As the 2014-2015 NBA season approaches, fans are holding their breath, as several storylines dominated the news during the offseason. Last season ended with the “aging” San Antonio Spurs dismantling the “star-studded” Miami Heat 4 games to 1 by a historic margin. Disappointed by his team’s demise this past season and seeking a homecoming, Superstar Forward LeBron James opted out of his contract and signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The “Decision 2.0” sent shock waves throughout the league, and entirely changed the power in the Eastern conference. Along with the signing of James, the Cavaliers acquired Power Forward Kevin Love in a blockbuster trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Cavaliers now support a new “Big 3” consisting of James, Love, and Kyrie Irving, that many pundits have claimed could be the best since the “Jordan-Pippen-Rodman” trio of the 90’s.

Despite the magnitude of the Cavaliers offseason moves, the Eastern Conference is still very well up for grabs. Experts praised the Washington Wizards signing of veteran Paul Pierce, as he joins a young but extremely gifted backcourt and a tenacious frontcourt to finish what some have described as the most complete starting five in all of basketball.

Along with the Wizards once again becoming relevant, Derrick Rose is once again slated to return to the Chicago Bulls from another season-ending injury. With his meniscus fully healed and summer experience with Team USA to warm him up, many feel as if the Bulls can contend once again. The addition of Pau Gasol to aid with Mid-Range shooting culminates what should be a top tier defense with a greatly improving.

In the Western Conference, the seasoned San Antonio Spurs are the reigning champions. This year, they will be tested by a resilient crop of young teams (Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers). Yet, most feel as if the most imposing team to challenge the spurs will be the Oklahoma City Thunder. Led by reigning MVP Kevin Durant, the Thunder are hungrier than ever to finally win that much coveted Larry O’Brien trophy. The Thunder have shooting prowess, depth, and experience to win it all, yet must show the discipline and camaraderie that all champions must possess.

In my opinion, LeBron James will once again be MVP. His resurgence in Cleveland will be unprecedented, in terms of publicity and statistics, to any other superstars season. Yet, I do not think his team has the selflessness or experience to move on to the NBA Finals, as the Rose-led Bulls will use their boisterous defense and their ameliorated perimeter shooting (courtesy of Rose, veteran Mike Dunleavy and highly touted rookie Doug McDermott) to slide past the Cavaliers by a tiny margin. In the West, the Spurs will be far too fatigued to withstand the Thunder’s scoring duo of Durant and Russell Westbrook, as the Thunder will move on to face the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals.

In a clash of two MVP’s, the Chicago Bulls will simply not have the starpower and shot-creating prowess to defeat the Thunder. The Thunder can produce an arsenal of shots as well as protect the rim very well, which will simply be too much for the Bulls to overcome, as the Thunder will beat the Bulls in six games to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.