Why I'm Back

Warning - this post needs an editor. I wrote it at 12:30 and didn't see many of the errors I'm seeing today. I'm too tired to change it because I was up at 12:30 writing about bball. Kind of a catch-22.

So, I've watched NBA basketball several nights in a row. Hopefully the streak will continue tomorrow night. It is a product I had sworn off. For years I told my uncle I'd rather watch playoff hockey than playoff basketball. I was watching the Lakers/Spurs game tonight and came up with some reasons I think I'm back.

The athletes

Basketball players are hands down the best athletes in the world. To be a good basketball player, you have to have the total package of athleticism. I've played pick-up basketball with NFL players who couldn't shoot a smooth jump-shot. To be able to score and defend a person has to be extremely coordinated. The NBA is full of the best of the best athletes. The skill level is off the charts.

The depth

Coaching in high school and watching college, you basically see teams that are 6-8 players deep. And by deep I mean 6-8 who actually play. Most high school teams really only have 3 or four contributors. Some have as many as 6. More than 6 is rare. Watching the NBA playoffs and seeing up to 10 contributors is fun.

Innovation and creativity

I have had a breakthrough. Motion offense isn't the way to go (unless you're less talented than the other team). If you have the best player on the planet, you don't want to reduce the game to five on five. That isn't bad basketball. Sometimes purists can be stubborn. I still don't want complete isolation or ball-hoggery, but ball-screens. The players and coaches have the basketball minds and talent to pull off some incredibly imaginative plays. I'm enjoying have my mind opened up to the game.

The fundamentals

I know. I know. The pro game's reputation is no fundamentals. It isn't true. I'm watching these guys defend, handle the ball, rebound, and shoot. They're fundamentals are excellent. This isn't the NBA of the late 90's/early 00's (or whatever we're living in). This is good basketball. They defense on the pick and rolls alone is worth watching. One more thing, the passing is amazing. I'm not sure how it has become so good again, but it has. I love good passing and the game is currently full of great passers.

The coverage

I don't know of another sport that gets the kind of coverage the NBA does. The cameras in the coaches huddles are great. The interviews between the third and fourth quarters are great. By the way, if you watched the Lakers/Spurs game, why didn't Popivich talk about basketball in the huddles. All he did was motivate. He was full of lines like play together and play for each other, but I didn't hear a single basketball comment. I don't get that. Maybe it's why Brent Barry got the final shot.

The shot clock

I love the 24 second shot clock. No game is over with that short of an opportunity to shoot. It keeps the game moving at a fun pace and I think even improves defense. You know you only have to defend 24 seconds at a time.

The Lakers

I have a team again. You can scroll down if you're at all interested in how I've slowly come back to the Lakers. I won't go into it all again, but I am a Laker fan once again. I no longer root against Kobe. I love watching him and want another championship in LA. I'm already talking to my uncle about a road trip to Memphis next year to see the Lakers play the Tigers (I mean Grizzlies).

A couple things I'd still like to see go.

The music during the game.

It just bugs me.

Advancing the ball to the front-court on timeouts.

I just don't get this one. The ball should be taken out where the timeout was called. I see no reason or fairness in advancing it to the front-court.

If you've given up on the NBA, give it another try. Watch for 96 seconds. You'll get four possessions, and you'll be back.