High expectations for '09-'10 NBA season

NBA Commissioner David Stern’s no fool. He knows full well what’s in store for the 2009-2010 NBA season.

Over the last few weeks, Stern apparently must've worked behind the scenes and on Friday the NBA and regular refs finally ironed out a new two-year deal just in time for Tuesday night’s opening tipoff.

Apparently there was no way Stern was going to screw up the drama and action for the league or its fans this season.

Expectations are the highest in recent memory, so evidently Stern knew he needed his full-time guys on board to shore up things for this highly-anticipated 2009-2010 NBA season.

How could his league stage possibly one of its most exciting, memorable seasons in decades with scab referees jogging up and down the court?

For sure, there are plenty of intriguing questions and subplots entering into the ’09-’10 NBA campaign.

Yes, K.G.’s back. When Kevin Garnett (photo above) was healthy last season, the Boston Celtics were virtually unstoppable, racing out to a ridiculous 27-2 start. They added Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels in the offseason. So now what?

In Los Angeles, new acquisition Ron Artest says if the Lakers don’t repeat, blame it on him. With still the best player in Kobe Bryant, best coach in Phil Jackson and best set of complimentary players in the game, their chances look good. But is that hunger still there?

Big Shaq’s never been one to stay quiet or disappoint fans. This season Shaquille O’Neal has stated his mission with the Cleveland Cavaliers is to win a ring for The King, LeBron James. Who’s to say he can’t? He teamed to hoist NBA trophies with equivalent superstars, Bryant (2000, 2001 and 2002) and Dwyane Wade (2006).

In San Antonio, the Spurs (photo above) fell short on their traditional odd-year championship title (’99, ’03, ’05 and ‘07) in ‘09. So they reloaded in the offseason by acquiring Richard Jefferson, Antonio McDyess and rookie DeJuan Blair. But now can the aging Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili stay healthy?

Don’t sleep on the defending ’09 Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic who for some reason still seem to get little respect. The Magic appear poised to redeem themselves after falling short 3-1 during the 2009 NBA Finals in June. In addition to Vince Carter, they acquired Matt Barnes and Brandon Bass. But is that enough?

Then there’s still that “Who’s the best player on the planet?” debate. Kobe battling King James in the ’10 NBA Finals is quite viable… Also, there’s that “Which future NBA Hall of Famer will get his fifth championship ring first?” question. Bryant, O’Neal and Duncan equally have legit chances this upcoming year.

Appropriately, the 2009-2010 NBA regular season will start strong out the gates. On Tuesday night, a TNT doubleheader will feature the Celtics vs. Cavaliers in Game 1 and then the Lakers vs. Clippers in Game 2.

Which begs yet another question; will Baron Davis and 2009 NBA first-round pick Blake Griffin turn things around for the young Clips, who went 6-2 in the preseason?

Predictions for 2009-2010 NBA season

The 8th annual GM survey results were released earlier this week for the 2009-2010 NBA season.

While the general managers were on point with some calculations, they totally missed the mark on others.

Here are All Net’s 1st authentic predictions for the upcoming year.

Which team will win the NBA 2010 Finals? The Cleveland Cavaliers.

Kobe & Shaq (2000, 2001, 2002), D. Wade & Shaq (2006), LeBron & Shaq (2010).

Which team will win the Western Conference? The San Antonio Spurs.

The Big Three gets big sparks from Richard Jefferson (above photo) and rookie DeJuan Blair and dethrone Lakers in Game 7 of Western finals.

Which team will be the most improved in 2009-2010? The Washington Wizards.

Even with injuries, the Wiz had no business going 19-63 last year and rightfully revisit playoff form.

Who will win the Rookie of the Year award? Blake Griffin.

Baron Davis likes what he sees in his squad, and Griffin’s the No.1 reason why.

Which player is likely to have a breakout year in 2009-2010? Michael Beasley.

With personal issues aside, Beasley (above photo) is a projected starter after improving his all-around game in the offseason.

Who will win the 2009-2010 MVP? LeBron James.

King James will be first player to grab award in back-to-back seasons since Steve Nash (2005, 2006).

Who will win the Defensive Player of the Year award? Dwight Howard.

Superman misses a repeat trip to NBA Finals in ‘10, but keeps terrifying opposition in the paint.

Who will win the Coach of the Year award? Jerry Sloan.

Sloan deserves one and finally gets it as his no-frills team surprises folks in perhaps his last season.

Who will be first, Shaq, Duncan or Kobe?

One riveting sidebar story that will most likely persist the entire 2009-2010 season is which future Hall of Fame NBA player, Shaquille O’Neal, Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant (photo above holding trophy), will possibly capture his fifth championship title first this season.

Big Shaq won three straight titles with the Los Angeles Lakers (2000, 2001 and 2002) and one with the Miami Heat (2006). The Big Fundamental has captured four championships with the San Antonio Spurs (1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007). And Kobe, currently the best baller in the game, got all his rings with the Lakers of course (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2009).

