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“NBA-3 POINT SHOTS-AIR BALLS”
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Hoops are here, the opening week of the NBA season.
A look at who is hot-who is not as they tip off the basketball season.

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LAKERS…New coach-new playbook-new philosophy.  Usually you talk about a new player being the key to a team’s success.  This time is it new coach JJ Redick, his game plan, his style, and the questions about his leadership?  They want to shoot alot of 3’s.  They need to play interior defense.  Is he in over his head as a first time coach?  Will the superstars buy into his theory?  Is Dalton Knecht the real deal as a 3-point shooter?  Can they find consistency in Rui Hachimura’s game?  Will Bronny James become a distraction?

CLIPPERS…Hate to say the season is over before the season has even started.  Kawhi Leonard has no timetable to return.  There is no Paul George in LA any longer.  Russell Westbrook is gone.  What’s left behind is an aging James Harden, an established center and a collection of backup young players and journeyman off the bench guys.  Can you sadly say ‘lottery pick season’?

OKLAHOMA CITY..Their time has arrived.  Shai Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams and the importation of Alex Caruso-Isaiah Hartenstein.

DALLAS..Can Luca Doncis stay away from the calf issues?  Can Kyrie Irving be a better fit?  Does Klay Thompson make a huge difference?  What will they be like with young developing Derek Lively and Daniel Gafford?

SUNS..New coach in Mike Budenholzer.  Can he make Devin Booker-Kevin Durant-Brad Bel and newcomer Tyus Jones fit?

MINNESOTA..Looks like a disjointed roster after the Karl Anthony Towns trade.  How will Julius Randle-Rudy Gobeert-Anthony Edwards fit?  What is the impact of Donte DiVincenzo and Terrance Shannon?

DENVER..Hard to believe a championship team is dropping, but they still have Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, plus young players Julian Strawthen and Christian Braun, and they add Russell Westbrook.

HOUSTON..They look they are ready to break loose.  A great collection of young talent, but is this roster led by Jalen Green-Auren Thompsoin-Alp Sengun-Jabari Smith just too young to hold up to the rigors of an 80-game schedule?

MILWAUKEE..Need to keep Giannis Antetokounmpo-Damian Lillard-Khris Middleton healthy.  Good offseason deals for role players Taurean Prince-Gary Trent.

NEW ORLEANS..Zion Williamson may move to center full time, but he has found his career now.  They add Dejountae Murray, who joins Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and Brandon Ingram.  The Pelicans look like they are loaded.

SAN ANTONIO..It will be more than Vic Wembenyama, with the addition of 1st round pick Stephon Castle, Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul.  There is a depth problem there.

GOLDEN STATE..Steph Curry and Draymond Green are heading to the sunset of their career.  Will Jon Kuminga-Moses Moody-Brandon Podzumiski begin the transition?  Did Buddy Hield’s arrival add firepower to the offense?

SACRAMENTO..They have been building, and now you add DeMar DeRozan to a team led by D’Aaron Fox-Damonte Sabonis-Malike Monk and young star Keegan Murray.

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BOSTON..The beast in the East is a year older but they are anchored by the stars Tatum-Brown-Porzingas, the fast development of Derrick White, and the experienced  Jrue Holiday-Al Horford.

CLEVELAND..A pretty good depth chart led by Donovan Mitchell-Darius Garland-Jarett Allen-Evan Mobley.  Can they make the next move up?

KNICKS..Does the chemistry work and fit?  Karl Anthony Towns-Mikal Bridges come on board to play with Jalen Brunson-Josh Hart and OG Anunoby..

76ers..Paul George arrives but is injured.  Joel Embiid has a history of knee problems.  Tyreek Maxey was so explosive last year.  Health is the key in Philly.

ORLANDO..Pay attention to this young roster, Pablo Banchero-Franz Wagner-Jalen Suggs and the glue guard Kantavious Caldwell-Pope.

INDIANA..Arrived last year and made big statements with its shooting core, Pascal Siakam-Ty Haliburton and TJ McConnell.

MIAMI..Seems like a volatile roster, Jimmy Butler, in his final season before free agency, teaming with Bam Adebajo and young players Jaime Jacquez-Duncan Robinson.  What does Pat Riley do next?

ATLANTA..They shuffled away guys like Murray and Collins. In comes high draft pick Zac Risacher to join Trae Murphy-Dyson Daniels.  Do they have enough?

MEMPHIS..Has Ja Morant learned from all the adversity he had last year, on the court-off the court?  They have Dez Bane-Jaren Jackson and the reports on the play of rookie Zach Edey have been excellent.

TORONTO..Leads the list of have-nots, led by young star Scottie Barnes.
WASHINGTON..1st round pick Alex Sarr comes from France-joining a (15-67) team
PORTLAND..Scottie Henderson and young guys trying to fix (21-61)
CHARLOTTE..Can LaMelo Ball stay healthy?
BROOKLYN..Ben Simmons needs to prove himself-but this looks like a tank job.
DETROIT..Cade Cunningham has help- with Tobias Harris-Malik Beasley-coming
UTAH..Is there enough help for Laurie Markkanen and John Collins?
CHICAGO..Lonzo Ball health-Josh Giddey-Patrick Williams-Zach LaVine-can it fit?

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