Los Angeles (AFP)
Like diamonds, champions are eternal in the NBA where, to properly celebrate its 75th anniversary, an enticing three-way race will begin on Tuesday between the defending Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Nets of Kevin Durant and the Lakers of LeBron James.
The opening of the regular season will have a scent of play-offs on Tuesday, with first a remake of the epic last Eastern Conference final between Milwaukee and Brooklyn, then a duel between the Lakers, in search of an 18th coronation. record, and the Warriors of the magician Stephen Curry.
Selling dreams, the NBA has known how to do for a long time.
This does not prevent him from having, like everyone else, to manage complicated situations, such as those resulting from Covid-19.
The appearance of the vaccine allows a return to normal, in full rooms, but in the image of society - barely more than half of the population of the United States is immune - the microcosm of the NBA has its vaccine-resistant among players, certainly in the minority (4%), but who claim their freedom to do what they see fit for their health.
The most famous of these unvaccinated is Kyrie Irving.
Barred from playing home games for the Nets in Brooklyn under a New York City executive order, he was sidelined by his officials who do not accept that he is "only partially available" .
Twenty others like Bradley Beal (Wizards) will have to submit to a binding health protocol.
- The unknown Irving -
In the meantime, it is not with their "Big3" in full that the Nets will start their campaign.
Which should lead them to the throne, according to many observers.
Uncertainty reigns over the future of Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving, here against the Miami Heat in New York, January 23, 2021 ELSA Getty / AFP / Archives
Even without Irving (26.9 points average in 2020-2021), if the latter does not play for the season?
Yes, because Kevin Durant is once again the best player in the world, two years after his ruptured right Achilles tendon.
"KD", in search of a third ring of champion after those gleaned in 2017 and 2018 with the Warriors, will have at his side James Harden, who wants him to finally taste a first title.
Scorer at heart, "The Beard" has therefore transformed into a passer and defender.
They will be reinforced by Patty Mills, bronze medalist at the Tokyo Olympics with Australia and arrived from San Antonio where he was champion in 2014. Other recruits, Paul Millsap (ex-Denver) and LaMarcus Aldridge, authorized to leave his career. retirement by doctors, despite heart problems.
"When you lose a player as talented as Kyrie, you have to be more united, more connected, make the guys take more importance and be more responsible. It will take a lot of collective work, to build a real team." , summed up coach Steve Nash.
The same priority drives the Lakers, who have chosen to change almost everything around the LeBron James / Anthony Davis duo, after the failure suffered against Phoenix, in the first round of the last play-offs, by calling on talented veterans , Russell Westbrook, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, and Warriors, Trevor Ariza and Dwight Howard.
The two Lakers megastars LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the road to their success in the bubble of Dineyworld, Florida, August 10, 2020 POOL Getty / AFP / Archives
- Studious Giannis -
The oldest workforce in the league (30.7 years on average) will have to stay in good health and quickly find automatisms.
"It will take time to become the team that we can be. There will be times when we are not quite there, where we take steps back. It's part of the process," LeBron warned nonetheless. James, who dreams of a 5th ring at almost 37 years old.
The Bucks, they can take advantage of betting on continuity, after their coronation at the expense of the Suns (4-2) who owed a lot to Antetokounmpo (35.2 points, 13.2 rebounds, 5 average assists in the final) , well helped by Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday.
The appetite coming while eating, the "Greek Freak" has worked a lot on his shooting this summer to be even more formidable offensively.
Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo named best player of the NBA Finals (MVP) after winning the title at the expense of the Phoenix Suns, July 20, 2021 in Milwaukee JONATHAN DANIEL Getty / AFP / Archives
Among the underdogs, Phoenix, where Chris Paul remained, will no longer be underestimated, Utah has strengthened with Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside, to help Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert.
The Clippers will have to compose a long time without Kawhi Leonard (knee), while Golden State is waiting to finally recover Klay Thompson, after more than two years without playing, to exist again.
In the East, Atlanta and Trae Young, finalists of the conference, will have to confirm this new status, Philadelphia and Joel Embiid will try to recover from the psychodrama Ben Simmons, reinstated after having done everything to leave, and New York will try to prolong its unexpected rebirth. .
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