For Christmas' Sake



KG can't keep quiet.

Upon first listening to Kevin Garnett's rant about the shortened NBA training camps, it could sound much like a an older player begging for more rest. As much as that may be true, the outspoken forward actually raises a great point about the upcoming season: play will suffer!

"We're a rushed league right now" states Garnett while claiming "timing is everything" The season has already been condensed with every team playing 66 games over a 120-day span. Now training camps will last roughly two weeks, with only two preseason games to prepare for the ones that count.

Sure, these are some of the best athletes in the world, but this shortened preparation period will certainly show on the court when the season begins.

Note that the New Orleans Hornets only have six players under contract at the moment; the minimum is 12. While Stern vetoes offers for Chris Paul, that squad will have to find a way to build a complete roster just to be eligible to play. On the west coast, the Lakers are bringing in new head coach, Mike Brown, who is sure to change the offensive system that the team was accustomed to for over 10 years. He will also have to teach that to Kobe Bryant, who hardly practiced last year due to knee issues. The clock is ticking.



Worst case scenario avoided

It can't be forgotten that with so many games in so little time, star players will be rested, injuries will increase, and practice time will be limited. We're headed for a replay of the 98-99 season, where injury and inconsistency played a large role in playoff seeding. Welcome to the NBA's version of the NFL!



Christmas is always an important date on the NBA calendar as it marks the first set of marquee matchups that are viewed nationwide. But this year, because of the lockout and the foolish negotiating, the league is essentially sacrificing a good season for the joy of Christmas games.

Expect this: A few young teams will emerge to surprise us (Indiana, Clippers, Blazers?), older teams may suffer (I'm looking at you Spurs and Celtics), and the deepest squads shall prosper. It'll be a sloppy year, but at least David Stern didn't reprise the role of the Grinch.