NBA Updates: The Game
Adu Reghuram
To all my fellow basketball fans, the season is officially back! For those of you who don't know me, my name is Adu Reghuram and I will be your reliable weekly writer. I have always had a passion for the sport and it would be my pleasure to share that interest with you all. Today we will recap and discuss all the despondencies and delights from the 21-22 post-season. I will talk about the pre-season and catch you guys up on any important news for the 22-23 NBA season. So without further ado, let's dive into the 22-23 season together!
2021-2022 NBA Post-Season
The 2021-2022 postseason was a roller coaster, from the Brooklyn Nets getting swept by the Boston Celtics, to the Golden State Warriors being everyone's least favorite team again. The adrenaline and energy that are being spread from fan to fan are what make the sport and culture astonishing. Watching the stupendous players running the floor, playing offense and defense make the playoffs what they are. Let's take a deeper analysis of the Milwaukee Bucks and the semi-finalists that competed and gave it their all.
Milwaukee Bucks: Watching the Milwaukee Bucks play-off run put all of us in tears. Giannis Antetokounpo gave it his all averaging 31.7 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. Middleton suffered a torn ligament in his left wrist and unfortunately had to get surgery. Jrue Holiday averaged 21 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds. Despite being down an All-Star, we still stood as a threat. The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls (4-1) in the first round. But In the second series, the Bucks lost a close one with the Celtics (3-4).
Golden State Warriors: From being the worst NBA team in 2020-2021 to winning the NBA championship. The Golden State Warriors went from “Doubted to Champions”. Stephen Curry averaged 25.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists. Klay Thompson averaged 20.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. It’s safe to say that the key to the Warriors success was the role players. Jordan Pool, Andrew Wiggins, and Draymond Green played their spot and role perfectly.
Boston Celtics: The Boston Celtics have had many chances. Last year, they reached the finals just to lose to the Warriors. Jayson Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Jaylen Brown averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. Marcus Smart averaged 12.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. All three players worked efficiently as a dynamic trio but unfortunately faced a huge disappointment.
Dallas Mavericks: The Dallas Mavericks astounded everyone. Nobody expected the Mavericks to be a semi-finalist. Unfortunately, they were playing the dominant Golden State Warriors who finished the season 53-29. Luka Doncic averaged an incredible 28.4 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 8.7 rebounds. Jalen Brunson served as a great wingman as he averaged 16.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists. The Dallas Mavericks should have felt good about their playoff run.
Miami Heat: The amount of young talent that this roster has is implausible. If you're a Miami Heat fan, you would know about the role players and the phenomenal depth that is included. The Miami Heat made it to the ECF against the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, they lost (4-3). Although they have had many chances, they have a promising future and I am excited to see what they have to offer.
22-23 NBA Pre-Season
The NBA pre-season is a chance to experiment with new plays and players that can be beneficial to the future of the franchise. The pre-season can also give us a good perception of what to expect for the regular season. Based on what we saw, we can determine how fast-paced and rapid teams are playing. For example, the Warrior's ball movement has been phenomenal. The way they pass and look out for each other at such a high level of movement has put us all in awe. The pre-season has been exhilarating to watch and I can't wait for what the regular season has to offer.
Injury Report
Unfortunately with all sports, injuries are big. Many people get agitated when their big superstar gets injured. Let’s look into the injury report for this season.
Chet Holmgren (Oklahoma City Thunder): Suffered a Lisfranc injury to his right foot. He is projected to miss the 22-23 NBA season but will compete in the 23-24 season.
Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers): Lillard finally opted for surgery on a lingering abdominal injury after struggling for the majority of the year. Projections for his return are not determined.
Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks): Middleton missed Milwaukee’s final 10 post-season games with a Grade 2 sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee.
Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets): Murray was sidelined last season by an ACL tear. He should be ready to take part in training camp, though he may experience some minor struggles to begin the year.
These players are just a few of the players that contribute to and influence the team as a whole.
What To Expect For The Season
The regular season along with the playoffs comes with many surprises. From losing streaks to winning streaks, anything can happen in an 82-game season. Teams can go through multiple injuries or contract issues. There will be contender teams that will stand as a threat to any NBA team. There will also be younger teams that look into the future. With that being said, be ready for anything.
