Melissa Rollin
FOX Sports NBA Writer
It’s Christmas, a very special day when the NBA takes center stage on television.
So what better time to discuss the league’s biggest storylines?
As we kick off a day filled with some of the league’s top talent, including LA Lakers superstar LeBron James making his NBA-record 19th Christmas appearance and San Antonio Spurs bounty Victor Wembayama making his holiday debut, let’s take a look at what’s in store. It’s league-wide.
The five biggest storylines are:
1. What’s going on with LeBron James and the Lakers?
The face of the league turns 40 next week. And there are two big questions surrounding him. How much longer will he play? And can the Lakers be competitive enough to compete for another championship before he hangs up his uniform? James recently said he wasn’t sure whether he would play one more season or two. But he is sure of one thing. “I won’t run until the wheels fall off.”
So far, he’s had good and bad seasons. his standard. He can still be the best basketball player on the court any night, and he recorded his eighth triple-double of the season with 28 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists in Monday’s loss to Detroit. But the most prolific minutes player in NBA history has struggled at times, including a stretch last month when he missed 20 straight 3-pointers over a five-game span.
The good news is that Anthony Davis is playing MVP-caliber basketball. He recently opened up about this in an exclusive interview with FOX Sports. Not to mention, the Lakers have made great strides on the defensive side of things recently as well, which led to them winning four of their last five games before falling to the Pistons. But with the trade deadline quickly approaching, Lakers bosses have to wonder if this team is good enough to make it all the way, or if they need to make a big move to secure another superstar to play alongside James and Davis. Ultimately, depending on how long James has left, the sand is quickly escaping through the hourglass.
2. Will Boston become champion again?
After making very smart draft decisions (Jaylen Brown at No. 3 in 2016 and Jayson Tatum at No. 3 in 2017) and trusting their roster for years, the Celtics’ patience finally paid off in the form of a championship last season. Brown and Tatum proved they can succeed on the biggest stage, something they wanted to show after reaching the 2022 Finals but falling to Golden State. Now that they have tasted success in peak form, the question arises whether they can repeat it.
The Celtics have kept their roster largely the same, but much of the rest of the league has made adjustments in an attempt to topple the reigning champions. The Celtics are currently ranked 3rd in offense and 8th in defense, which is impressive. However, considering that they ranked first in offense and second in defense last season, it is questionable to what extent their competition has caught up.
When the 76ers brought in Paul George during the offseason to play alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, they were immediately considered a title contender. Instead, they have devolved into NBA soap operas.
They have been plagued by injuries (George has played in 16 games and Embiid has only played in seven). There was drama (Embiid pushed a reporter in a way that Embiid felt was off limits after he wrote about his dead brother and son). And there were even arguments within the team (Maxey called Embiid out for always being late to team meetings). The 76ers are in 12th place with a 10-17 record and are not competitive at all. But they certainly have talent and have shown signs of pulling themselves out of a deep hole, winning seven of their last ten games. After a disastrous start, can they turn things around?
4. The following promising teams are available: Oklahoma City And Cleveland actually made it far in the playoffs?
Looking at the rankings, noteworthy teams are Oklahoma City (1st in the West) and Cleveland (1st in the East). They are seemingly crushing the competition. But winning in the regular season is a very different beast than winning in the playoffs. Do any of these teams have what it takes to be a true contender?
Let’s start with thunder. With an average age of 24.14 years, they are the youngest team in the league. Last postseason, they defeated the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round, lost to the Dallas Mavericks, and advanced to the finals, becoming the youngest team to win a playoff series. The Thunder have a very talented core of players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. And they addressed their playoff experience and size issues by signing Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein during the offseason. This team has a high ceiling, but does it have what it takes to beat teams that actually know how to win?
And then there are the Cavaliers, who have exceeded expectations this season. On offense, Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley lead the team on offense, each averaging more than 18 points per game. They are off to an incredible 15-0 start after strengthening their roster during the offseason. They showed they have great chemistry, sharp ball movement, and a committed roster. It’s soaring, but can it continue to grow even as competition heats up?
5. Other than the Thunder, who are some teams to watch in the West?
As usual, the West is loaded with talent, with 11 teams finishing above .500. Let’s take a look at some stories from this highly competitive conference.
Anthony Edwards became a playoff darling last season as he led the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. But the Timberwolves struggled after trading Karl-Anthony Towns. Edwards has called out the team in no uncertain terms whenever they make a mistake, most recently pointing out their offensive issues. Can you light a fire underneath it?
The Golden State Warriors are the league’s modern dynasty, winning four championships in eight years. After missing the playoffs last season and Klay Thompson leaving for Dallas in the summer, questions were raised about whether the dynasty was over. But Stephen Curry opened the season. Stephen Kering and Draymond Green are playing with newfound joy after years of struggling to come into their own amidst the drama. This team had a good start to the season. But they have lost 10 of their last 13 games. Can they stop their free fall and get back to the top of the league?
What about the Memphis Grizzlies, whose Ja Morant is shining after being suspended for 25 games last season and playing in only nine games due to a season-ending shoulder injury? He’s back, and Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins recently praised him for his improved leadership abilities. Can he lead this team far?
The Rockets are playing their best basketball. Kevin Durant wants to prove he can win a championship without Curry and Green. Can he take the Phoenix Suns all the way? Can Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Thompson top the Mavericks, who advanced to the Finals last season?
Who did you find in the very crowded West?
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA writer for FOX Sports. She previously covered the league for Sports Illustrated. los angeles Times, Bay Area News Group, and saint antonio Express-News. Follow her on Twitter @Written by: Melissa Roll.
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