The Offseason has seemed to fly by and the 18-19 NBA Regular Season is almost upon us!

The 2018-19 Season will tip off on Tuesday, October 16th when the 76ers will play at Boston and the Thunder will play at Golden State with both games airing on TNT.

The Season is starting a little earlier than usual to provide better scheduling throughout. The league average for back-to-back games dropped from 19.3 in 2015 to 14.4 last season, to now a record-low 13.3 for the upcoming campaign. Less back to back games is a win for the players and certainly for the fans as well.

First here's a NBA Draft recap:

- Atlanta drafted the prize of the draft, Luka Doncic, but then traded back with the Mavs to get Steph Curry 2.0 AKA Trigga Trae
- Every Knicks fan in attendance booed the selection of Kevin Knox, which seems to be the accepted custom in NY for draft selections nowadays.
- Suns appeared to be doing Suns things by drafting DeAndre Ayton but he's showed flashes of being a big time offensive player so far in the Preseason.



- Kings stayed the Kings with their Bagley selection
- Mikal Bridges was selected 10th by a team who employed his own Mother, Philadelphia, but then was traded on draft night for the draft rights to Zhaire Smith and Miami's 2021 unprotected first round pick (which the Suns had acquired in the Goran Dragic trade).
- The former projected #1 pick Michael Porter Jr slid all the way due to health concerns to #14 where Denver selected him.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. who may have the highest ceiling of this draft said Memphis please don't take me at first. Then he said Memphis okay select me. . He's shown flashes of greatness in Preseason.




Now let's recap this Offseason:

- LeBron went to the Lakers.



They also signed the misfit quartet of Rondo, Lance Stephenson, Michael Beasley, and Javale McGee. I think Jordan had a better supporting cast in Space Jam. Who knows, maybe Magic will be able to pull off a midseason trade for BROW.
- DeMarcus Cousins wasn't getting paid so he signed up with the team nearly everybody loves to hate (for an easy shot at #WINNING)



- Paul George told Indiana last year to trade him because he was gonna be signing with the Lakers. Well the epic bromance between Bestbrook and him was too much to walk away from. He re-signed with OKC for the most money he could get from anyone and Bestbrook threw a legendary party to celebrate.



- OKC also added Nerlens Noel, signing him, and traded for Dennis Schroder. If healthy maybe they can cause some noise in the playoffs.
- Popovich traded and sent Kawhi to ****ing Canada, which is the apparent opposite of Los Angeles. Kawhi and Danny Green (who guess what? Was misdiagnosed and actually injured last season) were sent to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan and Jakob Poetl.

inb4 creepy af laugh



in after creepy af laugh

- The Bulls added young talent by signing Jabari Parker to a two year deal (2nd year team option) and re-signed Zach Lavine to a 4 year $78 million deal.
- Kevin Love got PAID by Dan Gilbert. Somebody FREE KLove.





- Isaiah Thomas who had wanted the Celtics to "back up the Brinks truck" loaded with cash had to settle for a minimum deal with the Denver Nuggets.
- Carmelo Anthony got reunited with COPSTACHE 'Antoni (get it? No D). Maybe he won't be hating this signing come playoff time but.. I doubt that.
- Dwight Howard got traded for a terrible contract and was bought out. He signed with the Wizards and appeared to have a back injury recently. Nope. It was literally a buttocks injury. Kind of fitting as he's been a pain in the ass for most of his career anyway.
- DeAndre Jordan finally signed with the Mavericks (for a one year deal). No dramabombs this time around though.
- Hbob got hired by CUBES and is now the current Director of Quantitative Research and Development for the Dallas Mavericks. Way to ****ing go Hbob!


NOW FOR THE STORYLINES!

Can the Warriors 3-peat (and win 4 of 5 championships?

Here's what Vegas says:
http://www.vegasinsider.com/nba/odds/futures/

Vegas Insider has the Warriors at ****ing 1/2. That's right. You're not reading this wrong. You have to bet $200 to win $100 on the Warriors titling.

