Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

15 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

16 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

16 hours ago

Trump’s Sweeping Tax-Cut and Spending Bill Wins Congressional Approval

17 hours ago

Americans Celebrate Their Independence With Record-Breaking Travel Numbers

20 hours ago

US Supreme Court to Decide Legality of Transgender School Sports Bans

21 hours ago

Nvidia Set to Become the World’s Most Valuable Company in History

21 hours ago

Poll: 41% in US ‘Extremely Proud’ to Be American, Near Historic Low

21 hours ago
As NBA Season Opens, Will It Be Warriors-Celtics at the End?
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 7 years ago on
October 16, 2018

Share

Opening night last year delivered a good forecast of how the NBA season would turn out.
Cleveland edged Boston in the opening game before Houston ruined Golden State’s championship ring celebration with a victory over the Warriors in the nightcap.

“I think as far as Golden State, if you gave me, hey, you can take the field or you can bet Golden State, I would bet Golden State.”ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy
Those teams ended up as the last four standing in the 2017-18 season, with both conference finals going seven games.
Golden State and Cleveland won Game 7s on the road before the Warriors swept the Cavaliers for their second straight title.
The matchups this time in the doubleheader Tuesday night on TNT feature the Celtics hosting Philadelphia, and the Warriors welcoming Oklahoma City.
Golden State remains the team to beat and the Celtics are a good bet to inherit that role in the East with LeBron James gone, so it’s very possible a couple teams playing on the first night of the season will also be playing on the last. Particularly the Warriors.
“I think as far as Golden State, if you gave me, hey, you can take the field or you can bet Golden State, I would bet Golden State,” ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said.
Most teams don’t begin until Wednesday, and James’ first regular-season game with the Lakers doesn’t come until Thursday, when they visit Portland.
Some things to know about the upcoming season:

LeBron James, for Starters

James starts what could be a challenging first season with his new team by trying to snap a record winning streak. The Trail Blazers have won 17 consecutive home openers, a streak that began in October 2001 — two years before James made his NBA debut.
San Antonio usually enters the season as a sure thing, but the Spurs this time are a question mark. Decimated by injuries in their backcourt during the preseason after losing Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili in the offseason, the Spurs are no lock for a 22nd straight playoff appearance that would equal the NBA record set by the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers from 1949-71.
But figure on San Antonio starting fast, as the Spurs are 19-2 in season openers under Gregg Popovich, who begins his 23rd season to tie Utah’s Jerry Sloan for the most seasons coaching one team.

Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry shoots next to Los Angeles Lakers center JaVale McGee during the second half of an NBA preseason basketball game, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

The Warriors’ Dominance

Perhaps the Warriors’ dominance makes it feel like a foregone conclusion, but there’s already so much talk about the summer of 2019 free agency, when players such as Kawhi Leonard, Jimmy Butler and Kyrie Irving could be available, that it already threatens to overshadow the games themselves.
Even Golden State isn’t immune, with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson able to become free agents and sparking talk that this could be the Warriors’ last run.
This season, fans can for the first time purchase games in progress on NBA League Pass. The option is available from the end of the third quarter to the end of the game for $1.99. Details are available at http://www.nba.com/leaguepass.

Voting for the MVP

James led a record nine players who received votes as the MVP favorite in the NBA.com GM Survey, garnering 30 percent of the vote among those who responded.
Durant, Irving, Leonard, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Giannis Antetokounmpo also received votes along with reigning MVP James Harden, who should put up big numbers again in Houston’s high-powered offense.
They added a likely future Hall of Famer to a team that just won a league-high 65 games, but it’s hard to know just how much Carmelo Anthony will help the Rockets — or if he will help at all.
He comes off his worst season in Oklahoma City and didn’t thrive playing for Mike D’Antoni in New York. But his outside shooting seems a natural fit with the Rockets, especially with the open looks Harden and close friend Chris Paul should set up for him.

New Draft Lottery Odds

New draft lottery odds debut this season. The teams with the three worst regular-season records will each have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery, replacing the system that gave the team with the worst record a 25 percent chance of the top pick.

