Basketball
The NBA season is also just getting underway
after it dominated social media yet again in the
offseason. The defending champion Golden
State Warriors, already one of the best teams
in NBA history, signed all-star center DeMarcus
Cousins in the offseason after he missed most of
last year with a torn Achilles. Kawhi Leonard was
dealt from the San Antonio Spurs to the Toronto
Raptors for DeMar DeRozan after also missing
most of last season with a confusing injury
situation that seemed to involve him disagreeing
with team doctors. King of all transactions was
LeBron James though, who decided to sign with
the Los Angeles Lakers.
The list goes on, but many people believe the
season is a foregone conclusion as the Warriors
chase their fourth title in the last five years. In
the Eastern Conference, the Boston Celtics are
seen as the biggest threat to stopping Golden
State. With the return of all-stars Kyrie Irving and
Gordon Hayward, who both missed the playoffs
last season and much more in Hayward’s case,
the Celtics have the deepest team in the league.
Outside of Boston and Toronto, the eastern
conference figures to be a bit of a mystery.
The Western Conference is even stronger than
usual with the addition of James, and he will
look to lead a young Lakers team on a playoff run
even though most people believe they don’t have
enough pieces yet to win. The Houston Rockets,
who were a game away from playing in the NBA
Finals a season ago, also made a big acquisition
in the offseason with Carmelo Anthony. Though
he is past his prime and will come off the bench,
Anthony will play an important role if the Rockets
want to remain near the top.
The top players from the NBA Draft is also
seen as potentially the best rookie class in
years. Versetile big men such as first overall pick
Deandre Ayton of the Phoenix Suns and second
pick Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings
will have the keys to their franchises. Third
overall pick Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks
is regarded as one of the most complete
Photo via Shutterstock
international players anyone has ever seen.
Fourth pick Jaren Jackson, Jr. of the Memphis
Grizzlies is also the centerpiece of the future,
while fifth pick Trae Young is sure to bring some
excitement to the Atlanta Hawks with his outside
shooting.
The college game will tip off soon as well
despite ongoing investigations from the FBI into
improper benefits given to student athletes.
While the preseason poll is yet to be released,
two of the national title favorites are the Duke
Blue Devils and Kentucky Wildcats, as usual.
The two schools seemingly get every recruit they
want each year, and better yet they will go head
to head in the State Farm Champions Classic to
kick off the season on November 6.
Other potential top five teams include Kansas,
North Carolina and Gonzaga, who all added
talented freshmen to their experienced rosters.
Yet, when tournament time comes around next
March, all five of those teams could get knocked
out early, and that’s the beauty of college
basketball.
QNS.COM
38 FALL 2018