What was there to look forward to this season?
Before the season began, people believed there were several major storylines to watch.
First was the collapse of the Lakers dynasty. Just how far would they fall? The Lakers had always ruled the league as an absolute dominant force. Now that the former king had fallen, how would the other teams kick them while they were down?
What kind of performance would GOAT Kobe deliver on a team filled with scrubs and rookies? Would he improve even further after leaving O'Neal, or would his game plummet? No one knew.
Second was whether O'Neal could win the first MVP of his career in Houston. The roster and its fit were ideal, and he himself was at the peak of his powers. After so many years of battle, winning an MVP would be the greatest reward for O'Neal.
Some even believed that O'Neal, not Kobe, had been the primary contributor to the Lakers' five championships. O'Neal should have been the MVP and the FMVP. This year, the league's number-one center would lead the Rockets to another title, and then it would be obvious who the true main character behind the five straight championships had been.
Third was who would become the league's new king. Too many elite teams had suddenly emerged this summer! Whether in the Western Conference or the Eastern Conference, a storm of bloodshed was bound to erupt.
The battle for the best regular-season record would be incredibly fierce. Another legendary seventy-win team might even emerge.
The MVP race among the players would be just as intense. There were simply too many players in the league with MVP-level ability! Kobe, O'Neal, Duncan, Iverson, Hill, Carter, Garnett, McGrady.
All of them possessed MVP-caliber talent, and their teams gave them the opportunity to