For NBA fans like myself, after the final buzzer sounds at the end of each season and the champion is crowned(though it didn't change last season), the average fan normally experiences emptiness and for the most part boredom. There are no more buzzer-beaters. There are no more no-look passes and alley-oops. There are no more nasty slams and sweet jumpers. There are no more killer crossovers and broken ankles. It's just plain boring for about a month.
Last season, we saw the Los Angeles Lakers win their 2nd straight NBA Championship and their 16th Overall. This is Coach Phil Jackson's 13 championship, 11 as a coach. Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest and ofcourse Kobe Bryant, the finals MVP, carried their team through the playoffs and in the finals to give L.A. another championship banner.
The first taste of the new season is when the Draft Lottery is held. Teams with poor records from the previous season have a bigger chance of getting the first picks in the draft which will enable them to rebuild their franchises or even contend for the championship. This year was the Washington Wizards' year. They grabbed the first pick in the draft. Their franchise have been slowed down by injuries in the past seasons with the likes of Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. This pick can really be helpful for them. The next 9 pics are as follows : Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, and the Indiana Pacers. Looking at these teams, most of them really need rebuilding.
When Draft Night comes, which is normally held in New York, teams have their pics in mind. Top college and High School athletes in the US and players all over the world can be drafted. The first pick is always considered the most crucial of all pics. Many teams have made the first over-all pick as the first building block of their rebuilding process. Picks like Elgin Baylor (1958, Lakers), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969, Bucks), Bill Walton (1974, Blazers), Magic Johnson (1979, Lakers), Hakeen Olajuwon (1984, Rockets), David Robinson (1987, Spurs), Shaquille O'Neal (1992, Magic), Tim Duncan (1997, Spurs), and Lebron James (2003, Cavaliers) have really helped suffering franchises out of their misery. This year's first pick was a choice between John Wall, a freshman from Kentucky, and Evan Turner, a junior from Ohio State. Wall was chosen first and Turner came in second. Many questioned the Wizards' pick due to the position that Wall played. What would happen if he played side by side with Arenas? Will the be effective playing with each other? Critics have said that Turner would have been a better choice for the Wizards because they really need a big who is athletic and can score for them night-in and night-out. Nonetheless, Wall was a no-brainer for the Wizards.
And where do these new talent showcase their skills? The Summer League ofcourse! This preseason tournament is where potential NBA players can show-off their talent in front of their respective coaching staffs. Normally, Superstar caliber players don't play in the tourney so as to give more minutes to the newly drafted rookies.
The NBA also showcase preseason games. This time, it is fans turn to see how the teams are formed. This is also the time where the teams come together and get to know each other in an NBA level of competition.
Well, the NBA season is just around the corner. Teams and rosters are taking its shape. For the average fan like me, no news can be better.
Last season, we saw the Los Angeles Lakers win their 2nd straight NBA Championship and their 16th Overall. This is Coach Phil Jackson's 13 championship, 11 as a coach. Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, Ron Artest and ofcourse Kobe Bryant, the finals MVP, carried their team through the playoffs and in the finals to give L.A. another championship banner.
The first taste of the new season is when the Draft Lottery is held. Teams with poor records from the previous season have a bigger chance of getting the first picks in the draft which will enable them to rebuild their franchises or even contend for the championship. This year was the Washington Wizards' year. They grabbed the first pick in the draft. Their franchise have been slowed down by injuries in the past seasons with the likes of Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison. This pick can really be helpful for them. The next 9 pics are as follows : Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, and the Indiana Pacers. Looking at these teams, most of them really need rebuilding.
When Draft Night comes, which is normally held in New York, teams have their pics in mind. Top college and High School athletes in the US and players all over the world can be drafted. The first pick is always considered the most crucial of all pics. Many teams have made the first over-all pick as the first building block of their rebuilding process. Picks like Elgin Baylor (1958, Lakers), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1969, Bucks), Bill Walton (1974, Blazers), Magic Johnson (1979, Lakers), Hakeen Olajuwon (1984, Rockets), David Robinson (1987, Spurs), Shaquille O'Neal (1992, Magic), Tim Duncan (1997, Spurs), and Lebron James (2003, Cavaliers) have really helped suffering franchises out of their misery. This year's first pick was a choice between John Wall, a freshman from Kentucky, and Evan Turner, a junior from Ohio State. Wall was chosen first and Turner came in second. Many questioned the Wizards' pick due to the position that Wall played. What would happen if he played side by side with Arenas? Will the be effective playing with each other? Critics have said that Turner would have been a better choice for the Wizards because they really need a big who is athletic and can score for them night-in and night-out. Nonetheless, Wall was a no-brainer for the Wizards.
And where do these new talent showcase their skills? The Summer League ofcourse! This preseason tournament is where potential NBA players can show-off their talent in front of their respective coaching staffs. Normally, Superstar caliber players don't play in the tourney so as to give more minutes to the newly drafted rookies.
The NBA also showcase preseason games. This time, it is fans turn to see how the teams are formed. This is also the time where the teams come together and get to know each other in an NBA level of competition.
Well, the NBA season is just around the corner. Teams and rosters are taking its shape. For the average fan like me, no news can be better.
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