NBA Preseason 2015: Breaking Down Top Matchups on Schedule Before Regular Season
The NBA regular season is days away, which means limited opportunities remain for fans to study up on the state of the Association before things start shaking out for real on Oct. 27.
And when it comes to exhibition action, up-and-comers deserve to be highlighted.
Whether it's rookies trying to work out kinks in their games, sleepers developing chemistry in preparation for climbs up the standings or second-year studs looking to add wrinkles to their game, the final week of the preseason certainly isn't lacking for intrigue.
Here are a few games to keep an eye on with the regular season on the horizon.
Wednesday, Oct. 21: Washington Wizards at Miami Heat, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN
Beyond the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Eastern Conference is a mystery. The Chicago Bulls are perennially considered a threat to the throne, but they haven't qualified for the Eastern Conference Finals since the 2010-11 season.
That leaves things a bit wide-open, with the Washington Wizards and Miami Heat both lingering as intriguing contenders. Washington fell one game shy of qualifying for the Eastern Conference Finals a season ago, and the Heat are finally back healthy after injuries plagued them throughout the 2014-15 campaign.
When the teams meet Wednesday, fans will catch a glimpse of those Southeast Division rivals in action on a nationally televised stage. While the focus for Miami will be on the developing synergy between Chris Bosh, Goran Dragic and Dwyane Wade, the Wizards are undergoing a stylistic shift that could result in a more efficient offense.
Head coach Randy Wittman explained, per the Washington Post's Jorge Castillo:
"We’ve got to make great strives offensively. We were below average in terms of all the numbers, points per game, points per 100 possessions, pace of play. All those things got to be better. And I think if we stay where we are defensively and we improve ourselves in those offensive numbers, that’s how you advance on farther.
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One move the Wizards could make to help facilitate that shift would be starting Otto Porter Jr. at the 4 in place of the burly Nene (6'11", 260 lbs). Not only will Porter allow Washington to run more, but he can help space the floor in order to free up more driving lanes for John Wall.
After playing 45 percent of his minutes at the 4 last postseason, Porter looks like the small-ball power forward capable of helping Washington's offense flip the switch.
Thursday, Oct. 22: Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m. ET, TNT
Last week's contest between the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors was cut short because of slippery floor conditions, so Thursday's meeting on TNT should give us a chance to see the Pacific Division duel go the distance.
The Warriors are a proven commodity, though, so interest should be heavy in the Lakers, who are still seeking to establish an identity as they cope with the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one.
Even with Kobe Bryant in the fold, this season is going to be about patience for the Lakers. They need to develop the skills of No. 2 overall pick D'Angelo Russell and find ways to maximize the talents of last year's lottery pick, Julius Randle.
So far this preseason, Randle has stood out as a legitimate difference-maker. He's averaging 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds while knocking down 50 percent of his shots—all but one of which have come inside the paint.
"Things are lining up for Julius, who's been anxiously grinding in preparation for what's become an impressive return," SB Nation's Drew Garrison wrote. "He's translated five-minute stretches against lesser touted prospects in summer league into quality starting minutes against NBA players, putting a year's worth of rehab behind him."
Matched up against the defending champions, Randle should get another indication of where he stands compared to some of his most esteemed peers.
Friday, Oct. 23: Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBA League Pass
The Philadelphia 76ers don't offer much in terms of promise yet, but exhibition play has offered glimpses of the team's intriguing frontcourt pairing of Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor.
In last Sunday's 92-91 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, Noel and Okafor finished with 15 and 14 points, respectively, while Noel stuffed the stat sheet with 11 rebounds, five assists, six steals, two blocks and even a couple of mid-range jumpers.
The key for Noel is trying to find a place he feels comfortable on the floor that doesn't disrupt Okafor's low-post, back-to-the-basket flow. And since Nerlens doesn't possess a particularly reliable mid-range jump shot yet, his willingness to try to hone that part of his game has been encouraging.
"We're getting more and more comfortable as time goes on and we play more and more games," Noel said, per the Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Breen. "We learned each other's tendencies—where he likes to be on the court, where I like to be on the court. It's only going to get better and better."
A duel with a well-coached Boston Celtics team will offer a stiff test for those two youngsters, but if they can keep the momentum rolling Friday night, Sixers fans may finally have a reason to be excited for the start of the regular season.
All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com unless noted otherwise.
