Tonight, October 29th 2012 is the last night before the NBA season tips off and I, like many NBA fans cannot wait for the season to start. Sure for my own selfish reasons of being a Cavs fan i cannot wait to see the new young talent and of course the rising stardom of Kyrie Irving. But there are many other story lines to look for this year.
1. This is the first time since 2010 we will have a full season: Last year we experienced a lockout shortened season. This had many effects on the league; players were out of shape, stuck playing out their contracts with Chinese teams, and the overall play of the league suffered. As a fan i should be excited to be able to watch more games this season, but there was definitely something i liked about a shorter season. It felt like more emphasis was placed on the playoffs. What are your guys thoughts on the season length?
2. New CBA vs. Super Teams: I feel like this is an important subplot because of the lockout we had last year. The reason we had such an extensive lockout was because the small market owners wanted to be sure they could compete year in and year out with the larger market teams. Well so far we have seen the Lakers add Dwight Howard and Steve Nash. The Thunder trade James Harden to keep small market flexibility. Did the lockout actually work? does this CBA really help the small market teams?
3. Lebron James and the Miami Heat. In class we have discussed the ideas of Kobe Bryant vs MJ. However now that Lebron James, considered by most to be the best player in the league, has his first ring the debate will continue. As a Cavs fan i am over the whole "Decision". (I will say having Kyrie Irving helps a lot). But now that Lebron has the monkey off his back it should prove to be easier for him to play without the presure of getting his first ring. Do you guys think Lebron and the Heat will repeat? if so why? and if not who?
I am a huge NBA fan so i obviously am extremely excited to get the season started. I gave you a list of some of the things i am excited for this season. Are there any other subplots that you are interested in for this season?
Seeing as I follow college basketball more than the NBA, I didn't really see that big of a difference in the length of games, however, teams did have almost 20 less games to make their playoff push, which of course was highly publicized on ESPN. Having a shorter season in any sport would increase the importance of games day in and day out, but that doesn't mean any sport is going to do that.
ReplyDeleteSuper teams have and always will rule the NBA, regardless of this CBA. LIke you pointed out, the Lakers just got stronger and the Thunder just got weaker, but it's always been like that. Next year the Mavericks are going to be trying to make their move in free agency to try and create their super team.
I think after a while, at least for me, rooting against Lebron to not win his title just got boring and carried out. Granted I'm not a Cavs fan, but I've never really been a Lebron fan. However, the guy won his ring, he's proven to be a different person/player, and all he wants to do is play basketball. With young stars like Davis and Irving, and the super team formed in L.A., I think that the attention on Lebron has gone away, or at least has faded.
The only other story lines that I'm watching is the health of Derrick Rose, and how the Bulls will do this season. Also, how much of an impact Andrew Bynum will have on the 76ers.
Nate Dudzik
I am also a huge NBA fan and really liked the shortened season last year, not because of the greater emphasis on the regular season and making the playoffs, but because the games were so tightly packed I could watch my team play three nights in a row.
ReplyDeleteAs for the super teams that have been created, the Lakers are now a huge threat to win the west where last year they had a chance, but everyone knew the Thunder were going to advance. The super teams will always dominate the NBA and have been for the last 30 years. From the present Heat and Lakers to the Spurs of the last decade, although many may not agree, having Ginnobli, Parker, and Duncan all on the same team is a super team. To the Lakers dynasty of the early 2000s and to the Bulls in the 90s. All the way back to Magic's Lakers, there have been star filled teams that create the NBA's super teams.
As for LeBron, I think now that he has won a ring all the pressure is off him and he will have career highs this year. Now that they are in year 3, the Heat will being flying on all cylinders this year and repeat as NBA champions fulfilling his prediction of multiple titles in Miami. Last year, the Heat were experimenting throughout the regular season because they didn't have much of a preseason with the lockout. Now they are more experienced, they could win 70 games this year.
