2026 NBA Season

[Harkorede]

The new season feels a little bit refreshing, because I believe there are no clear contenders this season. Normally, I could even pin point the finals of each conference let alone the winner, I knew which teams will play in the finals and so forth, very rare cases where that doesn't happen.

Last season was the first season where I didn't know either of finalists, I usually get at least one right for the past 20+ years, so I have to say it was the very first season where I saw two finalists who I gave absolutely no possibility to.

I'd agree that last season, I also didn't have any team I could predict to have won the Championship, not even the conference finals, but while there also new real contenders building up this season, in my opinion there are already valid candidates for the title, or for the lack of better words the teams that I believe should be competing aren't looking strong enough or deep enough to make the run. Just like the NBA general managers have majorly voted, I really can see past the Boston Celtics retaining their championship for this years, no other team seem of worthy competition, the closest probably would be the New York Knicks with their new addition and how deep the roster appear, other usual household names are either lacking the depth or going through some partial rebuild that would surely limit, although a lot would still be determined by how fresh and healthy each team can be down the stretch.


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[SquallLeonhart]

Scotty wasn't terrible last season, he had 12 points on 20 games, which wasn't bad averages, and I believe they saw some potential in him as well. Kid is young, he can still improve vastly, and within 2-3 seasons we can see what type of player he will become. I am not saying he is going to eb great or anything like that, but we are going to see this have a big change without a doubt, I believe we are going to end up with Scotty being either a great starter level player in 3 seasons, or see if this wasn't a good deal.

Teams can't find star players out of nowhere, so they are hoping to grow their own natural talent for starter positions around the stars. Memphis already has Ja Morant for example, they can't get another one as talented as him, but they can get talented starters around him. This is where Scotty type of players come in place, they have some others there too, not all stars but starters who can be placed around the stars which is great.

[karabiber]

The Sacramento Kings have struggled a lot in this preseason, going 0 for 4. In general, the Kings are having big problems on defense, allowing too many points per game. Also, the Kings gave their opponents a high shooting percentage. On the offensive side of the Sacramento Kings, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis stand out, but their three point percentage is very low. The LA Clippers, on the other hand, have been more successful in preseason games.

With victories over the Nets, Trail Blazers and Mavericks, the Clippers are especially effective on defense. They are allowing their opponents few points per game and have managed to keep the opponent's shooting percentage low. The Clippers' offense is led by James Harden, Norman Powell and Bones Hyland. The team has a low accuracy from behind the three point line, but their overall offensive efficiency is better than their opponents. In this matchup, I'm going with the Clippers.

[blockman]

Anyone: What can you say about ESPN's analytics and prediction of 1% chance for the Spurs to reach the playoffs?

This is a very nasty prediction as if Spurs doesn’t have Wemby. I think that prediction is too low but I understand where they get it since the only addition they have right now is Chris Paul and some young players that still lack experience.

It’s very hard for Spurs to enter the playoffs but if Wemby- Paul tag team becomes fruitful I think nothing is impossible for them. The only weakness of Spurs before is they don’t capitalize on Wemby since their point guard doesn’t want to give the ball to Wemby.

With addition of Paul, I think Wemby can dominate the paint with a good assist.

That is what I am thinking about the team, CP3 and Wemby is expected to do good on this season. I guess with this prediction, it's about the last season on how the team went. It was a bad season but it's a way to shape up Wemby for the upcoming seasons. I think that this is one of the teams that we can wait for to grow up and they can dominate even those teams that have got a lot of titles already.

[passwordnow]

I've seen a huge statement from Giannis and I think that he's ready for everything right now. The main front of Milwaukee Bucks saying this seems to have some advanced thinking of any potential thing that might happen for him in the league. Even though he's the main man of the team, he's having this idea that if they fail this season, he might be traded.

“If we don’t win this year, would you get fired?” Antetokounmpo asks with a wry smile to his co-worker. “Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, '(What) if this year doesn’t go well?’ Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody...

“On a serious note, this is the job. It’s the profession that we’re in. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us. It was the same way with the previous coaching staff, and the year before, the players before. … If you don’t do a good enough job, you’re out.”

