These are the same reasons I love the NBA. Some fans are born and bred fans of a specific team, but my family never enjoyed professional basketball like I do now. I feel the same connection with players and teams that I feel when I watch a movie. Each team or player forms a story line worth following, if you make the connection.
Whether it's Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen going to Boston and revitalizing the Celtics, or watching the Kings and Bobcats try to survive as organizations, the NBA is full of fascinating plots every year.
Here are my predictions for the most interesting players and teams for this season.
Memphis Grizzlies
I shall once again take the reigns as captain of the Grizzlies Bandwagon. This team has captivated me for the past three years: Zach Randolph, a New York reject, found his place in Memphis as a backboard banger and mid-range master; Marc Gasol emerged from Pau's shadow with his own All-Star formula as a rebounder and tough inside scorer; Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, Jr. and Tony Allen are an enticing back-court. Hopefully Gay and Randolph can find their stride working together, Conley can continue to improve as a ball-handler and defender, and Allen can find an offensive rhythm. My biggest question for the Grizzlies: who can come off the bench and score? The loss of O.J. Mayo is detrimental if only for his sporadic scoring off the bench. I think Memphis will be the 5 seed in the West, but, to beat the big boys, Memphis needs to find its niche.
Uni-brow Nation
The Hornets begin their Anthony Davis era with an interesting roster. Will Davis be a full-time center on defense or roam in a zone? Can Al-Forouq Aminu produce consistently on offense? Does Eric Gordon even want to be in New Orleans? How many times will Austin Rivers go 0-9 from three-point territory? How quickly before everyone in the New Orleans Arena has unibrows? Obviously a lot of questions but there are some serious advantages for the Hornets. They have a young roster with only one bloated contract (Gordon, who deserves it). Monty Williams looks like an up-and-coming defensive strategist who could mesh with Davis to create a defensive juggernaut in the future. Ryan Anderson is an interesting piece to open the floor for Gordon drives to the lane and Davis in the post. All things considered, the Hornets, at best, are battling for an 8-seed; at worst they are the number 10 pick in the draft.
Brandon Roy
I love a comeback story, and it will be great to see Roy suit up in Minnesota this season. But can Roy's knees function in the grind of an 82-game schedule? I think they can. Assuming he is medically cleared to play, Roy should not have to rely on his athleticism as much as he did in Portland. Rick Adelman runs a "Corner" offense in Minnesota which relies on pick and roll/pick and pop, interior passing and spot up shooting. In Portland, Roy was primarily an isolation threat who used his natural agility to beat players to the hoop. I don't think he can be a defensive stopper, but he can be an effective third option behind a healthy Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio combo, if that ever happens.
And, to piss off Dimitri...
Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland has two roads its team can venture on this year. One is a flourishing offensive team behind Kyrie Irving. The second is the lottery. This is Cleveland we are talking about, so Irving will probably be on pace for an MVP season, then his knees will explode and the Cavs will lose 30 straight.
Los Angeles Lakers
As a long-time Laker hater, it was difficult seeing them pick up Steve Nash this summer. Let us hope the Triad of Evil (Bryant, Neck Beard, Howard) is enough to dim the shining light of Nash's goodness on the court. Yet I find myself yelling at my friends that the Lakers will hoist the golden trophies at the end of June... After two years of early-playoff exits, it is again tough to be a Laker-hater.
Dirk Nowitzki
Last year was a rough year for the Big German. His Mavericks were done away with quickly by the Thunder in the first round of the playoffs and he made the All-Star team on his name alone. The big news is Dirk will miss about 6 weeks after undergoing knee surgery. Dirk is 34, and this injury made me wonder if we will see him around much longer. I grew into a basketball fan around the time Dirk was making a mark on the league so I wish him all the best. What was the point of this paragraph? An excuse to show this video. All hail Dirk and his Awkward-but-Clutch-Jump-Shooting!
Ivan Johnson
Of all the interesting teams and characters this season, Ivan Johnson reigns supreme. Johnson is a hybrid PF/C for the Hawks, and he is my candidate for the player most likely to brawl with fans in the stands, since Ron Artest already did that one.
I could go on about his eccentric personality (he wears a grill during games and got banned from playing basketball in South Korea. BANNED!) and his playing style (he broke the backboard in practice last week. PRACTICE!), or you could read Rembert Browne's "Ivan Johnson Chronicles" on Grantland. I recommend the latter.
Bonus Video!
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