The start of the new NBA season is now less than a week away. Teams are still busy continuing their final preparations in preseason as they get ready for the opening tip.
This year’s season is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in years, especially after a wild offseason which saw several superstars change teams and shook up the entire league.
So before all the NBA action takes place, here’s a quick look at everything you need to know about the upcoming season.
So many stars switched teams
There was so much movement this past offseason among the biggest stars that it was legitimately hard to keep track of all of them. So here’s a quick refresher on where those players are.
Kawhi Leonard and Paul George teamed up on the Clippers, Anthony Davis formed a dynamic duo with LeBron James on the Lakers, and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving both went to the Brooklyn Nets.
Russell Westbrook also landed on the Rockets to team up with James Harden, with Chris Paul going to the Thunder. Paul could yet be on the move again later this year, with the Heat reportedly still interested in trading for him.
Elsewhere, Kemba Walker went to the Celtics, Al Horford went to the 76ers, Jimmy Butler took his talents to South Beach with the Heat, and D’Angelo Russell was traded to the Warriors, and Mike Conley went to the Jazz.
The LA teams are the title favourites
Of the many superstars who changed teams this offseason, the three who landed in Los Angeles made the biggest impact on the NBA 2019 betting odds to win the title.
After forming two of the very best superstar duos in the league in Kawhi-PG13 and LeBron-AD, SBOBET odds have installed the Lakers and Clippers — 4.15 and 4.25, respectively — as the favourites to win the championship this year.
However, it should be noted that neither one is the overwhelming juggernaut that the Golden State Warriors were in previous years. They are far from sure things to win it all, especially if injuries hit.
But if all four stars remain healthy, the most likely scenario will still be both LA teams battling it out for Western Conference supremacy.
The Warriors dynasty is weakened
With the LA teams’ emergence coupled with key injuries and offseason departures, this year will most likely spell the end to the Warriors’ five-year run of dominance in the West.
Aside from losing last year’s Finals to the Raptors, they also lost Kevin Durant, who signed with the Brooklyn Nets, Klay Thompson, who suffered a torn ACL in Game 6, and Andre Iguodala, whom they traded away.
While the Warriors acquired All-Star guard D’Angelo Russell in a sign-and-trade with the Nets, it will still be a tough ask for him, Stephen Curry, and Draymond Green to carry a very limited roster into title contention.
Although, Curry just dropped 40 points in a preseason game and looks primed to produce a ton of NBA 2019 highlights this season.
If Curry and Green remain healthy, the Warriors should still be a playoff team. But by no means will it be easy. The Western Conference got even stronger this offseason and will have even fewer easy games.
The Raptors will not return to the Finals
Since 2013, only five teams have made the NBA Finals: the Spurs and Warriors in the West and the Heat, Cavs, and Raptors in the East. The Spurs, Warriors, Cavs, and Heat all went multiple times, but the defending champions Raptors almost certainly won’t return this year.
After losing Leonard, the Raptors are no longer among the top contenders in the East. Ageing veterans Kyle Lowry and Marc Gasol are no longer capable of carrying the team. And unless Pascal Siakam develops into a legitimate No. 1 option offensively, they will have problems putting points up.
Instead of competing for the conference championship, the Raptors will be battling it out with the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, and Brooklyn Nets, who are in the next tier of Eastern Conference teams, just below the expected Big Two.
The Bucks and Sixers will battle it out in the East
Those top two teams vying to be crowned the new kings of the East are the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks, who lost to the Raptors in last year’s Eastern Conference finals, opted to keep the core of their team together this season as they hope for another great season from reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Meanwhile, the Sixers significantly altered their team, replacing Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick with Al Horford and Josh Richardson. With those two alongside Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris, as well as some talented youngsters, they could be the best defensive team in the entire league this year.
Those two teams are quite clearly the cream of the crop in the East this year, and it would be a big surprise if they don’t meet in the conference finals.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE BASKETBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
