BY ANDREW GHARIB – FAN FUEL BLOGGER
What can I say about the last NBA season. I always enjoy it when a new team wins a championship, or at the very least, not the Lakers or Spurs.
Did anyone really have the Mavs winning it all? I certainly did not.
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One of the best moments for me was the return of LeBron James to Cleveland. I have never heard a reception of a former player like that in my life in the NBA, let alone other sports. I think the Heat had a ton of expectations going in (and why shouldn’t they?) and especially Wade and Bosh were very disappointed at not winning a championship. I can’t say the same for Lebron. I really don’t know what his motivations are. He says he wants to win, but I don’t see the passion.
I’m more interested in players that don’t have huge egos (if any are left) and you can start with the big three from OKC. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are superstars, and James Harden gives them an added edge. Their playoff experience and loss to the Mavs will only help them in the future. They will be the class of the West.
Another up and coming team in the Memphis Grizzlies will be a team to watch. They knocked out the almighty Spurs and they should be back in playoff contention.
Back to the Mavs – they really impressed me with their veteran savvy and defensive play. The Lakers will of course always be a threat so long as Kobe is playing. After losing Bynum to the Mavs it remains to be seen whether they can go as deep in the playoffs as everyone expects.
Speaking of veterans, the Spurs managed to maintain their usual aging competitiveness. Their loss to Memphis wasn’t altogether surprising.
The Boston Celtics are similar with an aging superstar trio and I think this year the age will catch up with them, with teams like Atlanta and Chicago in the East always getting better, and the Knicks trying to get back into the mix, and the possible acquisition of Dwight Howard to the Nets, will not bode well for the Celtics.
This was a very entertaining season. I can only hope that 2011-2012 will be half as good given the shorter schedule.