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Hacksaw’s Monday Bonus Podcast
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“NBA–OPENING NIGHT”
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The changing of the guard in the NBA was completed last year. No longer the Celtics nor the Lakers, but rather the upstart and explosive Oklahoma City Thunder.
What was once Denver and Nikola Jokic or explosive Minnesota, has been replaced by Shea Alexander Gilegous.
Where at one point many people though Houston-or-Dallas and IndianA would emerge, it wound up being OKC.
So now we get to opening night 2025, and there are new faces-new places, and lots of different storylines about who is chasing who. My thoughts:
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OKLAHOMA CITY..68-wins last year, but it felt like they were playing in their own galaxy. SGA, Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and more. A likely repeat team.
BOSTON..Era over with the season ending Achilles injury to Jayson Tatum, plus all those who departed because of salary cap issues.
HOUSTON..On paper, lots of talent, and now you add Kevin Durantr, but can all this talent play together? And there is no Fred VanVleet for the year either. Coach Ime Udoka will have to work some chemistry magic.
SIXERS..Health is the key, so how many games do they get from Embiid..George..Maxey and when do they get McCain back?
SAN ANTONIO..There is no Gregg Popovich, but there is Wembenyama-Fox-Barnes-Vassell and now you add Dylan Harper. Interesting to see how it fits.
KNICKS..Mike Brown and Jalen Brunson and alot of moving parts. Should be better with Tom Thibodeau gone as head coach.
LAKERS..No LeBron to start, but a trimmed down Luka Doncic, a hungry Austin Reaves, and everyone waiting to see what kind of player Deandre Ayton will be in LA.
CLIPPERS…Alot of experience, alot of big games, alot of age. Oldest team in league. Do have a healthy Kawhi Leonard to start the season, but load management has to be part of this year’s mix. Like their depth and experience with names like Harden-Beal-Lopez-Zubac.
MILWAUKEE..Finding the right parts around superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. This time C-Myles Turner comes in as a key contributor.
ATLANTA..A possible break-thru year with Trae Young now linked to Porzingas and Nikell Walker.
DALLAS…They look dangerous but it may take time to get all these guys on the court together…talking Anthony Davis, 1st round pick Cooper Flaggs and the long rehab for Kyrie Irving.
GOLDEN STATE..Might this be the farewell tour for Coach Steve Kerr. Age with Steph Curry, personna with Draymond Green, potential talent with Jon Kuminga and insurance help from Al Horford.
ORLANDO..Been building, maybe it pays off, with Pablo Banchero getting help from Desmond Bane and Kantavious Caldwell Pope to go with their cast of young bigs.
MINNESOTA..Guess the key word is ‘maturity’ and that fits Anthony Edwards, Naz Reid and Julius Randle. Lots of potential. Lots of chances to self destruct too.
CLEVELAND..Big payroll, big young talent, looks like on the brink of getting it done after last year’s playoffs ejection. Mobley-Gardland-Mitchell and they add Lonzo Ball and Thomas Bryant too.
DENVER..Changes around Joker, the deletion of Michael Porter, and the addition of Cam Payne and Jonas Valenciunas. Is it enough?
INDIANA..Hate to say one and done, but with no Tyrese Haliburton or Myles Turner and injuries in camp, not the same team as last spring.
NEW ORLEANS..Make or break year, again, for Zion Williamson, with new leadership from Joe Dumars.
Roll the ball out on the floor. See where the storylines take us.
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