On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2022/2023”

The NBA Season 2022/2023

With the Golden State Warriors reclaiming last years 2022 NBA Championship, the Warriors have once again proven to be a major player in this year deep Western Conference. With a healthy squad and a few new faces added to the rotation, the Warriors will be looking to defending their Championship with an iron fist from start to finish. Last year opposing teams counted them out and paid the ultimate price when it was all said and done.

With key players the likes of Kawhi Leonard (Clippers), Zion Williamson (Pelicans), Jamal Murray (Nuggets) and Damian Lillard (Trail Blazers) now healthy, they all possess the missing ingredients to help propel their teams throughout the hardship of the tough Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Clippers have a real good chance at making some serious noise this year. If they can stay healthy enough, the squad that this team is showing up with on opening night is as legit as it gets. They have the right balance of talent to definitely stir the pot throughout the league.

Last year’s shorthanded Denver Nuggets made quite a splash throughout the league and the Playoffs. With returning 2022 NBA MVP Nikola Jokic hitting the floor alongside a healthy Jamal Murray and a tight squad, the Nuggets will be looking to disrupt the league in a very competitive way.

The return of a healthy Zion Williamson has all eyes on the New Orleans Pelicans who will be coming in with a solid starting 5 that will keep the fans interested throughout the year but how far they can go will be up in the air considering just how strong the Western Conference is just surviving the regular season.

Lebron James entering his 20th NBA Season at 37 years old is just amazing. This man is a walking machine that if healthy, alongside another healthy Anthony Davis for a full season, has enough fire power to make some serious noise. Although their Pre-Season games didn’t show it, I personally wouldn’t sleep on them just yet.

The Western Conference is a tourney within itself. The Memphis Grizzlies are a bubbling team prime and ready for the big stage. Their squad is built to compete from top to bottom. They are must watch T.V. when they step foot into the arena. The Phoenix Suns have taken a fall in the standings but still managed to bring back the squad that brought them to the 2021 NBA Finals, giving them a good chance to make some serious strides back to the top. The Dallas Mavericks are coming in with an in-shape Luka Doncic who has proven to be a handful on any given night. With a healthy Tim Hardaway Jr. coming back and a solid all-around squad, the Mavericks will be in the mix. As for the remaining Western teams, the Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, the jury is still out. The Western Conference is not for play.

The talk of the Eastern Conference right now is the Brooklyn Nets coming into this season with a healthy-looking squad of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons who will be gracing the court together with some serious swag. The Nets feel very optimistic of guaranteed success this time around. They will have the fire power to hang with any opponent but will the chemistry hold up?

That said, ignoring the Boston Celtics who reached the NBA Finals last year but were unsuccessful, is an understatement. The Celtics have had a taste of the Finals now and will want retribution for their failed attempt. With their squad still intact with a solid one two punch in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown leading the way, the top of the food chain is not farfetched.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks wreaked havoc throughout the league last year and fell short late in the Playoffs due to injuries to some key players but with a healthy squad and arguably the best NBA player in the league in Giannis leading the way, the Bucks will be making this Eastern Conference run that much intriguing and must watch T.V. whenever they step foot in the house.

The Philadelphia 76ers might be the sleeper team to move up and do some damage or completely drop if they don’t get it together soon. They have a solid squad well-balanced squad that could put fear throughout the league but they have to lay it all together. Joel Embiid showed up big last year playing at an MVP level but in order to have a successful run James Harden is going to have to bring back his MVP type play for them to have any kind of inspiration of reaching the NBA Finals.

The Miami Heat has the right balance of experience from young to old that have reached the NBA Finals. They are strong on both ends of the floor and can hang with the best of them on any given night. They will be a solid team vying for position. That said, they do have the potential of being a sleeper team as well if not taken seriously by their opponents.

The Eastern Conference teams have steadily been improving year after year with surprising, unexpected teams rising out the trenches disrupting the hierarchy of the usual suspects in the Division.

That being said, the Toronto Raptors, Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers, Orlando Magic and the Detroit Piston will all have to show and prove that they belong amongst the top teams in the league or risk being labelled unworthy of keeping up in the Eastern Conference.

The league is steaming up with talent and new faces. Tune in this Tuesday night October 18, 2022, and be part of another captivating NBA Season 2022/2023.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2021/2022”

The NBA Season 2021/2022

Although the Covid-19 pandemic is still looming over the World, a full regular NBA Season is set to start this upcoming Tuesday October 19, 2021.

