Yet we find ourselves with a 66 game schedule condensed in 120 days, which will feature scenarios where teams play on back-to-back-to-back nights. So if you're a baseball fan, you like this schedule. If you like seeing high quality basketball, on the other hand....
Teams with older rosters, or teams with no depth, are in big trouble. Wouldn't ya know it, the Celtics happen to be both. The Celts are still a playoff team, no question, but I'm afraid to say the sun has set on the championship window for this current roster. The bench acquisitions are intriguing, with Chris Wilcox, Keyon Dooling, Brandon Bass, and Marquis Daniels coming on board. And it's not to say teams such as the Heat, Knicks or Bulls possess great depth either. The difference between those teams and the Celtics, however, is that their starters all happen to be in their primes, while the Celtics' power, Rondo aside, is in the twilight of their careers. Not to go all Dan Duquette on you.
Speaking of the Knicks, you can't underestimate what Tyson Chandler will bring to them. The most important defender on the reigning NBA Champions on a team deprived of defense? A huge addition. Of course, this team will also rely on Mike Bibby and Baron Davis in the backcourt. And if it were 2004, you'd be talking about two of the top five point guards in the league. But it's about to be 2012. Did the Knicks let Isiah Thomas back near the front office again?
Out west, there's no fewer than six teams who can make a legitimate claim to being the best team in the conference. In no particular order, it's the defending-champ Mavericks, Thunder, Lakers, reborn Clippers, aging Spurs, and Grizzlies. The Nuggets and Rockets are definitely solid teams capable of a playoff run as well. How on Earth do you pick a team out of that bunch to rise above the rest? There's pros and cons with every different squad. How will Kobe handle the end of his prime with such a lackluster supporting cast? How will the Clippers handle expectations? Do the Spurs have anything left in the tank? How will the Thunder handle being legitimate championship contenders? Picking a team out of the West is no different than showing up at a roulette table.
It was a crazy rushed off-season, and it's about to be an even crazier rushed regular season. Here are the predictions, which I should warn you, are seldom right in the NBA department. Although I did call the Mavs would win the West last season.
Eastern Conference Top 8
- Miami Heat
- Chicago Bulls
- New York Knicks
- Boston Celtics
- Orlando Magic
- Indiana Pacers
- Philadelphia 76ers
- Atlanta Hawks
Western Conference Top 8
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Dallas Mavericks
- Los Angeles Clippers
- San Antonio Spurs
- Memphis Grizzlies
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Denver Nuggets
- Houston Rockets
Eastern Conference Finals: Bulls over Heat
Western Conference Finals: Thunder over Clippers
2012 NBA Champions: Seattle SuperSonics Oklahoma City Thunder
MVP: Kevin Durant, Thunder
Rookie of the Year: Rick Rubio, TimberWolves
Defensive Player of the Year: Tyson Chandler, Knicks
6th Man of the Year: Chauncey Billups, Clippers
Coach of the Year: Vinny del Negro, Clippers
Most Improved Player: James Harden, Thunder
And some other random thoughts:
- Dwight Howard will not be traded at any point during the regular season, and with the new CBA, it's likely he'll re-sign in Orlando, as that's where the most money can be made
- Steve Nash will be traded at some point during the regular season, and if it's to the Heat (although I have no idea what they'd be able to give up), might as well give them the Larry O'Brien Trophy
- The Cavaliers will finish with the worst record and wind up with the no. 1 overall pick again, in what looks like it'll be a loaded draft class. Kyrie Irving and Jared Sullinger, anyone? Although can Ohioans brace themselves for another native son bailing later on?
- The Hornets will be sold during the regular season, and relocated after it. Vancouver, Kansas City, Seattle are the front runners.
- Deron Williams will not re-sign with the Nets after the season, returning to his native Dallas
- I like the Lamar Odom pickup for Dallas, and since he did play one season at URI, am seriously contemplating investing in a Lamar Odom jersey now that he's not on the Lakers. Thoughts?
- Rajon Rondo will either have an-MVP caliber season or will sink into woe-is-me mode based off the trade talk in the off-season. With no in-between.
- Rip Hamilton has something left in the tank, and it swings the Eastern Conference in favor of the Bulls. And if Carlos Boozer actually has a competent season, they become infinitely more dangerous.
- Is there a more unlucky franchise than the Trail Blazers? Brandon Roy forced to retire, sounds like Greg Oden is once again out for the season, and LaMarcus Aldridge is limping heading into the season. What is it with basketball in the Pacific Northwest? Seattle and Vancouver lose teams, Portland just can't catch a break.
- Minnesota, with an established head coach in Rick Adleman, will be vastly improved. The only question is, how can the sum of the parts be greater than the whole? Between K-Love, Rubio, JJ Barea, Derrick Williams, is there a more exciting young team to watch? The playoffs aren't forthcoming, but they aren't far off, either. For the first time in the post-KG era, there's optimism in the Twin Cities.
- That's all I've got for ya. Like I said, the NBA rushed to start this season, and there's little point in making bold predictions when we're in for such an unprecedented regular season. I'm standing by Thunder over Bulls in the Finals. And I'm watching SportsCenter right now, hearing that Sasha Pavlovic could be starting for Paul Pierce today. Merry f'ing Christmas huh?
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