Article written by Brett Knight originally appears on Forbes
We’re one day into the 2018-19 NBA regular season, and while 1,228 games remain, the outcome already seems assured. Just ask anyone: Another season just means another championship run for the Golden State Warriors.
Most teams will not even sniff a title, true. But even if the Warriors are destined for another ring—and let’s not be so sure they are—there’s no reason to be bored! Plenty of interesting story lines remain, for both the sharks and the minnows, as we leave behind the rumors and speculation of a wild off-season. Even the Warriors may have a few surprises for us yet.
We on the Forbes SportsMoney team turned to our network of contributors for insight on what to watch for as the season gets going. Here are some of the biggest outstanding questions across the league:
What do the Warriors have to do to cement their place as the modern NBA’s greatest dynasty?
With a fifth-straight appearance in the NBA Finals and a fourth title in five years, Golden State would be in territory last occupied by the 1960s Boston Celtics. But to indisputably surpass teams like Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, Magic Johnson’s Los Angeles Lakers and Tim Duncan’s San Antonio Spurs, they’ll need to continue their run. That could be particularly difficult given the luxury-tax payments on the horizon. Their new arena will help them afford some of those bills, but either way, Kevin Durant’s future will loom over the team. A breakout season by Quinn Cook could give the top-heavy Warriors more options, particularly with Patrick McCaw’s situation still unresolved.
The Celtics will have to figure out how to integrate Gordon Hayward.2018 ADAM GLANZMAN
How will the Boston Celtics’ talented pieces jell?
The Celtics’ roster is so deep that they have no obvious moves to make. (Trade Terry Rozier, you say? Don’t even think about it.) With the path through the Eastern Conference suddenly looking a bit easier, the Celtics even believe they have enough to unseat the Warriors, which would help them keep pace with their NFL and MLB counterparts in Boston. Ultimately, though, coach Brad Stevens may not have enough playing timeto spread around, and the Celtics will have to be careful as they re-integrate Gordon Hayward after stellar seasons by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Can Markelle Fultz bounce back from a rocky rookie year and help the Philadelphia 76ers reach their potential?
The 76ers enter the season with their highest hopes since perhaps 2001, but nothing is guaranteed, and if the team was unaware of that before, Tuesday’s season-opening loss to the Celtics offered a striking reminder. New assistant coach Monty Williams and new general manager Elton Brand certainly have wisdom to share on that front. But beyond health—always a knock-on-wood proposition—the biggest wild card appears to be Fultz, the top overall pick in the 2017 draft, whose hall pass will expire soon. His development could dictate the direction of the entire organization.
Can the Houston Rockets continue to push the Warriors the way they did last season?
James Harden and Chris Paul surprised plenty of observers by clicking from the get-go last year, and barring injury, they should keep the Rockets in the NBA’s top tier. Now it’s title or bust. Paul, at 33, will likely only decline from here, however, and the Rockets’ payroll raises questions for the future. Luckily, the Rockets have multiple paths to improvement. Eric Gordon could bolster the starting lineup. Clint Capela should continue to improve his free-throw shooting and his stamina, even if he’s probably already reached his ceiling on the glass and protecting the rim. Marquese Chriss could flourish in a defined role. Even Carmelo Anthony might contribute in a way he didn’t during an awful season with the Oklahoma City Thunder. And outside the organization, the Rockets could look to the Minnesota Timberwolves for reinforcements—but they might want to wait on any Jimmy Butler trade.
With LeBron James, the Lakers are the talk of the NBA.2018 GETTY IMAGES
What pieces can the Lakers put around LeBron James?
Signing James was the coup of the off-season, but this is the hard part. General managers around the league have a dim view of the Lakers’ young core, and the starting lineup may leave you scratching your head. Brandon Ingram is starting to seize the spotlight, though, and Kyle Kuzma could build on his strong rookie season. If the Lakers decide they need to move up their timetable to support James, who in December turns 34—around the age when Kobe Bryant’s rapid decline began—they might be able to pry away a certain All-Star big man. But if things go awry, coach Luke Walton may find himself on the hot seat. Regardless, the Lakers will remain the talk of the NBA as long as they have James.
Which of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ players are part of the long-term plan to replace LeBron James?
For the second time in recent years, after a James-led stretch of success, the Cavaliers find themselves NBA afterthoughts. Despite making noise to the contrary, they will be overhauling their identity with little in the way of on-court expectations: Vegas oddsmakers project the Cavaliers to win only 31.5 games. Larry Nance Jr. could seize a big role, and David Nwaba deserves a shot. George Hill could aid in the development of rookie point guard Collin Sexton, and Kevin Love will be a steadying hand (just don’t expect the return of the Timberwolves version). Kyle Korver, though, may be most valuable as a trade asset.
