The NBA regular season is almost here and fans are understandably excited to watch their favourite team and their new additions in action. Whilst diehard NBA fans will watch every game their team plays no matter how painful the process may be in certain instances, most casual fans are searching for specific attractions to be excited about. Here is one thing to look forward to for every NBA team in the 2022 season.
Atlanta Hawks: The Growth of the Young Guys
The Atlanta Hawks shocked the world last year by knocking off the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals and Trae Young immerged as an offensive superstar. Despite that, it is evident that the Hawks are a piece or two away from being true title contenders. Now those pieces can be acquired via trade, which the Hawks have the ammunition to do, or it can come from internal growth. The Hawks have a plethora of young guys in the form of DeAndre Hunter, Cam Reddish and Onyeka Okongwo who many still believe have untapped potential. DeAndre Hunter looked like he was in the midst of a breakout year last season before his season was derailed by injuries. Okongwu impressed many with his defensive showing in the series against the Bucks, and Cam Reddish still has all the tools to be a valuable two-way wing. If one or multiple of these guys can take that next step in their development, it can vault the Hawks into the next tier of contenders in the NBA
Boston Celtics: The Time Lord
Robert Williams is a young player that Celtics fans should be truly excited for. In his three years in the league, Williams has flashed immense potential as a versatile defensive big. Williams has springs in his legs and is a phenomenal rim protector when in the correct position. He also has nimble feet and can stick with average perimeter creators on switches. Williams also isn't just a rim running center on offense, he has some genuine passing craft. The start of Williams's career has been littered with nagging injuries, but the Celtics clearly believed in him when they extended him for 4 years and $54 million this offseason. With no clear center above him in the lineup, Celtics fans should look forward to Robert Williams proving himself as a starter in the league.
Brooklyn Nets: The Larry OB
The Brooklyn Nets already had the best big three in the NBA in the form of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving. What we saw from that trio in their short time on the court together in the playoffs would have already made them prohibited favourites to win the championship in 2022. However, the rich got richer. The Brooklyn Nets added valuable depth in the offseason in the form of Patty Mills, Paul Millsap and James Johnson. This team is by far the most talented roster in basketball and as long as they can stay healthy, Nets fans should look forward to the championship parade in the summer of 2022.
Charlotte Hornets: The Development of LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball became a box office attraction in his first year in the NBA. LaMelo wowed fans with his gifted creativity and passing ability on route to winning Rookie of the Year, despite missing significant time with a hand injury. Most second-year guards take a significant jump, as they learn how to adjust to NBA defenders and coverages. Hornets fans should look forward to LaMelo being even more dynamic as an offensive player and taking over the role of the primary creator on the team. LaMelo's rookie year was already such a high bar that a significant jump could put him in serious All-Star consideration in the Eastern Conference, and that should be an exciting prospect for Hornets fans.
Chicago Bulls: Being in Playoff Contention
Ever since the Jimmy Butler trade, the Chicago Bulls have been an absolute embarrassment. Last year was the first time Bulls fans had a real reason to watch the team in a very long time, as Zach Lavine burst onto the scene as an elite scorer and All-Star. This put immediate pressure on the team's front office to surround him with a competent supporting cast, which lead them to add Nikola Vucevic at the trade deadline as well as Lonzo Ball and Demar DeRozan in free agency. Whilst this team is nowhere near title contention, they should have a good to great offense which will propel them into playoff contention in the Eastern Conference. If the cards break right, Bulls fans should be excited at the possibility of playoff basketball returning to the city of Chicago.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Darius Garland's Next Step and Evan Mobley
I had Darius Garland as my third-best prospect in the 2019 draft class and he showed his offensive potential in his sophomore season, averaging 17.4 points and 6 assists a game. Garland took a significant leap from year one to year two and if he can maintain his upward trajectory, Darius Garland can immerge as a primary offensive engine on a good to great NBA offense.
