The storylines stream across the NBA world as a busier-than-expected off-season assures another unpredictable year on the hardwood. For those pundits devoted to trends, it may be easy to pick TD and the Spurs to win their fourth-straight title in an odd-numbered year. Or for those keen on blossoming dynasties, the logical choice is to go with the ¨Big Three¨ as the pressure slid off their shoulders in a most convincing Finals performance.
Yet for this wage-less journalist who harangues the omnipresent and cookie-cutter media industry as though a personal vendetta were linked to some childhood trauma involving prepubescent screams, I claim the end never justifies the means. You might want to know who will stand atop the podium in mid-June with a euphoric city drowning out cinematic speeches but I must follow a path before I arrive at my destination – an 8-month journey with plenty of excitement.

Raised in New York during an era in which basketball was defined by Ewing and defense, I lost some of my NBA-lust during the Lakers´ three-peat when Shaq dominated the paint with little opposition. I understood during Ewing´s final years that Shaq would come to personify a new breed of big men but I didn’t envision him ushering in that age alone.
Gone were the Olajuwon-Robinson-Ewing battles. Instead Shaq owned the land with no fresh blood available to subdue the beast.
The power forward position usurped the five-spot for interior production but the difference between KG and Shaq is akin to the gap between David Wright and Ryan Howard in terms of home-run hitters. Yeah, Wright could belt out 30 or so long balls a year but his value could never be measured in terms of just power. Howard could bat .220 and strikeout 125 times, yet 120 RBI and 40 home runs could easily erase such transgressions.
It’s that mammoth presence that originated with the likes of Mikan and then Chamberlain, Russell and Jabbar that adds a gladiator element to a rugged game that for some reason people consider to be non-contact.
Enough with the Kevin Arnold caliber reminiscing, allow me to announce the return of the age of the top quality big man, one who can alter a game on both ends and contribute consistently when shooters go cold.
From Kwame Brown to Kareem, Andrew Bynum reshaped the expected downward curve of his career with a sensational start to his third season in the league. He single-handedly extinguished the Kobe-trade talks with patience and power under the basket, presumably tailored from his personal coach – Mr. Sky Hook himself.
Bynum subsequently missed the second half of the season and the playoffs, but due to his expected return to form, many are overlooking the hangover effect for the Lakers following the Finals, and penning them in to repeat as West champs.
Without scouring the Net for every article related to Bynum’s health prognosis, I presume that the not-yet-21-year-old can avoid another freak mishap and remain healthy for the duration of the season. The other two promising big men, however, enter this year with plenty of cautious optimism. Yao Ming was in the midst of his finest NBA season as he continues to improve his game with Zen-like patience – could not avoid linking the Chinese known adoration for Buddhism with Yao’s progress. Unlike Lebron, the hype machine surrounding Yao seemed a bit premature before his first pro game but even though potential represents a way to sugarcoat a miscalculation in evaluating talent, some players feed off the awaiting critics set to devour someone’s burgeoning career before the player reaches his prime. I’m hoping that above statement applies to Knicks’ first-round pick Danilo Gallinari who appeared attentive and determined during Summer League contests out in Vegas. For those still claiming Eddy Curry will eventually mature I say that the old axiom, “You can’t teach size” needs to be retired as some people have athlete bodies but will never be athletes.
If Yao can somehow preserve his unique frame and manage to make the playoff roster, Houston could finally win a playoff series for the first time since Olajuwon and Drexler took down Shaq when he roamed the Magic Kingdom.
For those wanting a well-informed article with new information leaked from the wire, I suggest you track down Steven A. Smith and try to decipher what the fuck he’s talking about. For I don’t know enough about Greg Oden to proclaim him the next great center but three things endear me to his situation. a. He didn’t score 20 a game during his only year at Ohio State but his defensive dominance and intelligent low-post play, combined with a speedy point guard in Mike Conley, led the Buckeyes to the title game. b. I loathe analysts that develop boyish crushes on “good characters” but come on, doesn’t that grin just make you think this guy crack jokes all day long without finding a way to ridicule teammates, the media, coaches, etc.? c. The sophomore slump certainly didn’t apply to Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge last season. Add in Oden and Portland seems ready to exorcise the demons from the meltdown in Game Seven of the 2000 Western Finals.

