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Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:26 pm

Column here.

The rundown:

1. Lakers win 2009 championship
2. "Where will LeBron end up?" speculation
3. NBA's salary cap decreases
4. Cavaliers trade for Shaq
5. MJ's induction into the Hall of Fame (and speech)
6. Kobe and LeBron's performances at Madison Square Garden
7. The rookie race in the early weeks of the 2009/2010 season
8. Yao Ming's season ending injury (before the season has begun)
9. New Jersey's losing streak
10. Iverson's brief retirement and subsequent return to Philadelphia

I think that's a fair summary of the top stories in the NBA through 2009. The persistent allegations and tell-all book by Tim Donaghy probably should be on the list though as that's a black cloud that continues to hang over the league and certainly kept people talking and speculating. My thoughts on those ten stories:

I'm not surprised to see Jordan's speech rank so high on the list after all the to-do it caused. I still think that was blown way out of proportion. I know, I know, I'm hardly unbiased in this matter but doing my best to put all that aside, I think the critics saw what they wanted to see and perceived a lot of bitterness that really wasn't there. If it was Shaq or Barkley up there giving that speech, they'd call it kidding around and ribbing. My favourite analysis included speculation that based on Stockton's reactions, Jordan made the whole Byron Russell story up. Except, you know, Russell himself confirmed the anecdote. Nice work doing the research, ESPN "expert" whose name escapes me at this time (but come on, ESPN, need I say more?).

The Lakers winning the championship being the top story is questionable as they made the Finals the year before and were among the favourites to win last season as well, so it wasn't exactly surprising. Still, I suppose ultimately the NBA championship is the most important thing in the league and the goal everyone is (supposedly) striving for so it's kind of the top story by default. A bit of a copout though and not news in the same way as some of the other entries on the list. It's not every year a big trade goes down or a noteworthy free agent crop is anticipated, but somebody wins the championship every year. I can see where Ludden is coming from though.

The LeBron speculation is probably the real top story though as it's reached all kinds of ridiculous levels with all sorts of "proof" and "inside scoops" (don't forget, Jalen Rose has claimed LeBron AND Bosh WILL be going to New York next year) from baseball caps to ambiguous statements and I'm sure a few more screwball "Paul is Dead"-like theories will be put forward before it's all said and done. Really, the 2010 offseason itself remains one of the top stories to the point where an NBA fan can refer to simply "2010" and the rest of us will get the gist of it. The decrease in the salary cap is therefore also a notable story as it could throw a spanner in the works of anyone looking to land not one but two big names next year. The Cavs trading for Shaq was a big story in its own right but given the way it ties in with LeBron's impending free agency it becomes an even more significant story.

I didn't catch Kobe's game against the Knicks but I did watch the subsequent Cavs/Knicks game. I remember criticising Phil Jackson at the time for leaving Kobe in a game that was in hand just to get the record and I still think that was a bit of a questionable move given the usual practice in those situations but Jackal brought up a good point about keeping Kobe happy and it's a fair call. It is what it is, and it was a huge game by Kobe, no question. It's a shame LeBron couldn't officially register a triple double but the tenth rebound originally credited to him clearly went to Ben Wallace going back and looking at it again, so it was fair enough that the league rescinded that. He came close enough and ultimately those were two games I'm sure the Knicks would rather forget.

As far as bad news is concerned, Yao's continued injury problems and the Nets' losing streak are certainly right up there. Hopefully Yao can bounce back from this. Oden's injury is probably worth an honourable mention here as well. I really think New Jersey are going to challenge the all-time low of 9-73, for a moment it looked like they'd at least raise themselves to the usual level of an NBA basement team but they really seem to be chasing the mark for futility here with another double digit losing streak and a pace to win five games. I don't think 72-10 is being beaten this year short of a truly incredible run, but I really do think 9-73 has a good chance of being surpassed.