Nikola Jokic will be the fulcrum of the Nuggets’ offense.2018 GETTY IMAGES
Are the Denver Nuggets really on the verge of a breakthrough?
The Nuggets’ redesign of their court and their uniforms is more than a cosmetic makeover; it’s a ceremonial anointing of a new era of Nuggets basketball, built around a playmaking offense that has the team thinking big. Center Nikola Jokic will be the fulcrum, and a contender for all-NBA honors, but Jamal Murray could be the breakout star, assuming he continues his steady trajectory on offenseand gets better—a lot better—on defense. (The whole team needs to be better on defense, really.) Malik Beasley, Juancho Hernangomez and Isaiah Thomas—yes, that Isaiah Thomas—could contribute, and the fans should find their way back as the team looks to end a five-year playoff drought. But the stretch run will be brutal.
Can the Portland Trail Blazers overcome uncertainty on the roster and with their ownership?
The Trail Blazers are still smarting from a first-round playoff sweep in April, and the development of big men Jusuf Nurkic and Meyers Leonard, as well as better passing after a historically bad season for assists, could help them get back on track. That said, questions remain for the role players around Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and the death on Monday of the beloved owner Paul Allen will loom over the season. With the ownership situation now uncertain, can general manager Neil Olshey still get a trade approved?
How will the Utah Jazz manage the high expectations?
The Jazz followed a 51-31 campaign led by Gordon Hayward with a 48-34 season without him, finishing on a 32-13 run. Coach Quin Snyder and his players are doing their best to block out the noise, but fans’ hopes are high, particularly around Donovan Mitchell, who followed a spectacular rookie season with a summer largely spent in Utah, endearing himself to the locals with his work in the community.
Gregg Popovich has made 21 straight postseason appearances.2018 GETTY IMAGES
Is this the season the Spurs finally miss the playoffs?
Gregg Popovich has defied the conventional wisdom with 21-straight postseason appearances despite few high draft picks. But playing in the stacked Western Conference, the Spurs are no lock. With Kawhi Leonard now a Toronto Raptor, the Spurs suddenly have questions on the perimeter, and with both Dejounte Murray and Derrick White now injured, the team is facing a worst-case scenario at point guard. The Spurs will need instant offensive chemistry between DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge.
How soon will this off-season pay dividends for the Dallas Mavericks?
The Mavericks made some big moves over the summer, drafting Luka Doncic, a full-bodied force with the vision of a point guard, and signing DeAndre Jordan, an elite rebounder. That gives them interesting pieces to put around the high-flying Dennis Smith Jr. We’ll just have to see how those pieces coalesce, and whether they can find the consistency that eluded them in the preseason. In the meantime, fans can still enjoy the wizardry of Dirk Nowitzki—assuming he doesn’t retire.
Can the New York Knicks find a franchise player to pair with Kristaps Porzingis?
Porzingis’ recovery from a knee injury will hold much of Knicks fans’ attention, but equally important for the team’s long-term ambitions will be the search for a second star. The best bet on the current roster may be rookie Kevin Knox, who says he is expecting nothing less than a Rookie of the Year Award. Beyond that—and the end of the Joakim Noah era—there may not be much reason for optimism this season. But the Knicks could be a force in free agency next summer, and a number of players who could fill their hole at point guard should be available.
Will the Brooklyn Nets consider the season a failure if they don’t reach the playoffs?
Don’t laugh. After years of disappointment, including a 28-54 campaign last season, the Nets could actually contend for a spot in the postseason and position themselves as a landing spot for one or even two max-level players in free agency. (It helps that they are out from under the shadow of their disastrous 2013 trade with the Celtics.) But if the team is out of the playoff race come February, general manager Sean Marks will have to decide whether the young players’ development is going well enough to keep the core intact.
Jabari Parker is a gifted scorer, but signing him was a gamble for the Bulls.ASSOCIATED PRESS
What will the Bulls get out of Jabari Parker?
The Bulls used their remaining cap space over the summer to sign Parkerto a two-year, $40 million deal. He’s always been a gifted scorer, but he has health concerns, and he struggled on both ends of the floor with Chicago in the preseason. There are lineup issues, too, and Parker won’t help himself by pouting.
Can Myles Turner make an All-Star leap for the Indiana Pacers?
Coming off a surprise 48-34 season, the Pacers signed Turner to a four-year extension worth up to $80 million in new money on extension deadline day. This is a big investment in a big man who possesses ideal skills for the modern game, but it doesn’t come without risk for the Pacers. Turner may have to find something new to bring to the table.
