A new year is upon us. And with players making their way back from Health and Safety Season, it’s an opportunity for teams to hit the refresh button.
Though the top four teams in the Western Conference have clearly separated themselves from the rest of the pack, nobody else is running away with anything in either conference. With the Play-In Tournament, there are races to be run all over the standings. And with the trade deadline still 5 1/2 weeks away, there’s an opportunity here for teams to see what they’ve got over the next 10-12 games. Maybe it’s more of the same. Maybe not.
The new year also promises to bring the season debuts of two All-Stars and NBA champions. Kyrie Irving could be playing for the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, while Klay Thompson could be on the floor for the Golden State Warriors (for the first time in more than 30 months) this weekend. Rejoice.
The Warriors and Nets have already been two of the best teams in the league. And now they both need to hit the refresh button and see what they’ve got. The start of the new year is almost like the start of a new season.
