NBA Premiere Week

On Tuesday, October 28, the NBA officially opens its 2014-2015 season with three games: the Orlando Magic vs. the New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks vs. the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs, and the Houston Rockets vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.

Some of the bigger story lines heading into the season opener don't necessarily revolve around these teams playing on Opening Day. The Cleveland Cavaliers, who are one of the favorites to dethrone the Spurs, are gearing up with their revamped roster, which includes former Minnesota Timberwolves star forward Kevin Love, and other forward Lebron James, who left the Miami Heat after being humbled by the Spurs in the 2014 NBA Finals to come back to his former team and hometown of Cleveland. James returning made shock waves around the NBA world, considering his rocky departure from the Cavaliers, where many claimed he "underachieved" by not winning any championships in his 6 years with the team, being humiliated in the playoffs year after year. Not too many expected him to return, but "The King" is motivated more than ever to finally bring a championship to his hometown.

Another team making news is the Los Angeles Lakers. With Kobe Bryant finally healed from his Achilles' and knee injuries, he is hopeful to make an impact on a Lakers team with a questionable future. The team let go of all star center Pau Gasol in the offseason, and head coach Mike D'antoni resigned as well. It took into June for the team to find his replacement in Byron Scott, who recently coached the Cleveland Cavaliers and was let go after an abysmal 61 wins in three season. Coach Scott is expected to bring a more defensive mindset to a team that was ranked second to last in opponents points per game. The team brought in savvy veterans in Carlos Boozer, formerly of the Chicago Bulls, and Jeremy Lin, formerly of the Houston Rockets, to provide more offense.

Other interesting teams include the Spurs, which will test the league and see if they can sip from the fountain of youth once again and win it all again, the Clippers, who have one of the league's best rosters with Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, and Blake Griffin, and with the hype from having a new owner, will see if they can make a deep run into the playoffs this year, the Pelicans, with future star Anthony Davis ready to progress and make some noise, and the Heat, and how they will do without King James departing from the "Big Three" leaving guard Dwyane Wade and center Chris Bosh.

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It sure looks like this NBA season will be another exciting one.

-JC