With training camps set to begin around the NBA, it won’t be a surprise when basketball news steals some of the football spotlight in the coming weeks. The run up to the season has begun, so here’s a recap of the important news and notes from this past week.
Kobe Expected To Be Ready
Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant was limited to just 41 games over the past couple of seasons but he is expected to be ready for the start of this season. That is one reason for the optimism surrounding the team of late as some wondered where he would be at as training camp got underway.
He has stated that he has full range of motion in his shoulder and he’s been fully cleared to begin basketball activities as he continues to work his way back from a torn rotator cuff. He is on pace to begin the 2015-16 season on the floor for Los Angeles, even though the 37-year-old is expected to have a hard minutes cap this season.
The Lakers added rookie first-round pick D’Angelo Russell, veterans Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass, and will welcome back Kobe and 2014 first-round pick Julius Randle to a lineup that will have a much different look than a year ago. The pieces are in place for LA to take a step forward this season but staying healthy will be the key. Even with all of the positive news and changes, it may not be enough to get the Lakers into contention in the challenging Western Conference.
Flip Saunders Sidelined
The Minnesota Timberwolves are a team on the rise in the Western Conference thanks to a roster that is absolutely loaded with young talent. The headliners are the reigning Rookie of the Year Andrew Wiggins and 2015 first-round overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns, but there is a more pressing issue for the team right now. Head coach, general manager and part owner Flip Saunders has stepped away from the team as he fights cancer. The team announced his leave of absence, stating that he’s had some complications in his fight with cancer treatment.
The Timberwolves tabbed Sam Mitchell to take over the head coaching duties on an interim basis. The players have talked at length about their hopes and prayers for Saunders to win his battle with cancer and there is no doubt that their thoughts and prayers will remain with him as they head into a new year. At this time, we don’t know when or if Saunders will be back with the team this season.
No Division Standings For Playoff Purposes
One of the more interesting notes from this week is the NBA’s adjustment to the playoff structure as the league will now seed teams based solely on their record with no protection for division winners. Under the old structure, the three division winners were guaranteed a top four spot in the standings but that won’t be the case this year and that makes a lot of sense.
We saw it last year after the Portland Trail Blazers were seeded fourth in the Western Conference last season despite owning the sixth-best record. The NBA got it right with its rule change and it will be something worth monitoring this season as we get to see where teams finish based solely on records.
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Iverson Eligible For 2016 Hall Of Fame
It was also announced this week that Allen Iverson will be eligible for the 2016 Hall of Fame class and we can expect voters to react with plenty of positivity. Iverson was a superstar in his prime. Although he never won an NBA title, he finished his career with one MVP award and three first team All-NBA nods. Iverson will eventually get in to the Hall of Fame but the more interesting storyline is how long it takes and whether or not he is voted in under his first year of eligibility next year.
