Changing of the Season

As winter turns to spring, the season changes and the sun shines a little brighter and the days become a little warmer.

When we look back on this NBA season a month, a year, a decade from now, a few things will pop out at us. Who are the players responsible for changing this season?

The New Orleans Hornets amazing turnaround. The Houston Rockets 22-game winning streak. The resurgence of the Boston Celtics organization thanks to the “Big 3”.

The season has been shifted and shaped by so many different storylines. Here are a few of the players who have stood out at the forefront of the great NBA season.

Chris Paul:
He has blossomed before our eyes, becoming perhaps the premier point guard in the league.

What’s more, Paul has single-handedly led the turnaround of the Hornets franchise from bottom feeder to Western Conference elite. He simply makes everyone around him better.

Watching him play is special, and he should be at worst third in the MVP voting this year.

At over 21 points and 11 assists per game, he has the Hornets within grasp of the all-important number one seed in the tough West.

This year has become the year of Chris Paul, and after a special regular season, we can only hope he keeps it up well into the playoffs.

Shane Battier:
Don’t laugh. Yes, Battier only averages a measly nine points and five rebounds per game this year for the Houston Rockets. But his defensive game is one that speaks volumes.

Every night, Battier has to focus all of his attention to the other teams best player. That means guys Kobe, Ginobili, and Nowitzki in the stacked West.

You might say guys like Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston have been more important to the Rockets during their impressive run here in the second half, but you would be wrong.

Battier puts it all out on the line on D, and then leaves himself a little bit to knock down some big three pointers. Thirty-Eight percent from downtown is nothing to shake a stick at, especially after exerting so much guarding the elite players in the league.

If you want an unsung hero, Battier is your guy.

Pau Gasol:
After his trade from Memphis, everyone declared the Lakers the winners of the trade deadline, and crowned them champions before playing a postseason game.
His move to LA is critical to the shape and tone of the upcoming playoffs, as he has turned the Lakers an formidable championship contender.

People say Memphis was robbed, and it might be true, but the fact is, this trade shaped the NBA for the next few months.

The Lake Show is scary good, and Gasol has played without Andrew Bynum since he arrived on the West Coast.

When the three-headed monster of Bryant, Gasol and Bynum reassembles for the playoffs (if Bynum’s knee should allow), we could be looking at the cream of the crop in the Association.

Hedo Turkoglu:
You were expecting someone else?

Turk’s numbers go something like this: 20 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg.

Only two other players in the entire NBA go for 20,6,5. They would be LeBron James and Kobe Bryant.

Just how important is Hedo to the success of the Orlando Magic? Besides opening up the middle for Dwight Howard with his 40 percent from three, he can penetrate and kick to Rashard Lewis, helping Lewis shoot his 40 percent from three and average over 18 points per game.

Rashard may make the max-dollars, but it’s evident that Hedo has been the leader of the Magic this season.

Rajon Rondo:
Sure, the Celtics have three perennial all-stars on their team in Allen, Garnett, and Pierce. But Rondo is the man that makes this machine move.

If Rajon Rondo hadn’t grown up in just one season, we may not be talking about the Celtics as having the leagues best record. He has been the floor general that the Celtics needed, dishing the ball to the right players and the right time, and more importantly keeping everyone happy.

Rondo is in the top 25 in assist to turnover ratio, better than counterparts Andre Miller, Rafer Alston, and Tony Parker.

If he can keep this stellar play up in the postseason, we may be looking at yet another banner for the Celts.

10 Things to Look For (In the final 2 Months of the NBA Season, even if they are a little crazy)

10. The Hornets falling off:
You can’t help but think that the Hornets have been playing just slightly over their heads for the better part of this season. They have barely hit a rough patch in the road, going 36-15 into the All-Star break. Hate to spoil the party. The Hornets are due to fall off. They are still a fairly young squad, and while they have been undoubtedly one of the greatest stories this year, I feel like they will slip to the 5th or 6th seed out West. The conference, and division for that matter, is too deep. It’s possible that four teams from their division will be playoff teams, so every game from this point on will be difficult. They do have a great point guard (Paul) and two dominant big men (West, Chandler) to get them into the playoffs and possibly very deep. Just look for them to fade a bit on the stretch run.

