The NBA season is about to get started and with that in mind we bring some news and notes from around the league just ahead of the pre season.
The NBA Season Almost Here
It was media recently which is the first official sign that the NBA season is almost back. A lot of teams have some new faces so it was nice to hear from them to see what their outlook was for their futures as well as their new homes.
Kevin Durant was in the news in the off season for a candid interview that he did. During the Nets media day, he and Kyrie Irving spoke at length about how their seasons went last year and what their plans are for the future of the Nets franchise. Durant will play this year so Kyrie touched on the road ahead for the team. It is uncertain if Kyrie will start the season after suffering a facial fracture during workouts. He will likely miss the pre season in order to heal up for the start of the regular season.
Joel Embiid in Shape and Ready for Revenge
One of the lasting images from the last NBA season was the image of Joel Embiid crying after the dramatic game 7 loss to the Toronto Raptors. As one of the most outspoken players in the league, Embiid got a big slice of humble pie that day. While the loss to the Raptors can hardly be blamed on him, his conditioning became a huge source of debate. It was clear to see that he was out of shape in the playoffs. He missed games with mysterious ailments and when he was out there, he didn’t look all the way right.
Now that Kiwi is out west and his 76ers have made roster moves, a trip to the finals is there for the taking. There are still question marks over whether he and Ben Simmons can be on the court together during crunch time but the Sixers have invested heavily in both players. It’s time to put up or shut up in Philadelphia.
Russell Westbrook Ready for Life in Houston
This summer, guard Russell Westbrook was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Houston Rockets. There is will rejoin his former teammate and friend James Harden. While many around the league have speculated as to just how this partnership might work, it seems like the world will have to wait a little longer to find out. Westbrook had arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of the NBA season. While it was just to have his knee cleaned out, it is not the first time he has had to have it treated in recent year.
With that in mind, the team is taking the cautious approach. He will not play in their game on Monday in China and there is a possibility that he could miss more time. He is expected to be ready for the regular season opener where the Rockets will look to establish themselves as true Western Conference contenders. A lot of the off season conversation centered around the battle of Los Angeles. If the Rockets two former league MVP’s can click on the court, the Rockets will have something to say about who makes it to the finals from the West.
