2009-2010 NBA Predictions/Star Gazing

I don't say this solely because I'm a Wizards fan, but I think the WIzards are in a position to take anywhere between the 5th and 3rd seed in the East. Cleveland started off shaky, but they'll pull it together and string together some victories for sure, while Boston is looking quite nasty. Detroit is probably going to just miss or just make the playoffs, depending upon key games down the stretch. Orlando will probably start of well, but Carter is key--if he doesn't play every night, Orlando will begin to miss Turkoglu. I'm thinking it'll be Boston versus Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals, provided they knock off Washington, which logic says should happen, but Washington did win 3 of 4 when Boston had their last successful title run.

The Spurs look sound, but what's new. They have proven veterans, and hungry up-and-comers, but if Duncan doesn't stay healthy, it's a negative for a deep run in the playoffs. I'm liking Denver and LA in the Western conference finals, as Seattle is whack, the Hornets will be marginal at best, and Dallas is incapable of sealing the big wins when it counts--in the playoffs. Phoenixis on life support, and I can't really think of anybody save Portland that may make a run at the crown, but I don't know if they have the moxy to to knock of Denver and definitely not seeing LA falling off unless injury besets them (which is possible).

So OK, the new NBA season is finally upon us, and we’re all happy to have something to get us off of football (for those, who like me are loyal to sub par football franchises). But I have a bone to pick, and this is something I really have had an issue with for some time. I don’t like how the NBA arbitrarily anoints 5 players in the league each year, and special favor, accolades and opportunity rain down upon them like confetti in a ticker tape parade (did that even make sense?). Let’s review, the first two are shoe-ins each year, and that’s Kobe and Lebron.

For now, Kobe is the league, love him or hate him, the dude is the best single player in the game and is incredible to watch. Not only that, he’s more polarizing than Jordan ever was, which makes him even more of a hot topic. Lebron is the heir apparent, and the league is so thirsty to give him Kobe’s spot, but Kobe ain’t having that any time soon. Kobe has at least 5 more years of good ball left in him if he avoids major injury, which would make him a 19 year vet…scary.

Dwayne Wade is probably number three on the list, with his clean cut demeanor and hard nose play. The guy is quick on top of fast on top of quick. Oh yeah, he’s fast. From there, there’s a mad dash to see who’s going to make the final two slots—Chris Paul could make it, but the Hornets are probably going to be average this year, and, let’s face it, we have a clean cut hard nose player in Wade. Why would we wanna double-up there?

Dwight Howard looks like a good bet, but as super as he is, I think the league wants something more super from him before he’s knighted this season. Shaq, Duncan and Garnett are good stories if they can take their respective teams to the next level, but they're also getting older, which means old news. Vince Carter had his shot as half man half amazing, but he only plays hard for 20-30 games out of the season, and (on another note) unfortunately for him, Richard Jefferson doesn’t seem to have enough personality to be bankable. Iverson is, well, Iverson, as Rasheed Wallace is, well, Rasheed Wallace. To Wallace’s credit, he’s been a great person to have on a team and really has been a lot better as the years have gone by with his temper, but his youthful indiscretions will never be forgotten…nor will they be forgiven.

Nash and Nowitski were the great white hope for a second, the revival of Pistol Pete and Bird, but no rings came a-calling either collectively or individually. Dallas has been good for a long time, but hey, Nowitski is their best player, and he’s also soft. That, and he’s a weak defender in my opinion. How he got 1st Team All-Defense last year is a mystery to me. Great shooter, fast, and nimble…but, the moment Kenyon Martin straps him up…nothing. You put an elbow in his ribs when he’s shooting during post-season, when they actually let you be more physical, and his game isn’t nearly as effective. Nash is nice, but he’s not an (consistent) outside threat, and bets are that Stoudimire won’t be healthy all season to catch those above the rim passes for the easy dunk.

Bosh plays for the Raptors, so, yeah, that’s not going to happen. McGrady, a great player, has been hounded with knee and back problems, Yao could very well be done…and the league still won’t show Carmello any love. As a side note, Carmello was robbed for rookie of the year honors—at a minimum, he should have gotten co-MVP honors with Lebron, seeing as though he was statistically better, if only by fractions in most categories. They did it with Kidd and Hill, but, seeing as though Lebron was the heir apparent before he touched the court as a pro, and he had about $200 million in endorsements before his first tip-off, that wasn’t going to happen.

So, who’s it going to be? Who will be anointed this year, meaning you can’t foul them, or breathe on them without risking the wrath of Stern and his cronies? Tony Parker, or Beasley, maybe? Will Gilbert Arenas become the come back story of the year the league so loves to run with? I do’t know. But I do know that this preferential treatment, this idolatry on the court has to be handled. Let’s save all of the worship for the ticket holders and fans, and let the boys be boys on the court.

*Don't get me wrong though, I'm excited about this season, and the off-season which will bring about all the free agent drama you can stand! Let's go Wizards!!!