And here…we…Go!
The 2015-16 NBA season is upon us and what a wonderful ride this could be, but there are questions abound as teams prepare for the start of another 82-game trek.
The defending champion Golden State Warriors have shown that it’s possible go from being validated to feeling disrespected within the span of a few months. The Cleveland Cavaliers and their fans will have wait to see how players deal with various injuries, before LeBron can bring his long-awaited title to the city. At the other end of the spectrum, can a 37-year-old Kobe bounce back from a back-to-back that he’s not familiar with? Two seasons in a row being cut very short by injury have brought questions about the Black Mamba’s standing among his peers – he ranked 93 in a recent ESPN media NBA player poll. Can he make it through an entire NBA season healthy?
Out West, the San Antonio Spurs will try to merge the play of Old Man Riverwalk Tim Duncan with Spurs newcomer LaMarcus Aldridge and hope Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili still have some fuel left in the tank. The Spurs will probably be there again near the end. Somehow, they always seem to be. The Clippers will try to leave the DeAndre Jordan drama of the summer behind them and finally get that elusive Finals appearance for Chris Paul. Will it be one and done for the defending champion Golden State Warriors? Reigning MVP Stephen Curry (Don’t tell James Harden) will try to make sure his team shows the world again that the championship can be won going outside-in, instead of the traditional way as his Golden State Warriors try to repeat. .
In the East, LeBron James will try to take the Cavaliers to the finals for the second-straight season. Down in South Beach, a healthy Chris Bosh returns to run with D.Wade on a team that may surprise some with its depth. Will the Atlanta Hawks be able to match the 60 win total of last season or will another Eastern Conference team step in to grab the best regular season mark? With several twists and turns yet to be revealed in this NBA season, one would have to be a little crazy to think that the Finals can be predicted right now, so instead I’ll reveal my picks for the final four teams in the league this year. Almost as crazy, but not quite.
So here it is! The season just started and I’m already giving my picks for the end. We’ll start with the dogfight that will be the West. A healthy K.D. and Russell Westbrook reunited make OKC my dark horse to come out the West and the Spurs with L.A. will be a nightmare matchup for every team in the conference, but I predict a L.A. Clippers versus Golden State Warriors Western Final.
In the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls will make things very interesting, if they can keep Derrick Rose upright and motivated and the Washington Wizards should continue to be a force, but my prediction for the 2016 Eastern Final? The Cleveland Cavaliers versus the Miami Heat as LeBron returns to face the team that he helped lift to a championship a couple of seasons ago. So to borrow the latest Miami Heat season promo that ran leading to the new season, let’s get it!
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thehorizonbasketballblog 
The 2015-2016 NBA season is indeed here. Here is some of my thoughts. The LA Clippers will be a force this year out west. Paul Pierce is a great addition to the team. Golden State warriors will have to shot the lights out with three pointers. Lebron James is the best player in the league. Will Anthony Davis continue to live up to the hype? I believe he will shine with the new addition of NBA veteran Kendrick Perkins. Can OKC take it to the next level? Hopefully, the new coach will make a difference. Jimmy Bulter is the face and leader of the Chicago Bull, but I see D. Rose going down with yet another injury. Kobe and the Lakers will be in last place on the west coast. Finally, will Joe Johnson live up to his 2015-2016 salary of over $24 million. GO BROOKLYN NETS!!
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Can’t disagree with most of your points. I will say though that the Lakers may be a little better than expected. We’ll have to wait to see! Definitely want to see how Kobe performs in his 20th season.
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Well, the Brooklyn Nets lost the season opener at home (115-100) to the Chicago Bulls. I can’t believe Joe Johnson played 32 minutes but only scored 10 points. He was 4-15 for FGM-A and had a total of 10 rebounds.
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The NBA’s Highest-Paid Players of 2015 in USD:
1. Kobe Bryant (LA Lakers) – $25 million
2. Joe Johnson (Brooklyn Nets) – $24.9 million
3. LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) – $23 million
4. Carmelo Anthony (New York Knicks) – $22.9 million
5. Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets) – $22.4 million
6. Chris Bosh (Miami Heat) – $22.2. million
7. Chris Paul (LA Clippers) – $21.5 million
8. Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) – $20.02 million
9. Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) – $20.1 million
10. Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat) – $20 million
11 (tie). DeAndre Jordan (LA Clippers) – $19.7 million
11 (tie). Brook Lopez (Brooklyn Nets) – $19.7 million
11 (tie). LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs) – $19.7 million
11 (tie). Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers) – $19.7 million
11 (tie). Marc Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies) – $19.7 million
16. Blake Griffin (LA Clippers) – $18.9 million
17. Paul Millshap (Atlanta Hawks) – $18.7 million
18. Paul George (Indiana Pacers) – $17.1 million
19. Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) – $16.7 million
20 (tie). Kyrie Irving (Cleveland Cavaliers) – $16.4 million
20 (tie). Enes Kanter (Oklahoma City Thunder) – $16.4 million
20 (tie). Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs) – $16.4 million
20 (tie). Wesley Matthew (Dallas Mavericks) – $16.4 million
20 (tie). Greg Monroe (Milwaukee Bucks) – $16.4 million
25. Tobias Harris (Orlando Magic) – $16 million
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