It might seem like the 2019-20 NBA season just came to an end, but the 2020-21 pre-season is set to start on Friday, December 11. The regular season begins on December 22, and this year’s slate will include just 72 games (down from 82), with the playoffs commencing near the end of May. The play-in tournament will return this year, going from May 18-21.
As you consider your sports betting for NBA futures, take a look at our thoughts on some up-and-coming teams for next year.
NBA News: What to Expect with the Preseason Coming
The Atlanta Hawks had a terrific offseason. They added Bogdan Bogdanovic, Rajon Rondo, Kris Dunn, Danilo Gallinari and Onyeka Okongwu to a team that already had a core of John Collins, Clint Capela and Trae Young. Capela should have plenty of motivation to dominate the paint after getting shipped out of Houston (who went with an ill-conceived small-ball experiment). With a real off-season, the Hawks should have plenty of time to gel as a unit — and in the East, it’s a little easier for up-and-coming teams to crash the top eight.
The Washington Wizards sent John Wall to Houston in exchange for Russell Westbrook, bringing Westbrook back together with Scott Brooks, his former head coach in Oklahoma City. They were with the Thunder for eight seasons and made the postseason five times. Westbrook joins a terrific shooting guard in Bradley Beal, and the team also has deadly shooter Davis Bertans, Thomas Bryant, Rui Hachimura and Deni Avdija. The Wizards made the play-in tournament last season and has a great shot at making the playoff bracket this season.
The Phoenix Suns snapped up Chris Paul, who left Oklahoma City to join Deandre Ayton and Devin Booker. Ayton is a terrific young player inside, and Booker is one of the league’s transcendent scorers. Monty Williams has gotten rave reviews as the team’s coach. Jae Crowder and Mikal Bridges are lockdown defenders on the wings, and Booker and Ayotn have shots to make the All-Star Game.
The New Orleans Pelicans now have Stan Van Gundy at coach, which is an improvement over Alvin Gentry. Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram give the Pelicans a terrific future, and with Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams to attend to the defense, the Pelicans (who also made the play-in tournament last year) could be one of the surprise teams in the West that crash the top eight.
So which players will emerge in the MVP race this season? Entering training camps, Milwaukee Bucks standout Giannis Antetokounmpo was the favorite. Just behind him are Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, LeBron James and James Harden. Harden is still in the midst of trade rumors, although part of Houston’s strategy in shipping Westbrook to Washington in exchange for John Wall was to help convince Harden to stay. Curry has a heavy season ahead of him, as Klay Thompson will miss the entire year. James is entering his 18th season in the NBA and will be 36. Doncic is an interesting candidate, but it remains to be seen how the Dallas Mavericks will progress on defense. They can score with anyone, but they haven’t been able to get enough stops when they need them. The Mavericks made some additions in the draft that are designed to boost their defensive presence, but will it ben enough? Also, the Bucks and Giannis have crumbled in clutch moments over the past few seasons. If Giannis can’t lead his team through those signature games, is he really the MVP? We will see what the season holds.
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