The Men With The Ball

Someone needs to explain the media’s fascination with NFL quarterbacks. I wrote a previous column about Favre-mania and am still befuddled at how Eli Manning won the Super Bowl MVP even though everyone knew the Giants’ d-line shaking up Tom Brady is what created the saying “18-1”. Both Justin Tuck and Osi deserved their names emblazoned on a trophy.
The argument for the quarterback-obsession derives from the notion that they hold the ball and call the plays but again Mr. contradiction steps into the Sports World because the point guard remains overlooked. Before Steve Nash won regular season MVP, no other point had won the award since Magic but he was an anomaly as he was Mr. Everything to the Lakers.
Without a fluid connector to my intended notion, I will say that the debate continues between Kobe and LeBron. But why isn’t CP3 in the mix? As good as Stockton and Kidd were, I predict Chris Paul will be the best point guard of my time.
Somehow the Bucks and Hawks overlooked what he did in high school and college. Now so did the Jazz but Utah’s Deron Williams plays according to coach Jerry Sloan’s system and to undercut his NBA career thus far because of CP3 signifies a lack of appreciation in the versatility of the Illinois-product’s game.
The two most closely resemble Isiah “Man, I Hope I Never Need To Reference Him As Anything Other Than A Player” Thomas and Mark “The Best Color Commentator In Sports” Jackson. Would love to see these two prodigies duel in the Western Conference Finals but who knows if either team will reach that point this season. However…

The Green Machine

I recall dousing my mouth out with bleach following Boston’s Game Six loss to Atlanta as only one month before I deemed the ‘08 Celtics one of the best teams I had ever seen. Boston survived another scare against The King before gelling and dusting off an Eastern Conference standard in Detroit before suffocating the supposedly undisputed heir to his airness.
The Celts’ devotion to defense along with the brilliance of, KG, The Truth and Jesus Shuttlesworth, plus a solid bench, a precocious point and a beastly center added up to a triumphant season. But, unlike the Bulls teams of the ‘90s and Lakers of earlier this decade, pressure stymied the Celts during pivotal situations. One would presume with a banner wafting above, the desire to repeat multiplies but the penchant for playing tight will fly away. There’s no argument, they should win it all even with the absence of their sixth-man and the Big Three competing with older legs.

The Balancing of Power

During that one week following the Clippers’ acquisition of Baron Davis, when they still had Elton Brand on the roster, I foresaw some tremendous battles between two premier teams vying for the true claim to Hollywood. Unfortunately, for fans of L.A.’s second team, Brand bolted in an acrimonious dispute and found a new residence in Philly. With a surprise appearance in last year’s postseason due mainly to Andre Miller’s stellar play at the point and a contingent of young prospects, the Sixers can easily move toward the top of the conference.
Boston’s other two foes, Detroit and Cleveland made a few alterations but more important than the additions were the way the two teams fell out of the postseason. For Cleveland, the Cavs pushed the Celts to a dramatic Game Seven with LeBron exploding for 45 points. The addition of Mo Williams may not seem like much but if the hype surrounding the point from Milwaukee carries some validity, The King’s stock will rise even further.
Detroit lost in the Conference Finals for the third straight year but the emergence of rookie Rodney Stuckey and the unleashing of a monster in Jason Maxiell sets a solid future for a group looking to reach the Final Four of the NBA for the seventh straight season. And no, I don’t believe Kwame Brown will rise from the ashes in Motown, but Flip Saunders’ exit can do nothing but positive for a team that needs some guidance rather than a man in four-figure suits posing as a coach.
While Bynum, Yao and Oden improve a trio of teams in the West, I predict five others to drop off precipitously.
In order of biggest demise: 1. The Nuggets: Again, I don’t have a database of information comparable to that of Elias’ Sports Bureau but I presume that neither the Nuggets nor their opponents were ever called for a shot-clock violation last season. Give credit to Melo, A.I. and J.R. Smith for putting up impressive fantasy numbers but coach George Karl’s refusal to instill any sense of defensive pride into his team cost Melo another shot at finally advancing past the first round. Now with the departure of former Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Camby, I am envisioning at least one 200-point game by a Denver opponent.
2. The Warriors: Only two seasons after that memorable and improbable playoff run, fans in the Bay area might want to tie up the phones of ESPN to demand a Classic channel devoted solely to Montana and Rice as with Baron heading down the coast and Monte Ellis sidelined for a large portion of the first half of the season I hate to say that there is not much hope for a title in the near future for a team from either San Francisco or Oakland.
3. The Mavs: Unlike the Warriors’ struggles, the Mavs’ descent arrives with little surprise following that devastating first-round loss to Golden State. Since then, the man without patience, Owner Mark Cuban has traded for a past-his-prime Jason Kidd and replaced the Lil General with a generic coach in Rick Carlisle. Not much promise for a team that peaked in the first two-and-a-half games of the ‘06 Finals.
4. The Suns: The Shaq trade did allow Amare to move to his more natural position at power forward but with the intense heat in the desert and Shaq’s penchant for injuries, I set the over-under for games played by the Big Diesel at 35.
5. The Spurs: Ginobli’s injury and San Antonio’s quiet off-season has this flawed dynasty in need of youth.

