Mark Jackson: a warrior
The former Indiana Pacer and famous New York Knick doesn’t have coaching experience on any level, but Mark Jackson’s 17-year career impressed the Golden State Warriors enough to give him a shot.
Most new coaches don’t make for an intriguing storyline, but Jackson is different simply because he’s never coached a team besides his son’s AAU team.
Golden State is young and talented, but like Jackson, inexperienced. It will be interesting to see how the players adapt to his style and vice versa.
“I wanted to do something different, instead of the traditional kind of hire,” said Warriors owner Joe Lacob. “I’ve started 70 or 80 companies, and I know that at the end of the day it’s the CEO who makes or breaks the company. I knew right away that Mark was special, a true leader, the kind of person I wanted. He’s a CEO.”
Hopefully the players see it the same way.
Lakers reign over?
Former Indiana Pacers Josh McRoberts and Troy Murphy aren’t the free agent signings Los Angeles Lakers players or fans were hoping for. After NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed the now infamous Chris Paul trade, the Lakers were left without Lamar Odom who signed with the Dallas Mavericks and a confused Pau Gasol who doesn’t know if he’ll finish the season a Laker. On the outside, Kobe Bryant may be mustering a smile but on the inside he’s raging mad.
As of now, the Lakers are still kings of the West but if new coach Mike Brown can’t work together with Bryant, it’s going to be a long 66 games.
The Blake and Chris show
The Los Angeles Clippers have had only one winning season in the last 17 years – one. However, a No. 1 draft pick named Blake Griffin and a No. 1 trade that included Chris Paul will soon change that.
Griffin was one of the the most exciting players in last season before he jumped over a car in the dunk contest and Paul has been one of the league’s top point guards ever since he left Wake Forest. Together, they’re the best one-two punch since Kobe and Shaq. What makes the Clippers even more intriguing is that they also surrounded Griffin and Paul with a solid supporting cast including Caron Butler, Chauncy Billups and DeAndre Jordan. They may not click right away, but there is almost no doubt they will be playing more than 66 games this season.
The East is back
The Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic (if they keep Dwight Howard) make the Eastern Conference fun again. Each team has a squad that can compete night in and night out with each Western Conference team. Remember when all the stars were out West? Well, thanks to Derrick Rose, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Howard, it’s shining bright on the East again.
Will fans fill arenas?
There has been speculation that the long NBA lockout turned off a lot of fans. In an economy where people are still out of work and struggling to make ends meet, fans didn’t appreciate listening to billionaires and millionaires argue about money.
Still, basketball is basketball and the game has been missed terribly. There are so many exciting players and great teams; competition in both conferences is at a very high peak.
Besides, there is nothing like NBA basketball to get fans through winter.
