With the new NBA season right around the corner, teams are making plans and decisions on their roster to get ready for the long battle ahead. The Denver Nuggets, Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzlies, and several other teams are at the forefront of discussions regarding their prospects for the season. With notable player injuries and strategic shifts, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how these developments will influence team performances.
Perhaps none more so than the Nuggets, who often faltered last season whenever star center Nikola Jokic wasn’t on the floor. During these stretches, they were outscored by an average of 9.3 points per 100 possessions. This shocking statistic highlights their extreme reliance on his talents. Conversely, the Thunder possess a promising future. They’ll take a bit of a step back just from possible championship complacency. Their young roster has amazing depth and the chance to leap far ahead of everyone else by the 2025-26 season.
On their defensive side of the ball, the Thunder were a top defensive team last season at quickly leading defense to offense. Their defensive supremacy is evident with an astounding metric of 13.2. That’s a testament to their ability to impact games through turnover creation and in transition.
Notable Player Developments
Injuries have heavily focused the lens on a few teams as they prepare for the new season. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland is expected to miss the beginning of the season due to a toe injury. At the same time, Miami Heat’s Max Strus will be spending months on the inactive list while healing from a broken foot. If healthy, these absences would alter the landscape around their respective squads. It’s crucial to monitor them closely during those first few weeks.
On the other end, for the Trail Blazers, their defense has shown itself to be a surprising strength. During the latter half of last year, they pulled off a top-five mark defensively. This truly remarkable accomplishment was a result of their transition defense, as evidenced by a remarkable figure of 1.19. This marked improvement makes them dangerous as they attempt to gain traction this campaign.
On a separate note, the Memphis Grizzlies have received a lot of praise this season for their unorthodox offensive style. They set the NBA record for fewest on-ball screens and handoffs per game since player tracking started in 2013-14, averaging a paltry 49.7. With their new coaching staff led by Tuomas Iisalo, they saw a dramatic jump. While they only averaged 73.7 on-ball screens and handoffs across nine games, that shows a possible change in tactics heading into this season.
Team Strategies and Future Outlooks
When talking about approaches to the new season, Dallas Mavericks created waves by agreeing to terms with D’Angelo Russell on a one-season arrangement. This move acts, at least in part, as a stopgap move while they figure out their roster waters.
Additionally, Sacramento Kings face challenges as they allowed 1.07 points per direct drive last season, the worst in the league, indicating a need for defensive improvements if they wish to contend effectively this year.
The Rockets have made waves with Coach Ime Udoka stating, “We’re probably one of the biggest teams in the history of the league.” This height edge could prove to be a key factor in their plan both on the attack and on defense as the season moves along.
Joe Tsai of the Brooklyn Nets provided insight into his team’s long-term strategy, saying, “We have one [first-round] pick in 2026, and we hope to get a good pick. So, you can predict what kind of strategy we will use for this season.” That’s indicative of a buy–build approach to ambitious success that’s figuring out how to address today’s challenges.
Leadership and Team Dynamics
Leadership looks to be one of those threads as well, as these teams get ready for the 2023 season. Devin Booker expressed his readiness to take on more responsibility with a younger team, stating, “Obviously a younger team and I’ll have more of a leadership responsibility. And that’s fine with me.” His experience will prove invaluable as he mentors younger, less experienced players.
Meanwhile, Coach Will Hardy emphasized the potential of youth within his squad: “We can’t only look at the downsides of youth. We want to try to flip the narrative on its head. Sure, there are negatives to being young. But there are a lot of positives.” Adopting this proactive and positive perspective would go a long way to shaping the environment needed to facilitate innovation and development.
As players like Ja Morant prepare for what has been described as “a big season,” according to Grizzlies general manager Zach Kleiman, anticipation builds around how individual performances will impact team outcomes across the league.
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