[OgNasty]

I've seen a huge statement from Giannis and I think that he's ready for everything right now. The main front of Milwaukee Bucks saying this seems to have some advanced thinking of any potential thing that might happen for him in the league. Even though he's the main man of the team, he's having this idea that if they fail this season, he might be traded.

“If we don’t win this year, would you get fired?” Antetokounmpo asks with a wry smile to his co-worker. “Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, '(What) if this year doesn’t go well?’ Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody...

“On a serious note, this is the job. It’s the profession that we’re in. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us. It was the same way with the previous coaching staff, and the year before, the players before. … If you don’t do a good enough job, you’re out.”

What he doesn’t say is that he’s the reason he’ll be traded. Certainly the Bucks would give him whatever he wanted to keep him. What Giannis is really saying is that he won’t sign an extension with the Bucks so if they don’t win it all this year then they will be forced to trade him to a team he wants to play for, or lose him for nothing.

[passwordnow]

I've seen a huge statement from Giannis and I think that he's ready for everything right now. The main front of Milwaukee Bucks saying this seems to have some advanced thinking of any potential thing that might happen for him in the league. Even though he's the main man of the team, he's having this idea that if they fail this season, he might be traded.

“If we don’t win this year, would you get fired?” Antetokounmpo asks with a wry smile to his co-worker. “Do you have it in the back of your mind, like, '(What) if this year doesn’t go well?’ Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live. This is the world we’re living in. It’s everybody...

“On a serious note, this is the job. It’s the profession that we’re in. At any given moment, if you don’t succeed, that might be it for us. It was the same way with the previous coaching staff, and the year before, the players before. … If you don’t do a good enough job, you’re out.”

What he doesn’t say is that he’s the reason he’ll be traded. Certainly the Bucks would give him whatever he wanted to keep him. What Giannis is really saying is that he won’t sign an extension with the Bucks so if they don’t win it all this year then they will be forced to trade him to a team he wants to play for, or lose him for nothing.

Exactly. There was a rumor before that he really wants out of the Bucks but the team just want to safekeep him and gives the deal the he wants. I guess he's no longer into that frontman thing and he just want another chip for himself. Another bargain deal when he's out of the team is if he comes handy with his superstar brother, Thanasis. So, that's going to be buy one, take one for the next team that he'll be in.
Having these words said by him, the management while focusing on the current season should find another player to groom as their next frontrunner.

[wheelz1200]

The Grizzlies will probably have to be cautious with their stars giving how lucky they were last season with persistent injuries to their core players, although the signs have been really positive this preseason, but there is still a shadow of doubt hovering around how healthy the squad would be, meaning they likely would need all the hands they can get going forward.

Edey has slotted right into the team seamlessly and perfectly and the other new additions have been bright as well, I believe Kawamura would sure get his chances on the Grizzlies roster.

Don't get fooled by summer league and preseason.  The regular season is much different and the regulars will mostly get all the playing time.  Rookies mostly don't get a lot of time on the floor with a team that has high expectations of themselves.  Especially rookies like edey.  He is still slow and will get beat up down low with the lack of his athleticism.  He will be fine but he will be slow to get playing time I think.

I agree there will be drastic changes to minutes distribution from what we see in the Pre-season from these teams, however I'm particular about Memphis, they don't have the luxury of a true center except if they switch too Jaren Jackson Jr or Brandon Clarke, Clarke looks sharp already just returning from a long term absence himself, while Jaren Jackson is still struggling with an issue as well, which is why Edey I believe should get good playing minutes rather soon than later, but we'll see I guess.

Yeah I mean I get it, if there are open holes on the team then I can see edey getting pressed into playing time.  I'm not hating on the guy but he is a classic, destroy 18 year old kids in college and can't handle real men at center in the NBA.  The offers nothing on the outside so he will end up clogging the pain where the other centers can pack it in and leave him alone if he floats outside.  Yet not dominant enough to not habe to worry about playing outside.

[danherbias07]

The Sacramento Kings have struggled a lot in this preseason, going 0 for 4. In general, the Kings are having big problems on defense, allowing too many points per game. Also, the Kings gave their opponents a high shooting percentage. On the offensive side of the Sacramento Kings, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis stand out, but their three point percentage is very low. The LA Clippers, on the other hand, have been more successful in preseason games.