Other storylines are to see who can possibly challenge the Heat in the East. How will the new Brooklyn Nets go about their regular season in a new arena and the addition to Joe Johnson? I can predict the Nets will make a big move at the trade deadline that will make them an eventual contender in the East. What I really want to see is how the New York Knicks will finish this year. This is also year 3 of the Carmelo and Amare experiment and so far they have not produced. Amare is out the first 6 weeks of the season and I can guarantee Carmelo will average 30 shots a game.
Since we discussed some Asian American influence in class last week, I am interested to see how Jeremy Lin will do with the Rockets. With the addition of James Harden, I don't think the Rockets will finish last in the West this year, but they will not make the playoffs.
-Ollie Goss
1. I am not an avid follower of the NBA anymore but I still like to keep on it. For me, the short season is something I would like to see more of in the future. I understand that the NBA is a business and in the game to earn profits, but there are a lot of pros to making the season 66 games in the 82 game format. Two of the biggest pros, I believe are the amount of competition changes and the players get to rest their bodies both in the number of games and practices.
ReplyDelete3. Now that the Thunder have traded away James Harden, the sixth man of the year, I believe the Heat will repeat as champions. This is coming from a Cleveland fan too. There is no one in the Eastern division outside of Chicago that could remotely stop the Heat. The addition of Ray Allen gives the Heat one more facet of their game that they can go to if LeBron, Bosh, and Wade all struggle. I believe it will come down to a matchup of Super teams, Lebron-Kobe, Wade-Nash, Bosh-Howard, for the championship and I think that the Heat's new found chemistry leads them to a second championship.
-Ryan Hetrick
Aaron,
ReplyDelete1. I agree that the NBA lockout has had effects on the league, teams, and players. Many NBA players weren't working out like they should have been, some of them went overseas because they wanted to play basketball and earn a little bit of money, and some actually got different jobs during the lockout. I am definitely ready to watch more NBA this season and to see how some of the teams with new players do. I like how long the season is. When the season was shorter last year it seemed like games were being crammed together and teams were getting tired. I think if there was more emphasis on the playoffs it was to see how teams would do without being able to practice as much as what they normally do and how they react to playing more games in a shorter time period.
2. I am not really convinced that the CBA helps small market teams. There were many teams interested in Dwight Howard and he definitely didn't want to stay in Orlando. Steve Nash's contract was up and he felt like he needed to move to where a Championship was still available. I think that Dwight figured if he joined the Lakers that it would be like when Kobe had Shaq. And with Steve Nash as the point guard he could dish assists to Kobe and Dwight like crazy. James Harden wanted a contract extension with the Thunder, but the salary cap was already full with the contracts of Kevin Durant and Russel Westbrook. Harden went with a team that could offer him more years and a bigger paycheck. I think it was just a time of year where there were a lot of big named free agents and big trades and some of the big named teams picked up more All-Star players and other teams picked up other really good talent.
3. I agree that since Lebron has a ring it does take pressure off of him. But I still think that there will be a certain amount of pressure there to continue winning Championships. Since people are comparing him to MJ, I feel like it is only right that some people won't be satisfied until he gets 6 or more rings. Yes Lebron is a beast and dominates every night, but Championships is what really matters at the end of the season, and if he can't continue winning rings then there is no way he should be compared to MJ. I definitely think that the Heat can repeat. They picked up some new players in the offseason that can shoot the ball. If teams are double teaming Lebron, he can dish it out to anyone of his teammates that are more than capable to make the shot. If the Heat play to there potential there is no doubt that they should win another Championship.
-Kody Burlingame
There is one definitive story line that will shape this NBA season:
ReplyDelete1. The play of the Miami Heat and, specifically, LeBron James, as they look to defend their NBA title. LeBron has mentioned on several different occasions that, in his first season as a member of the Miami Heat, he played trying to be a "villain". It did not work, as they lost in The Finals to Dallas. Last season, LeBron stated he played a more relaxed game, and he had the best statistical season of his career to that point. Seeing as how he is the best player in the game, not to mention an improved bench with Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen, it seems to me that it will be hard for anyone to top the Heat this season, including the Thunder, Celtics, and the new look Lakers, who I feel are overrated. Steve Nash is old and constantly hurt, Kobe Bryant is not the same player he once was, and they are running the Princeton offense with personnel who absolutely are not fitted for that offensive system.
