So with 1230 Regular Season games, All-Star Weekend and 85 Post-Season games, there have to be some positives right? Well, yeah of course there are. So lets hop in the DeLorean DMC-12, go back to October 28 right up until June 14 and countdown the Starting Five of the best moments of the season.
C - Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Regardless of whether or not you love or hate Bryant and The Lakers, you can not deny that they were the most consistent team all season, and thoroughly deserved to win their 15th Championship in franchise history. The emergence of Trevor Ariza as a serious threat from both the bench and eventually as a starter, Lamar Odom accepting and embracing his role on the bench, and consistent contributions from Pau Gasol were the final pieces of the puzzle which the Lakers needed this season. Regardless of the injury and subsequent ineffectiveness of Andrew Bynum, Phil Jackson showed his coaching finesse in creating a balance between Kobe Bryant and the rest of the roster. Although they did not have to go through the Cleveland Cavaliers, the fact of the matter is that LeBron and Co. were simply not good enough when it counted most.
Special mention to Adam Morrison for joining Scot Pollard in the ranks of players who really don't deserve their championship ring. Props to DJ Mbenga too.
PF - LeBron James winning Most Valuable Player. Say what you will. The man boy child monster beast deserved it. Beating out fellow Team-USA players in Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, LeBron averaged a lazy 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.2 BPG. Beating out Bryant by 474, The King won what will be no doubt the first of many MVP awards. Many had arguments for either Bryant or Wade to win the award, however I do not think anyone can realistically dispute the success that James experienced as an individual, and the subsequent success that the Cavaliers enjoyed as an organisation...for the regular season at least. Just a pity that Nike jinxed Lebron and the Cavaliers from making the Finals with their MVPuppets campaign.
SF - The Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls Series. With a total eight overtime periods over the entire seven game series, the combination of Chicago's youth and brashness and Boston's playoff experience and expectation created one of the best playoff series in recent memory. Clutch plays from unexpected sources such as Joakim Noah and Glen Davis, the break out of Derrick Rose and the usual three point ability of Ray Allen were all features of the series, which regenerated interest in what was initially declared as a fairly predictable playoff series. The intensity and pace at which the games were played really epitomised what playoff basketball should be like. The only bad thing about the series, was having to deal with Kevin Garnett in a suit every game.
SG - Emerging Players. Each and every year, a new batch of players raise their hands and demand to be noticed. However this year, there were far more players than usual who burst away from mediocrity and experienced a taste of the NBA limelight. Most Improved Player Danny Granger, Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson, Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza, Chris Andersen and even Kevin Durant to an extent, all achieved that next level of success on court, looking to take yet another step in the 2009-2010 season. With the likes of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Brandon Roy, Al Jefferson and Dwight Howard continuing to reaffirm their star status, the NBA appears to be in great hands when the likes of Kobe Bryant, Shaqullie O'Neal, Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd retire.
PG - Amazing Marketing. I don't exactly have the greatest exposure to all the marketing campaigns and efforts of the major leagues in the States, yet I think I would be safe in saying that the material that the NBA puts out is second to none. From the emotion stirring "Amazing" Playoff spot, to these graphically stunning CGI commericials and these simple black and white clips, the NBA knowns how to hype up their product. You only have to look back to previous years campaigns' such as "There Can Only Be One" and the Black Eyed Peas promotion to see just how effective and unique the NBA is in their marketing efforts.
TSM
C - Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers. Regardless of whether or not you love or hate Bryant and The Lakers, you can not deny that they were the most consistent team all season, and thoroughly deserved to win their 15th Championship in franchise history. The emergence of Trevor Ariza as a serious threat from both the bench and eventually as a starter, Lamar Odom accepting and embracing his role on the bench, and consistent contributions from Pau Gasol were the final pieces of the puzzle which the Lakers needed this season. Regardless of the injury and subsequent ineffectiveness of Andrew Bynum, Phil Jackson showed his coaching finesse in creating a balance between Kobe Bryant and the rest of the roster. Although they did not have to go through the Cleveland Cavaliers, the fact of the matter is that LeBron and Co. were simply not good enough when it counted most.
Special mention to Adam Morrison for joining Scot Pollard in the ranks of players who really don't deserve their championship ring. Props to DJ Mbenga too.
PF - LeBron James winning Most Valuable Player. Say what you will. The man boy child monster beast deserved it. Beating out fellow Team-USA players in Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, LeBron averaged a lazy 28.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 7.3 APG, 1.7 SPG and 1.2 BPG. Beating out Bryant by 474, The King won what will be no doubt the first of many MVP awards. Many had arguments for either Bryant or Wade to win the award, however I do not think anyone can realistically dispute the success that James experienced as an individual, and the subsequent success that the Cavaliers enjoyed as an organisation...for the regular season at least. Just a pity that Nike jinxed Lebron and the Cavaliers from making the Finals with their MVPuppets campaign.
SF - The Boston Celtics vs. Chicago Bulls Series. With a total eight overtime periods over the entire seven game series, the combination of Chicago's youth and brashness and Boston's playoff experience and expectation created one of the best playoff series in recent memory. Clutch plays from unexpected sources such as Joakim Noah and Glen Davis, the break out of Derrick Rose and the usual three point ability of Ray Allen were all features of the series, which regenerated interest in what was initially declared as a fairly predictable playoff series. The intensity and pace at which the games were played really epitomised what playoff basketball should be like. The only bad thing about the series, was having to deal with Kevin Garnett in a suit every game.
SG - Emerging Players. Each and every year, a new batch of players raise their hands and demand to be noticed. However this year, there were far more players than usual who burst away from mediocrity and experienced a taste of the NBA limelight. Most Improved Player Danny Granger, Devin Harris, Jameer Nelson, Rajon Rondo, Trevor Ariza, Chris Andersen and even Kevin Durant to an extent, all achieved that next level of success on court, looking to take yet another step in the 2009-2010 season. With the likes of Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Brandon Roy, Al Jefferson and Dwight Howard continuing to reaffirm their star status, the NBA appears to be in great hands when the likes of Kobe Bryant, Shaqullie O'Neal, Tim Duncan and Jason Kidd retire.
PG - Amazing Marketing. I don't exactly have the greatest exposure to all the marketing campaigns and efforts of the major leagues in the States, yet I think I would be safe in saying that the material that the NBA puts out is second to none. From the emotion stirring "Amazing" Playoff spot, to these graphically stunning CGI commericials and these simple black and white clips, the NBA knowns how to hype up their product. You only have to look back to previous years campaigns' such as "There Can Only Be One" and the Black Eyed Peas promotion to see just how effective and unique the NBA is in their marketing efforts.
TSM
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