Every successful season has its common themes that drive winning.
In 2021-22, it was defensive improvement and a young team that would be led by a bounceback all-NBA season from its center.
The past couple seasons, its been the rapid ascension of Anthony Edwards and the team assimilation to Rudy Gobert and a top-tier NBA defense around him.
There’s no doubt that the ascension of Edwards will continue, but with the departures of Kyle Anderson, Jordan McLaughlin, and Mike Conley being another year older, facilitation depth is not a point of clarity heading into the season.