TOP STORYLINES ENTERING THE NEW NBA SEASON

Special Holiday Premiere!

Written by Aaron Cantin

The 2020-21 NBA Season will be unlike any other. That we already know. A condensed 72-game season, of which we only know the first-half, limited fans, play-in postseason games, the Tampa Bay Raptors. These are all new additions to the NBA dictionary that have the potential to create the most unpredictable NBA season we have ever witnessed. With so many variables entering the new season, here are five storylines to keep an eye on.

LeBron James poses after receiving his Championship ring on December 22nd at the Staples Center; Photo from Bleacher Report

COVID-19

This is an obvious one. The pandemic has already taken fans out of stadiums, the NBA out of Canada, the entire game away from us, and if we’re not careful, it can do it again. Assuming the season does play-out as expected, each team will play ten games less than a typical season. That’s not bad. Most players want fewer games. With a shortened off-season, don’t be surprised to see many veterans taking rest days or “load management” of their own.

The play-off scenario is arguably an upgrade, depending on who you ask. Instead of the top-eight teams making the playoffs in each Conference, teams seeded seventh-through-tenth will participate in a playoff play-in. The seventh- and eighth-seeded teams in each conference will have two chances to win one game to earn a playoff spot. The ninth-and tenth-seeded teams will have to win two straight games.

James Harden Sweepstakes

Things have gone sour in Houston between the Beard and the Rockets. New reports surface what seems to be daily, ranging from Harden getting in arguments with teammates, not showing up to practice, or videos surfacing of him breaking the league's Covid-19 protocol. At this point, it’s not if James Harden will get traded; it’s when. The big question is, where will he end up?

The Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat emerged as early front-runners to acquire the Beard. However, 76ers GM Darryl Morey has shot-down the idea of sending Ben Simmons to Texas. The Miami Heat have also cooled down interest in Harden. Currently, the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics are betting favourites to land the 2018 MVP. It’s clear the Rockets want to ship Harden to the Eastern Conference. Which-ever team lands the three-time scoring champion will undoubtedly be considered one the favourites to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy next summer.

Brooklyn Nets

Speaking of contenders, just how good are the Brooklyn Nets? From what we’ve seen so far, pretty good. Really good, actually. The Nets took a gamble this off-season signing an injured Kevin Durant to a four-year, $164 million contract. Only a couple of games in and that gamble looks to have paid off. Durant underwent surgery for a ruptured right Achilles tendon​ in 2019. His last time on-the-court was Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.

An 80% healthy Kevin Durant is still one of the best players in the league. Pair him with one of the best scorers in Kyrie Irving, and the Brooklyn Nets may be the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. The Nets made the postseason last year without Durant and Irving. Assuming the two superstars remain healthy, anything short of a Finals appearance will be considered a disappointment.

Luka Doncic MVP favourite

Luka Doncic is not Giannis Antentokounmpo. That’s why this is noteworthy. We have seen Luka Doncic bud into a Superstar right before our eyes, but to be named MVP? That’s a different story. Luka Doncic would become just the second twenty-two year old in NBA history to be named MVP (Derrick Rose in 2011 was the other).

Current back-to-back MVP Giannis Antentokounmpo had one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history last year, averaging 29.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, and 5.6 assists. If the Greek Freak has a similar stat-line this year, it will be difficult to pry that silverware away from the 7-footer.

Doncic’s odds are +410 to win MVP. Giannis is right behind at +480. Trailing behind them is Steph Curry at +850, Anthony Davis and Kevin Durant at +1000, followed by James Harden +1300, and LeBron James at +1500. If you’re looking for a long-shot, I expect Jayson Tatum to continue his upward trajectory. He’s listed at +2500.

2021 free agency

The 2021 NBA free-agent class was supposed to be the one we’ve been waiting for. Names like ​Giannis Antetokounmpo,​ Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Paul George were all possibilities to be on the market. However, in the past weeks, four of those listed have signed extensions.

The top of the class consists of names like Mike Conley and Kyle Lowry, both of whom are in their mid-30s. To find players outside their 30s, you’ll have to scroll down the page to names like Otto Porter Jr., Andre Drummond, Evan Fournier, Kelly Oubre Jr., and Cody Zeller.

So why does next year’s free-agency still make the list? You can expect teams to move to Plan B, which is acquiring players through trade. A handful of teams approached this year as a “bridge” year, hoping to make it to free agency, looking like a preferable destination for stars. Now, many of those teams may turn their attention to the present. Another reason why James Harden Sweepstakes have such high importance.