With the Milwaukee Bucks claiming last year’s 2021 NBA Championship, the Eastern Conference teams are steadily showing major improvement with many high-profile players migrating and seeking permanent residency on the EASTIDE helping balance the forces of the Eastern Conference. With Giannis Antetokoumpo balling at an MVP level and with a squad to back him up, the Bucks will be working really hard at getting back to the Finals to defend their previous Championship.

A healthy Brooklyn Nets squad, disorder aside regarding Kyrie Irving on board or not, the Nets, equipped with “Easy Money Sniper” Kevin Durant and James Harden running the show along with a competitive line up, them Brooklyn Boys will cause havoc throughout the NBA in order to get to the promised land aka the NBA Finals.

The Atlanta Hawks made some serious waves throughout the season and the NBA Playoffs last year. With most of their squad still intact and with the experience they have now garnered, The Hawks will be a problem to content with on any given night.

Like Brooklyn, the Philadelphia 76ers have a personnel issue concerning Ben Simmons. Will he be part of the squad or not? Uncertainty aside them Philly Boys will still have enough fire power to stay competitive – Joel Embiid and company will make sure of that.

The Miami Heat didn’t perform to their full potential last year but with a proven leader in Kyle Lowry now running the show alongside Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo and a deep squad, they could see themselves disrupting the Eastern Conference and playing themselves back into contention.

Although the Chicago Bulls came up short last season, I think they may have gotten it right this time around with the addition of DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball alongside Zach LaVine in the starting line-up. They might have enough fire power to enter the Playoffs and make some noise.

The New York Knicks balled hard last season and I expect them to do the same this year. With the addition of a healthy Kemba Walker and some improved defense, the Knicks could find themselves once again vying for a playoff spot.

As for the remaining Eastern Teams the Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic and the Washington Wizards, all have too many uncertainties surrounding them right now. They are going to have to show and prove they are capable of keeping up in the Eastern Conference.

The Los Angeles Lakers have completely revamped their squad by adding key players like Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard to run alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis. On paper the Lakers look to have the goods to prevail in the Western Conference but I personally think that team chemistry will be the key to unlocking their true potential. Only time will tell if they have the right nucleus.

The Phoenix Suns will be picking things up right where they left it after an incredible run to the NBA Finals. The Suns know they have the goods and the returning squad to make sure of that. The needed experience has now been acquired along with the winning attitude and the play of Devin Booker and Chris Paul running the show, they look prime to reach the NBA Finals once again.

The Utah Jazz may have fallen short in last year’s Playoff run but their nucleus is still intact and they have already proven to be the best team in the Western Conference by holding down the No. 1 Spot last year. With that in mind, them Boys now have the right mentality to reign supreme and dominate once again while working their way through a tough Western Conference.

The Denver Nuggets will have the Reigning MVP Nikola Jokic leading their team but might have a harder time keeping up with rest of the Division without key contributor Jamal Murray still recovering from his ACL injury. I gotta tip my “B” to them boys cause they ball hard even with a key player down they still have the goods to disrupt things in the Western Conference.

The Los Angeles Clippers could find themselves struggling in the tough Western Conference if they have to deal without the services of their star player Kawhi Leonard who is still out with a knee injury. If they can find some key players to help Paul George hold it down, they might be able to stay competitive long enough until Kawhi’s return whenever that may be. It’s a tough call without a healthy Kawhi in the line-up.

The Golden State Warriors could be the sleepers in the Western Conference, looking at them right now they could easily be overlooked but with a brilliant coaching staff and a two-time MVP in Stephen Curry (still balling like an MVP) holding it down until Klay Thompson is cleared to return this season, the “Splash Brothers” could pick up where they last left it in the 2019 NBA Finals. Straight shooters back at it. With the new core of young gunners running with them and Draymond Green still in the mix, I am not counting them out just yet.

The Dallas Mavericks have a new Head Coach in Jason Kidd and still have the MVP contender Luka Doncic running the show in Dallas but still need to get it together in order to advance to the Playoffs. The pressure will be on Jason to guide this underachieving team to the promised land but with Luka balling out of his mind with the right supporting cast they just might have enough game to move up come Playoff time.

As for the remaining Western Conference teams the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, New Orleans Pelicans, Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Sacramento Kings, they will have to swim in the deep end in hopes of making it out somehow someway in the tough Western Conference. There is no easy passage to the NBA Playoffs in this Conference.

