Most Anticipated Story Lines of the 2018-2019 NBA Season

First Team:

1. The Dawn of the Warrior Dynasty

Three chips in four years. That sure sounds like a dynasty, doesn’t it? This is the question the likes of Shannon Sharpe, Stephen A Smith, and Skip Bayless will be debating all season long. The Showtime Lakers won 5 championships in 9 tries between 1980 and 1991. Larry Bird led the Celtics to 3 championships on 5 attempts during the same era, and Bill Russell earned the team 11 rings between ’57 and ’69, losing in the finals only once. The Kobe and Shaq 3-peat spanning from 2000-2002 might be the most compelling reason to hold off on hailing this Warrior team a dynasty, but many will try.

2. Warriors v. Rockets Round 2

“Man, if Chris Paul hadn’t gotten hurt, the Rockets would have been in the finals.” How many times have you heard this since the Western Conference Finals? Too many to count? Me too. Well, this season we should finally get to see these two super teams battle it out. Should make for an exciting re-run.

3. LeBron v. Kobe & LA

Nobody was more shocked than I was when LeBron announced he was going to LA. There are already so many great Lakers, from Magic and Shaq to Kobe! Is there enough room in the city of angels for yet another basketball legacy? The jury is still out. A mural intending to celebrate LeBron’s arrival was vandalized, and fans seem divided. However, this year the Lakers didn’t even make the playoffs, so if LBJ is able to bring Larry home to the Staples Center, the city might roll out the red carpet for the King.

4. Who Owns the East?

Now that Kawhi is a Raptor, the fight for the East is on. Will the Sixers, Celtics, or Raptors have the privilege of being swept by the Warriors in the finals? Currently, there are reports that Kawhi has no desire to be in Toronto, so questions remain about whether or not he will actually play. Trading a franchise player can also seriously shake up a team’s chemistry, and Toronto also has a new head coach. The Celtics will also be finding their feet since Gordon Hayward and Kyrie missed a ton of last season. So maybe it’s the Sixers, who have the most experience playing as a team, who have a slight edge.

5. Resurgence of Lakers Celtics Rivalry?

We were totally gypped last season when it came to what was supposed to be a Cavs/Celtics rivalry. Tickets for the first game where the two teams would face off were over $400, but then IT was sent to LA. And then Kyrie was hurt. By the time the Celtics and the Cavs were matched up in the finals, what could have been one of post-season’s most emotionally charged matchups, became more of a showcase for Boston’s young core, and Cleveland’s struggles. This year, we should finally get to see Kyrie and LeBron battle it out, but this time against an even more thrilling backdrop: the NBA’s favorite rivalry - Boston vs. LA. Hopefully, it’s worth the wait.

Second Team:

1. Summer League/Rookie Hype

As a Knicks fan, I have allowed myself to get way too excited about Kevin Knox’s summer league performance. But doesn’t this happen every year? Cavs fans are losing their minds about Collin Sexton, and the rest of us are wondering how Doncic was the third overall pick. Is Deandre Ayton really going to be that good? And, of course, the sadists are eagerly waiting to find out who will receive the dreaded designation of being a bust.

2. Markelle Fultz

Did someone say bust? It’s brutal when basketball fans mourn the career of a 20-year-old, so let's hope that whatever was going on with Markelle actually was due to a shoulder injury. It kind of seemed like he had a mental breakdown, and I’m sure breaking the face of his team’s star player didn’t help things. Hopefully, Markelle starts the season by reminding everyone why he went first overall last year.

3. Russell Westbrook and the Thunder

Can anyone explain what happened to the Thunder last season? Just over one year ago Russell was accepting his MVP award, and this year, after joining forces with Carmelo Anthony and Paul George, he was knocked out of the first round by the Jazz? If Westbrook wants to protect his legacy from any more damage, he’ll need to put on a major display of dominance throughout the season and post-season. And that might mean letting go of the season triple-double.

4. Mitchell v. Simmons Round Two

Last season, Donovan Mitchell and Ben Simmons were locked in an intense competition for Rookie of the Year, and Ben Simmons came out on top. Since the race was such a close call, we can count on this decision being scrutinized over the course of this regular season. Mitchell’s post-season performance may have outshone Simmons’s, and if Mitchell can keep the Jazz’s head above the water in a stacked Western Conference, he just might prove doubters wrong. Simmons, however, has a better chance of leading his team to the finals, and we all know that basketball reporters often value finals appearances and wins over all other accomplishments.

5. Boogie Cousins

I don’t know if any trade has lead to more NBA fans tweeting “RIP NBA” than the Warrior’s acquisition of Boogie. The 27-year-old center is a four-time All-Star and won gold in Rio with team USA. But, he has a dreaded Achilles injury - the likes of which ended Kobe Bryant’s career. His contract with the Warriors is for one year and $5.3 million, which serves as both a trial run for Boogie, and a chance for the Warriors to sort of get first dibs on him if he is able to recover, since it seems likely some of the Warriors will soon be seeking max contracts and moving on from the team. Will this gamble pay off? Only time will tell.