12.21.2011

Who Will Save Us?

Look out! A new NBA season is upon us and there could be a new dynasty beginning it's reign.

The league's future and today's hope
I'm talking about the heavily favored Miami Heat. Nearly every analyst with a forum to speak is choosing this squad to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy in 2012. That's fine. Every year has its favorite, and it is up to the field to ensure things don't go according to plan. Last year, the Dallas Mavericks played the role of spoiler, defeating the Heat in six games with a dazzling array of late game heroics.

Who can even aspire to mimic what the Mavs did last season? Will the Heat have any competition en route to a title? Looking at the field gives a sad answer.

The Lakers failed to acquire CP3, and in doing so hurt Lamar Odom's feelings and traded him. They've lost frontcourt depth, Kobe is a year older, and Derek Fisher is still the starting pg (ahhh!).

San Antonio's core is at its end. The defense isn't as staunch, and in a shootout, they're likely to get out-shot. The same goes for Boston, an injury-prone squad making it's last run was hurt by the news of Jeff Green's season-ending heart injury. They can't score enough to scare anyone.

Memphis made an amazing run in last year's playoffs, although there are too many inexperienced players on that squad to take them seriously (right now).

The Pacers and the Clippers did extremely well in terms of acqusitions, but will the new pieces operate well under playoff pressure? I'm still skeptical.

The Mavericks will be hanging their first championship banner, but they'll probably be hanging their heads when trying to play defense without Tyson Chandler.

Barring major trades or surprises, that leaves us with two logical options. Thunder. Bulls. Two teams led by young and charismatic superstars, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose have what it takes to douse the Heat's title hopes. They enter the season with great roster continuity from last year (save for Rip Hamilton) and feature deep teams. Youth and inexperience may be the only weakness here, but if the playoff pain of last year still lingers, that may be the edge these talented squads need.

It's up to those young studs as well as "the field" to save us from a Miami (LeBron) parade. To save us from premature celebrations. To save us from a lack of killer instinct. To save us from basketball apocalypse.

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