Lots of news from around the NBA this week with Noel injured, Miami favored and Clippers-Lakers rivalry heating up.

Clippers Cover Up - This Is Why They Wanted Doc Rivers

There was a reason that the Los Angeles Clippers chased after Doc Rivers to be their head coach during the offseason. That reason was partly shown this week when Rivers made the decision to cover up the banners and retired jerseys of the Los Angeles Lakers during their preseason home games. The veteran head coach was fearless and defended his actions perfectly after members of the Lakers apparently displayed ‘outrage’ at the decision.

The Clippers want to be a championship contending team and that means the culture needs to change. Rivers has no interest in coaching a team playing under the shadow of the great franchise that it shares the Staples Center with. The message to Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and co is clear. You need to win and you need to win now. The early signs are very positive for the Clippers, even if none of it matters until they actually hit the floor.

Nerlens Noels Injured - Not Two Seasons In A Row For 76ers?

The big move for Philadelphia last season was the acquisition of center Andrew Bynum. Unfortunately, Bynum didn’t suit up once for the 76ers due to knee injuries. The big news this season was supposed to be the introduction of rookie Nerlens Noel. However, the news is now that the sixth overall pick from the latest NBA draft will probably have to sit out the entirety of the 2013-14 season as he recovers from knee surgery. Noel suffered the injury while playing for the Kentucky Wildcats on February 12. Acquiring the talent forward cost Philadelphia Jrue Holiday and the news that he will need even longer rehabilitation may justify many GMs concerns after the long projected first overall pick dropped all the way down the six-spot.

In the short term, this really changes nothing for Philadelphia. They were clearly planning to ‘tank’ the season anyway. Still, there have got to be some concerns about the status of Noel and his knee moving forward.

GM Poll Favors Miami Heat Three-Peat

Unsurprisingly the GM Poll has picked the Miami Heat to win a third straight NBA championship. All signs point towards LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh claiming a third title before the next ‘big decision’. The San Antonio Spurs and Indiana Pacers were tied for second in voting. There are those that have suggested improvements from the Pacers, Chicago Bulls, and even the Brooklyn Nets could topple Miami’s grip on the Eastern conference. However, most polls and predictions are quickly showing that the majority still fancy the Heat to win it all when it comes down to it.

The Spurs selection as tied for second is a pretty clear demonstration that the Western conference could hardly be more wide open. Pick any of San Antonio, Oklahoma City, the Clippers, Houston or Memphis and you are probably not going far wrong.

The poll also picked LeBron James to win a fifth MVP award. That would tie James with Michael Jordan and Bill Russell for second most MVP awards in NBA history. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (with six) has won more than five.

Russell Westbrook Getting Closer

Oklahoma City point guard Westbrook participated in practice drills for the first time this week after undergoing knee surgery earlier this month. Westbrook is expected to miss the first six weeks of the season due to his injury. Most crucial for the Thunder is that he returns at full health and helps this roster avenge an extremely disappointing 2013 NBA playoffs performance.