From October to June only one thing is on everyone's mind.
The World Series. Football. The Super Bowl. The beginning of baseball season.
OK, so maybe the NBA only has the country's full attention from January to June, but basketball fans around the world
are excited for the beginning of another basketball season.
With the exciting FIBA World Championships over the summer, basketball fans got a taste of what they will see in the
NBA this season. But, the real season for the players that were in that tournament begins on Halloween. Here are five burning
questions that will be answered this season:
1. How will the new basketball affect play? Players of every position on every team are complaining about the new basketball David Stern introduced before the NBA Draft.
Miami Heat center
Shaquille O'Neal likened it to a cheap basketball that you can buy
at a toy store. Two-time MVP Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns also complained about the new ball.
However, Stern promises that this new ball is here to stay. Whether Spalding had problems acquiring leather or the NBA felt it
had to make this change, the new ball is going to be used and it is going to have an effect on the way the game is played.
The new ball is made of a synthetic microfiber material; unlike the old ball which was made of traditional leather. Most other
leagues, including FIBA, the NCAA, and most high schools, use similar balls. The advantage of the ball is that no ball has to be broken
in and they all feel the same.
Players have complained, however, that the ball gets too slippery when it is wet and that it gets wet very quickly. The leather
ball was better at absorbing sweat. The ball, because it is made of a different material, also bounces on the rim differently than
the leather balls. Whether this means a shot will roll off the rim rather than through it is still up for debate.
Commissioner Stern did his homework with the new basketball, testing it at the All Star game (didn't seem to hurt there)
and during the summer league games.
Really, these are the best players in the world. They should be able to play basketball well whether they are playing with
a rubber ball or a medicine ball. The new ball will take some getting used to. Expect some of the players to struggle and field goal
percentages, at least in the beginning of the season, dip. However, the ball should have no long term effect on the way the game is
played and the good teams in the NBA will still be the good teams in the NBA.
2. What will Ben Wallace's move to the Bulls do to the Eastern Conference? For the last six years, the definition of defense and toughness belonged to the
Detroit Pistons and their hard-working center
Ben Wallace. The Pistons decided this summer that with Wallace again, and his
production slowly declining, he wasn't worth the money he was seeking.
The balance of power in the Central Division and the Eastern Conference has shifted away from Detroit and has moved towards Chicago.
Before acquiring Wallace, the Bulls, coached by former Magic player
Scott Skiles, were the statistically the best defensive team in the NBA. Their
surprise playoff run two years ago was keyed by their strong defense and the emerging play of point guard Kirk Hinrich.
The Bulls finished last season seventh in the East, but pushed the eventual champion Heat to six games before bowing out. In that
series, the Bulls showed toughness, but also showed they lacked a big man.
Ben Wallace, despite his age, will be that big man. The Bulls dumped
perpetual project Tyson Chandler in favor of the consistent veteran P.J. Brown. The Bulls now have a mix of veterans to teach the young
players how to win deep in the playoffs.
The Pistons, on the other hand, replaced Ben Wallace with Nazr Mohammed.
Mohammed is no Wallace. Detroit still features a core group of strong guards and good defenders, but that team fed off of the play of
Ben Wallace. Without having him behind them, the Pistons perimeter defenders have
lost their safety net.
3. Will Isaiah Thomas last the season with the New York Knicks? To call the New York Knicks a disaster, would be an understatement. The Knicks are mired
with salary cap problems, no draft picks to move, and no favorable contracts. The Knicks are a melting pot of overpaid players, questionable
draft picks, and Channing Frye and Nate Robinson.
The younger players - Frye, Robinson, and David Lee - are the only bright spots on this team. Thomas is truly inheriting his own
mess. There is only one ball for Stephon Marbury and
Steve Francis to share and the Knicks drafted Renaldo Balkman way too early.
Thomas really has no hope for a successful season unless he benches the disgruntled superstars and decides to only play his
younger players. Thomas neither has the time - with a win now ultimatum from the owner - nor the patience to do this. He won't sit
Marbury and Francis. Thomas inherited a sinking ship and poked another hole in it. After this season, maybe before then, he'll pay for
his mistakes. The Knicks, though, won't escape for another 5-6 years.
4. Who will move to Oklahoma City first, the Sonics or the Hornets? Officially, the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets are still housed in New Orleans. They'll
open their season in the Bayou, but they'll still play most of their home games in Oklahoma City. The NBA is determined to keep
basketball in New Orleans as the area continues to recover from Hurricane Katrina.
While the New Orleans Saints of the NFL have found success returning to the Superdome, the Hornets have not. They have not sold
out their opening night game against the Houston Rockets on November 5. Meanwhile, the Hornets
seem to be quite profitable in Oklahoma City where they have a receptive fan base.
I'm all for keeping the institutions of New Orleans alive after the tragic hurricane, but the Hornets have no business remaining
in the city. Even before the hurricane, the Hornets had one of the worst attendance records in the NBA. The owners have to see this
problem and think long-term. While it may be good press to stay in New Orleans, it makes business sense to move to Oklahoma City, where
the city embraced the team after the natural disaster.