With victories over the Nets, Trail Blazers and Mavericks, the Clippers are especially effective on defense. They are allowing their opponents few points per game and have managed to keep the opponent's shooting percentage low. The Clippers' offense is led by James Harden, Norman Powell and Bones Hyland. The team has a low accuracy from behind the three point line, but their overall offensive efficiency is better than their opponents. In this matchup, I'm going with the Clippers.

The chemistry with DeRozan is not working yet but I won't count the preseason. There's a chance they will change their pace when the regular season starts. It's true that their 3-point shooting will get worse because they added another mid-range specialist in DeRozan and Fox has the same talent which means this might be a real hard adjustments for them.

Well, the Clippers are truly strong even without Kawhi Leonard yet. The mix of veterans and young players seems to be working out pretty well for them. Kevin Porter Jr. has been playing well for them too and their bench got deeper, especially in the defensive area with Batum and Jones Jr as two of the defensive players against backcourt players. Yeah, the Clippers might win this one and I think I will also put my bet on them with just -1.5 on the handicap.

[Yaunfitda]

Any chance that Grizzlies going to extend Yuki Kawamura's contract?

It's really hard to say though, maybe he was just another experiment by Grizzlies to see how he will fit and for sure he made us a fan of him with his passes and he can shoot. But as we can see, they have Ja Morant that will be their point guard, even Marcus Smart can be also do that thing, also Scotty Pippen Jr. that they have sign already.

As for the Kings struggled, yes, it seems that they can't find their grooved as early as pre-season and this could be a bad sign for the team. Last season, at the beginning, it was like they could be running for a playoff specially after the previous run against wherein they just feel short because of last of experience. So when last season started, they really are doing good in the first half. But after the All-Star Break, they've struggled and it seems that it is still continuing. Hopefully, they can get back all together as they have DeMar DeRozan.

[Dave1]

The Sacramento Kings have struggled a lot in this preseason, going 0 for 4. In general, the Kings are having big problems on defense, allowing too many points per game. Also, the Kings gave their opponents a high shooting percentage. On the offensive side of the Sacramento Kings, De'Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis stand out, but their three point percentage is very low. The LA Clippers, on the other hand, have been more successful in preseason games.

With victories over the Nets, Trail Blazers and Mavericks, the Clippers are especially effective on defense. They are allowing their opponents few points per game and have managed to keep the opponent's shooting percentage low. The Clippers' offense is led by James Harden, Norman Powell and Bones Hyland. The team has a low accuracy from behind the three point line, but their overall offensive efficiency is better than their opponents. In this matchup, I'm going with the Clippers.

The chemistry with DeRozan is not working yet but I won't count the preseason. There's a chance they will change their pace when the regular season starts. It's true that their 3-point shooting will get worse because they added another mid-range specialist in DeRozan and Fox has the same talent which means this might be a real hard adjustments for them.

I do not think that it will be a problem with DeRozan and Fox, they have a lot, DeRozan is more of a Keegan Murray type of player, a power forward. So Fox can remain as their point guard, shooting guard while DeRozan on the wing. Perhaps we should give them enough time to blend and find their chemistry. Sacramento Kings are a very strong team and they are complete. Even second stringers like Malik Monk, and again Keegan Murray is a potential threat to any teams.

Well, the Clippers are truly strong even without Kawhi Leonard yet. The mix of veterans and young players seems to be working out pretty well for them. Kevin Porter Jr. has been playing well for them too and their bench got deeper, especially in the defensive area with Batum and Jones Jr as two of the defensive players against backcourt players. Yeah, the Clippers might win this one and I think I will also put my bet on them with just -1.5 on the handicap.

I see Kevin Porter Jr really blending well with the veterans in Clippers, and Jones Jr too, it seems that he has something to proved specially when they played Dallas the last time as he shows his power again. It's already a good handicap at 1-.5 for them against the struggling Kings.

[LogitechMouse]

Any chance that Grizzlies going to extend Yuki Kawamura's contract?

It's really hard to say though, maybe he was just another experiment by Grizzlies to see how he will fit and for sure he made us a fan of him with his passes and he can shoot. But as we can see, they have Ja Morant that will be their point guard, even Marcus Smart can be also do that thing, also Scotty Pippen Jr. that they have sign already.

