Hope reigns supreme in the August portion of each NBA offseason, as nearly every franchise looks at its roster with eyes on at least competing for a spot in the play-in tournament. Yet those hopes can quickly be dashed before the calendar turns to Thanksgiving.
Young teams struggle to jell as inexperienced players adjust to the rigors of an NBA schedule, and a single injury can derail the greatest of playoff hopes. Tankathons remain en vogue even with the new lottery odds, and with Victor Wembanyama standing as a coveted prize, we could see this year’s festivities begin in January. Try as it may, the league may never be able to curb the spate of meaningless contests we see in the last section of the season.
But why focus on such doom and gloom more than a month before training camps begin? This is the season for devouring pro-am highlights and player workout videos, where every second- and third-year player is ready to take the league by storm. The playoffs and Finals remain a time of year dominated by veterans. The summer is when the youngsters get to shine.
