New year means new opportunities and every NBA team has something to look forward to as we’re about to flip a new calendar page.
Perennial championship contenders such as the Warriors and Nets will aim to bolster their campaigns as they anticipate the returns of Klay Thompson and Kyrie Irving respectively. Meanwhile, struggling playoff teams such as the Lakers and Nuggets continue their search for consistency.
These are just some of the developments to look out for in these next few weeks, and rest assured that SBOTOP is going to continue to serve you with the latest NBA 2022 updates.
Without further ado, here are some of your favorite team’s resolutions for 2022.
Warriors should focus on staying healthy
As things stand today, the Warriors own the best win-loss record (27-7) of the entire Association and they’re about to get even better with the impending returns of their key players.
Klay Thompson is the most notable Warrior that fans can’t wait to see play again, while a healthy Andre Iguodala and James Wiseman would certainly boost their depth.
They’re fresh from a tough loss as they were held to only 86 points by the undermanned Nuggets and then tomorrow, they’ll take on a red-hot Jazz team. But the good news is that their COVID-19 situation has eased up a bit as Jordan Poole has cleared safety protocols.
Defencive specialist Draymond Green is still sidelined, though, so guys like Otto Porter Jr. Juan Toscano-Anderson, Andrew Wiggins, and Gary Payton Jr. will all have to shoulder more load for now.
Nets need a reliable third option
The Nets are finding their rhythm since Kevin Durant continues his fine play while James Harden is rounding into his old MVP self. However, they still have one more missing piece for their championship puzzle.
Enter Kyrie Irving, who has yet to play this season due to his reluctance to get vaccinated for COVID-19, although he was reported to be seen in the Nets’ practices lately.
The trio planned to get together in the first place with plans of winning titles and they certainly have some unfinished business, especially after losing to the Bucks last season in the ECSF.
Irving’s form is going to be the x-factor for Brooklyn’s NBA 2022 odds of winning the championship since we’re all aware of his capability to take over games night in and night out.
Lakers must re-calibrate
The Lakers’ struggles are all rooted to the fact that their lineup is flawed and old, and they have to find answers fast.
Los Angeles have been over-reliant on LeBron James, who keeps on putting up monster numbers every game, and his heroics are going to be needed more than ever.
Anthony Davis isn’t going to be back anytime soon due to his knee injury. Meanwhile, Russell Westbrook remains inefficient despite producing his usual all-around numbers.
At this point, the Lakers coaching staff and front office have to make tough decisions in these next few weeks. Frank Vogel will have to coach his team the way he sees fit regardless if it’ll bruise some egos, while Rob Pelinka may need to bring in some younger legs via free agency signings or trades.
Nuggets have to find help for Nikola Jokic
Denver’s steady climb to the top half of the Western Conference standings might appear to be fool’s gold in the long-term if their front office won’t tinker their roster ahead of the trade deadline.
After a slow start to this campaign, the Nuggets now have a 17-16 record – which is good for the fifth seed.
Nikola Jokic has been carrying the Nuggets on his back with co-star Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray sidelined, so it’s clear that the reigning MVP needs help in order to contend in the wild West.
Veterans Jeff Green, Will Barton, and Austin Rivers will all have to do more for the team for now, while fast-tracking the development of their youngsters in Bones Hyland and Zeke Nnaji is going to be one of their top priorities.
Cavaliers are in need of a veteran point guard
With Darius Garland testing positive for COVID-19 and Ricky Rubio done for the season with a torn ACL, the Cavaliers have to find support for their backcourt.
Cleveland tried to address that by bringing in Rajon Rondo from the Lakers in exchange for Denzel Valentine, and the 35-year-old floor general will get his chance to play for a bigger role. Rondo will definitely provide veteran leadership and playmaking for the young and hungry Cavs. However, he’ll have to get cleared first after entering the league’s safety protocols since Sunday.
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