Another thing that should excite Cavs fans is that they have Evan Mobley. Mobley was the number one ranked prospect on my board and for good reason. Mobley projects as a modern big with immense versatility, feel and skill. He will most likely struggle in his rookie year due to his slight frame, but the frequent flashes will surely excite fans about the future of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Dallas Mavericks: The Legend of Luka Doncic
Mavericks fans might be angered by the hiring of Jason Kidd and the inability of the front office to acquire a reliable second option, but at the end of the day, you have Luka Doncic. Luka is one of the best young players this league has ever seen. He is still just 22 years old and he's already on the cusp of being a top 5 player in basketball. Luka Doncic's offensive wizardry is so special that it almost pushed the Mavs past the Clippers, a team that was most likely going to make the Finals barring the injury to Kawhi Leonard. Mavs fans should simply be grateful to have Luka Doncic on their basketball team and look forward to his evolution as one of the greatest offensive minds the sport has ever seen.
Denver Nuggets: The Breakout of MPJ
The Nuggets are in that second tier of title contenders and their title hopes seeming rely one thing, how good can Michael Porter Jr become? In the second half of last year, we got a glimpse of what a special offensive force MPJ can turn into. In minutes without Jamal Murray last season, MPJ averaged 24.6 points/75 on 67 TS%. With Murray likely missing the first half of the season as he rehabs from his torn ACL, Nuggets fans should look forward to MPJ soaking up a lot more usage and becoming an elite secondary scoring option beside Nikola Jokic.
Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham
This one is easy as them come. The Detroit Pistons won the lottery (literally) and got the best offensive player in the draft in Cade Cunningham. Cunningham is a versatile ball-handing wing that can shoot the lights out. A primary offensive creator is one of the hardest things to find in the NBA and the Pistons possibly have that in the form of Cade Cunningham. The Pistons will most likely lose a lot of games this year, but they will be thoroughly entertained by the brilliance of their new franchise player.
Golden State Warriors: The Return of Klay Thompson
After an incredible run of five consecutive finals and three championships, the Golden State Warriors have been out of the playoffs the last two seasons due to the departure of Kevin Durant and the absence of Klay Thompson. Fortunately, Klay Thompson is scheduled to make his return to the Warriors lineup sometime this season. Chances are slim that he will immediately resemble his former all-star self, due to him coming off two of the worst injuries in basketball. However, Warriors fans should be ecstatic about the possibility of him getting back to some resemblance of the player he was 2 years ago by the end of the season, and if that's the case, the Warriors could be destined for a deep playoff run.
Houston Rockets: The Rookies
The Houston Rockets are in hard rebuild mode after the James Harden trade, luckily for them, they already have a solid foundation of young guys to lead them into the next era of Rockets basketball. The Houston Rockets had a phenomenal draft, headlined by #2 overall pick Jalen Green. Green is a gifted athlete with an elite scoring repertoire who will have numerous highlight-reel plays throughout the season. The Rockets also traded for Alperen Sengun on draft night, a Turkish bug man with spectacular offensive polish and skill. Lastly, they got a top 3 defender in the class in Usman Garuba with the 23rd pick. The Houston Rockets will be in full tank mode this season, but at the helm of the tank will be three fascinating rookies with tremendous potential.
Indian Pacers: Being Healthy
At one point last season, the Indiana Pacers were the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. That quickly fell apart as the injury bug hit the Pacers in the worst way possible. TJ Warren had a season-ending injury, Myles Turner and Malcolm Brogdon missed significant time, and when they traded for Caris Levert, they found out he had a cancerous mass on his kidney. The culmination of these unfortunate events resulted in the Pacers getting knocked out in the play-in. This season Pacers fans should look forward to their key players being healthy, which should put them in playoff contention.
Los Angeles Clippers: Paul George Takeover Season
This year is going to be a tough one for the Clippers, as Kawhi Leonard is expected to miss the whole season as he recovers from a torn ACL. However, this should open the door for Paul George to have a possible MVP-type season. With Kawhi gone, Paul George will have the opportunity to be one of the highest usage players in the NBA and whilst that might not fill their championship aspirations, it could make for an extremely fun season where Paul George continues his journey of shutting up his haters.
Los Angeles Lakers: Anthony Davis Revenge Tour
Last year was a disappointing one for Anthony Davis. Coming off the short turnaround AD seemed like a shell of himself on both ends of the floor. Soon after, his regular season was derailed with a shoulder injury and then a strained achilles tendon. We briefly saw the return of the 2020 Anthony Davis in the first round against the Nuggets, which was swiftly ended by him pulling his groin. Lakers fans should look forward to a motivated Anthony Davis coming into the 2022 NBA Season and perhaps even the passing of the torch like many have been awaiting. If AD can return to his 2020 self, the Lakers should be favourites to represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals, and might even have an outside shot at the championship.
Memphis Grizzlies: The Development of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr
The Grizzlies should be excited about their young duo of Ja Morant and JJJ ascending to one of the best duos in the West. Morant and Jackson are both immensely talented young players who struggled with injuries most of last season. This can mean that one or both of them could be in for huge leaps in the 2022 season. Perhaps, JJJ can finally turn into that dominating defensive force. Or maybe Ja Morant can become an offensive All-Star? Some type of internal development will be needed for Memphis to remain a playoff team after the Valanciunas trade, and Grizzlies fans should look forward to their two franchise cornerstones stepping up to the challenge.
Miami Heat: Back to Contention
The Miami Heat had a non-ideal end to last season, getting demolished by the Bucks in a series sweep. However, Pat Riley quickly responded by acquiring Kyle Lowry in exchange for Goran Dragic and Precious Achiuwa, and stealing away PJ Tucker from the champions. This core should give Miami an elite defensive and make them an extremely tough playoff matchup for any team in the East. And if Brooklyn and Milwaukee struggle to remain healthy, the Miami Heat could have a real chance at winning the Eastern Conference.
Milwaukee Bucks: Chance at a Title Defense
The Bucks finally got the playoff underperforming monkey off their back, but for next season they should look forward to enjoying the title of reigning champions and at the possibility of repeating. I don't think Milwaukee can beat a full-strength Nets team but all it takes is one injury for the Bucks to get past the Nets, and if they can get past the Nets I don't think there is another team in the league that can beat them in a seven-game series.
Minnesota Timberwolves: Playoff Contention
Timberwolves fans should be encouraged by the team they saw at the end of the last regular season and look forward to possibly making the playoffs in 2022. The Timberwolves had a record of 10-10 over their last 20 games, and if they were to play at that pace for an entire season they would be in the play-in picture. The trio of KAT, Russell and Anthony Edwards should give them an elite offense and if they can muster a non-bottom 5 defense, they should be in contention for the playoffs.
New Orleans Pelicans: The Growth of Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson took a huge leap last year, becoming a top 5 regular season scorer in the league. When the Pelicans translated to the Point-Zion offense, Zion averaged nearly 30ppg on +13 rTS% and had the best offense in the league, even better than the Brooklyn Nets over that span. Pelicans should look forward to Zion making leaps in his playmaking this season by learning how to capitalize on all the defensive attention he draws on his rim attacks. If that happens, Zion Williamson could crack the list of the top 10 players in the NBA.
New York Knicks: A Better Offense
The Knicks were massive overachievers last year, but it was largely due to their incredible defense. Their offense was rather putrid, ranking 23rd in the league. We saw the limitations of this offense in the playoffs, where the Knicks were basically unable to score in the halfcourt despite the presence of Trae Young. Their free agency additions of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier should massively help relieve Julius Randle of some offensive load and elevate them to a slightly below-average offense.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Their Backcourt
The Thunder will surely be tanking once again this season, but their backcourts will be a huge attraction to watch the team despite that. SGA elevated to an All-Star calibre player last year, becoming one of the most ridiculously efficient self-creators in all of basketball. Now, he will be paired with lottery pick Josh Giddey in the backcourt. Giddey is a 6'9 point guard who is one of the most advanced passers I have ever seen at 18 years old. The offensive dynamic between Giddey and Shai will be fascinating to watch, that is before Sam Presti eventually shuts Shai down for the season because they are winning too much.
Orlando Magic: Jalen Suggs
The main attraction for the Orlando Magic will most definitely be their #5 overall pick and point guard of the future, Jalen Suggs. Suggs is an electrifying player on both ends of the floor. He has special instincts on defense which allow him to force turnovers and he is one of the best transition passers you will ever see. The Magic will be a hot mess, but the flashes of brilliance that Suggs will display will make Magic fans a reason to watch every game.
Philadelphia 76ers: The Ben Simmons Trade
From the very beginning it was evident that the partnership of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons was an unperfect fit. It seems like Ben Simmons playoff breakdown against the Hawks has led Daryl Morey to the same conclusion. The relationship between Ben and the 76ers has soured beyond repair and Ben Simmon's departure is inevitable. 76ers fans should look forward to Ben Simmons being traded way and the sixers utilizing assets to open up the floor for their top 10 player in Joel Embiid.
