2022 NBA Pacific Division preview
With baseball, hockey and football currently dominating the professional sports world, basketball is set to come back with a bang on Tuesday as fans get set to watch both NBA Finals teams face off against division rivals.
For the defending champion Golden State Warriors, the season can’t start fast enough, as an offseason filled with drama has dominated the headlines in Southern California.
Meanwhile their opponents in this matchup, the Los Angeles Lakers, have also had quite an eventful offseason filled with new roster additions, rumors and speculation, as one would come to expect from a team with LeBron James running the show.
The Pacific Division is filled with storylines and intrigue as not just the two teams mentioned, but all five teams, look to make waves this season.
Golden State Warriors
As previously stated, the Warriors’ offseason has been filled with drama.
A recent video has surfaced of a scuffle that occurred during a practice where Jordan Poole and Draymond Green got into a verbal altercation that led to Green striking Poole's face.
The video has sent ripples through the NBA community, but Green, having publicly stated his regret, has apologized and stepped away from the team for some time to let things settle.
A four-time champion, Green is a key component of this team and with him recently rejoining the team, Steph Curry looking as dominant as ever and Klay Thompson looking to regain his old form, the Warriors look to pick up right where they left off.
Los Angeles Lakers
One of the more surprising teams to miss the playoffs last year was none other than the Los Angeles Lakers.
The injury bug struck this squad once again, as Anthony Davis couldn’t find his way back to 100%.
The addition of Russell Westbrook also didn’t pay dividends in the way many expected it to, and he now might be moved to a different team.
While that situation looms, L.A. has added some additional guard help with Patrick Beverley and the return of Dennis Schröder, as Rob Pelinka looks to build a contender around LeBron James.
Los Angeles Clippers
Disappointing teams who struggled with injuries last season seems to be a common theme with Los Angeles basketball as the Clippers suffered the same fate as the Lakers.
Star forward Kawhi Leonard didn’t see the court once as he nursed an ACL injury suffered the year prior and the bench unit wasn’t the same without 2020 Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell.
With Leonard set to start the season healthy, Paul George returning at full form and the new addition of John Wall as he looks to find some of his old magic, the Clippers could find themselves near the top of the Western Conference.
Phoenix Suns
A team that many thought would win it all last year, the Phoenix Suns disappointed in the postseason, falling to the Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The same Suns team that lost in the Finals to the Bucks just two years ago just didn’t look the same in the playoffs last year.
However, the Western Conference’s number one seed just last year is returning all of their core pieces, including Deandre Ayton who’s future with the team was up in the air.
Whether or not the Suns can get over the hump this year is a mystery, but they have the pieces to put themselves in the conversation once again.
Sacramento Kings
Finally, we get to the Kings.
While the expectations for this team may be low, there is still some reason to be excited for them this season.
Coming over from the Warriors, Mike Brown is entering his inaugural season as the head coach of the Kings and looks to bring some juice that this team never found with Luke Walton at the helm.
Rookie Keegan Murray, who deaw some controversy upon his selection on draft night, looked outstanding this offseason en route to being named MVP of the Summer League and cementing himself as a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year Award.
This organization desperately wants to make a playoff push. Is this the year they do it?
Jakob Schnur is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jks6463@psu.edu.