That being said, tune this Tuesday night October 19, 2021 and be part of another intriguing NBA Season 2021/2022.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2020/2021”

The NBA Season 2020/2021

The NBA Season is set to start this upcoming Tuesday December 22, 2020 but with 10 games shorter than the previous seasons due to the Covid-19 pandemic still looming over the World.

So many things are going to be different and unpredictable for this upcoming season but one thing is for sure, the Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to repeat as Champions regardless of the obstacles ahead. The Lakers’ squad is still well-intact and well-built for the long haul. As for the Los Angeles Clippers, they may have fallen short in the Playoffs last season but redemption will be their motivation throughout this season. The Houston Rockets are an uncertainty right now considering they have done some major changes starting with their front office and the coaching staff and their star player, James Harden, looking for a way out of the city. Assuming Harden’s indecision to still run with the team, only time will tell how they will look as the season progresses. The Western Conference will still be competitive as usual with the strong play coming from the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, Portland Trail Blazers, the Oklahoma City Thunder and let’s not forget The Golden State Warriors who may still have a say in the Western standings, – they are not done yet in my eyes.

The Eastern Conference is steadily improving with major players changing conferences to help balance the forces. The Milwaukee Bucks fell short once again at reaching the Finals but have managed to secure their MPV player Giannis Antetokounmpo to an extended contract giving them another opportunity at the task at hand, an NBA Title. With a few added pieces to the team, things could be looking up for them. The Miami Heat shocked the league last season when they worked their way to the NBA Finals. They showed they belong and plan on getting it going right back where they left off. The Brooklyn Nets will be looking for a “Takeover” type season with a healthy Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving leading the pack along with a new coaching staff to draw up the winning format. Our own Canadian team the Toronto Raptors are still in the running and still have the ability to stay competitive with any team from any conferences. The Philadelphia 76ers have done some revamping with their team and the coaching staff in the hope of changing their future outcome. Let’s see how everything unfolds throughout the season. The Boston Celtics is still a major player with a proven squad that can definitely upset the apple tree once they get going. They are a proven squad that can definitely disrupt the standings in the Eastern Conference. As for the Indiana Pacers, the Washington Wizards, the Charlotte Hornets, the Detroit Pistons, the New York Knicks and the Orlando Magic, the jury is still out on what they can bring to the table.

We are entering the unknown with this year NBA Season. There is no script on how things will evolve and for that alone we should all tune in this Tuesday night December 22, 2020 and be part of another roller-coaster type NBA Season 2020/2021.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA – The Restart “

Due to the Covid-19 epidemic that’s been affecting the World as of late, the NBA was forced to lean back for a few months to now finally being able to get the green light as per the NBA’s Board of Governors, to officially resume play this Thursday July 30, 2020 and conclude August 14, 2020.

A lot has changed since the last NBA Game in March 2020. To stop the spread of Covid-19, games will be played inside a quarantine-safe site without fans at Orlando, Florida’s Walt Disney World aka “the Bubble”.

A total of 22 teams will be in Orlando Florida. The 16 teams currently in the Playoff position and six teams within six games of the No. 8 seed, in either conference.

Eastern Conference

1-Milwaukee Bucks (53-12)
2-Toronto Raptors (46-18)
3-Boston Celtics (43-21)
4-Miami Heat (41-24)
5-Indiana Pacers (39-26)
6-Philadelphia 76ers (39-26)
7-Brooklyn Nets (30-34)
8-Orlando Magic (30-35)
9-Washington Wizards (24-40)

Western Conference

1-Los Angeles Lakers (49-14)
2-Los Angeles Clippers (44-20)
3-Denver Nuggets (43-22)
4-Utah Jazz (41-23)
5-Oklahoma City Thunder (40-24)
6-Houston Rockets (40-24)
7-Dallas Mavericks (40-27)
8-Memphis Grizzlies (32-33)
9-Portland Trail Blazers (29-37)
10-New Orleans Pelicans (28-36)
11-Sacramento Kings (28-36)
12-San Antonio Spurs (27-36)
13-Phoenix Suns (26-39)

The eight seeding games will continue each day through August 14, 2020 to determine Playoff positioning. The postseason will follow the traditional format with the best-of-seven-game series all the way through the NBA Finals.

The stakes have gone up for the remainder of the 2019/2020 NBA Season. The challenges of having to deal with the high risk of Covid-19 and staying and playing out the rest of the NBA Season in one location is going to be quite the experiment to say the least but one I am very curious to see the outcome of.