He might've played really well during the pre-season, but the Grizzlies right now are full of guards. Pippen Jr. Morant, Smart. On the other hand, with his performance during the pre-season, there might be a chance that they will put him into the G-league affiliate team which is the Memphis Hustle. The problem that I'm seeing with Kawamura is his height because he's just too small right now in NBA's standards. There's a high chance that players will just shoot at him face-to-face.
I wonder why nobody is talking about this one, but this is a big news IMO. Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely because of the same injury - his knee and it got inflamed. LINK

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard will be out indefinitely to start the season with right knee inflammation, reports ESPN.

I don't know if it's just me, but the LA curse still lives and has been for a very long time. Bad decisions after bad decisions. Bad performance after bad performance.
- The lob city which is for me one of the best rosters of the Clippers all-time didn't even clinch the Finals. After that, they traded all of their key players.
- Traded almost all of their picks, players, swaps for Paul George a few years ago to the Thunder.
- Blew a 3-1 series lead in the bubble then fired Coach Rivers.
- Traded Paul George during the off-season, and extended Kawhi's contract, which is for me, the worst thing that they can do.

How can they extend the contract of somebody that's injury-prone and can't even contribute to the playoffs. Like seriously, what's Steve Ballmer is thinking when he's doing this. What are your opinions with regards to this one? With Kawhi sitting "indefinitely", there's a chance that we might not see him for a quarter of the season.

[TravelMug]

^^ I don't know if we have to believed a curse, but we have seen the start of Clippers with CP3 and Blake and DJ but it still feel short during that era. And probably that was the closest that they can get to a championship team. But after that they got to rebuild again with Kawhi, coming from a championship stint in Toronto, however, his nagging injuries started to show and up to know we haven't seen Kawhi's contribution to the Clippers. Now they let go of Paul George already and teams are loaded with superstar and yet they can't get over with the playoff. Maybe they will have go rebuilt again and let go of Kawhi if I'm Ballmer. He has spent too much money and yet they can't see the results in the last 4 years or so.

[freedomgo]

^^ I don't know if we have to believed a curse, but we have seen the start of Clippers with CP3 and Blake and DJ but it still feel short during that era. And probably that was the closest that they can get to a championship team.

That wasn’t the closest they got. It was in 2021 when the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals, but they fell short because Kawhi Leonard got injured. Even so, reaching that stage was already a big success for them. This team seems cursed with injuries, and now, once again, it’s been announced that Leonard is out indefinitely with the same injury.

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely with knee injury

[AHOYBRAUSE]

^^ I don't know if we have to believed a curse, but we have seen the start of Clippers with CP3 and Blake and DJ but it still feel short during that era. And probably that was the closest that they can get to a championship team.

That wasn’t the closest they got. It was in 2021 when the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals, but they fell short because Kawhi Leonard got injured. Even so, reaching that stage was already a big success for them. This team seems cursed with injuries, and now, once again, it’s been announced that Leonard is out indefinitely with the same injury.

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely with knee injury

Seriously, Kawhi at this point has become a running gag in this league. Never showing up, never staying healthy, criticizing his teammates while not being able to help the team in any sort. And now this, gone from the team again, just like every season.
Clippers must be kicking themselves for paying this man while letting PG13 go for nothing to the 76ers, it's just hilarious!

Lucky for him he got this contract because the next one should not be for any high salary amount whatsoever. His career is just like the shoes he advertises ( new balance ), underwhelming.

[yahoo62278]

^^ I don't know if we have to believed a curse, but we have seen the start of Clippers with CP3 and Blake and DJ but it still feel short during that era. And probably that was the closest that they can get to a championship team.

That wasn’t the closest they got. It was in 2021 when the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals, but they fell short because Kawhi Leonard got injured. Even so, reaching that stage was already a big success for them. This team seems cursed with injuries, and now, once again, it’s been announced that Leonard is out indefinitely with the same injury.

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely with knee injury

Seriously, Kawhi at this point has become a running gag in this league. Never showing up, never staying healthy, criticizing his teammates while not being able to help the team in any sort. And now this, gone from the team again, just like every season.
Clippers must be kicking themselves for paying this man while letting PG13 go for nothing to the 76ers, it's just hilarious!