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ReplyDeleteHi Aaron,
ReplyDelete1. I think that the season length is what it should be at. 82 games is a lengthy season, including 7 preseason games and also playoff games schedules for a long season. In the past basketball usually doesn't get too popular until after Christmas. For some reason thats just how it seems to be. My reasonings are because of MLB playoffs, college football regular season games and bowl games, also NFL football games are being played. The spotlight for the NBA just isn't there until after Christmas.
2. I don't think the CBA did anything to help with declining superstar teams this year. Large market teams like New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago will always have more money then for example Minnesota. This is what most of the NBA fans want to see, they want to see "their" team play with other superstars to have the chance to compete for a title ever year. When teams are stacked and playing with multiple all-stars on their rosters the only other way is to have a solid roster with depth and have superstars of their own.
3. I don't think the Miami Heat will repeat. They easily could, and I could make an argument for why they could, but instead I'll take the Oklahoma City Thunder. I think they're young team with a lot of talent. With Durant leading the league in scoring for the 3rd consecutive year, and Westbrook coming off of his best year the Thunder are ready. The Thunder also have height, which the Heat lack. Perkins and Ibaka are a great post presence and can be very physical down low. The third reason they could win the NBA championship is because of their depth. Martin, Jones, Maynor, and Sefolosha all provide a spark off the bench that could provide that extra edge they need to win a championship.
-Brett Creamer
I liked the short season as well. I feel like the NBA gets a little dragged out, especially the post season. I love the NBA, but it just seems to get a little old once spring starts up and baseball starts again. But I am also more of a baseball fan so that could explain why I feel that way.
ReplyDeleteI think these large market teams are going to be hard to out do. I don't think these monopoly like teams are fair, but I also think they are inevitable. You cannot change demographics. It's just a given that a big city like LA, Chicago, or New York is gonna draw in a more fan base with more money for the organization to go out and build the roster.
I'm not really a LeBron fan, or a heat fan, since I am a Bulls fan i'm still bitter about them losing to the heat in playoffs in 2011, but that is just me being biast. I always enjoy when a team no one predicted to be good comes out of no where and dominates, especially if it's a small market team. But of course I want the Bulls to be as successful as last year (prior to the Derrick Rose injury) and I can't wait to see what this season has in store
Jenn Zoellick
Jenn,
ReplyDeleteAs you stated, the excitement for the beginning of the NBA season is in the air. It almost feels like it is Christmas season! This is something sports fans have been waiting for for about 6 months now and are ready to get started.
But, after reading your article we are going to have to agree to disagree on who will win the Championship this year. I don't think people have given James Harden the respect he deserves and will be the missing peice this year for the OKC Thunder. With that being said, I believe the Miami Heat will repeat.
My heart is telling me to say Los Angeles Lakers, but they just have not been clicking lately on any cylinder, let alone all of them. They ahve the talent around them to make a long run, but they need to start playing team ball together to beat the Heat in the Chammpionship.
Nathan Riley
Delete1:00 Class
I liked the shortened season last year only because the games were significant. It seems like in the regular season during a normal season, players take games off and don't play hard until the playoffs. But, with the shortened season last year every game was important and every night players were playing like the game meant something, which was very entertaining as a fan.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I would say the CBA has not helped small market teams because super teams are still being formed and dominating the NBA. Which is something I don't mind as a fan because it makes games very entertaining when the super teams go head to head, but it sure does hurt my team's chances of contending for a title. I do think the CBA has put more importance in drafting for small market teams, i.e the thunder, otherwise they have no chance competing against larger market teams.
I was not a Lebron fan in the past and I use to hate him, but now I have seen him mature a little more and become the best player in the NBA, so I have to respect his game and ability. I enjoy watching the best players at their craft play the game and Lebron is definitely someone who is mastering his craft. I also think the Heat are favorites to repeat as NBA champions and will most likely win again. I do think the Lakers are their biggest competition in contention though after the thunder traded away James Harden. It is going to be a good NBA season and I am really excited that it is here.
-Jacob Beverly