In steps the Seattle Supersonics. The Sonics and the city of Seattle have been
debating about how to renovate the Key Arena. The Sonics lease runs out soon and the Sonics may be looking to move. Especially since the
Sonics, and their WNBA counterpart the Seattle Storm, were just bought by a group from Oklahoma City.
With the success of Oklahoma City as an NBA market with the Hornets last season, Oklahoma City has put itself in the race to
acquire an NBA team. Both the Hornets and the Sonics are attractive picks.
Speaking of teams moving, the Sacramento Kings are still battling to fund a new arena
to replace the aging ARCO Arena. Owners Joe and Gavin Maloof are Las Vegas tycoons. If the all star game is a resounding success this year
and David Stern gets assurances about gambling problems, the Kings could be on the move to Sin City.
Personally, I don't want to see any teams move from where they are. But, sometimes it makes sense for these teams to jump ship
for a better opportunity of displaying the game of basketball and, yes, making a profit.
5. Who will win the Greg Oden sweepstakes? For the teams that don't make the playoffs, they will be just one lucky ping pong ball bounce away from landing the most hyped
about center since Shaquille O'Neal came into the league (sorry
Dwight Howard, but you had to battle the spotlight with Emeka Okafor). Greg Oden
is only a freshman at Ohio State, but nobody doubts that he will spend the required year in college and then come into the NBA ready to
dominate much like LeBron James.
The question is: who's going to get him?
Scratch out the Knicks, their pick once again goes to Chicago. Teams will be vying for the best chance, but which of the bottom
feeders really needs this big man?
The Portland Trail Blazers could use anything to clean up their image. The
Philadelphia 76ers need to find a way to get younger and/or build around Allen Iverson quickly.
A big man would be helpful in Seattle where Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis are pretty much alone beyond the three point arc.
Plenty of teams need a decent big man, and all the teams that don't make the playoffs will be relishing the opportunity to pick up
this young player.
Prediction Time!
All right. Now that we're set for the NBA season, let's go ahead and hand out some trophies and awards. These will change because
82 games is a really long time, but for now this is how I see the NBA going down this year.
Eastern Conference Atlantic Division
1. New Jersey Nets - with
Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Richard Jefferson it will be tough to stop them
from scoring. Question is, do they have enough toughness down low and defense to get to the next level?
2. Toronto Raptors - this team probably made the best moves over the offseason. Not only
did they resign Chris Bosh, they also went overseas and took some of the best players in the world in Jorge Garbajosa, Anthony Parker,
and number one draft pick Andrea Bargnani. Don't forget they acquired T.J. Ford in a trade and still have the dangerous Morris Peterson.
3. Boston Celtics - another ho-hum season for Boston could be the end for former Magic
coach Doc Rivers. Paul Pierce is consistent, but how are they going to succeed
with three young point guards (Delonte West, Sebastian Telfair, and Rajon Rondo)?
4. Philadelphia 76ers - Allen Iverson needs to win now because he is not waiting through
a rebuilding project. Chris Webber is solid, but he's not what he used to be. Rodney Carney and Andre Iguodala should give some
excitement for the future, but as long as Iverson has the ball, the Sixers won't win.
5. New York Knicks - what do I need to say about them? They have one ball for two
ball-needy point guards and some good young players. Thomas is going to have to balance how he develops his young players while trying
to keep his overpaid superstars happy.
Central Division
1. Chicago Bulls - they have been the best defensive team in the league the past two
seasons. Their one weakness: center. Their major addition: Defensive Player of the Year
Ben Wallace. Scoring a lot of point doesn't matter when you hold teams below
95 points a night. The additions of P.J. Brown, Tyrus Thomas, and Thabo Sefolosha should balance the team a bit more.
2. Cleveland Cavaliers -
LeBron James has taken his team to the playoffs now and willed the Cavs to
a playoff victory over the Washington Wizards. For LeBron to take his team to the next level
he has to have his supporting cast healthy. If Larry Hughes and Zydrunas Ilgauskas are healthy, the Cavs will be a tough out.
3. Detroit Pistons - Without heart and sould
Ben Wallace, the offense becomes more important since the team is more
guard-focused with Richard Hamilton and Chauncey Billups as the leaders. This team will not be the same force it was without Big Ben in
the middle.
4. Indiana Pacers - the Pacers have had their fair share of problems with the law
ever since the brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills two years ago. They've also had problems keeping their players healthy. Jermaine
O'Neal and Jamaal Tinsley were both injured for a good part of the past two seasons. Health is the key for the Pacers.
5. Milwaukee Bucks - the Bucks have Michael Redd. Anytime you have a player that can
shoot threes the way he does, you're going to compete in ball games. However, trading away T.J. Ford might prove to be a fatal mistake.
Andrew Bogut is a long way from being a number one pick big man.
Southeast Division
1. Miami Heat - the defending champions brought back everyone from their championship
team. That means they either have the experience to win it again or they have aged another year. Either way, the teams in this division
are too young to challenge the Heat.
