Pro Sports
Email
Print
Wide Open: Many teams appear to have good shot at NBA title
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: October 27, 2009
Not many NBA seasons set up the way this one does, with almost everything at stake almost everywhere.
Of course, the Los Angels Lakers are trying to defend their title in their inimitable style. Coach Phil Jackson, when asked about repeating, noted merrily: "We have a better chance than anybody."
This season, that's just where it starts.
The Boston Celtics are making a last hurrah with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in contract years.
Boston's ownership, which made little or no money the last two seasons, however glorious, isn't running around trying to lock everyone up, suggesting that it's open to backing up the truck.
It's the Cleveland Cavaliers' last stand before LeBron James is free. Only James knows what it will take to keep him, but the Cavs had better not upset him by falling short of the finals, or, perhaps, falling anywhere.
It can also be Dwyane Wade's last season in Miami, Chris Bosh's in Toronto, Amare Stoudemire's in Phoenix and Dirk Nowitzki's in Dallas, not to mention Shaquille O'Neal's in Cleveland, Joe Johnson's in Atlanta and David Lee's in New York.
Complicating all this, the economic crisis that came down last fall after NBA teams had sold their season tickets will have greater impact this season.
With last season's $58.7 million cap down to $57.7 million, the league has told teams to prepare for revenues to fall further, projecting the 2010-11 cap to be as low as $50.4 million.
So much for Plan A for the Cavaliers, trying to keep James, and the Knicks, trying to lure him.
General Manager Danny Ferry of the Cavaliers had cleared a maximum slot for next summer, enabling him to woo a star like Bosh to play alongside James.
With Ferry's max slot whittled in half and the Cavs' devastating loss to Orlando in the Eastern finals, Ferry pushed all his chips out on the table, acquiring O'Neal, Anthony Parker and Jamario Moon to give James his best supporting cast, by far.
Now, the Cavaliers' last stand just has to get past Boston's last hurrah.
In New York, the Knicks, who thought they would have had two maximum slots to offer to James and Bosh, just to name two players, are now looking at 1¾ slots. That would oblige them to ask some big guy to take less, not a popular option among big people.
With cap space paramount in his mind, President Donnie Walsh of the Knicks made no moves, even making Lee, his best player, a free agent next summer by bringing him back on a one-year qualifying offer.
Adding to the drama, no one will know how much space anyone has until July 1. Confusing as this is, the New York tabloids will just beat up Walsh until James actually puts on a Knicks jersey, in which case Walsh will then be deemed Red Holzman's linear heir.
No matter what happens this season, this league is going to look different next season.
Since things rarely turn out as anyone expects, there might be more plots twists than anyone can imagine.
Take the Los Angeles Clippers, or as Clippers fans would say, please.
With a comeback looming -- how can they miss after winning 19 games? -- they have a talented young roster with Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon -- and $20 million worth of cap room, which could make them one of James' most attractive suitors.
So, Mike Dunleavy could wind up as coach of the year and executive of the year, or, if things don't work out, fired.
One way or another, it's going to be something everywhere.
NBA schedule
Tuesday's games
Boston at Cleveland, 7:30
Washington at Dallas, 8:30
Houston at Portland, 10 p.m.
L.A. Clippers at L.A. Lakers, 10:30
Wednesday's games
Indiana at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Philadelphia at Orlando, 7 p.m.
Cleveland at Toronto, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Boston, 7:30
New York at Miami, 7:30
Detroit at Memphis, 8 p.m.
New Jersey at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
New Orleans at San Antonio, 8 p.m.
Sacramento at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.
Utah at Denver, 10:30
Phoenix at L.A. Clippers, 10:30
Houston at Golden State, 10:30
Thursday's games
San Antonio at Chicago, 8 p.m.
Denver at Portland, 10:30
Email
Print
