach Steve Nash shared some of his plans for Simmons and will toy with the idea of playing Simmons at guard and center when they go with a smaller lineup. If the Nets can stay healthy and Simmons develops a level of continuity with Durant and Irving, the Nets are in good shape to compete for a top seed in the Eastern Conference. With Kyrie Irving committed for a full season and playing for a long-term contract, we will see a different Irving (similar to the 2016 NBA Finals showing). The 1-2 punch of Durant and Irving with a mixture of Simmons may be just enough to secure a shot for a title.
76ers: Championship or Bust?
Can James Harden lead the Sixers to a title this season? Photo by: Getty Images
After a disappointing showing in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Coach Doc Rivers and GM Daryl Morey made it a priority to upgrade their defence. Adding P.J. Tucker, Montrezl Harrell, De'Anthony Melton, and Daniel House Jr. to the mix with Matisse Thybulle gives the 76ers a chance for a post-season matchup with Miami, Milwaukee, Boston or Brooklyn. The off-season acquisitions have solved a problem of much-needed depth. If Doc Rivers gets added production from their second unit, Joel Embiid and Harden can get needed rest going into the post-season. Joel Embiid was banged up throughout the post-season and used the off-season to recover. A well-rested Embiid and a primed James Harden are a scary Duo. The core of Maxey, Harden, Tucker, Harris, and Embid might be the best lineup in the Eastern Conference. Coach Doc Rivers Doc Rivers expressed the importance of patience, togetherness, and toughness. Entering his third season with the Sixers, Doc Rivers is adamant about James Harden being a vocal leader. James Harden enters this season in what appears to be 100%. Opening night will be the first look at the Sixers as they face off with the reigning Eastern Conference champions, Boston Celtics.
Milwaukee Bucks Still Among Favourites to Win NBA Title
The Milwaukee Bucks will be back reunited with their prolific scorer Khris Middleton this season. Photo by NBA
After taking the defending Eastern Conference champions to a game seven Khris Middleton, the Milwaukee Bucks are still a championship-caliber team. The absence of Khris Middleton put the Bucks at a disadvantage as they were without a primary ball-handler but still ranked third in offensive efficiency. The Bucks attribute their offensive potency to their franchise Gianns Antetokounmpo whose esponsible for wide-open kick outs to Holiday, Allen Portis and Connaughton, who shot 37% or above from three.
The Bucks did downgrade their defense tremendously with the loss of P.J. Tucker. The Bucks' inability to battle with elite wings poses defensive struggles we saw in their last playoff series vs Boston. Jayson Tatum toyed with Grayson Allen while Tatum and Brown outscored the Bucks by 55 points in seven games. The solution to fill the Bucks' defensive issues is signing a 3-and-d player to replace P.J. Tucker. The Bucks' front office has been actively looking for pieces to acquire, Jae Crowder, Jerami Grant, and Bojan Bogdanovic are all potential options. Crowder is coming off two solid seasons with the Phoenix Suns and can offer his veteran experience and defensive prowess for the Bucks.
With the return of Middleton and expecting Joe Ingles to return late in the season, the Bucks will have to battle in a top-heavy Eastern Conference with hopes of securing a title shot. One positive is that the Bucks usually peak by the off-season, if Crowder gets acclimated into the Bucks system, it will be very difficult to defeat the Bucks in a playoff series. The Bucks took the Celtics to a game seven last season without their lead ball-handler, this season the Bucks remain a top contender in the East. With both the Bucks and Celtics expected to have a full roster, a playoff rematch would be one to see, I do give the Bucks the upper hand this time around.