“I do think in this league anything can happen so there’s some teams in the Western Conference, if clicking right, if healthy — injuries play a role not just for the Warriors but throughout this league — so that can play a part in it.”Mark Jackson, former Warriors coach
The league hopes that will reduce some of the incentive to lose on purpose, but Commissioner Adam Silver has said there’s still work to do to completely eliminate tanking.
After a record four years of the same NBA Finals matchup with Golden State and Cleveland, the NBA seems headed for something new.
The Warriors remain the class of the league, but Boston matches up with them better than the Cavaliers did, even with James. So Golden State should win a third straight title, but not without a much tougher fight than the last couple of seasons.
“I do think in this league anything can happen so there’s some teams in the Western Conference, if clicking right, if healthy — injuries play a role not just for the Warriors but throughout this league — so that can play a part in it,” former Warriors coach Mark Jackson said. “But the Warriors are the clear-cut favorite.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

DON'T MISS

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

DON'T MISS

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

DON'T MISS

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

DON'T MISS

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

DON'T MISS

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

DON'T MISS

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

DON'T MISS

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

DON'T MISS

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

DON'T MISS

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

UP NEXT

Wonderdog Still Barking: Justin Wilson Thrives With Boston Red Sox

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Orders CA to Strip Trans Athlete of Medals

UP NEXT

Thunder Cap Incredible Season by Beating Pacers for NBA Title

UP NEXT

LA Dodgers Pledge $1 Million to Support Families Impacted by ICE Raids

UP NEXT

The Secret to Finding the Best Travel Bargains

UP NEXT

Amazon’s Prime Day 2025 Levels Up With Four Days of Deals Starting July 8

UP NEXT

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Get a 400% Pay Raise

UP NEXT

It’s Final. No Live Horse Racing at Big Fresno Fair in 2025

UP NEXT

Buss Family to Sell Lakers at $10 Billion Valuation, ESPN Says

UP NEXT

LA Dodgers Say They Denied ICE Agents Access to Stadium Parking Lot

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

14 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

14 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

14 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

14 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

14 hours ago

Over 100 Former Senior Officials Warn Against Planned Staff Cuts at US State Department

15 hours ago

US Electric Vehicle Tax Breaks Will Expire on Sept. 30

15 hours ago

‘Reservoir Dogs’ and ‘Kill Bill’ Actor Michael Madsen Dies at 67

16 hours ago

Fresno Police Recover Some of the $40,000 in Fireworks Stolen From Bullard High Team

16 hours ago

Eyeing Arctic Dominance, Trump Bill Earmarks $8.6 Billion for US Coast Guard Icebreakers

16 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

A two-vehicle collision sent a woman driving one of the vehicles to the hospital with a head injury Thursday afternoon in Fresno. Fresno pol...

12 hours ago

A crash causes a traffic jam in northwest Fresno on Thursday, July 3, 2025. (GV Wire/Paul Marshall)
12 hours ago

Fresno Crash Involving Unlicensed Teen Driver Sends Woman to Hospital

The Madre Fire near New Cuyama has burned 52,593 acres with 5% containment, prompting evacuation orders in several San Luis Obispo County zones as of Thursday, July 3, 2025, afternoon. (CalFire)
13 hours ago

Madre Fire Burns More Than 52,000 Acres in San Luis Obispo County

13 hours ago

RIP John Harris: Fresno County Rancher, Racehorse Breeder Was a Visionary Leader Who Leaves a ‘Profound Legacy’

14 hours ago

Valadao, Costa Spar on What Passage of Trump’s Bill Means for Medicaid Recipients

An ICE agent talks with migrants about their scheduled appointments with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Father’s Day, to learn about their immigration status, in Chicago, Illinois., U.S., June 15, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

US Military Says 200 Marines Being Sent to Support ICE in Florida

Boeing logo and miniature satellite model are seen in this illustration taken, March 10, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

Boeing Secures $2.8 Billion US Satellite Contract

14 hours ago

Kaweah Health Names Its New Chief Nurse. She’s From Texas

Clovis Police are searching for Pathmani Goonawardena, 82, who went missing nearly three weeks ago and was last seen driving a white Volvo near Copper and Auberry, possibly en route to Coarsegold. (CHP)
14 hours ago

Clovis Police Say At-Risk Missing Woman Found Dead in Mariposa County

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend