Normally by now the NBA season is well underway. Instead, December 22 is the start date for the league after the shortest or longest off-season of all time, depending on who you are.
If you missed out on the bubble in Orlando, you haven't played since March and are probably going crazy waiting. On the flip side, if your team went even marginally deep at Disney - especially the Lakers and Heat - you had the shortest off-season in modern pro sports history. Will that effect play out as next summer nears?
The draft has come and gone, the preseason is underway, and as the season gets ready to tip off, here are the five teams likeliest to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
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5) Brooklyn Nets: It's been a year, but the highly anticipated acquisitions will all see the court together. Now it's all about coming together... which doesn't always work. Need an example? Look no further than, well, Brooklyn and the disaster of the Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce trade.
So that's not a great precedent. As for the 2020-21 version, the talent is clearly there. Kyrie Irving is an All-Star, though he's had some chemistry issues in the past. Caris LeVert is coming off a career year. And, oh yeah, they finally get to see Kevin Durant suit up after missing all of last year with a torn Achilles. Those three alone are enough to make the Nets a contender in the East... but will it all come together?
4) Boston Celtics: The Celtics might not be one of the top two (three?) seeds in the East, given Kemba Walker's out for the first few weeks (at least) with a knee injury. Still, if fully healthy seeding won't much matter, given the talent. Walker is an All-Star, obviously, but the real X-factors will be on the wing. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are signed long-term, and them continuing to build on the star-quality seasons both had a year ago will be the difference between a potential championship run and an early postseason exit. Tatum, in particular, has "top-10 player" caliber.
3) Los Angeles Clippers: Last year's stunning second-round exit led to the ouster of Doc Rivers, as Ty Lue steps in as head coach. Perhaps the most talented team in the league on paper, how will they respond to the summer's incredible disappointment? Kawhi Leonard is a fairly established commodity at this point, but will Paul George rise back up to MVP level after signing a big extension less than a week ago?
Behind them, Serge Ibaka was brought in to replace the departed Montrezl Harrell, and Lou Williams will be the key bench piece.
2) Milwaukee Bucks: Prior to the stoppage the Bucks were on pace for a record season, before getting trounced in five games in the second round by Miami. It's a very, very delicate time for the Bucks. They'll be good again this year simply by employing the back-to-back MVP in Giannis Antetokounmpo. But will he stay?
He can sign a long-term deal until December 21, and if he signs all will be well. If he doesn't... the noise won't go away. The Bucks traded three first-round picks for Jrue Holiday and bungled a sign-and-trade with Bogdan Bogdanovic that ended with him not in Milwaukee. If Giannis stays, it's all justified... if.
1) Los Angeles Lakers: The champs didn't get any worse. Sure he's about to turn 36 and is entering Year 18, but there are no signs that LeBron James is getting any worse. Anthony Davis signed a max extension at the start of December. They signed reigning Sixth Man of the Year Montrezl Harrell away from the Clippers and brought in Marc Gasol. Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are in their primes and are solid secondary scoring options. Put it all together, and you have your favorites to repeat.