Culture Editor
The National Basketball Association (NBA) opened its arenas for its 80th season on Oct. 21, and fans are back to watching games and crowning playoff-likely teams.
The reigning champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are dominating the Western Conference, holding a five-game lead for the first seed. Led by last year’s Most Valuable Player (MVP), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and boasting one of the deepest benches in the NBA, the Thunder are poised to have another phenomenal season. The team has demonstrated their proficiency through a remarkable 22-1 record, with their only blemish being a two-point loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. The Thunder are the most significant threat in the West this year, sure to go far into the postseason as they attempt to maintain their championship reign. Gilgeous-Alexander is already a candidate for MVP this year, averaging almost 33 points per game and seven assists, second in points league-wide.
The Detroit Pistons lead the East, with star guard Cade Cunningham blossoming into a more complete player. The Pistons’ respectable 19-5 record shows an incredible resurgence from a team that, two years ago, broke the league record for the longest losing streak with 28 consecutive games. The bounce back has been astounding, with Cunningham improving his averages to 28 points per game with nine assists, and Jalen Duren, the team’s center, averaging 20 points, the highest number in his career. The Pistons are becoming the East’s largest threat. While they exited the playoffs prematurely last year, viewers expect them to go further this season, especially with injuries hobbling productive teams like the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics.
The Los Angeles Lakers are slashing through teams in the Western Conference. After the blockbuster acquisition of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks during last year’s trade deadline, the Lakers have performed admirably, currently occupying the second seed with a record of 17-6. Their success is impressive considering that the team’s star forward, LeBron James, has only played a few games this season, still recovering from sciatica pain running down his right leg. The Lakers pose a significant threat to any contender this year, with Doncic, the current league scoring leader, also being a strong MVP candidate.
The New York Knicks, led by guard Jalen Brunson, are tearing through the Eastern Conference, currently ranked as the second seed with a record of 16-7. The Knicks continue to show the importance of roster depth, with almost any of their players capable of going off. They are a formidable opponent for any contender and will likely go just as far in the playoffs as they did last season.
Other notable teams include Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets, who are third in the West, Kevin Durant’s Houston Rockets, who are fourth in the West, and the surprisingly successful Toronto Raptors, who are third in the East. This season is quickly becoming one of the NBA’s best. Fans are excited to tune into more games and see the rise and fall of some of the greatest stars the association has ever seen.
(Sources: ESPN, NBA)
Categories: National Sports, Sports