Lucky for him he got this contract because the next one should not be for any high salary amount whatsoever. His career is just like the shoes he advertises ( new balance ), underwhelming.

Kawhi is just a joke period. He had 1 or 2 good seasons in Toronto and since coming to the paper clips he has played 229 of 410 games. That's just under 56% of the games and 100% of the contract paid. I's be pissed of I was the clippers owner and I wasted all the money on a guy and got nothing in return.

[Baofeng]

^^ I don't know if we have to believed a curse, but we have seen the start of Clippers with CP3 and Blake and DJ but it still feel short during that era. And probably that was the closest that they can get to a championship team.

That wasn’t the closest they got. It was in 2021 when the Clippers made it to the Western Conference Finals, but they fell short because Kawhi Leonard got injured. Even so, reaching that stage was already a big success for them. This team seems cursed with injuries, and now, once again, it’s been announced that Leonard is out indefinitely with the same injury.

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely with knee injury

Seriously, Kawhi at this point has become a running gag in this league. Never showing up, never staying healthy, criticizing his teammates while not being able to help the team in any sort. And now this, gone from the team again, just like every season.
Clippers must be kicking themselves for paying this man while letting PG13 go for nothing to the 76ers, it's just hilarious!

Lucky for him he got this contract because the next one should not be for any high salary amount whatsoever. His career is just like the shoes he advertises ( new balance ), underwhelming.

Kawhi is just a joke period. He had 1 or 2 good seasons in Toronto and since coming to the paper clips he has played 229 of 410 games. That's just under 56% of the games and 100% of the contract paid. I's be pissed of I was the clippers owner and I wasted all the money on a guy and got nothing in return.

Yeah, that's the thing with Kawhi's career, and I would say that he is lucky that he won a ring with the Raptors after moving out of San Antonio. How lucky can you be that season when you hit that winning 3 in the corner to close out the Sixers. And then maybe the Raptors has the feeling that something is not right after that season with them and so they didn't offer Kawhi anything if I remember it correctly.

And then him and PG together, it was highly touted and every Clipper fans are happy and expectations are high. And then he got injured with the Clippers, delivery was short and even they say in the beginning that they have put a lot of effort in the rehabilitation of his injuries, there are even image of how huge his legs has gotten to protect his achilles and knees, it was not enough last season as he just played not even half, and now at the Olympics, he give us his place because of the reports of another supposedly injury. So yeah, he should really retire now, in my opinion. He has been paid well by Steve Ballmer and he should be happy with that.

[passwordnow]

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely with knee injury

At least that the Clippers knew it too early that he won't be able to play and they're not in jeopardy like in important games that they need to win in the playoffs.  

There is no discussion yet for a superstar in the making, Dalton Knecht. He's made 35 points and turned the game aganst the Phoenix Suns and got that win. It's lovely to hear it from the commentators: "Knecht, connects!".

[Oasisman]

Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard out indefinitely with knee injury

There is no discussion yet for a superstar in the making, Dalton Knecht. He's made 35 points and turned the game aganst the Phoenix Suns and got that win. It's lovely to hear it from the commentators: "Knecht, connects!".

The kid has a lot of potential. He'd be a good go-to-guy for the Lakers in terms of 3pt shooters. However, it's a bit difficult for him to shine and become a superstar with LeBron and AD being in the same team.
Well,I hope the Lakers would keep these young talents they have as preparation for rebuilding when LeBron retires and when AD decides to leave.
I personally think, if the Lakers stays healthy and be more consistent this season, they'd be once again a playoff contender, not a team who's going to struggle to get a guaranteed playoff spot again.

[Finestream]

The kid has a lot of potential. He'd be a good go-to-guy for the Lakers in terms of 3pt shooters. However, it's a bit difficult for him to shine and become a superstar with LeBron and AD being in the same team.

To shine? Sure, that’s possible. But being the leader of the team? That’s not going to happen. He needs to show consistency, not just one good game. Take a look at Reaves, he was just an ordinary Lakers player, but slowly, he worked his way up to being a starter. He may not be as popular as LeBron or AD, but he’s achieved a lot with the team, even representing them during the FIBA World Cup. That’s the kind of steady progress it takes.