Everything You Need To Know From The NBA’s Unofficial Tip-Off To 2015-16

All players are talented. All coaches are smart, and all front office decision-makers are confident. People in the NBA have every reason to believe success is imminent, because their personal history is littered with accomplishments that helped them reach the pinnacle of basketball – why would it be different this time around?

That’s what all franchises are thinking on media day, before feeling the grind of an 82-game regular season that lasts nearly six months. Anything is possible, the saying goes, and that trope is easily applied before a team hits the court and the reality of its limitations becomes obvious.

Are there varying degrees of triumph in this league? Of course. What would make a good season for the Minnesota Timberwolves isn’t anything close to what would apply for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Not every organization can contend for championships on an annual basis; the San Antonio Spurs are the exception as opposed to the rule.

But all teams, regardless of their realistic goal come season’s end, drink a half-full glass on media day – as the most optimistic, amusing, and attention-grabbing stories from the NBA’s unofficial tip-off for 2015-16 make abundantly clear.

A quick newsflash to get started: LeBron James still believes he’s the best basketball player in the world.

And The King is bound to prove it again should he play with the “rage” that Kyrie Irving says will come to define the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015-16.

Even those outside Northeast Ohio couldn’t keep their minds from The King on Monday. What did Marcin Gortat learn from Paul Pierce in The Truth’s lone season with the Washington Wizards?

Pierce is in Los Angeles with the Clippers now, though, and has already brought his all-business approach to Southern California. Seriously, who scrimmages with this much intensity on the third day of training camp? A team led by Pierce, Chris Paul, and Blake Griffin, of course.

LA’s other team is concerned with something more than winning immediately. The Los Angeles Lakers certainly need to find a blueprint for sustained success once Kobe Bryant finally hangs it up, but that doesn’t mean the focus was on anyone but Mamba during their media proceedings. Refuting a recent claim by Phil Jackson that he might sign with another team after this season, Bryant says he won’t wear colors other than purple and gold.

Another perpetually injured superstar wouldn’t cement his future in one of the league’s glamor markets. Is Derrick Rose already thinking about leaving the Chicago Bulls once he’s a free agent in 2017?

Basketball’s marquee 2016 free agent, however, has his sights set firmly on the most important season in the history of the Oklahoma City Thunder. How’s it coming with Billy Donovan? Kevin Durant sang his praises, while the rookie coach insists his system will allow the Thunder’s superstar tandem to remain true to themselves.

If Oklahoma City plays up to its talent level, who might they meet in the Western Conference Finals? Those pesky, revamped Spurs, of course. And fortunately for San Antonio, Gregg Popovich is already in midseason form.

Another team in the Lone Star State seems to be in as good a mood as Popovich. And why not? GM Daryl Morey finally believes the Houston Rockets have what it takes to win a championship as currently constructed, and it appears his players do, too.

But times aren’t as good for the remaining member of the Texas Triumvirate. Chandler Parsons is still hobbled by an offseason knee surgery that was more invasive than initially reported, and the Dallas Mavericks might be without key offseason signee Wes Matthews until Christmas.

The Indiana Pacers may not be any better than the Mavericks, but their outlook seems far brighter – such is the joy of playing in the Eastern Conference. Or maybe it’s just George Hill’s new hairstyle.

Yup, it sure is sunny in Indiana. Paul George is so optimistic that he’s far past the point of concern about getting re-acclimated to a full regular season. What does the two-time All-Star want in 2015-16? A MVP.

With all due to respect to PG-13, we’re far more confident in Anthony Davis’ chance to bring home the Maurice Podoloff Trophy at season’s end. He’s due for a huge year under New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, and has the go-to scoring move – and absolutely mind-boggling statistics – to prove it.

The Detroit Pistons, by the way, are psyched for 2015-16. Enough that their point guard would risk serious injury by busting moves on a PhunkeeDuck, actually.

They may not be on Reggie Jackson’s level, but it’s safe to say all players are excited for the season to begin. Kevin Garnett definitely is, but that doesn’t mean the future Hall-of-Famer hasn’t already tired of hearing the same trope from Minnesota Timberwolves interim coach – and former Toronto Raptors head man – Sam Mitchell.

https://twitter.com/steventurous/status/648540829976514560

Garnett’s enthusiasm was obvious on Monday, but it couldn’t touch Dwyane Wade’s. The Miami Heat are a popular dark horse championship pick after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010. That’s cause for dancing, right?

https://twitter.com/MiamiHEAT/status/648645664251904000

Not an under-the-radar title choice: the reigning NBA champion Golden State Warriors. If Draymond Green’s assessment of Steph Curry’s game is accurate, the Warriors seem bound to repeat next June.

And Golden State’s journey, along with the rest of the league’s, begins right now. Buckle up. The NBA is back.