After Changes in Players and Coaches, Three Texas NBA Teams Start Fresh

What to expect from Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio this season.

By Alexandra HartOctober 25, 2016 11:57 am,

Tonight is opening night in the NBA. Nationally, much of the focus is on the two teams that played for the title last season – the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But Texas’ three teams have plenty to play for too, and plenty of questions to answer. The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets underwent major changes this off-season, adding new players and changing coaches. The San Antonio Spurs are dark horses for the title, even after the retirement of Tim Duncan.

Tonight, the Spurs will start their 82-game journey with a game against the Warriors.

Jabari Young, a Spurs and NBA writer for the San Antonio Express-News, says the biggest question for the Spurs is whether they’ll be able to make a good showing in the playoff season.

“They obviously know they’re going to be good in the regular season, but do they have enough once playoff time comes around to get through the playoffs?” Young says. “There’s probably going to be a match-up against the Golden State Warriors at some point. Do you have enough to get past them? Tonight is the first test.”

What you’ll hear in this segment:

– How the Spurs will make up for Tim Duncan’s retirement

– The Mavericks’ chances of making it in the playoffs

– What to expect this season from the Rockets, last year’s underachievers