The 2012-13 NBA season is underway and promises to be as competitive as ever.
A few powerhouse teams are set to dominate this year. Artwork by Nate Gengler
Eastern Conference
Last year, Lebron Raymone James silenced the haters by snagging his first NBA championship. His Miami heat super-squad was finally able to live up to the hype. The “big three” of James, Chris Bosh, and Dewayne Wade, proved to be a formidable combination. With the addition of sharpshooter Ray Allen and guard Rashard Lewis, the Heat can only get better. They appear to be the frontrunners in the once highly competitive top tier of the East.
The Chicago Bulls have always been worthy contenders with Point Guard Derrick Rose at the helm, but the star player has been constantly nagged by a devastating injury that could keep him out for another season. As much as I like the Bulls as a team, without D-Rose they just are not the same team.
The Philadelphia 76ers seemed to be a young team poised to take its place at the top of the East, but trading away Andre Iguodala for the overrated youngster Andrew Bynum was a big step backwards. They still have talent with Thaddeus Young and Evan Turner, but without Iguodala, the Sixers lack the leadership to go deep in the playoffs.
The new-look Brooklyn Nets are the talk of the league right now. Their move from New Jersey into the state of the art Barclays Center in Brooklyn has given new life to a struggling franchise. It’s not just the move people are talking about, it’s the team as well; with the additions of Forwards Josh Childress and Gerald Wallace, Nets fans are optimistic about the upcoming season. Unfortunately for them, I don’t expect the Nets to live up to the hype. While their squad is filled with veterans, I’m not sure they have the leadership required to win in the playoffs.
Western Conference
The Los Angeles Lakers are to the Western Conference what the Miami Heat are to the East. This offseason, the Lakers made blockbuster moves by adding stars like Dwight “cry about it” Howard, and Steve “gramps” Nash. With these additions and perennial all-star Kobe Bryant, LA seems to have a super-squad of their own. This raises questions as to whether Head Coach Mike Brown can handle the talent and pressure of coaching a super-squad. Despite my personal hatred for the Lakers and Dwight Howard in particular, it’s difficult to ignore the raw skill they possess, so I expect them to represent the West in the NBA finals.
The Oklahoma City Thunder will be looking to defend its title as Western Conference champions. Forward Kevin Durant has established himself as the league’s most prolific scorer and one of the most clutch athletes on earth. He instantly makes OKC an elite team in the West, but the one thing preventing them from repeating is their team’s dynamic. The relationship between Durant and his Point Guard, Russell Westbrook, has been notoriously tense, as the two have been seen squabbling on the bench. This is not the way of a championship team, so I see the Thunder getting knocked out by the Lakers in the playoffs
The hometown Denver Nuggets are poised for another competitive season, but the question remains: can the Nuggets get out of the first round of the playoffs? With the addition of Andre Iguodala, Denver will finally have some of the star power they lacked last year, and with a fresh new set of alternate uniforms you can bet they’ll be looking sharp on the court. I expect the Nuggets to make a run in the playoffs, but I ultimately see them getting knocked out by either the Thunder or the Lakers.
The NBA Finals- Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The battle of the super-squads will pit the Miama Heat against the Los Angeles Lakers for basketball glory. The key factor in this matchup is experience. Lebron and friends have been together for two full seasons now, giving them valuable time to get acquainted with one another. The Lakers, on the other hand, have just been assembled this year, and lack the team chemistry needed to win a NBA championship.
