By Zach Waltz
Sports Editor
As always, I’m overly excited for the start of the NBA season. I’d compare it to the excitement that a child gets the night before he goes to Disney World for the first time. With a lot of activity going on in the offseason, this season is one of the most anticipated in recent memory.
While watching preseason games will suffice for now, the start of the regular season is right around the corner, and NBA fans are rejoicing after what seems like one of the longest offseasons to date. Since the offseason contained so much movement among the landscape of the league, I will be breaking down the Eastern Conference this week and the Western Conference next week.
Of course, the biggest news over the break was the homecoming of Cavaliers forward LeBron James. The superstar has returned to the team that drafted him first overall in the talent-ridden 2003 draft. An Akron native, James grew up dreaming to become a Cavalier someday. After going to the Miami Heat for four years, James made the decision in the offseason to return to Cleveland, bringing a host of free agent signings and trade acquisitions with him.
Along with the King, forwards Shawn Marion, Mike Miller and James Jones signed free-agent contracts to join the Cavs. The team also traded the 2013 and 2014 first-overall draft picks, forwards Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, along with others in order to pick up all-star forward/center Kevin Love from the Minnesota Timberwolves. These offseason pickups, coombined with all-star point guard Kyrie Irving and established players like guard Dion Waiters and center Anderson Varejao, make Cleveland the favorites to win the East.
But being favorites doesn’t mean anything in the NBA. Other teams from the East made moves in the offseason in order to compete with the stacked Cavaliers. The Chicago Bulls acquired forward Pau Gasol to pair with center Joakim Noah, giving them an experienced and talented front court to go along with former MVP point guard Derrick Rose. Rose is returning from another injury that held him out last season. The Bulls have been known for their suffocating defense over the past few seasons, and adding the Spanish big man Gasol will give them a new offensive dynamic. The Bulls will most likely be the Cavaliers’ biggest challenge in trying to win the East.
The New York Knicks re-signed superstar forward Carmelo Anthony while signing recently-retired Derek Fisher as their new head coach. New President Phil Jackson has taken over the franchise with the intent of returning the team to its former success. Jackson tried to pick up some talent to surround Anthony by trading for point guards Jose Calderon and Shane Larkin and center Samuel Dalembert. The Knicks may be the biggest question mark of the East, as the quality of their play will depend on how these players mesh with the egos of Anthony, guard J.R. Smith, and forwards Amar’e Stoudemire and Andrea Bargnani.
The Washington Wizards’ roster looks roughly the same as last season, but instead of forward Trevor Ariza, they signed veteran forward Paul Pierce to take his place. The Wizards’ young backcourt of stars John Wall and Bradley Beal combined with their dominant frontcourt of Marcin Gortat and Nenê Hilario and the Pierce signing has Washington looking like they could be a dark horse in the Eastern Conference standings.
Another team that could pose a potential threat in the East is the Charlotte Hornets. Adding free agent guard Lance Stephenson could give them that extra offensive boost that they need to win games. Stephenson will join a roster packed to the brim with talent that includes all-star center Al Jefferson and speedy point guard Kemba Walker. The Hornets also had one of the best drafts this offseason by picking up forward Noah Vonleh from Indiana University and guard P.J. Hairston from the University of North Carolina. While also making roster moves, the team also decided to take on the name of the Hornets, rather than the Bobcats, after the New Orleans franchise changed its name to Pelicans.
The Toronto Raptors surprised the league last year after finishing in playoff position. However, they lost in the first round to the Brooklyn Nets. The Raptors re-signed point guard Kyle Lowry, who has been their offensive spark plug and a team leader. The team was quiet in the free agent market, only acquiring guard Louis Williams. Williams will give them a boost off the bench and quite possibly could earn Sixth Man of the Year honors if he performs to his usual standard. Guard/forwards Terrence Ross and DeMar DeRozan also offer a heightened level of athleticism that other teams in the East will have a hard time containing. Lithuanian center Jonas Valančiūnas has been steadily improving his game and will supply the Raptors with an offensive threat down low as well as a low post defensive presence.
The Atlanta Hawks will also be a consistent team among the conference’s leaders. Adding veteran players, guard Thabo Sefolosha and forward Elton Brand, to boost an already talented roster consisting of guard Jeff Teague and big men Al Horford and Paul Millsap. The team also drafted forward Adreian Payne out of Michigan State in hopes that he will add depth to the forward position.
While the East has not been known for its depth as a conference in recent memory, the teams that will be competing at a high level this season will show that the conference can compete with the high-powered offenses in the West. While nothing is promised and a lot can be compromised, the Eastern Conference should be more competitive and interesting than it has been in the past couple of years.
Zach Waltz is the sports editor for The Bona Venture. His email is waltzzd12@bonaventure.edu
