It’s (almost) here. The NBA is back. To gear up, Grantland is exhaustively previewing the 2012-13 season.
GRANTLAND STAFF
• NBA Shootaround Predictions
Grantland’s finest weigh in on what will happen in the NBA this year.
• Who Is the Next JaVale McGee?
Genius. Weirdo. Social media phenomenon. The NBA will create another. But who?
BILL SIMMONS
• The Harden Disaster
Not only did Oklahoma City destroy something beautiful, they just handed the Western Conference to the Lakers.
• LeBron’s Quest for Immortality
With a title in hand, the next step for King James is to secure his legacy.
• The Harden Dilemma
The Thunder claiming they are just a poor, small-market team that can’t afford James Harden doesn’t work in today’s NBA.
ZACH LOWE
• Serge Ibaka Is the Most Important Player in the NBA
But he has a lot of work to do if the Thunder are going to contend for the title.
• Thunder Bolt
Examining Oklahoma City’s risky move and the beginning of the James Harden era in Houston.
• Examining David Stern’s Legacy
Looking back as the Notorious D.J.S. prepares to hang it up.
• A World Without Andrew
What the Sixers will do without Bynum.
• 26 Bold Predictions for the NBA Season
Foolproof, lock-stock, no-doubt prognostications sure to happen (until they don’t).
• The Knicks Bigs Issue
Can Carmelo Anthony really play power forward? And should he?
• Brooklyn’s Brook Lopez Problem
The Nets’ big man is the biggest reason New York’s new team isn’t a real contender.
• Same Old Song and Dance
Why the NBA’s decision to eliminate pregame rituals won’t work.
• A Whole New Ballgame
What is the next innovation in the NBA?
• Sizing Up Small Ball
How the Celtics, Lakers, and the rest of the league are responding to their rivals.
• The New Age of Flopping
Understanding the NBA’s rules change.
• Your Guide to the NBA’s All-League Pass Teams
The most fun squads that actually have a chance to compete this season.
• The NBA’s New Power
Determining the Association’s tiers of success — or lack thereof — after a wild offseason.
JONATHAN ABRAMS
• The Memphis Grind
A week inside Grizzlies HQ with coach Lionel Hollins.
• The Miseducation of J.R. Smith
Is the Knicks’ erratic shooting guard misguided or just misunderstood?
• Bernard James, Reporting for Duty
The Dallas Mavericks’ surprising 27-year-old draft pick has been in the trenches before.
JAY CASPIAN KANG
• Psychological Terror and Greivis Vasquez
You should be playing salary-cap fantasy basketball.
• BOOGIEWATCH and WOOBLY Watch
A preseason NBA two-for-one.
• Person of Interest: Antawn Jamison
The Lakers’ sixth man has Hall of Fame numbers; will he get the recognition he deserves?
WESLEY MORRIS
• The New NBA Uniform Power Rankings
Cleveland won something!
REMBERT BROWNE
• Brooklyn Zoo
How the Nets took over BK in six easy steps.
CHARLES P. PIERCE
• The Doc’s Still In
Examining the career arc of Doc Rivers.
AMOS BARSHAD
• The Celtics Get Jet-Fueled
Inside the NBA preseason with Jason Terry and the Boston Celtics.
ROBERT MAYS
• Big Shoulders
Derrick Rose, Benji Wilson, and the love of a city.
• Enter Superman
We Went There: Dwight Howard’s Lakers debut.
BEN DETRICK
• We Went There: Sixers-Knicks in the Carrier Dome
Carmelo Anthony revisits his Syracuse stomping grounds.
BRETT KOREMENOS
• The New X’s and O’s
Five signature plays of the five NBA title-contending teams.
PODCASTS
• B.S. Report: Zach Lowe and Haralabos Voulgaris
Grantland’s Zach Lowe and sports bettor Haralabos “Bob” Voulgaris break down the shocking James Harden trade and what they expect from the NBA season.
• B.S. Report: Brian Scalabrine
Brian Scalabrine visits the studio to talk with Bill about his days as a Celtic, the rift between Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo, and why no one talks to KG before games.
• B.S. Report: Joe House, Part 1
It’s NBA over/unders podcast — the Eastern Conference!
• B.S. Report: Joe House, Part 2
It’s part 2 of the NBA over/unders podcast — the Western Conference!
• The Jalen Rose Report
Jalen Rose talks to David Jacoby about joining NBA Countdown, David Stern’s retirement, and what it’s like for athletes in a contract year.
VIDEOS
• The Best B.S.: Brian Scalabrine
Brian Scalabrine talks to Bill Simmons about Kevin Garnett and compares Rajon Rondo to Jason Kidd.
• Video: The Jalen Rose Report
Jalen Rose reacts to the blockbuster James Harden trade and how it reminds him of his regrets from his career as a basketball player. Plus! David Jacoby clowns Jalen for wearing a fake Gucci shirt.
• Video: Jalen and Bill on Shaq’s Potential
Jalen Rose and Bill Simmons discuss facing Shaquille O’Neal in the NBA Finals and how Shaq never reached his full potential as a player.