How much better the NBA could be
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by user Hogpage
Is this a sign? And if it is, will someone tell Danny Ainge and Kevin McHale not to fuck it up. Ruin everything like they have done time after time after time. After time.
I mean every single analyst, every single writer, every single sports radio host, every single blogger (including myself) and most importantly, every single fan, has dedicated a part of their life to bitch about the lopsidedness between the Western/Eastern conferences. The moment the buzzer sounded in Game 1 of this years' finals where San Antonio humiliated Lebron James and the Cavs without even breaking a sweat. The bitching commenced. "The East sucks. The NBA's not what it used to be. The TV ratings are awful. How the fuck did the Cavaliers make the NBA finals? Lebron's no good. It's boring the fuck out of me. It's not even worth watching anymore."
And everybody has already rewritten the playoff format and pledged it would make everything better.
Well instead of drastically changing something that has proved to be successful in the past, lets just take advantage of what God has rendered us.
Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.
Both guys want out. I would think both guys would want to play in the East considering it would feel like an 82 game vacation compared to last year. Both guys have teams, in the East (Boston and Chicago), that have showed interest in each player. Both Los Angeles and Minnesota might as well get rid of them while teams in the East are interested. The Lakers and 'Wolves don't want Kobe and KG kicking their ass in the West next year. Also, Depending on what the Bulls would give Los Angeles, because I really don't know, it seems like all four teams would be getting the most out of their buck. Reports say that Boston is willing to give Minnesota Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, its #5 pick and I think possibly Theo Ratliff. Al Jefferson is one of the best young low post scorers in the NBA. And that #5 pick ain't too shabby.
But more importantly, when was the last time you gave two shits about that 7:00 ET game on TNT or ESPN. You know the warm up game before Dallas/San Antonio, Phoenix/Los Angeles, Denver/Phoenix, Houston/Utah and those late night Laker/Warriors games that are always exciting. They made you sit through a couple grueling hours of Washington/New Jersey, Toronto/Cleveland, or Miami/Indiana before you would get to the showcase. They just always seemed to suck. But now, instead of just Detroit, Lebron, and D-Wade as Eastern conference attractions. We have a more respectable Detroit, Lebron, D-Wade, Kobe and KG. Not to mention, KG will most likely make contenders out of Boston which would allow Paul Pierce and the Celtics to grab some national television exposure. And how fun would it be to see Kobe, and a very talented Chicago team, take on KG and Pierce in a Bulls/Celtics game that actually mattered. Be able to watch Lebron vs. Kobe (in the playoffs). Kobe vs. D-Wade and Shaq (Eastern conference finals). Shaq vs. KG, again.
It's exactly what the NBA needs right now. David Stern has shown a sincerity in ensuring that the NBA will provide an entertaining product for its fans. He understands that the NBA isn't experiencing it's best years right now. It's obvious. But the reason the NBA has flourished is because they have always grown out of whatever obstacles they've fallen into. Years where they might have struggled. The NBA has stumbled around ever since Kobe/Shaq split up. It just wasn't as exciting as the late 80s or 90s. Not even close.
I'm not saying that moving these two players to the East will transfigure the NBA to what it was in the 80s and 90s. But it would sure be a start.
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