By By Olson Barthelemy
The casual basketball fan may have forgotten the NBA has an actual season considering the only recent news has revolved around the dress-code controversy.
Nevertheless, the 2005 season begins this week and should prove to be a compelling one with multiple teams in both the Eastern and Western Conferences having legitimate chances at making the playoffs. How about the return of Phil Jackson to the Los Angeles Lakers and Larry Brown going home to the New York Knicks? Will the Spurs repeat, will the Heat implode and will Ron Artest lose it again? Let’s cover all of these topics as we preview the 2005 NBA season:
High Profile & Coaches
New York and Los Angeles are as high profile as it gets among sports markets, so it’s only fitting the two biggest markets in the NBA are led by the two biggest coaches in the sport.
Following the initial departure of head coach Phil Jackson at the end of the 2003 season, the consensus was new head coach Rudy Tomjanovich would be a capable replacement, but the Lakers dropped down a peg. That consensus turned out to be an understatement, as Tomjanovich resigned midway through the season due to health problems and the Kobe Bryant-led Lakers combusted, finishing 10th in the West.
Obviously a change was needed, but who thought that change entailed the return of Phil Jackson? After publicizing the fractured relationship between him and Bryant in his book (calling Bryant “uncoachable”), Jackson to try to restore the Lakers to the top of the Western Conference.
Of course, such things are easier said than done. Jackson wasn’t the only one to leave Hollywood in 2004. Shaquille O’Neal was traded to the Heat, leaving a gaping hole in the Laker frontcourt that Lamar Odom fill. Jackson’s return will garner attention but not wins. LA’s success during Jackson’s initial reign as head coach was based on his triangle offense, which succeeded by dumping the ball to Shaq. With O’Neal gone, Jackson will find it difficult to use that formula this time around with inexperienced big men. Drafting center Andrew Bynum out of high school doesn’t help matters, either.
Across the country, the Knicks were left reeling after a horrendous season. Meanwhile, the Pistons let head coach Larry Brown go because of health reasons and swirling controversy that he spoke to other teams during his tenure in Detroit.
Since he moves fast, it didn’t take very long before Knicks President Isiah Thomas was having dinner with Brown and, eventually, naming him head coach of the Knicks. Brown now roams the same sideline as former Knick coach Red Holzman, but he faces a big task in returning the Knicks to their glory days.
A huge proponent of defense, Brown must somehow manage to convince Stephon Marbury to contribute on the other side of the ball. Jamal Crawford’s shot selection must improve. Eddy Curry must be more than a scoring center.
In Brown’s favor, however, is a team that seems to have gotten young overnight. The Knicks struck gold by drafting the talented Nate Robinson, Channing Frye and David Lee in the first round. Brown can mold these players into the type of players he wants.
In a conference stacked at the top, the Knicks won’t threaten for the league championship, but should return to the playoffs.
The Rich get Richer
The Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs were arguably the two best teams last year, and each team added more talent over the summer.
The champion Spurs, already favored by most experts, added guards Nick Van Exel and Michael Finley. Finley was the subject of proposals from the Heat as well, but surprisingly accepted less money and less minutes to play with the Spurs.
Miami seemingly unhappy with a team that challenged for the Eastern Conference crown last year and decided this offseason to sign any above average player who wasn’t bolted down. Antoine Walker, Jason Williams, James Posey and Gary Payton were all added. While it is obvious the Heat have tremendous talent and depth, these signings do raise a few concerns. Just how will they be able to share the ball amongst a number of players used to having the ball in their hands? Secondly, how does Stan Van Gundy keep control of this team which now features some players known to stir up trouble? If they can keep it together this year however, they’ll be tremendously tough in the playoffs.
Ron’s Return
The last time Ron Artest saw minutes in an NBA game, the outcome wasn’t something he, the Pacers, or the NBA wish to remember. If you type “NBA” into Google Images, pictures of the “Malice in the Palace” litter the first page.
The NBA took a huge hit to its reputation after the November brawl and responded by suspending Artest for the remainder of the season (73 games plus playoffs). Artest’s return will be front page news, especially when the Pacers go to Detroit to face the Pistons.
Despite his issues from last season, if Artest can stay on the court, he will bring a good scorer and more importantly a tenacious defender to the very talented Pacers.
Casual Fridays?
At the forefront of the NBA offseason has been fashion rather than basketball. With David Stern introducing a dress code forbidding virtually anything outside of dress suits for players on the bench not participating in the game and for all players after the game, a nerve was hit with players who were against the rule.
Chief amongst these players were Allen Iverson, Stephen Jackson and surprisingly considering his quiet demeanor, Tim Duncan. The media has taken the side of the NBA, feeling the rule will help to “clean” the image of the league and bring respectability back to the game. Fans seem to have taken a similar stance.
You can expect some players to simply ignore the rule and wear what they like. More interesting however, you can expect the more creative players to take advantage of the rule and wear the ugliest suits they can find. Whatever the case, Stern doesn’t seem to be changing his mind any time soon.
Division Winners
Atlantic: New Jersey Nets
You can expect the awful Atlantic to be competitive between New Jersey, New York and Philly, but New Jersey boasts the most talented starting lineup (including Jason Kidd, Richard Jefferson, and Vince Carter) and should come out on top.
Central: Indiana Pacers
Ron Artest’s return to the Pacers starting lineup is huge. If he can avoid missing any extended time, the Pacers will win a tight Central division over a Detroit team missing Larry Brown more than expected.
Southeast: Miami Heat
Miami may self destruct or flatten everything in its path. It doesn’t really matter considering the Wizards lost Larry Hughes and Kwame Brown. Miami should have the division wrapped up early.
Northwest: Denver Nuggets
Kevin Garnett deserves so much better than what he has to work with in Minnesota. Expect the Sonics to drop off with the loss of coach Nate McMillan, and watch a stacked Denver team take the division.
Pacific: Golden State Warriors
Amare Stoudemire is out at least four months, so the Suns are out, leaving the division wide open. No preview is complete without a risky pick, so here is mine: look for the Warriors to imitate the high speed offense of last year’s Suns, utilizing a healthy Baron Davis and playmaker in Jason Richardson
Southwest: Dallas Mavericks
In the best division in the league, there are three teams with legitimate chances to compete for the title-the Spurs, Mavericks and Rockets. San Antonio is the safe pick, and Houston is my pick to take the conference, but the Mavericks are suited for long regular season win streaks, which should give them the division.