Notes on the NBA offseason

The offseason for the NBA officially began on Wednesday, and by the looks of it, it will essentially be over by next week. An abundant of talented players on the market has forced many teams to move at a frantic pace – trying to keep up with their rivals. But some players have other ideas, as they try to hold out for more money or a better destination.

Spurs one up Cavs and Magic

Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers got the firepower they were looking for when they traded for Shaquille O’Neal – but will he alone be enough? The Orlando Magic traded for hot headed scorer Vince Carter – something they lacked (not the hot headed part) when they lost in the NBA Finals. But will he gel with the ever-needy Dwight Howard.

Both trades – along with the NBA Draft – will steal all the headlines over the next week, but the move made by the San Antonio Spurs (trading three role players for Richard Jefferson) will trump them all. Like Tim Duncan, the Spurs trade was quiet and dominating. Watch out NBA, the Spurs have retooled.

Kobe wins a fourth title; legacy doesn’t improve

Sports analysts across the country said Kobe Bryant needed to win a title without Shaquille O’Neal to up his legacy to a new level and drown out the question marks next to his accomplishments.

It took him a few years, but Kobe finally won his first championship without the Big Diesel. Suddenly, the monkey is supposed to be off of his back. He proved himself as a team leader that can win a championship by himself.

The only problem with that statement is it’s not true. He’s been a team leader for years now, and he didn’t need to win another championship to improve his legacy. His legacy can’t get any higher. Kobe is already one of the best players in NBA history – and probably the best Los Angeles Lakers player ever. He is that great with or without a fourth championship ring.

Magic win; Kobe chokes

After watching Game 2 slip through their hands, the Orlando Magic kept their composure in Game 3 and won their first NBA Finals game ever. While the Magic players made the tough plays during the final half of the fourth quarter, Kobe Bryant choked.

But more importantly for the Magic, they turned the finals into a series and still have an outside shot at winning their first ever NBA championship.

The Cavaliers are in trouble

In games one and two of the Eastern Conference Finals, the Cleveland Cavaliers had a silver lining to pull from their two miserable games. They didn’t close out on three point shots. They didn’t shoot well. Even though the Orlando Magic have had their number the past three years, they only had to play a little defense to turn this series around.

That theory has been squashed. The Cavaliers played some defense in game three and forced the Magic players off the three-point line. Only problem – they couldn’t stop them from getting to the basket and drawing fouls. Now, the Magic are up 2-1, and the Cavs are in trouble.

Nuggets vs. Lakers: It’s time to wrestle

Other than die hard Denver Nuggets fans, who thought the Nuggets would be playing in the conference finals? Not their owners and the people booking the Pepsi Center (the building the Nuggets call home). They had planned to host WWE’s Monday Night Raw on May 26. It wasn’t a big deal until the NBA scheduled the Nuggets to host the Los Angeles Lakers that night. Yikes – where’s the faith in the Nuggets and Chauncey Billups?

The situation, though, was resolved when WWE decided to move their event to Staples Center (well wasn’t that nice of the Lakers). But the ever clever, juiced-up Vince McMahon has decided to stage his own Nuggets vs. Lakers game to compete against the real Nuggets vs. Lakers game. While there will be no guest appearances from the real players, I can only imagine how it would play out.

Basketball is a team sport (sorry Kobe and Lebron)

The last two NBA MVPs. Two of the greatest players ever. Kobe and (not vs.) Lebron.

With the amount of commercials and attention the media (and more here) has given these two beyond-superstar players, fans would think they were playing each other in a one-on-one game.

The problem, though, is they are not. They don’t even defend each other most of the time – or play the same position. Their teams have never even played each other in the playoffs. And that is the key word: team. While analysts and fans love to hype up players, basketball is a team sport. Without a supporting cast and the concept of “team” play, both players would be no better than NBA championship-less Partrick Ewing.