As a lifelong basketball fan who's been covering the NBA for over a decade, I've been counting down the days until the 2021 season tips off on December 22nd. This unusual December start feels both exciting and strange - we're getting basketball earlier than normal, but the circumstances surrounding this season are anything but ordinary. Having witnessed everything from lockout-shortened seasons to pandemic bubbles, I can confidently say this upcoming campaign might be the most fascinating one yet.
The compressed 72-game schedule immediately jumps out as a major challenge. Teams will be playing back-to-backs like they're going out of style, and the wear and tear on players' bodies will be tremendous. I'm particularly concerned about veteran teams like the Lakers - LeBron James is phenomenal, but asking a 36-year-old to carry this load worries me. Meanwhile, younger squads like the Memphis Grizzlies might actually benefit from this pace. The league's decision to incorporate the play-in tournament for the postseason adds another layer of intrigue - we could see some dramatic scrambles for those final playoff spots come May.
What really fascinates me this season is how teams will handle the quick turnaround from the Orlando bubble. The Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets had the shortest offseason in NBA history - just 71 days between their final game and training camp opening. That's barely enough time to recover, let alone improve. I suspect we'll see more load management than ever before, though the league's new policies might make that tricky. Personally, I think we're going to witness some unexpected breakout performances from second-unit players who get extended minutes during rest games.
The international perspective always interests me, especially having covered basketball across different continents. Watching the Philippines compete toe-to-toe with tournament champions in their recent qualifying stage reminded me how global our game has become. That underdog mentality - being the last team to enter as the best third-placer during January qualifiers - mirrors what we often see in the NBA. Teams that everyone counts out can surprise you. I'm keeping my eye on international players like Luka Dončić and Giannis Antetokounmpo to potentially dominate this season in ways we haven't seen before.
From a pure basketball perspective, I'm most excited about the Brooklyn Nets' potential. If Kevin Durant stays healthy - and that's a big if - we could be looking at one of the most explosive offenses in recent memory. Their defensive questions remain, but offensively, they might average 120 points per game. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors' return to relevance depends entirely on whether Klay Thompson can recover his form after missing two consecutive seasons. As someone who values shooting above all else, seeing Thompson and Stephen Curry reunited would be basketball poetry.
The Western Conference appears wide open beyond the Lakers, while the East feels like it's Milwaukee's to lose unless Philadelphia figures out their roster construction. Personally, I'm predicting at least three coaching changes by season's end - the pressure to perform in this compressed schedule will be immense. The financial aspects can't be ignored either - with revenue down significantly from empty arenas, we might see some cost-cutting moves that surprise people. All things considered, this NBA season promises to be unpredictable, chaotic, and absolutely must-watch television from opening night through what should be a thrilling finals in July.