Sporting News looks at five story lines to watch in the NBA in 2012:
1. The battle for L.A.
The trade that sent Chris Paul to the Clippers had a special place in the craw of Lakers fans. For one thing, before the veto of commissioner David Stern, Paul was very nearly a Laker. Additionally, he was part of the Lakers? plan for the future that also included acquiring Orlando center Dwight Howard. The addition of Paul?with Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler?to the Blake Griffin Show means that the Clippers now have at least as much, if not more, talent than the Lakers. The Staples Center co-tenants will battle not only for bragging rights in town, but for the Pacific Division crown.
PREDICTION: The Lakers figure to right themselves once they work Andrew Bynum back into the lineup, but once the Clippers develop chemistry, they have the more talented roster. Look for the Clips to nose out the Lakers in the Pacific Division.
CBA reality series
Part I: Drafting a star gets you seven years | Part II: 'Bird Rights' are a myth | Part III: The luxury tax could pull apart the Heat | Part IV: Superstar trades won't become the norm
2. What will Dwight do?
We have seen this scenario before: Star player in a small market playing for a good-but-not-great team, star player wants out, free agency is coming up and a long, drawn-out saga over the player?s future ensues. Last year, it took Denver until the week of the trade deadline to finally make a move on Carmelo Anthony, and this year, Orlando might do the same (the trade deadline is March 15) with Howard. The options are narrow, as Howard has indicated he prefers the Nets or the Lakers, and both teams have limited or flawed assets. The Magic, for their part, have said they are not seeking trades for Howard?at least not yet. In the backdrop is this uncomfortable fact: The Magic will be hosting the All-Star Game in February, and the entire weekend could be overshadowed by Howard?s status.
PREDICTION: The Magic will eventually have to read the writing on the wall and accept the fact that they can either get some assets for Howard or lose him for nothing. Orlando will take its time, but the bet here is that Howard winds up in New Jersey.
3. The Heat?s Big Three in Year 2
Miami did not come up with the championship that many expected after it brought in LeBron James and Chris Bosh to team with Dwyane Wade. But the Heat did earn a spot in The Finals, blowing away Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago in last year?s playoffs before running into the Dallas buzzsaw. It is motivation from that Finals loss?and the addition of veteran wing defender Shane Battier?that should have the Heat primed to take home this year?s title.
PREDICTION: That Finals loss is a pretty significant motivating factor for the Heat this year. Throw in the addition of veteran wing defender Shane Battier and the play of rookie point guard Norris Cole, and the Heat are primed to take home this year?s title.
4. The last stands
With Kobe Bryant playing through a wrist injury and Pau Gasol aging, the Lakers had hoped that the Paul trade would infuse the roster with a star player in his prime. Instead, the Lakers are looking to squeeze one more title run out of this group. They?re hardly alone. The aging defending-champion Mavericks pared their roster in order to prepare for rebuilding next year, the Spurs are trying to infuse some youth on the fly as Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili decline, and after showing their age in the postseason, the Celtics look especially old this year. These teams account for 11 of the last 13 championships, but there might not be much left in any of their tanks.
PREDICTION: Time to close the book on all four of these teams. If either the Mavs or Lakers can nab Howard, they?ll stay in the championship picture. But not this year.
5. The next steps
If there is a vacuum forming as the top teams in the league age, then that vacuum will be filled by two non-Miami teams: The Bulls and the Thunder. Not that both teams don?t have issues to work out. In order to compete for a title, the Bulls need to locate the Carlos Boozer they thought they were signing when they gave him a five-year, $80 million deal in the summer of 2010, and they need new shooting guard Richard Hamilton to play like it is 2006 (or at least, 2009). That will take pressure off point guard Derrick Rose, who needs to get better at figuring out when to use his teammates and when to be a scorer himself?he forced the action too much in the playoffs last year.
?SI.com: Always thinking of MJ, Rose is after one thing: championship trophy
The same can be said for Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook, who likely holds the key to his team?s title hopes. We?ve already seen that Westbrook has some difficulty dealing with teammates, and he needs to be a better leader, on and off the floor.
PREDICTION: Bulls continue to improve, but not quite enough to get past Miami. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, punches its ticket to the Finals. And loses to Miami.
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