origins vol 9...they're playing basketball

my father attached a hoop and backboard we had laying about to the top of the garage when i was young. i had found myself being more interested in basketball back in those days and even though no one in my family, extended and otherwise seemed to have any interest in the game. i remember laying about the couch, alone on a Sunday afternoon back 1986 sometime in February looking for something to watch. i came upon a Notre Dame and Duke baskeball game. i quickly became interested in the ebb and flow of the game, the excitement, the drama. With no real understanding of the game i watched on and decided whichever team won the game would be the team i rooted for. Duke won, i don't remember the score, semantics. Thus is the history behind my interest in the game. months later, after being swept up in the revelry of march Madness, i watched the Celtics beat up on the Houston Rockets in the NBA finals, my first true foray into NBA baskeball...

in my radioactive days i used that hoop to bring my body back to life, shooting baskets in the bitter cold, both for the exercise and catharsis. As i grew stronger and older i began playing the game at the local parks and in Jamaica High School, where i was picked often enough to become pretty good. Invariably i was picked as 'Larry' or 'Larry Bird', not because of the similarities of my game to the Celtic great, but because of the color of my skin—who says white people are the only creed capable judgemental and prejudicial behavior? My understanding has grown over the years from these experiences as well as by watching the game incessantly on TV. And although baseball is my first love, i do adore my basketball. So allow me to indulge, as the 2009-10 NBA season kicks off tonight, in offering my humble preview of the season...

much has been said about the greatness of the Lakers, and Kobe Bryant, the team's erstwhile superstar. After dispatching the Orlando magic in 5 games last year the Lakers decided to go out and get better by picking the enigmatic Ron Artest. Ron Ron, whom i'm familiar with from his St. john's days is a tenacious on the ball defender who can rebound, shoot and handle the ball. The equivalent to a five tool player in baseball Artest does everything well and should mesh swimmingly in the triangle offense, even if i think the triangle offense is nothing more than a myth that involves giving the ball to the team's vest player and allow him to make a play. Phil Jackson has gotten fat off of players like Micheal Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe, i would like to see him coach a team like the '99 Knicks to the finals or the dominant Pistons teams of the recent past. Jackson would be lost without a star, but he does have Kobe and along with Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom and other role players such as Sasha Vujacic, Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar, Phil shouldn't have to sweat. There main competition should come from the Denver Nuggets...

the Nuggets gave everything the Lakers wanted in a classic conference finals last season, while the didn't add anything to improve their club they didn't really lose anything either. Rookie Ty Lawson will be a good NBA point guard at some point but as long as Chauncey Billups is running the show he'll be garnering the major minutes at the 1-spot. Billups brings with him a few rings and now has an opportunity to flex his influence over a young and energetic squad for an entire year. But the x-factor for these Nuggets will be Carmelo Anthony. Often, when the conversation of the league's elite players is bandied about Anthony's name seems to be missing from the list. I believe this is the year Anthony announces his presence on that very list. he is a commanding offensive player who is un-coverable. His success, along with how much the rest of this team learned from last year's experience in the penultimate playoff series will be the tipping point for their outcome this season...

to me this is a two team race, we could go through the motions of how the San Antonio Spurs can be in the conversation, but they are merely a year older, even if Tony Parker is still a youngster by all accounts. The Spurs go where Tim Duncan takes them. The Dallas Mavericks are a team on life support and will be an afterthought in the race and New Orleans Hornets and Utah Jazz haven't figured out that having the best point guards in the NBA doesn't mean much if they have to do all the scoring themselves. So its Lakers/Nuggets again in the Western Conference Finals. The last time the Lakers tried to repeat to the finals they were met with valid contenders the Portland Trailblazers and the Sacramento Kings, the Nuggets are neither one of those teams,—they are better. Nuggets in 7...

where is LeBron james going in 2010? That's the biggest question surrounding the wunderkind from the Cleveland Cavaliers. Not sure, but it won't be the NBA Finals. Sure, James is the best player in the Eastern Conference and arguably in the league. And sure, the Cavs are returning a strong supporting cast including a very good Mo' Williams i have a huge problem with the signing of Shaquille O'Neal. First off, he is a planet onto himself. While having the cameras and microphones tip to the other side of the locker room might, on the surface, help James keep focused, who is saying that james wants the lack of attention. This kid understands he is a superstar, he understands how to sell himself and done so admirably. Who is to say that he and O'Neal don't end up clashing? O'Neal can't run, will get hurt, can't defend Dwight Howard and can't function in the pick and roll. How is he going to fit in this Cav's game plan? All that aside, this Eastern Conference race is breaks down like this...

if not for the injury to Kevin Garnett last year the Celtics and Cavs repeat in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Magic, in other words are not in the conversation. They will be good, quite possibly 60 win good, but Vince Carter does not a championship team make. Howard still needs to learn how to work offensively in the half-court post and as much as i love Patrick Ewing he should know that the reason the Knicks don't come calling with a job is because he has had Howard for three years and the kid still doesn't have a turn-around jumper. Not even the hop step i the middle drive in the lane that Ewing used to wear out opposing centers with back in the day. They could sneak in if the Cavs self-destruct but more than anything else...

the Celtics are back. Garnett is a great all-around player, and a personal favorite. If only the Knicks could have pulled off a deal for him oh so many years ago. Yes, the injury to his knee is a dicey proposition but if he is healthy this team is a 68 win juggernaut. Paul Pierce is the forgotten superstar. He does all things well. Ray Allen is a dead-eye shooter and Rajon Rondo, i must admit, is a great point guard getting better. This team won a championship two years ago as constituted. Now add Rasheed Wallace—speaking of a player who does everything well. Wallace will allow Garnett to rest throughout the season and together, they will be formidable offensive duo on all points of the court, with their shooting and passing acumen...

Celtics in 6 over the Cavs, unless Garnett is unhealthy, then the Magic could creep in and they match up very well with the Cavs. But i have faith in my man KG...

Celtics take it all over the Nuggets in 6...

as for my hometown Knicks. They haven't won a title since a week before i was born, and they won't win one this year either, but they will be better. The management is looking ahead to 2010 and that makes a lot of sense since they will have a ton of cash to use on a bonanza free agent class, but wait. David Lee is a do-it-all kind of star in the making who should find himself in the all-star game in February. His jumper range has improved which will help his all around game. Wilson Chandler is a step away from being a bona fide star. If continues to develop at the rate that he has the past two years he should have a breakout 20 ppg season. Danillo Gallinari can shoot the ball anywhere, anytime. Guys like this don't come along often. There's the two-headed point guard in Chris Duhon and rookie Toney Douglas. Duhon is a Steve Nash clone, smart, calculated and productive. Douglas will be a star point guard in this league, you heard it here. Lest we forget, my boy, shake 'n bake, Nate Robinson. He is a born leader and a proven scorer in this league. Teamed with Douglas on the second unit, opposing guards are going to have real difficulty pushing the ball forward. With these pieces why are we worried about getting Lebron, or Dwayne or who have you. Let's be real, neither one of those guys are headed here. And we don't need a star, we have stars in waiting, you'll see them start to rise this year. 37 wins...

the worst thing about the NBA season opening tonight, is that i actually have to wait until tomorrow to see my Knicks...