2008 Woodie Awards
NBA Season Preview
Will season be overshadowed by Kobe Bryant drama?
Sam Summers
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Big Red Sports
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Basketball is off and running, on Oct. 30, 2007, 30 NBA teams began pounding the hard-wood in search of a post season birth. The off-season has been busy with trades and rumors still abound. The Boston Celtics made the biggest shifts by acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Talk has centered around Kobe Bryant's future with the Los Angeles Lakers while the Portland Trail Blazers' rookie Greg Oden is still out, recovering from micro-fracture surgery on an injury he received before having even one minute of regulation play this season.
In the Atlantic Division, the Celtics look to run away with a quick division domination with Allen, Garnett and Paul Pierce. The New Jersey Nets hope that Jason Kidd and company can find an answer to Boston's potent lineup. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have reached into the past pulling Stephon Marbury off the recycle heap to try and regain some luster after several years of decline. After dealing Allen Iverson, the Philadelphia 76ers are in full rebuilding mode while the Toronto Raptors make headway in a division that many see as already decided.
In the Central Division three strong teams will battle it out to come out on top; the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons all have playoff caliber teams who will provide excellent play throughout the season. The Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks don't seem to have a chance in this ultra-competitive conference.
The Southeast Division looks like it will go to the Miami Heat unless any of the other teams are able to catch up to Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. In the Northwest, the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz look to battle over the top spot while Portland continues to build for the future, the Minnesota Timberwolves will seek Garnett's replacement and the Seattle Supersonics play under threat of relocation to Oklahoma City.
In the Southwest Division the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs will struggle with each other to come out on top while the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets are fated to be lost in the mix against three very strong teams. The Pacific Division will be a mess this year. The Los Angeles Clippers have lost key player Elton Brand to an achilles tendon injury after a promising season last year, while the Lakers wallow in the biggest drama since Barry Bonds: Kobe Bryant. The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings will try their best but the Phoenix Suns appear to be strong and ready to brand their name in the top slot.
While many things are undecided in the NBA this year one thing is guaranteed; the contests this season will be just as intoxicating as the championship's celebratory champagne.•
In the Atlantic Division, the Celtics look to run away with a quick division domination with Allen, Garnett and Paul Pierce. The New Jersey Nets hope that Jason Kidd and company can find an answer to Boston's potent lineup. Meanwhile, the New York Knicks have reached into the past pulling Stephon Marbury off the recycle heap to try and regain some luster after several years of decline. After dealing Allen Iverson, the Philadelphia 76ers are in full rebuilding mode while the Toronto Raptors make headway in a division that many see as already decided.
In the Central Division three strong teams will battle it out to come out on top; the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons all have playoff caliber teams who will provide excellent play throughout the season. The Indiana Pacers and the Milwaukee Bucks don't seem to have a chance in this ultra-competitive conference.
The Southeast Division looks like it will go to the Miami Heat unless any of the other teams are able to catch up to Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O'Neal. In the Northwest, the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz look to battle over the top spot while Portland continues to build for the future, the Minnesota Timberwolves will seek Garnett's replacement and the Seattle Supersonics play under threat of relocation to Oklahoma City.
In the Southwest Division the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs will struggle with each other to come out on top while the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets are fated to be lost in the mix against three very strong teams. The Pacific Division will be a mess this year. The Los Angeles Clippers have lost key player Elton Brand to an achilles tendon injury after a promising season last year, while the Lakers wallow in the biggest drama since Barry Bonds: Kobe Bryant. The Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings will try their best but the Phoenix Suns appear to be strong and ready to brand their name in the top slot.
While many things are undecided in the NBA this year one thing is guaranteed; the contests this season will be just as intoxicating as the championship's celebratory champagne.•
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