8 Body Parts That Will Define the 2012-13 NBA Season

The 2012-13 NBA season is going to be an exciting one to watch. From the Miami Heat trying to repeat, to the Los Angeles Lakers trying to stop them, there are a number of storylines to watch as the season gets under way.

The most important storylines to watch, however, are ones pertaining to a number of star players who are currently suffering or recovering from injuries.

There are a number of teams, including the Lakers, Denver Nuggets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Chicago Bulls that are going to be keeping their eyes on some key injuries that will define the 2012-13 season.

And so should you. 

Dwight Howard's Back

19 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes? Not too shabby for Howard's debut as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

It's clear that Howard is feeling like his old, dominant self, and that's absolutely great news for the Lakers. While it was just a preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, the Lakers' star talent appeared to have some serious chemistry.

That should terrify the other 29 teams in the NBA.

This season, the Lakers will go as Howard's back goes, though, because he will be the real difference-maker throughout the 2012-13 season for the Lake Show. His presence in the paint will make life easier for everyone else around him.

If Howard can stay healthy this season, the Lakers are going to be a force to be reckoned with. If he doesn't, and his back causes him problems, this season could look a lot different than Lakers fans want it to. 

Derrick Rose's Left Knee

Derrick Rose's possible return this season is certainly up in the air. Missing the entire season isn't out of the question, but a late return isn't either. 

While a lot of his return to the court will depend on how healthy his knee is, after rehabbing from surgery, another large portion will depend on just how much the Bulls need him to come back.

If the Bulls can manage to keep their head above water in the Eastern Conference and make a run at the playoffs, then they can live without Rose for as long as it takes to ensure he is 100 percent when he returns to the court.

If Rose makes a glorious return this year, all eyes will still be on the health of his knee and the possibility of re-injuring it. For the Bulls, there is more on the line than just Rose getting back on the court. The future of their franchise is at stake with the health of Rose's knee, and that's not something the Bulls want to play around with. 

Wilson Chandler's Left Hip

Last April, Wilson Chandler suffered a hip injury that forced him to miss the rest of the 2011-12 season. While the Nuggets still survived without him, they definitely missed his presence on the court.

Chandler's career averages of 13.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game would be a nice asset for the Nuggets to have, as long as his hip is completely healthy.

His 6'8'' and 225-pound frame creates mismatches night in and night out at the shooting guard spot, and in the Nuggets' fast-paced offense, that's something they could certainly utilize.

If Chandler's hip holds up over the span of the season, the Nuggets will have another explosive offensive player coming off the bench. That makes them a deeper team and a more complete team, overall.

Kevin Love's Right Hand

In a shocking turn of events, Kevin Love broke his hand doing knuckle pushups—as reported by ESPN.com. I'm not quite sure how that happens, but either way, Love is out of the lineup for the Timberwolves for at least 6 weeks.

With Love out, the Timberwolves hopes of being a contender during the 2012-13 season took a serious hit. Not only are they going to be without Ricky Rubio, who's recovering from an ALC tear suffered last year, they will now be without the best player on their roster for a pivotal part of the season.

More importantly, Love won't be able to practice his shot or workout during the time he's out. While I'm sure the Timberwolves trainers will come up with interesting ways to keep him in shape, the fact that he won't be able to practice his jumper for a few weeks is a concern to say the least.

Surviving without Love won't be easy for the Timberwolves. They'll need to have Brandon Roy or Andrei Kirilenko step their game up immediately, and that's a lot to ask.

Once Love returns it will be interesting to see if he's ready to play at the level we've grown accustomed to of him playing. 

Dirk Nowitzki's Right Knee

The Dallas Mavericks took a major hit when Dirk Nowitzki decided to go under the knife for surgery on his right knee, as reported by ESPNDallas.com.

Luckily, according to the same report, it's looking like Nowitzki may be able to return to the court in about three weeks instead of the six weeks previously thought.

With the Mavs' new-look roster, it's imperative that Nowitzki returns as soon as possible, because without him they don't have a leader on the court. It's possible that guys like Elton Brand and Chris Kaman could carry the load while Nowitzki is gone, but that's a lot to ask of new players.

More importantly, the Mavs need Nowitzki's knee to stay healthy over the span of the season. Being held back by a bummed knee isn't an option for Nowitzki and the Mavs if they want to contend in a very competitive Western Conference.

John Wall's Left Knee

According to ESPN.com, the Washington Wizard's suffered a setback in the form of a "stress injury" to star point guard John Wall's left knee.

It's a shame that Wall is out because it finally looked like the Wizards might have a competitive team. Now, without Wall leading the way for the team and especially rookie Bradley Beal, the Wizards have a much more difficult start to the season.

The bigger question here though is whether Wall will return at 100 percent early on in the season. His injury is a "stress" type, which means it's a non-contact knee injury.

Any NBA fan knows that non-contact injuries are ones to be worried about. They are also injuries with which teams need to exercise caution. Bringing Wall back too early could seriously impact his and the Wizards future.

If Beal can somehow magically develop into the guard that a lot of experts think he can be, the Wizards can buy enough time until Wall returns. If not, the Wizards will need to just keep their head above water in the East until their franchise point guard can come back to the court. 

Andrew Bogut's Left Ankle and Stephen Curry's Right Ankle

As reported by the Star Telegram, Stephen Curry is done for the preseason, and there is still no timetable for Andrew Bogut's return this season (via Warriors.com).

That's not exactly how the Warriors wanted to start of the 2012-13 season, and the fact that two of their players are still struggling with injuries from last year is a major concern for the future of the franchise.

Curry's right ankle will be a major focus of the Warriors season, because without him at the point, they have to hope that Jarrett Jack can carry the load—which in reality, he can. The biggest question is going to be when will Bogut return from last season's foot injury and just how good of a player will he be.

There's no doubt that the Warriors can be one of the surprise teams in the Western Conference, but that's only if Bogut and Curry can return to the court and play to their full potential.

Watching their progression throughout the season will be something to keep your eyes on. 

Jeremy Lin's Left Knee

Jeremy Lin is the foundation of the Houston Rockets, and that's a double-edged sword. 

When he's playing to his full potential, he's an exciting, electrifying and productive playmaker. But when he's not on, which he hasn't been this preseason—with averages of just 5.8 points 6.5 assists in 24.8 minutes per game—he's a very inefficient player.

It's clear that Lin isn't playing at 100 percent, and that could be because either he's not fully recovered from his offseason surgery, or he doesn't yet fully trust his surgically repaired knee. Either way, if the Rockets want to have any semblance of a successful season, he has to pick up his game.

The Rockets' 2012-13 season will go as Lin's knee goes, which will be a story of ongoing interest as the season develops. Without Lin, the Rockets' next best option at the point is Shaun Livingston or rookie Scott Machado.

That's not exactly the kind of talent that can help the Rockets compete in the West.