NBA Returns: Why We Missed Basketball’s Greatest Show

The NBA Is Back: Why We Missed Basketball’s Greatest Show

The start of the NBA season always feels like a celebration for fans of “the greatest game on earth.” The euphoria hits hard, making you want to consume as many games and news updates as possible until you’re completely saturated. What’s particularly exciting is dusting off those tools that gathered cobwebs during the offseason—the trusted resources that help you stay connected to your favorite league.

Changing Shoes Mid-Season: The Art of NBA Adaptation

Many American experts argue that the NBA’s 82-game season is too long, leaving players vulnerable to injuries throughout the regular season. The toll isn’t just on the basketball players—modern viewers also struggle to maintain focus on league happenings for over six months. This reality forces fans to adopt one of two strategies: either overreact to every minor development, blowing things out of proportion, or pick a perspective and stick with it through thick and thin.

Take the Golden State Warriors, for example. They finished last season strong, giving fans optimism heading into the new campaign. Those hopes remained intact over the summer—Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler complement each other beautifully, with Al Horford emerging as an X-factor. Now fans face a dilemma: either Golden State is a formidable force again, or they’re too old and destined to break down eventually, ending their championship aspirations. The smart approach? Change your shoes according to the weather.

The Indiana Pacers started the season with five consecutive losses, suggesting it’s time for a footwear change if you thought the team could remain competitive without Tyrese Haliburton. As for the Portland Trail Blazers, you might need multiple pairs: the team had an impressive second half last season, but the head coach’s arrest could derail all prospects. If not, Thiago Splitter might deserve Coach of the Year consideration.

Of course, you could avoid making judgments altogether and adopt a “wait-and-see” approach. But where’s the fun in that?

Reading the Tea Leaves: NBA Early Season Predictions

Two superstars in particular appear somewhat mismatched with their current NBA teams. Joel Embiid seems to have lost his bounce and moves around the court with noticeable difficulty, making his contributions more about past achievements than current impact. Despite this, the Philadelphia 76ers opened the season with four consecutive wins.

Bill Simmons once proposed an interesting concept—the “Ewing Theory”—describing situations where a team’s leader either changes teams or gets injured, yet the team plays better without him. This happened with the Denver Nuggets after parting ways with Carmelo Anthony. Could the same be true for Embiid and the Sixers?

If rookie VJ Edgecombe continues scoring 20+ points per game, Philadelphia’s rotation might develop a new identity focused on their backcourt. Without Embiid, Tyrese Maxey appears more comfortable, Edgecombe shows impressive fearlessness, and Quentin Grimes provides excellent production off the bench. The center position could be filled by committee with players who don’t demand the ball and are willing to battle in the paint, much like Adem Bona and Andre Drummond have been doing.

Against the Charlotte Hornets, this approach demonstrated its potential, suggesting that sometimes subtraction can lead to addition when it comes to team chemistry and performance.