2. Orlando Magic -
Dwight Howard looks ready to take his game to the next level and become an
all star. The team's success depends on the play of
Darko Milicic and
Grant Hill. If Hill is healthy and can be a shadow of himself from his days in
Detroit, the Magic will be a player in the Eastern Conference.
3. Washington Wizards - led by Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison, this is always a
dangerous team. The post is their weakness, but Brendan Haywood and Etan Thomas hold their own. The addition of
DeShawn Stevenson is an underrated move to help the team out on defense.
4. Charlotte Bobcats - the Bobcats aren't ready to make the playoffs quite yet, but
they are getting there. Adam Morrison will make a major contribution to the young team. Gerald Wallace is the most underrated player in
the NBA. If Emeka Okafor is healthy, the team will have some dependability down low.
5. Atlanta Hawks - Joe Johnson is a phenomenal player. Josh Smith is getting better,
but he isn't the complement that the Hawks need to their superstar. The Hawks are still an incredibly young team and don't have enough
to be anything but an afterthought in the East.
Western Conference Northwest Division
1. Denver Nuggets - despite all the complaining by Kenyon Martin, the Nuggets are still
the best team in this weak division. Carmelo Anthony showed in the FIBA Tournament that he is not the afterthought to the
LeBron-Dwyane Wade draft of 2003.
2. Utah Jazz - it's too bad that the Jazz's key players can't stay off the injured
list. Andrei Kirilenko and Memo Okur had breakout seasons last year, but both spent time on the injured list.
Matt Harpring is a solid player, but is often hurt. Utah could challenge
for the division, but they've got to stay off the injured list first.
3. Seattle Sonics - the Sonics are led by the guard trio of Luke Ridnour, Ray Allen,
and Rashard Lewis. They can score points, but defense is their problem. They don't have any big men and Saer Sene is at least five years
of playing before he is ready to play in the NBA.
4. Minnesota Timberwolves - it is clear that Kevin Garnett wants out of Minneapolis. If
the Wolves miss the playoffs, Kevin McHale will be forced to oblige. The Wolves added Randy Foye, who should turn into a decent point guard.
But, this team isn't built to win this year.
5. Portland Trail Blazers - the Blazers are starting to head in the right direction as
they try to shed their “bad boy” image. Zach Randolph is still the center of the team. The Blazers are too young to win a lot of games,
but LaMarcus Aldridge, when he is healthy again, and Brandon Roy are a good foundation to build on.
Pacific Division
1. Phoenix Suns - the Suns return Amare Stoudemire after missing him for most of last
season. Stoudemire adds his hustle and energy to the low post for this run'n'gun team. He isn't back to 100 percent, but his play could
push the Suns to the next level.
2. Los Angeles Clippers - the Clippers became a real team over the summer, choosing to
retain point guard Sam Cassell. They return most of the players from a team that reached the conference semifinals. Elton Brand proved
to be a great player despite being undersized, and they've still got some youth that can make them better than last year.
3. Sacramento Kings - the Kings finished the season strong and snuck into the playoffs
because of Ron Artest. Whether a full season with him helps or hurts is what Kings fans are asking. But, Mike Bibby, Shareef Abdur-Rahim,
and Brad Miller could play well enough to push them into the playoffs again.
4. Los Angeles Lakers - Kobe Bryant is a scoring machine. But, how will the Lakers
react to blowing a 3-1 lead in the first round? They are still young, but Smush Parker isn't a great point guard and Kwame Brown hasn't
proven he can be the dominant big man the Lakers need.
5. Golden State Warriors - the Warriors struggled the entire season last year. Jason
Richardson is a great player, but they can't get the ball out of Baron Davis's hands. Rumors have Troy Murphy, their workhorse power
forward, on the move. Don Nelson's fast-pace play may help, but not likely.
Southwest Division
1. San Antonio Spurs - the Spurs are cyclical. They have one good year and then one bad
year, by their standards. If it follows, they should have a good season this year. But, in order for them to do well, Tony Parker and
Manu Ginobili will have to take more off the shoulders of aging Tim Duncan.
2. Dallas Mavericks - the Mavericks reached the Finals and could still be running off
that energy this year. After winning the first two games of the series, they lost the next four. Dirk Nowitzki will have to have another
MVP year and be more of a leader to get them back and win it this year.
3. Houston Rockets - the Rockets left themselves with more of an insurance plan if
and when Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming get injured. If they are both healthy,
the additions of Bonzi Wells and Shane Battier will make this team a threat to the Mavs and Spurs.
4. New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul and David West led a resurgent Hornets team to a
breath from the playoffs. They added Tyson Chandler and Peja Stojakovic to show they were committed to winning. They have both been
inconsistent, but Paul has proven to be the next great point guard.
5. Memphis Grizzlies - the Grizzlies have exited the playoffs winless the past three
seasons. Starting the season off without all star center Pau Gasol will hurt the team and put more pressure on
Mike Miller and the other scorers for Grizzlies. They'll struggle coming out
of the gate and won't catch up.
