The beginning of another NBA season. Like the beginning of any new season, there are many different storylines that will be explored and questions that will need to be answered, but a lot of pundits are decrying the season of having no suspense and there is one reason for it. This off season Kevin Durant took his talents to the Bay when he joined the Golden State Warriors to form one of the most talented teams in the history of the NBA.

Many so-called experts feel like the championship is already decided and the 82-game regular season has been reduced to an extended rehearsal for the real drama. While I would love to be a contrarian and say that they are wrong, I can’t. I too look for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors to meet for a historic third-consecutive NBA Finals, which according to NBA.com has never happened in the NBA. Wil the loaded Warriors match or pass the ridiculous 73 wins of last regular season or have they learned a lesson of what’s really important and will pace themselves? Will LeBron James be able to bring another championship to the Land and get one ring closer to Jordan, even though his team is again considered the underdog – even more so than last season? Are the Warriors now villains? Does that make the Cavs heroes? All very good questions that will bore out this season and that I’ll talk about over the course of the next several months, but right now let’s explore some of the other things that could help this regular season not be as predictable as many think.

New York Knicks – the other Super Team?

Derrick Rose made headlines when he called this team one of the super teams on par with Golden State and Cleveland. That nonsense notwithstanding, there will be interest in seeing how new Knicks Rose and Joakim Noah mesh with old head Carmelo Anthony. The variance in predictions for this team is stunning, some pick them to make playoff noise and others think they’ll be one of the worst teams in the league. I fall somewhere in the middle in my prediction, the Knicks will sneak into the playoffs, but will get bounced out quickly by one of the elite teams at the top of the Eastern Conference. Sorry Melo. I hope he enjoys the gold medal from the Olympics as much as he says he does, because he’s not winning a title with the Knicks this year.

D.Wade comes home to the Bulls

The departure of Dwyane Wade from the Miami Heat, his team of 13 seasons, to his hometown team and favorite as a kid, the Chicago Bulls, was the second biggest surprise of the Free Agency period. The addition of Wade and the mercurial Rajon Rondo to a team already starring Jimmy Butler, makes them a team led by three players who don’t shoot three very well in a league that has becoming more and more obsessed with the long ball (see Golden State). The Bulls will have to successfully implement a brilliant old-school plan of slashing to the rim or all three will have to improve immensely as shooters for the team to be more than just a collection of big names.

Time for your close-up Mr.Westbrook

When Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder to join the Warriors this summer, he did it apparently without informing his former teammate Russell Westbrook of his plans. The coldness coming from Westbrook is almost tangible in every interview about Durant since his departure. When Westbrook hits the floor this season, he will be unleashed for the first time in his career as the one and only alpha male on the team. He will have the opportunity to have the basketball on every possession. He will be an MVP candidate for sure, especially if he lifts the team to about 50 wins. Of course, all of the matchups of the Thunder versus Golden State this season will be very interesting indeed.

Worth mentioning honorably

Will Chris Paul finally get the Clippers over the hump and at least to the Conference Finals? Will the Lakers, Kobe-less for the first time in two decades, show improvement with their young talent and coach? How many points and wins can newly appointed point guard James Harden and his Houston Rockets rack up with new coach Mike D’Antoni’s offense? Is San Antonio still relevant? Can the Raptors continue their upward ascension? Can Pat Riley rebuild the Miami Heat after losing franchise player D.Wade to free agency and Chris Bosh to career ending illness in one off season? What other teams will emerge in the East? A few unpredictable things to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead.

There you have it! A few thing to look for this season in the NBA, which officially starts when the Cavs get their rings from NBA commissioner Adam Silver. There are multiple stories to follow and I’ll check in with my opinions on matters as they develop. Let’s get this thing going! It’s been too long NBA. Let’s ball!