It's nice to see the rookie race unfold this way. For a couple of years earlier in the decade, we saw too many rookie classes fail to deliver a lot of excitement and some underwhelming lottering picks and Rookie of the Year winners. That changed in a big way in 2003 of course, but it's always great to see players coming into the league and having an impact instead of wasting away on the bench. Jennings' coming close to the all-time rookie record and besting the Milwaukee Bucks' team record was impressive; I thought he made a few wrong turns coming into the league with his brashness and the like, but he's stepping up. The 55 point game might have raised the bar too high too early but I think he'll be OK. It's great that he's got competition though and Evans is looking like a stellar selection.

Iverson's retirement took me by surprise and I guess it really was a heat of the moment decision. It's good to see him have what could be one last run with Philly and from a financial standpoint, the revenue his return generated has already offset his minimum contract so in that respect it's proven to be a decent investment. On the court, the Sixers aren't really going anywhere and Iverson is highly unlikely to change that (to say the least) but I was glad to see it happen all the same. Say what you will about AI, but he's been a significant player in the league for over a decade and it would've been a sad state of affairs to see him fizzle out like that and end his career on such a sour note, especially after what happened with fellow class of 1996 member Stephon Marbury. Highly successful or not, all controversy aside, I would've hated to see him leave the league like a training camp castoff, never to be seen again.

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:17 pm

MJ's speech was what it was. I would expect Kobe's to be pretty similar. I don't think he's still bitter or anything like they said, that's just who he is. Not everybody can be modest. He is human after all, just like Tiger :P

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:29 pm

To me it sounded like he was simply talking about what motivated him, including the supposed "freeze-out" which he specifically said he didn't believe to be the case...though being amongst those players motivated him to prove that he belonged in that group and looking back on his career, he feels he can put himself in that class. That's how I interpreted it anyway and I think it's a fair call on his behalf, it's hardly calling anyone out (now, had he said "You froze me out but look what I became!" or words to that effect...). The bit with his old high school teammate was the only part I felt was a bit awkward but then we don't know the ins and outs of that friendship and whatnot so who knows.

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:37 pm

Andrew wrote:The bit with his old high school teammate was the only part I felt was a bit awkward but then we don't know the ins and outs of that friendship and whatnot so who knows.

Yep, I'd agree that was the bit I felt the most awkward about, especially the guy's reaction.

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:18 am

The X wrote:
Andrew wrote:The bit with his old high school teammate was the only part I felt was a bit awkward but then we don't know the ins and outs of that friendship and whatnot so who knows.

Yep, I'd agree that was the bit I felt the most awkward about, especially the guy's reaction.



I was more surprised that the guy was invited lol, it had to be because he was going to be featured in the speech.

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:31 am

No doubt. As I said, that was the only bit I was uncomfortable with. The rest has been blown out of proportion.

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:33 am

haha you guys should make a thread about Jordan's speech

the writer has taken stories from 2 different nba seasons. that's cheating. but whatever

Andrew- don't agree with Lebron speculation being a/the top story..unless we're talking about fiction. it's not a "story" if the content is just speculation lol. the real or top story will be in the offseason

aside from the bulls-celtics playoff series, the 2009 hall of fame induction was my favorite 2009 event. i never watched one of these (except for Walter Payton's for the NFL's) and i didn't know what to expect. i was very surprised and impressed by the players/coaches speeches. i was almost ecstatic to finally not hear programmed/politically correct responses. the honesty, the trials and tribulations, the sacrifices made, the insights... it was just awesome

i always thought of David Robinson soft/a choker but man he's genuinely a great person. i almost feel guilty for criticizing him
it was great to see another side of Stockton. all i knew of him was that he was a humble but fierce competitor.
Coach Sloan's speech put me in tears when he mentioned Van Lier
and Jordan's speech..the cherry on top

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:46 am

Fair call, it is in many ways a non-story as it's mostly just all kinds of speculation but as far as being a talked about issue it's right up there, just like the Duncan/Hill/McGrady speculation in 2000 and the Chris Webber talk in 2001.

Re: Ludden picks top ten NBA stories of 2009

Thu Dec 31, 2009 11:03 am

nauseating is right up there too ;)
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