Some NBA Thoughts

POSTED BY Adam Aizer, 30 October 2007

Here’s what’s on my mind as the NBA tips off tonight.

1. Nobody likes Basketball anymore: Is it me? Or is basketball now the third most-liked sport in the country? Clearly football is King in the US (apparently not the case in England), and I would say there is much more interest in baseball than basketball these days. I’m not just talking about right now, as the World Series just ended and the NBA season hasn’t started yet. I’m saying in general, basketball fans are decreasing. It would help if the Knicks were good. It would help if the Lakers were better. It would definitely help if Kobe, Lebron, and Wade didn’t play on such boring and mediocre teams. The Cavs went to the Finals last year, but they are mediocre compared to the elite NBA teams. The Spurs are boring. Durant and Oden might as well be playing in Vancouver. Something needs to change. Perhaps the Celtics can spice things up.

2. Fantasy Basketball is pathetic compared to Fantasy Football: This will be my first year participating in fantasy basketball, and I want to know one thing. Why the hell should I care about FT%? That’s honestly a category. Free throw percentage! I don’t know any Fantasy Football leagues that give points for a quarterback’s completion percentage. If they exist, I don’t want to know about them.

3. The Hawks Should be Good by Now: It’s time for the Atlanta Hawks to stop being so pathetic. The team is filled with athletic and exciting young players, but it’s been missing a tough, fundamentally-sound player like Al Horford. Great draft pick. He is exactly what they need to have a more consistent team. It’s tough to win without a reliable scorer down low. Horford can develop into that. He’s my preseason rookie of the year. Preseason numbers: 11.3 points, 8.6 rebounds in 30 minutes per game. Atlanta might be decent.

4. The Spurs Will Win it All: Time is running out on the Spurs Dynasty. They aren’t getting any younger. They never have high draft picks. But Tim Duncan is still going to be great for a few more years. Same for Tony Parker (only 25) and Manu Ginobli. The Spurs will need one other player to really step up this season. It’s an unexciting roster after the Big Three. At times in the playoffs, San Antonio looked outmatched against the Suns and might have lost that series if not for Amare’s questionable suspension. Still, defense wins championships and the Spurs will do it again. This might be the last year before they have to incorporate some younger talent.