Finally, the lockout has ended and we can talk some basketball!
Are you as excited as I? I know that I’m counting down the days to Christmas, and it’s not because of those presents that are sitting under the tree with my name written on them.
Rather, it’s because of the 5-game slate that the NBA has put together to kickoff the 2011-2012 NBA season on Christmas. With this in mind, what can an avid NBA fan expect from this 66-game schedule? Here are some my thoughts, including:
Young Teams Will Have the Advantage
That’s right, you Celtic, Lakers, and Spurs fans. Don’t be surprised if your teams start off real hot before fading. Having to fit 66 games into a 5-month season isn’t going to help the tired legs of Kobe, KG, Ray Ray, and many other stars who have been around for awhile.
With plenty of back-to-back games which must be played, and even back-to-back-to-back games being featured on every teams slate, injuries and fatigue are going to play a more decisive factor this NBA season.
That being said, this all bodes well for younger teams such as the Thunder, Trailblazers (if they can get rid of Brandon Roy), Bulls, Knicks, and most importantly, the Heat. With fresher bodies that don’t have quite as much wear and tear on them, the likes of D-Rose, KD, DWade, Carmelo, and Lebron will greatly benefit from this condensed season.
Look for one of these teams to be the last one standing when all is said and done. Of course, that could all change if the Lakers could add a Chris Paul or Dwight Howard. Ditto for the Celtics. But for now, I can’t see these older teams making it deep into the playoffs – especially not the Spurs, who showed why the regular season doesn’t matter last year.
Blockbuster Trades
Along the lines of the Lakers and Celtics trying to get Paul or Howard, there could be some big names moving cities in the coming months. Paul has already said that he doesn’t want to resign with the Hornets, and that he would like to go and play for the Knicks. It also doesn’t seem likely that Dwight ‘Superman’ Howard is going to stick around in Orlando much longer. If he does end up in a Lakers uniform, it could be death for the rest of the league.
As for other big names, Deron Williams may not be in a Nets jersey much longer, and there are reports that the Celtics are trying to move Rajon Rando to bolster their roster. Either way, these next few months are going to make for exciting times before the trade deadline hits.
A Few Surprises
Although you can always pencil in a handful of teams into the playoffs because of their talent, it should still be intriguing to see who will be this year’s rendition of the OKC Thunder. There are plenty of teams with great young talent, that should be able to make a name for themselves if everything factors out right.
The Grizzlies already showed their potential in the playoffs last year by beating the Spurs as the no.8 seed, and should be able to build off that momentum heading into this year.
The Jazz have put together a nice roster as well by shipping William’s expiring contract to the Nets in return for future all-star Derrick Favors and Devin Haris. Plus, rookie Gordon Hayward will continue to improve, and 1st-round draft pick, Enes Kanter from Turkey, has a lot of upside as well.
And don’t forget about those Clippers. With Eric Gordon, Deandre Jordan, and of course, Blake Griffin, that “other LA” team has one of the youngest and most dynamic rosters in the NBA. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made the playoffs this year if a team like New Orleans or Denver digress.
Last Thought
In closing, this shortened NBA season may just be a blessing for the league. After all, you don’t really need to play 82-games to make for an exciting season. With things the way they are, fans will be more tuned in, there will be more games played in a shorter amount of time, and those who haven’t already ditched their love for the NBA will be ready and roarin to cheer on their favorite team.
Of course, the league, teams, and owners do lose money by playing 16 less games. And as I mentioned above, the shortened season will hurt the play of some players, but overall, the NBA has got to feel lucky that they still have the capability to put a good product on the court this season.
I know I am.