\n
\nLOS ANGELES: The Golden State Warriors will be chasing their fifth title since 2015 when the new NBA campaign tips off on Tuesday after one of the most turbulent off-seasons in years.<\/p>\n
\nThe Warriors, who returned to the pinnacle of basketball in June with an NBA Finals series victory over the Boston Celtics, open the defense of their title in San Francisco against the Los Angeles Lakers.<\/p>\n
\nThe Celtics, meanwhile, host the Philadelphia 76ers in the other opening fixture of the 82-game regular season that reaches its conclusion next April.<\/p>\n
\nThe Warriors embark on their campaign under a cloud of locker-room discontent.<\/p>\n
\nThe franchise was plunged into turmoil earlier this month after it emerged that defensive star Draymond Green had punched out teammate Jordan Poole in practice.<\/p>\n
\nWarriors coach Steve Kerr says the bust-up is the biggest crisis of his reign as coach, and uniting the locker room following the controversy is his priority.<\/p>\n
\nWarriors talisman Steph Curry, meanwhile, helped broker clear-the-air talks between Green and Poole.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHow we handle this situation is important,\u201d Curry said.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cHow Draymond responds to the space that he needs to come back with the right frame of mind on doing the work, coming with the right energy, making it about the team \u2014 all those things are important.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nOff-season turmoil has been a feature of several of the franchises who might normally expect to be challenging the Warriors this season.<\/p>\n
\nThe Celtics\u2019 pre-season preparations were upended by the stunning one-season suspension of coach Ime Udoka last month.<\/p>\n
\nUdoka, one of the brightest coaching talents in the NBA, was suspended after reports of an improper intimate relationship with a female staff member.<\/p>\n
\nThe Brooklyn Nets, meanwhile, head into the new campaign with unease surrounding the status of Kevin Durant.<\/p>\n
\nDurant requested a trade in June while US media reported that the 34-year-old, 12-time NBA All-Star had given team owner Joe Tsai an ultimatum \u2014 either fire Steve Nash and general manager Sean Marks, or let him leave the club.<\/p>\n
\nThe standoff appeared to have been resolved in August when the Nets said Durant would remain with the team following talks with management.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cFamilies go through things like this,\u201d Nash said in September. \u201cYou go through adversity. You go through disagreements.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBack in the Western Conference, meanwhile, turmoil has also gripped one of Golden State\u2019s biggest rivals, the Phoenix Suns.<\/p>\n
\nLast year, the Suns ran away with the conference, stitching together an impressive 64-18 record before once again falling short in the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\nTheir off-season has been overshadowed by the uproar surrounding team owner Robert Sarver after the league released results of a 10-month investigation which alleged workplace misconduct including sexual harassment and using racially insensitive language.<\/p>\n
\nSarver was initially hit with a one-year ban and a $10 million fine, but later said he would sell team and sister WNBA franchise the Phoenix Mercury.<\/p>\n
\nOther franchises, meanwhile, have hit the reset button, revamping rosters with both the long- and short-term in mind.<\/p>\n
\nThe Utah Jazz \u2014 who boasted the best record in the league two years ago \u2014 parted company with coach Quin Snyder in June while linchpins such as Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have been traded away.<\/p>\n
\nThe Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, will hope to hit the ground running under new coach Darvin Ham, who replaced the fired Frank Vogel in June.<\/p>\n
\nThe Lakers will hope 37-year-old LeBron James and Anthony Davis can maintain fitness over the course of the grueling regular-season schedule, while the arrival of Patrick Beverley and Germany\u2019s Dennis Schroder should help shore up a flimsy defense.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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