Welcome to Layup Lines, our daily NBA newsletter where we’ll prep you for a tip-off of tonight’s action, from what to watch to bets to make. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon.
What’s good y’all. It’s Prince here with another Layup Lines, and I want to talk about the upcoming season, which is quickly approaching next week. Do you know who’s going to win the title? Or who will even make the NBA Finals? Because I have no clue, and I love it.
Bet For The Win recently put together our best bets for win total over/unders and which teams will make the playoffs, and that’s when it hit me how wide open the league is.
In the Western Conference, the reigning champion Warriors will be a force again. But the Clippers and Nuggets are finally healthy, the Suns are still around, and the Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Lakers, Mavericks and Pelicans will also vie for playoff spots. That’s nine potentially good teams fighting for eight spots before we even get into fringe teams like the Trail Blazers and Kings.
In the East, the Heat, Celtics, Bucks and 76ers should all be really good again. But the Nets are finally close to complete, the Hawks and Cavs are better, and the Raptors and Bulls will still be competitive. Again, that’s nine teams before we get to fringe squads like the Knicks and Wizards.
That’s enough interest to hold me all year before we even get into micro-storylines within each team like the Celtics’ coaching situation, the Nets’ drama, the Lakers’ Russell Westbrook conundrum, etc.
People often speak of how overrated parity is, because the league has always had a dominant dynasty. But I, for one, enjoy not knowing who’s going to win the title before the season even starts. And we still technically have a dynasty at play with the Warriors — even if it doesn’t feel like it — which gives us the best of both worlds.
Every team has that target to gun for, while also legitimately having a shot to go really far if things break the right way. This all should just make for another fantastic season of NBA hoops, and I can’t wait.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Speaking of the Warriors, they have some issues to work through before they can worry about winning another title. But it sounds like they’re on the path to doing just that.
Draymond Green’s discipline for punching Jordan Poole was announced as a fine and not a suspension on Wednesday. Head coach Steve Kerr said Green will re-join the team Thursday and play in their preseason finale Friday.
Some people may be surprised he wasn’t suspended, but as my collegue Bryan Kalbrosky wrote, it was the right call. For one, Green’s teammates wanted him back. But also, he earned the right to be at the ring ceremony ahead of Golden State’s opener.
“This is Green’s fourth ring, and that puts him in rarefied air. Warriors owner Joe Lacob has described this championship as the “most meaningful” that the team has won, too, after their core group recovered from devastating injuries to accomplish it.
But there is also a real possibility this could be Green’s final championship with Golden State. Green has a player option in his contract, and if he does not get an extension, he could very well opt-out and become a free agent.
Green made a mistake, assuredly, but he should be there with his teammates when they are presented with their championship rings. He put in the work, and he should be recognized for his achievement.”
Shootaround
— 10 last-round sleepers to target in fantasy basketball
— Ranking all 30 NBA teams, from least to most watchable
— Zion Williamson credits assistant coach Teresa Witherspoon for saving him from mental breakdowns
— Aren’t you getting bored of the Ben Simmons jokes?