Phoenix Suns: Exploring DeAndre Ayton's Ceiling
The Suns are in a similar position to the Hawks in the sense that they are second-tier contenders and need internal improvement to move up that ladder. In their case, it needs to come from a very specific place, DeAndre Ayton. Ayton was a big part of the Suns finals run last year, anchoring their defense whilst providing tertiary scoring. But now it's time for him to make that leap to becoming a guy who can generate his own offense to some degree and show that defensive ability on a more consistent basis. If Ayton can elevate himself to fringe All-Star status, it can drastically change the ceiling of the Suns as a team.
Portland Trail Blazers: A Competent Defense
As long as the blazers have Damian Lillard, they will obviously have a stellar offense. They were a top 5 offense last year, despite CJ missing significant time due to injury. The problem with the Blazers was their 29th ranked defense. It was the main reason they lost to the Nuggets, despite the absence of Jamal Murray. While the Portland front office wasn't able to pull off a blockbuster move for Lillard they did address their defensive needs by trading for Larry Nance Jr. The addition of Nance and the subtraction of Kanter and Carmelo Anthony should drastically improve the Blazers defense to near or above league average.
Sacramento Kings: The Three Guard Lineup
Let's be honest, the Kings are not in a good place. They aren't good enough to be legit playoff contenders and they aren't bad enough to get a top 3 pick, they are stuck in mediocrity. However, one thing that is fun about the Kings is their guard trio of Fox, Haliburton and Mitchell. These three will be a joy to watch on the floor together for Kings fans because they bring such drastically things to the table. Fox is the heavy offensive load creator, Haliburton being the rock-solid all-around support player and Davion Mitchell harassing the opposing team's guard on defense. The team will most likely be mediocre, but the three young guards will cause fans to tune in often.
San Antonio Spurs: Embracing the Rebuild
Ever since the Kawhi trade, the Spurs have been stuck in mediocrity. Mediocrity is any NBA fans worst nightmare, because your team isn't progressing towards being a contender and they aren't bad enough to add top young prospects. It finally seems that the Spurs have embraces the rebuild. With the departure of DeRozan, the team will focus on developing their young guys like Keldon Johnson, Joshua Primo and Devin Vassell . This will most likely result in the spurs sliding to the bottom of the conference, a process that will allow them to build a young core that might allow them to get back into championship contention years down the line.
Toronto Raptors: The Ascension of OG Anunoby and the Rookie Year of Scottie Barnes
The Raptors franchise heavily focuses on player development, and one of the players that have fascinated Raptors fans since the day he was drafted is OG Anunoby. OG posses the physical profile of a star wing, 6'8, 7'3 wingspan, built like a fire hydrant and a 40 inch vertical. OG is already a stellar defender, the thing that's been in the works is the offense and we saw a flash of that last season. After the All-Star Break, OG averaged 18.3 points on 60 TS%. With the departure of Kyle Lowry and Siakam missing the first month of the season due to shoulder surgery, OG will have plenty of opportunities to showcase his progression.
Scottie Barnes is just a unique prospect. He is a 6'9 wing with ball-handling and sublime passing vision. More than that he has a magnetic personality and tremendous passion, Raptors fans will love watching Scottie Barnes develop and flash the possibility of him being the team's franchise player.
Utah Jazz: Competing for the NBA Finals
Despite a disappointing end to last season, the Jazz are still one of the powerhouses of the Western Conference. They also addressed one of their needs in the offseason by signing Rudy Gay, a wing who can match up with the wings in the West on the defensive and also run small-ball center in short stints. These changes with the improved health of Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conly Jr will give the Jazz as good a chance as any other team to win the Western Conference, and that's an exciting position to be in.
Washington Wizards: Convincing Bradley Beal to Sign on The Dotted Line
The Wizards did one of the best retooling jobs in the NBA by trading the toxic contract of Russell Westbrook for positive value and then surrounding Bradley Beal with a cast of competent veterans and young guys. With their roster construct, Wizards can once again look forward to Bradley Beal gunning for the scoring title while helping them make a playoff push. If they can do that, it might be enough to get Beal to sign an extension.
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