30 biggest questions for the 2017-18 NBA season

25. How long until stories about James Harden and Chris Paul disliking each other appear?

Right after the first game. The moment the clock ticks zero on opening night, you’ll be able to read at least three major stories with a headline that says, “James Harden frustrated with Chris Paul.”

The Houston Rockets open the season against the Golden State Warriors. They will not win that game. Teams that make major additions in the offseason typically take a month or so to figure things out. Remember when the Warriors got blown out on opening night last year and people were freaking out? Or when the Lakers blew them out? It’s because they had to figure out how to incorporate Kevin Durant and Durant had to figure out how to play with them.

Paul and Harden have to figure out how to maximize each other and incorporate the rest of the team. It’s going to take them at least a month. They’ll look good in game two against the Sacramento Kings, but they’re going to struggle against the best team in the league on opening night.

And because we’re a reactionary bunch, we’re going to freak out after game one of an 82-game season and say things like, “Harden wants control of the team back” and “Paul needs Harden to be better without the ball.” People who said “Paul and Harden will never work” will claim victory while rational people will only talk about how the Warriors will go 82-0.

Chris Paul and James Harden will figure it out. Great players who want to win almost always figure it out. But until they figure it, they’re going to hate each other according to unnamed sources.