Boston Celtics: 6/1
Houston Rockets: 9/1
Los Angeles Lakers: 12/1
Philadelphia 76ers: 12/1
Toronto Raptors: 22/1
OKC Thunder: 40/1
Milwaukee Bucks: 75/1

How will the Warriors' transition be into welcoming and embracing Boogie into the Warriors system? Everyone now is saying the right things but when losses happen and excuses are made even the most tight knit of teams can become a bit divided. Plus there's only ONE basketball on the court. One thing that will be very exciting will finally be seeing Boogie compete in the playoffs for the first time in his career. Will he rise to the moment or shrink and let his emotions get the better of him?

Furthermore about the Warriors, Both Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson will be on the market next summer, with Klay becoming an unrestricted free agent and Kevin having a player option. Additionally, Boogie’s new $5.3 million USD-deal only spans the forthcoming season, while Draymond himself becomes a UFA in 2020. It’s safe to say all four will be heavily recruited around the league, so enjoy (or don’t enjoy) what may be the final season from the main players who produced the 73-win season.

Can LeBron lead the Lakers to the playoffs and beyond!?

This guy sure thinks so:



Some people (some of you in TZ even) believe that LeBron and the Lakers are an underdog to make the playoffs. With the Timberwolves likely trading Jimmy Butler the real question may be can they make any noise in the playoffs when they get there? Gaining experience for their youthful core could be huge going forward. Plus we all know Playoff LeBron is other worldly and playing alongside him will be Playoff Rondo!

Speaking of LeBron, will this finally be the season he falls from his peak? Since LeBron James announced that he would be taking his talents to Los Angeles, there’s been an equal level of excitement and doubt. On one hand, the King is coming off a season–his 15th–in which he put up career numbers: he played in all 82 games for the first time in his career, while leading the entire league in minutes per game; he averaged career bests in rebounds (8.6) and assists (9.1), while notching a career-high 18 triple-doubles; he posted the best PER (28.6) among players in their 15th season or later; in addition to many other mind-blowing stats and highlights. Even if he takes a slight step back he's still a tremendous player. Also LeBron, who sits at No. 7 in all-time scoring with 31,038 points, is just 1,254 points behind his idol Michael Jordan.

Speaking of Jimmy Butler: Will Jimmy Butler ever get the **** out of Minnesota!? Will Pat Riley ever stop cursing out Thibs!? Hopefully a trade happens with Miami and we have another force in the East.

How good will Boston be this season? Will they find enough minutes for everyone with a healthy Hayward and Irving? Can they get to the Finals and challenge a likely opponent in Golden State? Danny Ainge always seems to have an ace up his sleeve so will he make a big splash like trading for Brow? If they stand pat, keeping their assets, how much will Tatum and Jaylen Brown improve?

Can Philly mature and make noise in the playoffs? How much will Simmons improve in his second year of action? Will Embiid learn to play more under control?

Giannis. Will this be the season he breaks out and wins the MVP?



The guy looks like he's got helicopter blades for arms! And that's only part of the reason we call him The Greek Freak. How many of you can say Antetokounmpo 3 times fast!? Will he make a big jump in ability under new coach Bud (as many are predicting him to do)? How much can the Bucks improve in the regular season and can they make any noise in the East playoffs where right now it looks like a 3 team race: Boston, Toronto, and then.... Philly.

Who will win ROY? Will DeAndre Ayton be able to put up enough bulk stats to run away with it? Or will Doncic post a sexy balanced stat line that sways the voters? Or will a dark horse like Kevin Knox of the Knicks be given the green light to take over and post great stats for a rookie? Whatever happens it should be an interesting race to the finish.

Can OKC build on Westbrook's and George's burgeoning relationship to find success in the postseason? The addition of Nerlens Noel should make them more formidable and versatile defensively while the trade for Dennis Schroder should help initiate the offense when Westbrook sits. This is a team to watch if healthy and remember, they're a team that may sleepwalk through parts of the season like last year but could really turn it on in the playoffs. Plus they are doing a (massive) addition by subtraction by getting rid of that nasty case of MELOnoma that they were suffering from.

Dwyane Wade is set to go on a multicity retirement tour this season.



