6) The NBA has a rest problem on its hands
The NBA faced an issue with teams resting star players on nationally-televised games, but it seems the league has plans to make adjustments. Commissioner Adam Silver has voiced his concerns about star players resting more than once, and it seems that something will ultimately be done about it sooner rather than later.
This is not a new problem, mind you. The San Antonio Spurs were resting veterans long before it was cool, and the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers really embraced the practice this season. It happening during nationally televised games particularly annoyed the league offices. It’s a difficult thing to regulate and enforce, though it sounds like Silver is going to spearhead an effort to try going forward.
7) The 76ers are getting there
The Philadelphia 76ers were 13-18 when Joel Embiid played this season. Sure, that’s not great, but coming from where the 76ers were in the past, a mark like that is a breath of fresh air. Of course, another injury prematurely ended his season, but you take what you can get after so many years of “The Process” in Philadelphia.
Where to from here? Well, they have to keep Embiid healthy. For now, Jahlil Okafor remains on the roster, and Dario Saric looks like he has a fairly bright future as well. They should have Ben Simmons ready to make his NBA debut, plus whomever they make the No. 3 overall pick in the upcoming draft. Perhaps they’ll look to free agency to add a veteran weapon and try to take that next step forward.
Either way, there is optimism in Philadelphia that, if they can play their cards right and keep everyone healthy, perhaps the playoffs could be within reach.
8) Big-name franchises are leaning on star power — in the front office
The New York Knicks have already pinned their hopes in Phil Jackson to turn the franchise around. So far, he’s only succeeded in alienating the team’s two best players, but his presence as team president clearly brings a bit of star power to the organization.
The Los Angeles Lakers are following the same path, albeit with someone with deeper ties to the franchise. Putting Magic Johnson in charge of basketball operations was a clear indication that Jeanie Buss wanted to recapture the glory of the Showtime days, at least in an abstract sense. It’s far too soon to tell if it will work, but the Knicks and Lakers are both iconic franchises that are leaning on iconic figures to turn their fortunes around. That is not a coincidence.
9) Seven seconds or less is the way forward
Mike D’Antoni’s reputation has certainly been rehabilitated. Shamed by the Lakers and Knicks, he became a favorite for NBA’s Coach of the Year with the Houston Rockets. Perhaps more importantly, the seeds that were sown while he was in charge of the Phoenix Suns are all over the league now.
D’Antoni’s high-octane offense has taken James Harden from star to superstar. It has also taken the rest of the league by storm.
The Golden State Warriors were clearly influenced by D’Antoni’s offensive principles, and while they combine them with tough, exemplary defense, the notions of playing fast, spacing the floor, and exploiting the three-point line are most certainly rooted in D’Antoni principles.
The NBA is now a league of fast, positionless basketball — or at least that’s the way forward that its best teams are charting.
10) Golden State isn’t going anywhere
"As far as that team (the Warriors), they're going to be here for a while." – LeBron James
— Shahan Ahmed (@shahanLA) June 13, 2017
That’s the problem. Sure, several of these players are poised to be free agents, but it’s been strongly hinted at that the core of this team will be in place for at least a few years to come. All of their key players are under 30. All of them are either in or just entering their physical primes. Golden State’s 2017 championship looks more like the beginning of a reign of dominance than the conclusion of a story, and that should make James and 29 other teams shudder.