9. Dwight Howard will be unstoppable:
Not that he wasn’t already, but if there’s something that will set this guy off, it’s harsh words from his coach. Dwight Howard takes pride in his game, and the best should be yet to come for the big man in the final 30 or so games; Especially after that ridiculous showing at the Dunk Contest on Saturday Night. What I see in his near future? How about a 30-30 game? Look for one of those to end his season. Also, look for his Orlando Magic as a 4-seed come playoff time. It seems there’s nothing this kid can’t do.

8. The Pistons will lose one of the Big 4 down the stretch:
I hate to predict terrible things like this, but the Pistons have been one of the healthiest teams the past few seasons. While it seems every other powerhouse team in the league has been hit with a major injury to derail their championship hopes, the Pistons have stayed lucky. Not this year. I feel like a major injury could strike this team down the stretch. However, Detroit is far too talented and playoff-ready to allow an injury to take them out for good. They might get hit with the bug, but they still should make at least the Conference Semi’s in the shallow Eastern pool.

7. The 76ers will win more games than they lose:
The Sixers are a nice young franchise that had been playing superb in the past few weeks leading up to the break. They are standing at 23-30, which is right now good enough for 8th place in the East. Amazingly, seven-under .500 gets you a playoff berth. What I see for Philadelphia is a 15-14 record to finish the year. Whether or not that gets them in is another story for another time. But that definitely should help. Atlanta just acquired Mike Bibby from Sacramento, making it even more difficult. But if Jason Kidd goes to Dallas, the Nets could fall off. And the Sixers could be in.

6. Shaq won’t disappoint:
Hear me out on this. I was as just as bewildered as the next person after the Suns traded franchise-staple Shawn Marion to the Heat for Shaquille O’Neal. But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense. Phoenix gets killed on the glass. If Shaq can give them 25-29 minutes per game down the stretch, he should clean up some of those rebounds that the Suns have been losing, due to their lack of height in the small-ball scheme. Phoenix is 29th in the league in opponents rebounding, usually because they are worried about the offense. However, Big Daddy gives them those rebounds back (if he stays on the court). That means a strong stretch run…and even farther into the playoffs.

5. Spurs will not repeat:
They still have Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker. They just signed Stoudamire. Finley can still stroke. But you can’t help but think this team is getting too old. Injuries have plagued them this season, especially with Tony Parker out the past few weeks. The Western Conference is possibly the best it has ever been, meaning the teams will continue to beat up on each other. In my mind, the Spurs will finally fall off. I don’t think they will be able to keep up with all of the youth out West. Look for them to make a quicker-than-normal exit come playoff time.

4. The Cavaliers will go back to the Eastern Conference Finals:
LeBron James will not allow his lack of a point guard and shabby supporting cast slow him from the ultimate goal. The Cavs will be back in the East Finals, beating out the Pistons in round two. Last year, LeBron did it without an elite point guard, so why not this year? He is far too brilliant. Look for them to meet up with the Celtics in the Finals, finally bowing out in six games. Sorry, LeBron.

3. But….LeBron will win the MVP this year:
So the Cavs might not make the Finals again, but LeBron will get his first Most Valuable Player award at the end of this campaign. He is averaging an outstanding 30+, 7+, 7+ per game. He is the life preserver wrapped around Quicken Loans Arena. Without the King, that place would be sinking in Lake Erie. Give him his first MVP; nobody else has done more with less.

2. Suns/Jazz out West, Celts/Cavs in the East:
I’m with Charles Barkley; The Jazz are a heck of a team. He picked them to be the team to make it out of the incredible Western Conference this year. I do believe they are an elite squad and will face off with the Suns in the West Finals. In the East, Kevin Garnett and the Celtics will face off against LeBron and the Cavs, making the Eastern Finals fun again.

1. The Suns will win the NBA Championship, Nash will be the MVP:
That’s right, you heard it here. The Suns will beat the Celtics in 7 games to win the NBA Title. Steve Nash will be your Finals MVP. I think the trade for Shaq will seal up the leaks in the middle, just enough that the Suns can do their usual run-and-gun thing. Kevin Garnett will make it farther than he ever has with the Celtics, but unfortunately, it will not be enough. Look for an amazing Finals series to go 7 games and finally, the Suns will run their way to the championship. Steve Nash deserves this and all the hard work will pay off. Proving the naysayers wrong by winning with the up-tempo style, the Suns are your new champs.


So, maybe one or more of these bold statements will be wrong in the upcoming days, weeks, and months. It’s still fun to try and figure it all out though, especially for arguments sake. So keep watching. It’s shaping up to be a good ending.