Eight highlights of the new season: The Lakers kicked off the post-LeBron era? Can KD succeed in the Rockets?

Translator's note: The original text was published in USA Today, and the data in the article were as of the time of the original text (September 22 local time). The dates and times involved are local time

NBA new season is already in front of you.

Five teams - the Knicks, Nets, 76ers, Suns and Pelicans - will report to training camp this week, and they will compete in preseason outside of North America. The rest of the league teams will be reported next week.

All this means it's time to evaluate the biggest highlights that will affect training camps, preseasons and even the entire season. This also means that each team will make the defending champion Thunder the target of catching up.

The following are eight highlights worth paying attention to when entering training camp:

The Lakers seem to be downplaying their relationship with LeBron James. What will the team look like?

LeBron James's championship statement in the summer has raised questions about the direction of the Lakers, because Luca Doncic is taking over the team and becoming a storefront. Nevertheless, in order to compete in the Western Conference with strong players, the Lakers need these two players to promote each other - although Doncic will decide the direction of the team. This is very demanding for coach JJ Redick, and he also needs to see whether DeAndre Ayton can solve the problem of insufficient threat from the Lakers. Is there a two-man battle for hegemony in the east?

Due to the injuries of many key players in the East, the Cavaliers and the Knicks seem to be the two leading players. The Knicks will implement the culture and style of new coach Mike Brown, and the Cavaliers will work hard to continue to work hard based on Kenny Atkinson's first successful season. Both teams have moderately strengthened – the Knicks have introduced Jordan Clarkson to provide substitute firepower, while the Cavaliers have introduced Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. – but the task of leading the team further in the playoffs will still fall on the shoulders of the veterans. How will the Clippers deal with the interference caused by Kawhi Leonard?

Indirect evidence of adverse effects on the Clippers has accumulated, which has damaged the image of boss Steve Ballmer and star forward Kawhi Leonard. And, as the NBA investigation continues to deepen and review whether the Clippers evade the salary cap, the team may end up facing very severe penalties. The Clippers are already in a delicate situation – their roster is aging and players often fight against injuries – so the complications that Leonard brings are worthy of attention, which may be their last season to compete for the championship with their existing roster. Can the Celtics stay competitive in the transition season?

The core backbone of their championship season (Ju Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis) has left the team, and six-time All-Star player Jason Tatum (torched Achilles tendon) will miss the entire season. But the Celtics still have many talented players such as Jaylen Brown and Derek White, and new player Anthony Simmons is also expected to explode. In an open-minded east, can the Celtics maintain their place? Brown needs to grow into the team’s well-deserved number one choice.

Does the Timberwolves, which have entered the division finals for two consecutive years, have enough strength to achieve a breakthrough?

The situation is already obvious. If the Timberwolves want to achieve a breakthrough, Anthony Edwards needs to improve his performance to the level of being able to participate in MVP competition. Sometimes, when defense and game situations require it, Edwards will hand the ball to his teammates. The Timberwolves need him to rush into the opponent's defense and take on more responsibilities on the offensive end than ever before. Losing Nikil Alexander Walker (signing the Hawks) will surely hurt their defense, so other players like Terence Shannon need to stand up. Will the Thunder have the aftereffects of the championship?

They maintain a complete core roster and are still an extremely young and efficient team-and they never slacken on the defensive end. Mark Dagenot consistently coached his team and allowed the Thunder to play within their own system. But winning in the NBA is very difficult, and no team has been able to defend the title successfully in the past seven seasons. After the Thunder reached the peak of basketball, it will be an interesting point to maintain this concentration and intensity.

What will we see from Cooper Flag?

The reality is that the Mavericks are at a disadvantage because Kyrie Irving may be reimbursed throughout the season. But it also provides No. 1 pick Cooper Flag with an opportunity to take on an important role in the Mavericks immediately. However, although Flag is considered a favourite for the easy pick for Rookie of the Year honors, fans should lower their expectations. The most positive result will be Flag's ability to show stability, efficiency and score in three offensive positions (near basket, mid-range, long shot).

Which playoff teams may experience a regression?

Every year, there are always some playoff teams from last season that end up falling behind. Given the uncertainty over how to deal with LeBron James, the Lakers may be one of them. The Warriors' championship window may suddenly close, and they need to prove that the team's offense is not just about Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Will other teams' rankings decline? Will Durant succeed in the Rockets?

This sensational offseason transaction made the Rockets, who had already had considerable depth and talent, instantly become the champion contender. However, it takes a lot of work to seamlessly integrate new stars like Kevin Durant into a system. Ime Uduka is a coach who is good at managing the personality of players, and he is never stingy to encourage his team to play domineering and confident. The Rockets have excellent height and athleticism on the defensive end. Their matches are not to be missed.

Author: Lorenzo Reyes

Translator: GWayNe

source:7m en