Proving yet again that father-time is undefeated. Wade, a 12x All-Star and 3x NBA Champ, sits in the upper elechon of all-time 2-guards, alongside legends like Jordan, Bryant and Iverson. He was undeniably one of the most exciting and well-rounded players of the last 15 years, especially when he, LeBron, Bosh and the Heatles took over the league from 2010 to 2014. So while the expected gifts, tribute videos and other special dedications are deserved, let’s see if we can get a Kobe-like 60-pointer from D-Wade one last time.

Moreover, we may also be watching the final season from the world’s first seven-foot sniper, Dirk Nowitzki and the greatest dunker of all time, Vince Carter. Although neither have announced their retirement, both are entering their third decade in the league with season 21, 2-1. Simply amazing. Keep it going guys!

Back in August, the league lifted all footwear color restrictions as an ongoing effort to find new avenues in which players can express, and maybe brand themselves. So be prepared to see some new/creative footwear out there this season.

And Finally New Rules for this Season!
Alongside the tip-off of the new season, Adam Silver and the league’s board of governors will introduce a new set of rules, including changes to the shot clock, clear path fouls and the definition of a “hostile act.”
The shot clock will now reset to 14 seconds instead of 24 following offensive rebound. The league wants to make close games even more competitive, so when a team that’s up by just a few points grabs an offensive board in the final seconds of a game, it has less time to dribble out the clock. “We think it will enhance the entertainment of the game,” commissioner Silver said. “A team that’s down, because it will lead to more possessions, will give them a better chance of coming back and just overall increase pace.”
Under the changes to the clear-path rule, a clear path to the basket would be in play in these three instances: “A personal foul is committed on any offensive player during his team’s transition scoring opportunity”; “When the foul occurs, the ball is ahead of the tip of the circle in the backcourt, no defensive player is ahead of the offensive player with the scoring opportunity and that offensive player is in control of the ball or a pass to him has been released”; “The defensive foul deprives the offensive team of a transition scoring opportunity.” If a clear-path foul is called, the offensive team is given two free throw attempts and possession on the sideline closest to where the foul happened. Silver believes the rule adjustment will reduce the need for replays, and thus, pick up the game pace.
Lastly, the definition of a “hostile act” will expand to include hostile interactions with referees, coaches and fans (looking at you Westbrook).

NOW LET US NBA!

Furst

Secund

1. Boogie COusing will get exposed as an empty-stat stat-stuffer. The rest of the league should be glad they signed him and the Dubs will be better off if he tears his other achilles.

2. OKC adds about 7 wins just by getting rid of MElo

3. WAID, like his buddy LEbron, is an attention whore, and although Dirk deserves a farewell tour more than WAID he will probably just retire quietly at the end of this year (because he's not an attention whore).

4. Giannis wins MVP

Is nash head dead?

Where do Magic end up sending Vuc at the deadline? Lakers could use a C I guess, maybe the Wizards?

Gordon/Isaac/Bamba have the future big man spots spoken for I'd say.

Good OP. Youre really obsessed with “making noise in the playoffs”

This is the most intriguing batch of rookies in a long time.

Agree with 2 3 and 4...was there a typo in point 1?

great OP! lettuce NBA!

Thank you!







Thanks. Playoffs is the REAL season. Teams either go BOOM or BUST .

last

Knicks in 7

Years?

I think the Knicks will win more than 7 games

new season thread.

RIP Tex.

Lol wilves cancelling practice. They have nfi what they're doing.

The owner should step in to trade Jimmy and then instantly **** can Thibs.

excellent OP, sir.

ready for hoops (even if 75% of what I watch is the cavs, which.. ugh)

Going to MSG for a Knicks game for the first time this szn. For a DARBY. Nothing beats a darby.

You had your time sir!

I dislike Westbrook and while some think his game is exciting I find his brand of chucking quite boring. That said, OKC will be fun to watch this year.

Warriors will be a regular season let down but still get the 1 and cruise to the finals where the Celts give em all they can handle but warriors in 6

deplorable tristan says the east still runs through you!

let us nba

golden state 16-0 this year

Plenty of things beat a game between two ****ty teams.

Interesting prop bet. Knicks/Nets combined wins v Team with most wins in the NBA? Who you got?

Most wins team and it probably won't even be close.


Cinarocket up in this thread!

good op. nash head tho

is the bust silent?