Saturday, December 10, 2011

Merry NBA Christmas Part 1 of 2

Christmas most definitely is going to be merry indeed. Yes, the most popular league in all of basketball, the NBA, is back after the 149 day lockout wherein the owners and the Players Association couldn’t get into an agreement on the new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Instead of openly discussing the features of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, a boring topic indeed, we should embrace the holiday spirit. In a time of gift giving and receiving, the NBA will cater to the most loyal fans in the entire world by treating them to five intriguing games on Christmas Day.

As an NBA fan myself, this lockout-shortened season will be an interesting one so here are the twelve things, in my opinion, that are the things we should look out for.

Why twelve? ‘Cause Christmas is coming, Baby and so is the NBA!

1.   Will LeBron Finally Win A Ring?




After “choking” on the NBA’s biggest stage, LeBron James enters his ninth season in the league still ring less. The only thing yet to be accomplished by “The King”, LeBron goes into the season arguably in the best shape of his life. Working out during the entire summer and “pre-season” with Kevin Durant and playing in numerous summer leagues, LeBron has seemed to expand his game more by adding a more consistent outside shot to his already unstoppable game. Will LeBron succeed? This writer thinks so. LeBron already has ALL the tools to succeed, a great physique, an array of moves, and strong team but can he finally get over the hump? There goes a saying, nothing can stop destiny and I think LeBron is destined to finally win his first championship. 

LeBron was grilled in the NBA Finals for his inability to make a shot. The Mavs did a brilliant job of placing a small and pesky defender on him and let him rely on his post game. He failed; shooting fadeaway jumpers without any sort of consistency.

LeBron, for me, was just a victim of his own talents. When he first entered the NBA, people, the media, scouts, and opposing teams told him to first work on his outside shot; something that took him an eternity to do and he’s still working on it. Let’s say LeBron’s shot has now become respectable, in the Finals, he had difficulty posting up against the likes of Jason Terry and Brian Cardinal. He’s just a victim of him own talents, attributes, and skill set.

Prediction: YES. Most certainly. Without a doubt, undoubtedly. Oh wait, I’m just that biased.

Season: 28-10-8-2-2 Season MVP/Finals MVP

  2.Back-to-Back-to-Back Games



Nothing the NBA has seen in over 14 years, the NBA condenses its regular 82-game season to a 66-game exhibition melee. We will see a total of 42 back-to-back-to-back games. No team is exempted from this even Kobe Bryant and the LA Lakers play on the first three game nights. This most certainly adds fanfare and fits an NBA fan’s daily basketball appetite. Yes, this move indeed increases the media exposure of the league and makes its fans decide on which of the many games playing should they keep their eye on but is this going to lead to many injuries down the road?

The schedule in my opinion will benefit the younger teams such as the Heat, Grizzlies, Thunder, and Timberwolves. I don’t think Kobe and company can keep up with the tight schedule.

Prediction: YES
Will Greg Oden bust his knee again? 80% probable

3. Where is Chris Paul going?



The 2006 Rookie of the Year, and the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player in my opinion, has publicly demanded a trade to join his friend Carmelo Anthony in New York. Paul has been long rumored to join the Knicks but has consistently denied the fact that he wants to leave the Hornets. Three teams have slowly emerged as the front-runners to land Paul and to let him a sign a contract extension if they acquire free agent center Tyson Chandler.

These three teams are the Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and the Los Angeles Clippers.

Imagine Chris Paul running the Celtics setting up KG down low, feeding Sugar Ray running of those screens, and giving the ball to Paul Pierce at his spots? This is going to make the Celtics unstoppable but are they willing to give up Rajon Rondo?

If Paul were to join the Warriors and their up-and-down style of play, will this make the Warriors the 2nd coming of the Organized Chaos Phoenix Suns of ’05-’08 ?

Just recently, Paul was already bound to head over California and join the Los Angeles Lakers, a very shocking move to the NBA world. Imagine, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Andrew Bynum in one team? Dang! Luckily, commissioner David Stern vetoed the trade.

Chris Paul, to me, is the best point guard in the NBA. Someone’s whose proven himself over the years leading a horrible franchise to where it  is presently; Paul deserves all the credit. Paul is a pass-first point guard who can light up the scoreboard if it was necessary. A vocal leader and presence in the locker room, a great ambassador to the game, Paul’s image has always been clean but why does he want to greedily play for the big market teams? Only he knows…


Where does Chris Paul go?

Prediction: Boston. Danny Ainge is pursuing Chris Paul like a hot potato hoping that he becomes the face of the post-Big 3 Celtics. With the rate it’s going, it feels that it’s bound to happen.

2nd Option: Rots over there in New Orleans.

4. Greg Oden’s Breakout Season?



The player who will be forever known as the old busted knee guy who was drafter ahead of Kevin Durant will in my opinion finally get to taste success in the NBA. I don’t think it’s fair to say I hate Greg since I thought he was the more logical choice over Durant in the NBA Draft before but it seems that talent couldn’t beat hardwork.

Oden rode the bench and stayed in the hospital bed for most of his NBA career with nagging and recurring knee injuries. I do think he is going to resign with the Portland Trailblazers and reshape his career and it will be Brandon Roy’s turn to ride the bench. That’s just really how much I hate the Blazers.

Greg is going to be dominant. A grandpa, yes but a dominating one.

By the way, I think he’s gonna have a scandal this season. Watch Out!

By the way, I feel sorry for the loss of Brandon Roy and his knees. :( 


5.  A Weak Rookie Class



Wait, this isn’t something worth watching out for but anyway. That’s how much I’m disappointed with this season’s rookies. Most of the good college players chose to stick it out over in their respective alma maters rather than test the rigid waters of the NBA Draft.

The only players to watch out for are Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Two talented point guards who will try to reshape the futures of their respective franchises.  

Irving, only after playing eleven games for the Duke Blue Devils, was drafted first overall by the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs who are trying to still establish their identity after the LeBron James reign, will turn to this athletic and prolific scoring point guard. By the way, Kyrie’s a great name.

Rubio, is the boy wonder from Spain finally making his debut after much nagging and persistent contract issues. A Pete Maravich prototype who can pull of passes with the most unique angles is finally going to strut his for the T’Wolves. With a much improved outside shot, though it looks ugly (not saying mine is any better), Rubio can FINALLY give Minnesota a legit pass-first starting point guard.

6.   Ricky Rubio FINALLY makes his NBA Debut



Wait, this just seems like a repetition but it’s well deserved. Ricky Rubio is a beast PERIOD. I hope we can see the then 16-year old who dazzled skeptics with a two triple-doubles and a quadruple-double performance in the FIBA U-16 championships. 51 points, 24 rebounds, 12 assists, and 7 steals, surreal numbers especially from a 16-year old kid.

Ricky’s development in my opinion has been hindered with his extended stay in Europe with Barcelona. Even if it seems amazing to think that he started for the 2008 Beijing Olympic and was able to match-up to the likes of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, and company.

The outside shot is the only thing missing from the game of Rubio. Something he has to constantly work on for him to be successful In the next level. He should build up more mass and hope to match-up against the bigger point guards of the NBA. 


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