Tune in on TNT Thursday night July 30, 2020 and be part of the “Restart” of the second half of the NBA Season 2019/2020.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA Season 2019/2020”

The NBA Season 2019/2020

The NBA Season is set to start this upcoming Tuesday October 22, 2019, and our own newly crowned Canadian Defending Champs the Toronto Raptors will be looking to start the season right where they left off. However, they will be looking to repeat without their star player and Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard. With Kawhi jumping ship, the Raptors’ chances of repeating have definitely slimmed down but with the emergence of last year’s Most Improved Player Pascal Siakam they may have found another go to player to help them restore the balance needed to get back to the Finals and defend their Championship.

With the season that they had last year the Milwaukee Bucks will be looking to bounce right back into contention considering that their squad is still intact with a few new faces to help maintain their status quo as one of the top teams that could possibly reach the Eastern Conference Finals if all goes right for them.

After falling short at the buzzer to the Toronto Raptors in the Easter Conference Finals, the Philadelphia 76ers had a hard look at their team and decided to fine-tune their roster to hopefully have that edge needed to conquer the Eastern Conference and set foot to the NBA Finals. As it stands right now, they may have the biggest starting line-up this year if all goes as planned with 6-5, 6-9, 6-10, and a big mobile 7-footer. Defence this year should not be a problem, but Philly will definitely be gunning for that No. 1 Spot. Their time is now.

The lack of chemistry that the Boston Celtics displayed last year cost them dearly and with the departure of Kyrie Irving and Al Holford, they might have slipped a little but I’m not counting them boys out just yet. Coach Brad Stevens is a proven winner and with Kemba Walker now running the show along with a young athletic squad, the Celtics will still be in contention and may be the sleeper team in the Eastern Conference.

The Brooklyn Nets acquired Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant over the off season in a serious power move, but we won’t be able to see the two heavy hitters share the court together until possibly next season since Kevin Durant is expected to miss the entire 2019/2020 season recovering from his Achilles injury. I expect the Nets to be competitive but not ready yet to steal that No 1 Spot in the East.

That being said the Eastern Conference is still steadily improving. The Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards will keep it interesting throughout the season.

Out West the tables have changed dramatically, with the departure of Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson sidelined until possibly after the All-Star break. The Golden State Warriors will have no breathing room or any easy nights in the Western Conference. This season might be their toughest to date. The Warriors are not ready to concede the season just yet. Counting them out with a healthy Stephen Curry and Draymond Green still holding it down until Klay comes back is not something I’m willing to bet against at this time.

The two LA teams have done some power moves of their own and in doing so may have reignited the Lakers/Clippers rivalry. The Los Angeles Lakers will start this season with a well-rested and healthy LeBron James and newly acquired Anthony Davis. The Lakers have revamped their squad and are already talking Championships. However, their neighboring team the Los Angeles Clippers have also added two valuable pieces to their already proven squad in the form of reigning Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Now that was an unexpected chess move by the Clippers. Both teams have easily vaulted themselves into contention but in the WESTSIDE, nothing is as easy as it’s sounds. The road to the Western Finals is a never-ending gauntlet. There are quite a few contenders willing and ready to snatch that No. 1 Spot.

The Houston Rockets will be starting two former NBA MVP’s in James Harden and Russell Westbrook. This is an intriguing backcourt but one that I am definitely looking forward to seeing in action at this point in their careers. The pace that these two can play at might be the key that gives them the edge and push them over the hump.

The Denver Nuggets are no longer flying under the radar. That squad balled out of their minds last year and are determined to give it another run at the No. 1 Spot. These Kats have a well-balanced squad who plays that team ball the proper way. No game is an easy game against them. They have arrived and are definitely in the mix.

Fresh off their Western Conference Finals showing, the Portland Trail Blazers have retooled their squad to give it another run. Their goal remains the same as all the top contenders in the Western Conference and that is Championship or bust. They have one of the best backcourts in the league in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Now it’s all about putting the right pieces together and making every game count.

Again, the Western Conference is so competitive that you cannot afford to sleep on any team on any given night. That being said, be on the lookout for the New Orleans Pelicans, the San Antonio Spurs, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks to ruffle up the pecking order and create their own havoc in the Western Conference.

Tune in Tuesday night October 22, 2019 and be part of one of the most interesting NBA Seasons.

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About The NBA PLAYOFFS 2019”

2019 NBA PLAYOFFS

Once again, this NBA Season came down to the wire with teams aiming to position themselves for some tough matchups ahead of the Playoffs.
New faces have squeezed in this year to make the NBA’s version of the “sweet 16”. The struggle for “Supremacy” will be tested on both coasts.

