Richard Imossi, Staff Writer
The 2014-2015 NBA season is something that numerous Americans are eagerly anticipating. This year, we will see star players returning from long injuries (Derrick Rose and Kobe Bryant), players suiting up for their former team (LeBron James), and rookies taking the league by storm. Many teams bolstered their rosters in the offseason, hoping to gain an edge in the race for the championship. The upcoming season looks to be especially exciting as the shake-up in team personnel and return of key players leaves the NBA championship up for grabs.
The Cleveland Cavaliers thrived in the offseason by adding more all star talent to their young roster. The addition of LeBron James and Kevin Love has everyone eager to see how the big three will perform in Cleveland. The Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Kevin Love trio is arguably the best big three we have seen since Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett. Although the Cavaliers may have a slow start while their new high-powered lineup adjusts to playing together, the Cavaliers will eventually improve their chemistry just as the Brooklyn Nets did with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett and the Miami Heat with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh.
Although any team in the NBA has a great chance to win it all, I think the NBA Finals will feature the Cleveland Cavaliers and the San Antonio Spurs. It seems that as the Spurs get older, they get better and wiser. The San Antonio Spurs know what it takes to win a championship, and it doesn’t consist of flashy young and overpowering players. They play smart with minimal mistakes and share the ball well. On the other hand, the Cleveland Cavaliers have three All-Stars that were the “go to” player for their former teams. The big three will thrive, but it will come down to whether the Cavaliers bench can outplay the Spurs’ bench. The Finals will be competitive, however, I feel that the Spurs will win their second consecutive NBA championship in six games.
At the end of every NBA season awards are given out. In my opinion, Chris Paul from the Los Angeles Clippers will win MVP because he is a team player who can distribute the ball, as well as score. Last season Chris Paul, also known as CP3, was on pace to be the MVP, unfortunately a separated shoulder derailed his chances for the award. Without Chris Paul the Clippers wouldn’t be anywhere near the caliber of team they are now. The NBA added new young talent through the NBA Draft. Although many people would not agree, I think TJ Warren from the Phoenix Suns will become the Rookie of the Year. TJ Warren is a dominant offensive player and is known for dropping 30 points when it matters the most. In March Madness this year, TJ Warren carried his team to the round of 32, but lost in a devastating overtime game against St. Louis. A major contributor to the loss was the fact that TJ Warren fouled out early and was unable to lead his team to victory. I think Six Man of the Year will once again go to Jamal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers. Jamal Crawford has been a proficient scorer his whole career and coming off the bench as the sixth man gives his team a potent weapon. The upcoming NBA season is coming soon so get ready and cheer on your team!