Welcome to the Morning Shootaround, where every weekday you’ll get a fresh, topical column from one of SI.com’s NBA writers: Howard Beck on Mondays, Chris Mannix on Tuesdays, Michael Pina on Wednesdays, Chris Herring on Thursdays and Rohan Nadkarni on Fridays.
The NBA will crown a new champion in 2021, as the Lakers’ reign came to an end Thursday in the first round of the playoffs at the hands of a hungry Suns team. For the first time since ’10, a LeBron James–led playoff team will not be appearing in the Finals.