Denver Post NBA reporter Chris Dempsey looks at five key story lines in the NBA this season:
1. Impact of college coaches.
The arrival of Fred Hoiberg in Chicago (from Iowa State) and Billy Donovan in Oklahoma City (from Florida) could open the floodgates for college coaches testing NBA waters if those two turn out to be as successful as Brad Stevens in Boston. NBA general managers will be cautious of this, being certain to filter out all but the cream of the crop. Hiring a college coach used to be considered an impossible jump, but this new crop of coaches could dispel that notion forever if they do well.
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2. Is this Kobe’s last year?
The Los Angeles Lakers have their star back, and so does the NBA. It’s a big part of the reason that even though the Lakers are projected as one of the worst teams in the league, they are still making 19 national television appearances. Bryant, 37, is in the last year of his contract with the Lakers. He has been sidelined with numerous injuries the past few years. His age, contract and injury history make it possible this is the last go-round for one of the NBA’s all-time greats.
3, Uptempo all the time
In the preseason, 16 teams played with a pace of more than 100 possessions per game. That number is huge and probably won’t hold during the regular season, but the pace is sure to be pushed league-wide as the trend has definitely swung to more free-flowing offenses.
It helps when the NBA champion, Golden State, plays fast. The Warriors were the only team above 100 in pace last season, but look for seven to 10 to do so this season. Last season, only two Eastern Conference teams were among the top 10 in pace. Look for that number to rise, too, with so many of the teams adopting smaller lineups and faster systems.
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4. Rest, rest, rest
Sitting out stars used to be frowned upon by the league and the general public. But with the success San Antonio and other teams have had doing so, it has become at least tolerable to the more sophisticated fan. Expect a lot of resting of stars this season, as sports science gives teams a clearer view of the workload players are carrying and when to dial them down by giving them a day off or a game off. The Nuggets are all in on this trend and sat some players in preseason practices and games.
5. Breaking the 3,000/1,000 3-point barrier
The 3-point shot is already experiencing its renaissance. Houston, however, takes shooting the 3-pointer to the next level. The Rockets jacked up a record 2,680 3-point shots last season and made 933.
As they continue to eliminate midrange jump shots, the Rockets could be the first team ever to take a whopping 3,000 3-point shots and make more than 1,000. League-wide, 11 teams hoisted at least 2,000 3-pointers a season ago, and with more teams emphasizing the “stretch 4” position and shooting from all five positions, that number of teams is sure to rise.
