Derrick Rose and 7 Players Hurt Most by Shortened NBA Season

The players have unified in the hopes of thwarting the owners' greed. This bitter battle between the wealthy should generate no sympathy from fans, but the game we love will be cut short, as announced by David Stern.

With a shortened season, certain players more than others will feel the negative effects. Here is a list of seven players with the most to lose.  

LeBron James

LeBron James, the self proclaimed King will have trouble removing the bad aftertaste of his four consecutive abominable fourth quarter performances in the 2010 finals against the Dallas Mavericks. With a shortened season expected, NBA fans will likely focus on the shortcomings of their respective teams. 

Surprising as it may be, James still has trouble in the fourth quarter. This drawback will only get worse as long as James continues to "choke" in high pressure situations. 

Financially, James should be fine especially with all the endorsements he rings in. With a shortened season, LeBron James and the Miami Heat lose the age edge they've had over a lot of contenders. Old teams like the Celtics and the Lakers will have more in the tank if they meet Miami in the playoffs, especially if the NBA is looking at a 50- to 60-game season. 

Jamal Crawford

One of the more flashy free agents to hit the market, Jamal Crawford will have trouble generating interest if his asking price is too high. 

Jamal Crawford will garner suitors but I doubt teams will break the bank to sign a 31 year old veteran. With a shortened season, teams will not have time to acclimate a player of Crawford's status.

I'm sure Crawford expects a starting slot or big minutes off the bench, so without a training camp, that could prove difficult for a team. 

Steve Nash

A 37-year-old point guard gets a year older. Steve Nash continues to waste away in Phoenix, and now a shortened season will deprive fans of the little time this guy has left, at least at an elite level. 

The shortened season will allow Nash to rest but when you're a season or two from retiring, this won't help your legacy. Steve Nash is a Hall of Famer in my eyes, but he craves a ring and with a shortened season, a championship seems more unlikely as the 15-year veteran continues to age. 

Monta Ellis

With Mark Jackson at the helm, the Warriors will now have a coach that will preach the principles of defense. Monta Ellis has long been criticized for his defense or should I say lack of but his offensive tendencies bother me more.

He tends to always have the ball in his hands and while Ellis is an adept passer, his turnover issues have been a problem for this Warrior team not to mention his trigger happy impulses.

Without a training camp, I'm not sure how Mark Jackson will make the Ellis and Curry pairing more effective. Jackson has playoff hopes but the only way for that goal to be achieved is getting Ellis to play within a structured system. That may not occur this season because of the CBA issues. 

Derrick Rose

Like LeBron James, Derrick Rose loses the age edge over other contending teams. Rose had a phenomenal regular season last year but their defeat at the hands of the Miami Heat has likely been bothering the young superstar all offseason. 

Rose is still very young, but he understands that legacies are born in the playoffs. A shortened season likely means the Bulls stay pat in terms of adding difference making talent, and as evident in the playoffs, this team thirsts for another star alongside Rose. 

It looks like Rose has to carry the offensive load for another season. 

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant, like many of the other aging stars, will receive some needed rest but in this case, the 15-year veteran will be losing quite a bit of change. Like Lebron, Kobe won't have much of a problem financially because of endorsements and such, but I'm sure it'll become an issue if the entire season is lost. 

The 37-year-old Derek Fisher likely will return as the Lakers starting point guard and that means another tough year ahead for Kobe Bryant if there is indeed an NBA season in 2011-2012. The Lakers are facing a new host of challenges with a new head coach and a completely different system.

Kobe Bryant is still hungry for more championships, and with a shortened season, the Lakers' odds to win it all surly don't help their cause. 

Ron Artest/Metta World Peace

With a shortened season, fans can't expect Metta World Peace to solely focus on basketball though he is signed to play for the Chesire Jets of the British Basketball league, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Ron Artest was awful last year, and with a shortened season, the Lakers will have trouble shipping out the 12-year veteran. If Artest continues to struggle with the Lakers as he did last season, it won't be enjoyable for either Artest or the fanbase.

His antics off the court will make basketball a secondary priority, giving Laker fans all the more reason to boo him when they get the chance.