Biggest threat to Thunder in West
Picking out the Western Conference teams that pose the biggest threat to the Thunder.
The NBA is already nearly back.
Five teams — the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Pheonix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans — will report for their training camps this week. They’re the teams that will be playing preseason games outside of North America.
The rest of the association’s teams will report next week.
All of which means it’s time to assess the biggest storylines that will shape training camp, preseason, and the season beyond. That also means teams will be coming for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions.
Here are eight storylines to watch headed into the start of training camp:
What will the Lakers look like with the team seemingly phasing down its relationship with LeBron James?
When LeBron James issued a statement over the summer indicating that he intended to compete for an NBA title. It raised questions about the direction the Lakers would be taking, with Luka Dončić taking over as the face of the franchise. Still, for Los Angeles to compete in a stacked West, it will need both players to feed off each other — even if Dončić is to dictate the direction of the team. It’s a lot to ask from coach JJ Reddick, who also needs to see if DeAndre Ayton answers L.A.’s lack of presence in the low block.
Is the East a two-team race?
With so many injuries to key players in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers and Knicks appear to be the two front runners. New York will be implementing the culture and style of new coach Mike Brown, and Cleveland will try to build on a wildly successful first campaign under Kenny Atkinson. Both teams made moderate improvements — the Knicks added Jordan Clarkson for a spark off the bench and the Cavs brought in Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. — so the onus will be on established veterans to elevate them to a deep run.
How will the Clippers manage the Kawhi Leonard distraction?
The circumstantial evidence against the Clippers keeps mounting, and it paints owner Steve Ballmer and star forward Kawhi Leonard in a poor light. And, as the NBA-backed investigation continues to look into whether Los Angeles circumvented the salary cap, the Clippers might ultimately face very steep penalties. The Clippers were already in a delicate situation — they are an aging roster with players who sometimes battle injury issues — so adding the Leonard complication bears watching in what might be their final season to compete with this build.
Can the Celtics stay competitive in a transitional season?
Mainstays from their championship season (Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis) are gone and six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum (Achilles) will miss the entire season. But the Celtics still have plenty of talent in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and new addition Anfernee Simons is a breakout candidate. In a wide-open East, can Boston stay relevant? Brown will need to blossom as the unquestioned No. 1 option.
The Timberwolves have made consecutive conference finals appearances. Do they have enough to break through?
It has become clear that for Minnesota to break through, Anthony Edwards will need to assert himself into the Most Valuable Player conversation. At times, when defenses and the game dictate, Edwards has deferred to his teammates. The Timberwolves need him to confound opponents and take on more than he ever has in the offense. Losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Hawks) will certainly hurt their defense, so other players like Terrence Shannon Jr. will need to step up.
Will there be a hangover for the OKC Thunder?
They kept their core intact and remain an incredibly young and efficient team — and one that does not shy away from defensive effort, either. Mark Daigneault coached his team consistently and allows the Thunder to play within their style. But wining in the NBA is very difficult; no team has won consecutive titles in the last seven seasons. It will be fascinating to see if Oklahoma City can maintain this focus and intensity after reaching the highest levels of the game.
What will we see out of Cooper Flagg?
The reality is that the Mavericks are at a disadvantage with Kyrie Irving likely sidelined for the entire season. But this will also present an opportunity for No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg to immediately assume a massive role in Dallas. Fans should nonetheless temper expectations, though Flagg figures to be a favorite to coast to Rookie of the Year honors. The most positive outcome would be if Flagg flashes consistency, efficiency and an ability to score from all three levels.
Which playoff teams might be due for a regression?
Every year, there are teams that were fixtures in the playoff picture in the season previous that end up falling off. The Lakers, given their uncertainty with how they handle LeBron James, might be one of those teams. The Warriors, who suddenly might be seeing their window close, need to prove that their offense is more than just Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Could other teams slide in the standings?
Will the KD experiment work in Houston?
The splashy offseason trade makes the Rockets, who were already quite deep and talented, instant title contenders. But it takes a lot of work to incorporate a new star like Kevin Durant to seamlessly assimilate into a system. Ime Udoka is a coach who has managed personalities and he isn’t shy about encouraging his team to play with swagger and confidence. The Rockets have tremendous length and athleticism on defense. They’ll be appointment viewing.
