Intensity in 10 Cities: An Unbiased Look at the NBA
The NBA is crazy, crazier than it's ever been. And with the Recent trades that have taken place, the general attitude of the NBA has taken on a new mood: Panic.
After Chris Bosh and LeBron James recently moved to Miami to play with Dwyane Wade, a mixture of feelings erupted throughout the NBA.
Miami fans are jumping for joy at the thought of another NBA title. Cavs fans screaming, crying, and gnashing their teeth as their "King" abandons and betrays them. (Come on Cleveland, we all knew he was leaving.) And then there is the rest of the NBA fans, most of which have no clue what to think.
But at the same time, I realize that we all overreacted a little bit. We did. All of us did. LeBron's move was a big deal, but it wasn't the end of the world. Despite the magnitude of the decision, we probably could have done without all of the chaos. (That chump Dan Gilbert definitely wasn't helping though.)
So at this point, the future of the NBA has fallen into the hands of pretty much ten teams:
- Los Angeles Lakers
- Miami Heat
- Boston Celtics
- Chicago Bulls
- Orlando Magic
- Phoenix Suns
- Utah Jazz
- New York Knicks
- Oklahoma City Thunder
- Denver Nuggets
Together, these teams will be playing the cards. They are the future of the league. They will be the gears that keep the machine running. They decide what the NBA will evolve into. It's a lot of pressure. It's Intensity in Ten Cities.
With that being said, here is my unbiased view of the NBA:
Best Team
Los Angeles Lakers
Trades or no trades, I haven't seen a team yet that has proved to me that they can dethrone the Lakers. No one can match their intensity. My money is that the Lakers take it again next year.
Runner up: Celtics, Magic, or Heat
Best Player
Is it even a question? Black Mamba still has what it takes. He still plays like he wants a championship more than anyone else. No one has stepped up and matched his assassins mentality. Look for Kobe to continue to do what he does.
Runner up: Dwyane Wade, Rajon Rondo
Best Coach
Phil Jackson
Phil did it with Jordan and he is still doing it with Kobe. He is the master, he knows how to work the system. He knows how to do the coaching job flawlessly.
Runner up: Jerry Sloan
Player with Most Potential
Deron Williams
"D-Will" is one of the most competitive athletes alive. That can be a good thing and a bad thing; it can be dangerous because with his current attitude, he won't ever join another superstar unless he has beat them first. However, he is quick, strong, and very consistent. He can shoot from about anywhere, but can also drive in for the slam. We will see what he does with his potential.
Runner up: Brandon Roy, Rajon Rondo
Most Successful Veteran
Derek Fisher
Fisher is still winning rings. He is still consistent and extremely experienced. He still knows what it takes to win championships.
Runner up: Shaq, Jason Kidd
Top 5 Most Overrated Players
- LeBron James
- Allen Iverson
- Yao Ming
- Shaq
- Dirk Nowitzki
Runner up: Andrei Kirelinko, Tracy McGrady
Top 5 Most Underrated Players
- Michael Redd
- Deron Williams
- Brandon Roy
- Ben Gordon
- Gilbert Arenas
Runner up: Mike Bibby, Paul Millsap
Top Point Guards
- Rajon Rondo
- Steve Nash
- Deron Williams
Top Shooting Guards
- Kobe Bryant
- Dwyane Wade
- Kevin Durrant
Top Small Forwards
- LeBron James
- Carmelo Anthony
- Paul Pierce
Top Power Forwards
- Kevin Garnett
- Chris Bosh
- Carlos Boozer
Top Centers
- Dwight Howard
- Pau Gasol
- Amar'e Stoudemire
So, depending on how the players are distributed, we could have a lot of good competition this year. I know my lack of confidence in LeBron James raises a lot of questions. So, for more on my view on LeBron, see:
For more on my view of the new Miami team, see:
For more on my view on the Lakers team, see:
In the end, I am confident that the Lakers will continue to play consistent and ferocious. I have mixed feelings about the Heat. As for the rest of the teams, it's really yup to them. They know what they have to do to be eligible to compete. I'm pumped to see what the results are. As for more big trades? I don't think we have seen the end yet. I believe we still have a lot of surprises in store for us.
This very well could be either the most exciting NBA Season of all time, or the most disappointing NBA Season of all time. The Expectations are high, it could go either way.