This year Eastern Conference No. 1 Seed overall is the surging Milwaukee Bucks (60-22). Their record speaks for itself. They are the only team to finish with 60 wins this Season. Real Talk! The Bucks accomplished that feat in style dominating teams with superior offence and defence. With Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo leading the way with his MVP type play, we might just see a new team representing the East come the NBA Final.

That being said, our own Canadian team the Toronto Raptors are not quite ready to succumb to the Bucks just yet. The Raptors once again finished with an impressive record of (58-24). The second-best record overall. They too are battle tested and now have their own equalizer in Kawhi Lenord to help them get to the promised land of the NBA Finals.

The Eastern Conference teams are getting better and stronger year by year so the 3rd seeded 76ers (51-31), the 4th seeded Celtics (49-33) and the 5th seeded Pacers (48-34) are all determined to disrupt the outcome of the Eastern Conference Playoffs one way or another.

Representing the Western Conference with the No. 1 Seed is the Defending Champions Golden State Warriors (57-25). The Warriors had to battle a little harder this year but still managed to secure the No. 1 Seed over the rising play of the Denver Nuggets (54-28). As usual the Western Conference is competitive from 1 to 8. Real talk! The Blazers (53-29) have the 3rd seed while the Houston Rockets (53-29) have regained their mojo with their MVP candidate James Harden balling out of his mind. James definitely has a chip on his shoulders and the only way to release the stress is to have a good Playoff run all the way to the Finals. The Jazz, the Thunder, the Spurs and the Clippers are all in it to win it. The Warriors are looking to “three-peat” and cement their names in the record books but first must get through this Western shoot out.

Tune in Saturday April 13, 2019 and witness the outcome unfold right before our eyes. Game Time!!

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About NBA Finals”

 

The 2 teams that will be representing their respective coast in the NBA Finals this year were now decided. Representing the West Side will be the 4 times defending Champs The San Antonio Spurs. Fresh off a 4 games clinic of the Memphis Grizzlies, this Spurs team has once again defied father time and re positioned themselves has the team to beat. REAL TALK! The way they’ve approached each game in these playoffs with such poise and discipline is straight up intimidating (if you ask me). These kats are for real and their game does all the talking for them.

Representing the East Side will be last years defending Champs The Miami Heat. Straight from a game 7 trashing of the No. 1 defensive team in Indiana Pacers, the HEAT have once again reaffirmed why they are one of the best defensive teams in the league PERIOD! Indiana simply couldn’t match the HEAT’s intensity and their aggressive play, but don’t expect the same predicament from the Spurs come this Thursday night June 6, 2013, cause these Dudes in San Antonio play hard through-out the whole 48 minutes. REAL TALK! This year’s Finals will definitely be a must see T.V.

Who will be the last team standing when all is said and done?

Blaze

On The Watch “It’s All About 2013 NBA CONFERENCE FINALS”

NBA CONFERENCE FINALS

The NBA’s version of their Final 4 is about to start. The 2 teams representing the West Side in the Western Conference Finals this year is the No.2 seeded San Antonio Spurs and the fifth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies. I have to tip my “B” hat to them Boys at Memphis cause these Dudes came to play. The way they dismantled the L.A. Clippers in the first round and then they out-hustled and eliminated the No. 1 seeded Oklahoma City in five games in the second round, shows me that these Dudes are seriously thinking NBA Finals. REAL TALK! They have a well grounded Team orientate with an old school swagg that matches up very well with the 4 times defending Champs San Antonio Spurs, now its about defining who will be the chosen one to represent the West in the NBA Finals come June!

The 2 teams representing the East Side in the Eastern Conference Final this year is the No. 1 seeded defending NBA Champs Miami Heat and the 3rd seeded Indiana Pacers. I can’t front on them Dudes from Miami cause with only 1 lost between the first and second round combine, clearly shows me just how dominant and tight their game is. REAL TALK! Awaiting the Heat though is a hungry and determine Pacer team with a SERIOUS chip on their shoulders. The Heat eliminated the Pacers last May in the semifinals 4-2, with that being said the Indiana players are still choked over that series, therefore this rematch will most likely be quite exciting to see just how the Pacers plan on dethroning the defending Champs and take hold of that final spot in representing the East in the NBA Finals come June!

Let the Final 4 of the NBA Begin!!!

Blaze