All three dominant NBA players clearly have a legit shot at the trophy in ’09-‘10.

The Spurs acquired Richard Jefferson and Antonio McDyess in the offseason to give the aging Duncan, 33, a boost down in the paint. The defending NBA champion Lakers did lose a starter in Trevor Ariza but picked up Ron Artest and resigned Lamar Odom to appease Kobe. And O’Neal was shipped from Phoenix to the Cleveland Cavaliers who have the reigning NBA MVP LeBron James and posted a league best 66-16 record in ‘09.

Certainly this lively conversation will linger all season long, but here’s what some sportswriters are already saying about the NBA’s Amazing Race for 5:

“If pressed, I'd have to put my money on (Kobe) Bryant… He has the right system, motivation should not be a problem, and (Pau) Gasol's presence just seems to vault him over the top, to me.” Shaq, Kobe, TD… who’s the first to plead the fifth? (Yahoo!Sports).

“The winner presumably will be the best player of this generation, or more accurately put, in the post Jordan era. The plight to have each finger on one hand be engaged in basketball bliss will be a historic one.” The Drive for Five: Duncan, Kobe, Shaq battle for supremacy. (Bleacher Report).

"Breaking it down by the numbers, it seems more likely that Kobe Bryant will be the first to win his 5th NBA championship ring. However, with all three of these teams vying for the crowns - and potentially the strongest team in the field, the Boston Celtics, also in the mix – anything can happen.” First to 5: Kobe, Shaq, or Duncan? (Associated Content)

Well, on your mark, get set….

5 ridiculous stories in 2009 NBA offseason

Presumably because it is the offseason, some of the wackiest stories in the NBA seem to surface June through August.

I guess everyone has too much free time on their hands to stay clear of the news cameras.

The 2009 NBA offseason was definitely no exception. Here are five of the most ridiculous stories surrounding the NBA to emerge over the summer.

5). Davis’ laptop stolen.
Is Los Angeles Clippers’ star Baron Davis (photo, left) still crossing his fingers?

According to his attorney, Davis’ jacked laptop computer contained a “variety of private images of (him), his associates and his colleagues.”

Seemingly so distressed about the thievery, Davis summoned his attorney to immediately send out letters warning media outlets they’re subject to litigation if the point guard’s embarrassing files and photos are published or sold to another party.

The two-time NBA All-Star apparently must have some heavy personal stuff stored on that hard drive.

4). Jefferson gets cold feet.
Calling off a wedding’s nothing new. But hours before the $2 million occasion? That’s heartless.

Although the San Antonio Spurs’ newest key acquisition Richard Jefferson disputes the timetable and the actual cost of the event, he can’t dispute the coldness and shamefulness in his actions.

“He called two hours before the wedding. It was nuts,” one of Jefferson’s close friends told the New York Post.

Jefferson can’t be all bad, though. He did reportedly give his jilted bride a make nice “six-figure” sum to move on without him in her life.

3). Miller called homewrecker.
Former NBA long-range bomber Reggie Miller better watch his back from now on.

Sure, the TNT analyst was unscathed this time around, but most men usually don’t play around when it comes to boneheads flirting with their women.

So what Reggie’s the 12th leading scorer in NBA history and drained the most threes ever in the league?

He could still catch a beatdown.

According to the restraining order filed against him, Miller waited over an hour in a grocery store parking lot for the engaged woman and sent her 53 text messages in a four-hour span.

Reggie called it simply flirting, but it sounds more like simply stalking.

2). Dirk’s ex-fiancée gets 5 years.
Poor Dirk Nowitzki (photo, right). It seems he just can’t win.

In spite of his efforts of continuously leading the Dallas Mavericks to the playoffs and one of the top records in the NBA every season, the 7-foot German still hasn’t captured that elusive championship after 11 seasons in the league.

Now, his ex-lover is sentenced to five years in prison. To make matters worse, the 39-year-old convict may be pregnant with his child.

At 31-years-old, Dirk’s playing days are dwindling in the NBA. So now there’s a chance the longtime Maverick could retire heartbroken as well as title-less.

1). Nike seizes dunk tapes.
LeBron James may well be the best basketball player on the planet, but even he’s not immune to being posterized.

At first, Nike officials confiscated the dunk tapes, claiming it was against the rules to videotape after-hours pickup games at LeBron’s camp. Then, the sports appeal giant returned the seized tapes, reiterating it didn’t take them because the Cleveland Cavaliers’ superstar was dunked on.

So what was it?

If the tapes were swiped because of camp policy, then why were they returned? Or, as one of the videographers implied, were the tapes snatched per LeBron’s request?

Whatever the case, in the end it made the royal King James look more like an everyday sore loser on the playgrounds than the 2009 NBA Most Valuable Player.