2. Teams are creating (or attempting to, at least) buzz by making blockbuster, last-minute trades. Mike Bibby to the Hawks for four players that belong in the development league? A Jason Kidd trade vetoed by Devean George, a guy who has never averaged more than seven points per game in a single season? What the heck is going on out here? These trades are actually hilarious because somebody had to think of them, and it’s pretty clear to me that they are being considered simply for the sake of making trades.
3. NOT All-Star weekend. I didn’t even realize the game was on this past weekend until I coincidentally saw the score hidden on the Bottom Line on ESPN late Sunday evening. Nobody really wants to watch NBA stars play even less defense than they do on a regular basis, and if people wanted to see a dunk contest, they can just tune in two days earlier.
4. The revival of the Boston Celtics. They are the beast of the Eastern Conference, with their fantasy lineup featuring Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and—of course—Kevin Garnett. They’ve been slipping up a bit lately, but it will come down to how healthy K.G. can stay, and how well LeBron James’ Cavaliers play when the two teams meet in the Conference Finals. A year ago, the Celtics were abysmal and playing for this year, as they were accused of losing games on purpose to secure the number one pick. After failing to secure even a top-three pick, the Celtics overhauled their roster and built a machine.
5. International appeal. Entering this season, the league featured 82 foreign players from 38 different countries. These guys bring a unique swagger and a different style of play that is changing the league for the better. Guys like Manu Ginobili, Jose Calderon and Tony Parker are stars in the NBA, which has increased the popularity of basketball around the world. The revolution that the NBA needs lies in the hands of these players.
6. The New York Knicks. If anybody wants to get away from the stresses of Amherst, look no further than Madison Square Garden. The Knicks are in the midst of putting on the best comedy routine in the greater Northeast. Year after year, my hometown team just makes some of the worst, most idiotic administrative decisions imaginable. Isaiah Thomas is still coaching; they probably will find a way to lose their first round draft picks for the next 15 years; and last year, they had the pleasure of paying Allan Houston the second highest salary in the NBA—to sit on his couch with an ice pack on his knee.
7. A few more years of Shaquille O’Neal as a Phoenix Sun are ahead. What’s left of the glory days of 1990s NBA basketball is held in this man’s hands. For him to stay healthy and lead the Suns to a championship within the next few years would be unbelievable for the league, and it would notch the Diesel his fifth ring with his third different team. For this to occur, of course, his hip will need to be able to carry him up and down the court more than three or four times per game.