And The Winner Is…

Cannot imagine anyone with the gall to pick against the Celts in a still somewhat inferior East. And am still amazed how people convince themselves into picking Detroit every year. But in the West the question comes down to three teams. The Lakers, Hornets and Rockets.
The return of Bynum and a youthful bench could erase that tumultuous second half of Game Four in last year’s Finals, but Kobe remains the emotional leader of this team and if he couldn’t spark his club during that epic collapse, I don’t foresee him lifting the Lakers in a similar situation, which occurs at least once a postseason.
As much as I marvel at CP3 and think the Posey signing was an absolute brilliant move, I still have doubts about David West, only because of his inexperience. Maybe his disappearance in Game Seven against the Spurs was health-induced but clearly CP3 needs a benefactor for his highlight-reel passes and I cannot presume West will build on last year’s breakout performance.
And that leaves me on the proverbial bandwagon. Every year the Rockets turn into the en vogue pick and every year they disappoint and fail to win a playoff series. Not quite sure why everyone was convinced they were a championship caliber team in the past but I know now they definitely are ready to replay the ‘86 Finals and meet Boston in June.
An incredible 18-game win streak and no bubbly after handshakes with David Stern, so shouldn’t that equate into more heartache?
Houston left the season with confidence knowing they played that first round against Utah without Yao and, for two games without Raefer Alston.
Alston, a NYC playground legend, stepped into a tremendous point last year. The bench took off in a big way with Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes pounding bodies down low, and like his teammate at Illinois, Luther Head shows no sign of playing tentative.
The Artest pickup moves Shane Battier, one of the best defenders in the game, into the role of sixth man. Luis Scola stays at power forward where he showed little trouble last year adjusting to the speed of the NBA.
Again, if Yao endures through the season, he could become the best big in the game. Artest’s versatility allows him to play almost any position on the floor. On with a personal bias due to my fondness for the Rick Adelman-led Blazers of the early 90s, the Rockets have the right man to keep everything flowing.
But of course the biggest question mark on a team playing in a superstar-driven league remains T-Mac. Similar to his cousin Vince, the two guard’s biggest problem has always been his unwillingness to defer to teammates when needed. But now with the addition of Artest and an ailing body, T-Mac will be forced to feel out the game rather than selecting the wrong option at the wrong time.

And there it is…I think my head’s going to spew out something foul. But don’t worry, I’ll be all right. It’s you, my reader, that I worry about. Why would you read over 2,000 words about basketball from a guy who cannot even make a lefty lay up? Anyway, enjoy the season and don’t forget to congratulate me on my picks after Boston takes down Houston in the Finals.