NBA 2019/2020 games
Squad review before the starting signal
by Guillaume Mahot
NBA is getting back into its old habits next week on October 23rd with two games, the last champions Toronto Raptors against the New Orleans Pelicans of rookie and already rising star Zion Williamson, and an already sounding marvelous Los Angeles Clippers-Los Angeles Lakers. What a way to go back to business!
We must first recognize that our African fellows playing for the Canadian franchise will have real difficulties to keep their ring this year without Kawhi Leonard, who left for the Clippers this summertime. OG Anunoby (Nigeria), Serge Ibaka (Congo) and Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) are convinced that Toronto will still be a fierce competitor in the East Conference, but losing your best player (and Danny Green) without replacing him cannot be without any aftermath. Siakam, MIP (most improved player) last season, will definitely have to be a leader on the court and outside to help his point guard Kyle Lowry and his center Marc Gasol.
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Still in the East, the Sixers of Cameroonian center Joel Embiid will be a squad to follow with the arrivals of Richardson (Miami Heat) and mostly Al Horford (Boston Celtics). Embiid, who was forming a Big Three with Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler, saw the last one leave Pennsylvania for Florida and Miami, while JJ Redick went to New Orleans. With Milwaukee, Boston and Toronto, maybe Brooklyn when they get back Kevin Durant (not before a year), Philly should play the first parts in the East this season.
MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who played the last world cup in China with Greece, will be the main strength of the Milwaukee Bucks for the next episode. The Greek Freak, Nigerian roots, must be happy to see players like Robin Lopez (who will play with his brother Brook Lopez in Wisconsin) and Wesley Matthews join the team, even if they lost Brogdon, Pau Gasol and Mirotic.
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Times are going to be hard for the Charlotte Hornets and Bismack Biyombo (DR Congo). Their two point guards gone, Kemba Walker for the C’s and Tony Parker retired, the franchise does not have many chances to fight for the playoffs. The current best player of the team is French forward Nicolas Batum, whose last season was quite disappointing.
Times will be tough as well for Andre Iguodala if he stays in Memphis, while Gorgui Dieng (Senegal) and Josh Okogie (Nigeria) are not expected to create any miracle for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the West Conference.
German Gambian point guard Dennis Schröder and the Thunder can now take advantage of Chris Paul’s skills after a trade that sent Russell Westbrook to Houston for a remake of the duo with James Harden when they were playing together in OKC. If Paul stays, which is far from being sure, Oklahoma can have an interesting team with Adams, Gilgeous-Alexander and Gallinari, but not sure that it will be enough to be competitive in the race towards playoffs. Potentially, teams like the Clippers, the Lakers, the Nuggets, the Warriors, the Rockets, the Jazz, the Spurs and the Trail Blazers seem before OKC in terms of quality, talent and experience.
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Point guard Emmanuel Mudiay (DR Congo) managed to leave the uncompetitive Knicks, who should confirm that status this year, for Utah of defender of the year Rudy Gobert. Real chances of playoffs for him, whereas Al-Farouq Aminu (Nigeria) diminished his by exchanging a franchise used to playoffs (Portland) for another one which tasted it last season for the first time since 2012 (Orlando Magic).
Africa Global News Publication
