A Tour Around The League

Noah Shelton Lion’s Roar Sports Columnist

A Tour Around The League

The 2014 NBA season tipped off on Tuesday, Oct. 28, and as a sports enthusiast I cannot help but make a few predictions for the rest of the season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, in the story of the offseason, brought back hometown hero LeBron James and traded for Kevin Love. Accompanied by star point guard, Kyrie Irving, this trio has the skills necessary to become the league’s new “Big 3.”. With their starting five consisting of three all stars (Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Kevin Love) and two other very solid NBA players (Dion Waiters and Anderson Varejao), the Cavaliers have a lineup that is arguably better than the Heat’s starting lineup from the last few years. Those Heat teams went to four consecutive NBA Championships, winning two of them. We shall see if the All­Star laden team can bring the city of Cleveland home its first major championship since the Cleveland Browns won the NFL title back in 1964. .

The young­gun Washington Wizards, coming off their first playoff berth in several years, are hoping that their poor performances that led to the drafting of John Wall, Bradley Beal and Otto Porter Jr. will pay off. John Wall had a spectacular season at 23 last year. A late cut from the FIBA World Cup USA basketball team, he is still looking to prove that he deserved to be a number one pick in 2010. With the addition of former Celtic Paul Pierce, the Wizards can boast a lineup that is young and fast, but also wise and time­tested.

The third powerhouse of the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls, are looking feisty and ready to bring home the first post­Jordan championship. Derrick Rose, their starting point guard and 2011 MVP, is determined to show the city of Chicago that his two ACL tears are behind him and that he can lead like Jordan. He and Joakim Noah are ready to bring the swagger back to Chicago. If we know anything about this team, their high energy defense is the best in the league. If Rose can finally finish a season injury­free, this team will have no trouble earning a high playoff spot and making a deep playoff run.

Finally, on our tour of the Eastern Conference, we arrive at the city that bleeds green.

With the sixth overall pick of the 2014 NBA Draft, the Celtics selected Marcus Smart.

Physically, he is a handful to guard at 6’4” and 225 pounds. Ultimately, it will come down to whether or not the Celtics are truly ready to move on to the future. Trading Rondo and promoting Smart to the starting point guard spot will accomplish that. With all this considered, look for the Celtics to struggle this year, but in the weak East, a playoff berth is never out of the question.

Riding on over to the Western Conference, the more competitive half of the NBA over the past couple of years, we see the reigning NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs. We keep waiting for this team to get old and retire, but veterans Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili somehow find a way to spark this team when it matters most. Led by legendary coach Gregg Popovich, this team of fundamentals always poses a threat. Their newest star, Kawhi Leonard, plays some of the most tenacious defense in the league. With one of the

strongest benches in the NBA, the Spurs are threatening to steal at least one more ring before all is said and done for the older players.

The reigning NBA regular season MVP, Kevin Durant, is looking to earn his first ring and stay on par with LeBron. Unfortunately for Durant, a foot fracture has kept him out of the first few weeks of the season, making his road to the MVP award that much more difficult. But it takes a team to win, and the Thunder boast a deep lineup. Russell Westbrook is as athletic as any other point guard in the league. Serge Ibaka can block multiple shots a game, and there are 3­point threats all over the floor for Oklahoma City. As long as they can take appropriate risks on the court, and not force passes or shots like they have been known to do, the Thunder are certainly capable of making another march to the NBA Finals.

All this excitement is well worth the wait. Everyone’s favorite teams will be showcasing their talents over a guaranteed 82 games and for some lucky ones, a few more.