1. End of the Lockout
- The lockout took way too long and cost NBA fans over a month and a half of basketball, but it thankfully ended in time for there to be at least some semblance of a season. Still, 66 games are better than none and now 4 months after the fact, looking back, the basketball world was given a phenomenal season. No storyline is better than actually getting a season of NBA basketball and basketball fans were lucky that the season was not canceled. Now that would have been a big story.
2. Miami Heat Take 2
- As soon as basketball started again, the one subplot that inevitably came to mind, was the Heat’s second attempt at a Big Three NBA title. Because of league-wide hate for the team and the way-too-dramatic way the team was formed, every game they lose and every championship that isn’t won, will be thought of as a massive failure. All year long, every one of their games has been heavily scrutinized and the “will they or wont they?” storyline will continue until the end of the playoffs. The great thing about this story is that it will continue to be an intriguing plotline every year until they win a title.
3. Howard Saga
- The Howard Circus has been in full swing all year and until he gets traded or signs long-term, the team will be in flux. The back and forth of Howard has been entertaining, yet extremely frustrating, but when push comes to shove, Howard seems to be worth the trouble. It is always incredibly entertaining when it is unknown where a superstar will end up and Howard’s constant flip-flopping has made for an incredible story. Despite him making a fool out of himself, there is no doubt that Howard is a franchise altering, dominant superstar, that could change the fortunes of any team he goes to. This is why the speculation on his future destination is so infixed in NBA headlines across the country. Howard’s recent back issues will cause him to miss the rest of the regular season, playoffs and the Olympic Games, but the story should pick up again at the start of training camp next season.
4. Jeremy Lin Shines
- This season’s most shocking story was easily the rise of Jeremy Lin, a player signed on to be the team’s fourth point guard, who ended up starting and leading the struggling Knicks back to respectability. The first American born Chinese player in NBA history and former undrafted Harvard star came out of nowhere to become one of the better point guards in the league. Everyone loves an underdog story and Jeremy Lin gave the world one for the ages.
5. Cavaliers Resurgence
- When Lebron left the team in the most unprofessional way imaginable, the team was bound to fall and they did; hard. After one of the most disastrous years of any franchise in recent memory, the Cavaliers have had a breakthrough season, led by rookie Kyrie Irving. The team may not be playoff caliber and the Cavs may have one of the league’s worst records, but they are leaps and bounds better than last season. No fan base should have to suffer through what James did to the Cavaliers and it is great to see the team back on the right track. It may take a few years for them to make it back to the playoffs, but the fans now have hope, which is more than they had one year ago.
6. The Trade That Wasn’t (Stern Flexes Muscles)
- The Hornets, Lakers and Rockets had a deal on the table that all parties had agreed to and was actually quite fair for all involved, but the league owned Hornets balked. The original trade involved Chris Paul going to the Lakers, Pau Gasol going to the Rockets and a multitude of players going to the Hornets, but David Stern, for whatever reason, decided to flex his muscles and show his power and vetoed the move. Even though Stern ended up working with Dell Demps to find a better deal, this was a big plotline, since it made the commissioner look power hungry and unreasonable, which is never good for the league. This added to the anger towards the commissioner that was built up during the NBA lockout.
7. The Trade That Was (Paul to the Clippers)
Whenever a top ten player gets traded, it will be a massive story and the trade for Chris Paul was no different. This was the deal that Stern did accept and it sent Paul to the Clippers. Paul has since changed the fortunes of the franchise and has teamed up with Blake Griffin to form one of the top duos in the NBA. This move has finally made the Clippers relevant and has given real hope to the fans of actual prolonged success, which is something the team has never really had.
8. Ricky Rubio Comes To America
- Rubio has had massive hype, ever since a wonderful ‘08 Olympic run, where he nearly helped Spain win Olympic gold over the US. Oh and by the way, he was only 17 at the time, which had NBA scouts drooling over his potential. The next year he was in the NBA draft and was picked by the Minnesota Timberwolves, but because of overseas contract issues, he was forced to stay in Spain until this season. The hype had lessened some over those two years in Spain, because of mediocre play in Spain, however, Minnesota fans welcomed him with open arms the minute he came to the United States. These fans were rewarded with electrifying play from the beginning and were able to watch a star blossom in front of their very eyes. He is already one of the best point guards in the NBA and has shockingly justified the ridiculous hype that had been built. Sadly, he blew out his knee and will miss the rest of this season and the Olympics this summer, but he looks to be one of the brightest young players in this league.
9. Lakers Vs. Clippers
- The Los Angeles Clippers are in the running for their first Pacific Division title ever and are fighting for this achievement against their cross-town rivals. It is great for Clippers’ fans to finally have a relevant team, however for casual fans, it sets up an entertaining discussion of whose better? The story could have an epic climax as they could end up meeting in the playoffs.
10. Bobcats Going For Horrid History
- The Bobcats are currently on pace to finish with the worst winning percentage of any team in NBA history, which means that all-time awfulness hangs in the balance. They are also in the running for the worst point differential in league history, which all ads up to hilariously terrible basketball. Everyone involved should be ashamed and embarrassed, but for fans of the NBA, it is one of the great storylines of the year. Come on Bobcats, let’s keep it going, go for the gold, or whatever medal historic failure brin
