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SPORTSTuesday 27 October 2015
NBA: West is wild, Cavs seem to stand above in East
BY BRIAN MAHONEY season:
AP BASKETBALL WRITER LAST CALL FOR KOBE?
Kevin Durant is back in Back from a couple
uniform, LaMarcus Al- of injured-shortened
dridge is back home in seasons, Kobe Bryant
Texas and the Golden begins his 20th and
State Warriors are back perhaps final NBA sea-
intact. son. He’s 37 and en-
All over the Western tering the final year of
Conference, there are his contract, and said
teams who look capa- even he doesn’t know
ble of winning it. if this is his last season
In the East, one team with the Lakers, or as a
appears to stand out - player.
and maybe it’s finally COLLEGES TO CON-
Cleveland’s time to TENDERS: Oklahoma
stand above every- City and Chicago
body else in the NBA. had successful runs
The Cavaliers, who fell under their previous
just short last season, coaches, then dipped
have big goals and a into the college ranks
bigger payroll as they when they decid-
try to finally bring a title ed it was time for a
to their championship- change. Billy Dono-
starved city. van finally left Florida
“Yes, we were able to to take the Thunder
get to where we want- job, Fred Hoiberg went
ed to get to, but we from Iowa State to
didn’t close the deal,” the Bulls, and both will
LeBron James said. have to adapt to the
“So we look forward to pro game quickly on
the opportunity once Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, right, dribbles around Denver Nuggets’ Emmanuel Mudiay during the teams that are built to
again to be able to go second half of an NBA preseason basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2015, in Oakland, Calif. contend for titles now.
out there and continue Associated Press HOPING FOR HEALTH:
to try to play at a high The Warriors were too good last season’s broken foot. of Russell Westbrook while From Bryant to Durant,
level.” for them and everyone Aldridge left Portland for Durant was sidelined. Carmelo Anthony to Chris
The Cavs might not look else last season, winning 67 San Antonio and a spot on The West may be wild, but Bosh, too many superstars
like championship material games in Steve Kerr’s first a tantalizing front line next drama is harder to envision had to shut it down early
when they open the season season as coach. Kerr will to Tim Duncan and Kawhi back East. The Cavs might last season for health rea-
Tuesday night at Chicago, miss the opener Tuesday Leonard, while Houston (Ty only be vulnerable until sons. The NBA is trying to do
with James battling a bad while recovering from back Lawson) and the Los An- they’re healed and whole. its part to help players stay
back in the preseason, Kev- surgery but MVP Stephen geles Clippers (Paul Pierce) “I think it does give the Chi- healthier, trimming back-
in Love only recently return- Curry and every other im- added potential missing cago Bulls an opportunity if to-backs to a record low of
ing from shoulder surgery portant piece from last sea- pieces. they’re able to get off to a fewer than 18 per team.
and Kyrie Irving still recover- son is back. Memphis will be rough and quick start to maybe chal- THE BOSS IS WATCHING: The
ing from knee surgery. “What’s great about us, tough as always and New lenge Cleveland for the U.S. plans to pick its Olym-
But they have the pieces, we’re all so competitive, Orleans has a top talent top seed in the East, but at pic team without a tryout,
after shelling out big bucks that I don’t think compla- on his way to dominance the end of the day, it’s still naming its 12-player roster
to assemble one of the cency will be an issue,” All- in Anthony Davis, mak- going to be hard if Cleve- sometime around the June
most expensive teams in Star Klay Thompson said. ing it impossible to predict land is healthy at the end of draft.
NBA history, to get the job “But we love having the the path in the West. There the year to beat them in a
done this time. bullet on our back.” were seven 50-game win- seven-game series,” ESPN’s So this season is the last
“The Cavaliers, man, they Many of their pursuers re- ners there last season, and Jeff Van Gundy said. chance to make an im-
are loaded,” TNT’s Charles turn stronger, with Okla- count on Oklahoma City “So they’ve got a really pression on USA Basket-
Barkley said. “I just want to homa City getting former getting there after finishing good shot at winning it all.” ball chairman Jerry Col-
see them healthy.” MVP Durant back from with 45 mostly on the back Other things to watch this angelo and coach Mike
Krzyzewski.q
