The new NBA season tips off today with a triple header, including the defending champion San Antonio Spurs hosting the Dallas Mavericks. Robert van Royen identifies five of the biggest story lines after a busy off-season, and picks his rising team to watch.
1 LEBRON COMES HOME
When LeBron James announced he was leaving the Miami Heat and returning to the Cleveland Cavaliers in July, there were tears of joy in Ohio.
Less than eight hours after his homecoming was announced, the Cavs had sold out of season tickets.
It was amazing how quickly his departure from Cleveland to Miami in 2010 was forgotten. Then, fans burnt his singlet on the streets and wanted him banished from the state. He was often jeered when the Heat played in Cleveland, although there were signs of forgiveness during the past season.
James, who grew up in northeast Ohio, wants nothing more than to bring a title to Cleveland, something he did not quite manage in his first stint with the team.
He will form a new ''big three'' with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, two players who have yet to experience playoff basketball.
2 ADAMS COMES OF AGE
Steven Adams surprised everyone in his rookie campaign with Western Conference heavyweight Oklahoma City Thunder last year.
When he was drafted 12th overall in the 2013 NBA draft out of the University of Pittsburgh, it was predicted Adams would not see much action.
However, after impressing in the pre-season, he got plenty of minutes and did not look out of place on the big stage.
In fact, he looked like he belonged in the biggest basketball league in the world. He got under the skin of opposition players, appeared in all but one of 82 games and averaged 4.1 rebounds a game. He tallied 57 blocks, 332 rebounds and 265 points on the season, increasing New Zealanders' interest in the league.
With all-star forward Kevin Durant expected to miss the first six to eight weeks of the season with a foot fracture, Adams is sure to add to his 20 career starts and see significantly more court time. Let's hope he can stay out of foul trouble.
3 THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS
It was a beautiful thing, seeing the San Antonio Spurs win the league last year playing team basketball, schooling the Miami Heat in the finals.
The question is whether Tim Duncan (38) and Manu Ginobili (37) have enough in their legs to help the Spurs repeat.
I would not bet against it, simply because the Spurs are a well-oiled machine and did not lose any key personnel in the off-season.
Kawhi Leonard (23), last year's finals MVP, is only going to get better in his fourth season, Tony Parker (32) is still playing extremely well at the point, Boris Diaw (32) is a beast and Danny Green (27) is one of the best three-point shooters in the league.
Guard Marco Belinelli provides quality minutes off the bench for a team that simply has to go into the season as the favourite.
4 LEBRON-LESS HEAT
LeBron James spent four seasons in Miami. As well as earning the franchise a truckload of money through singlet and ticket sales, he starred as the Heat made the finals, winning two, in each of his years in the city.
With LeBron gone, the ''big three'' is no more. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh will have to make do without the best player on earth. For a while, it looked like Bosh might bail on the team as well. However, he signed a five-year contract worth $US118.7 million in July.
As Wade's ageing knees continue to cause him problems, there is no doubt the Heat is going to be a different proposition without King James.
To bolster the squad, former Indiana Pacers and LA Clippers guard Danny Granger was signed in the off-season, as well as former Bulls and Cavaliers forward Luol Deng.
5 KOBE IS BACK
A season after playing just six games, Kobe Bryant (36) is back and apparently healthy. Whether he can bounce back from a torn Achilles tendon at the end of the the 2012-13 season, and a fractured knee last season, remains to be seen.
Bryant, who still has two years on his contract, will not have point guard Steve Nash (40) dishing him any passes this season. After playing in just 15 games last season due to nerve issues, Nash has been ruled out for the season with a potentially career-ending back injury.
Bryant will also be without centre Pau Gasol, who signed with the Chicago Bulls in the off-season. Gasol and Bryant won two NBA titles together and the Spanish centre was a key part of the team.
The Lakers did sign forward Carlos Boozer in the off-season, but Bryant will probably have to be at pre-injury form if the Lakers are going to compete this season.
6 ONE PROMISING TEAM
Keep an eye on the Los Angeles Clippers. The post-Donald Sterling era begins now.
A season removed from the distractions of an owner being caught on tape making racist remarks, the Clippers are primed to contend for an NBA title.
After nine seasons coaching the Boston Celtics, Doc Rivers guided the Clippers to a franchise-record 57-win season in his first year. While his side fell to the Thunder in the playoffs, there is a feeling the team is poised to step it up in Rivers' second year.
He has a talented roster at his disposal, including point guard Chris Paul, outstanding centre DeAndre Jordan, reigning sixth man of the year Jamal Crawford and slam dunkin' master Blake Griffin.
It would not be a surprise to see the Clippers and Spurs battling it out for a spot in the finals come the business end of the season.
It seems the days of the Clippers sitting in the Lakers' shadow are over.
