Season of Extremes
It has been a crazy start to the NBA season as there are some elite teams that have gotten off to tremendous record-breaking starts and many others that have axed their head coach already. The season is young, but it has a lot of promise ahead and we are bound to see more changes as the year goes on. Will someone get to the magic number of 72?
The NBA has 3 teams being mentioned at making a run at the tremendous regular season win record held by the 95-96 Bulls, when they went 72-10. The favorite to keep up their impressive red-hot start is the defending champion Boston Celtics. At 23-2 Boston is exactly where the Chicago Bulls were after their first 25 games, and have won 15 straight, with a threat to lose really not in sight till a Christmas match up with the next team attempting to make a run for this record, the Los Angeles Lakers. The LA Lakers have not had a hangover following their loss in the finals last year. Their 21-3 start has everyone forecasting a rematch in the finals with the Boston Celtics. The third team in the spotlight for a run at the Bulls historic record is the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by LeBron James. They are 20-4 and finally have a supporting cast to Lebron’s liking.
But just to keep everyone honest it is a little early to talk about all this record breaking, making history stuff. A complete season is a very long haul and has many obstacles and problems to deal with along the way. The age on the Boston Celtics can become a factor later in the season. And you never know when injuries can hit. Just the other night Paul Pierce received a knock to the knee, all it takes is one unlucky break and a player can be gone for a while, the Boston area knows all about this (Tom Brady). The Cavs also have hit a little injury bug too, which can cost them a few games here and there as they already dropped one to Atlanta recently. The LA Lakers seem to take a night off every now and then, evidence getting beat by the Kings and squeaking out a two-point win vs. the Knicks at home last night.
In my opinion, I don’t think any of these three teams will break MJ and the Bulls great 72 win record season. I feel the head to head games will split between these 3 teams and eventually each team will hit a skid that will push them to beyond the 10-loss plateau. The Boston Celtics can make a run at it because they seem to never take a game off. They are always going full tilt and they have the work rate of champions. They will fail because of age and a slight late season let down. The Cleveland Cavs have a shot with LeBron playing at his best, and rumors swirling about the acquisition of Shaun Marion. But I think injuries and west coast trips will doom their attempt. The LA Lakers have the roster to get it done, but the habit of taking nights off and the tough western conference schedule will prevent them from doing it too.
On the other side of the extreme six NBA coaches have already gotten fired. This is two times more pink slipped coaches then ever, before Christmas. Eddie Jordan of the Washington Wizards, Reggie Theus of the Sacramento Kings, Sam Mitchell of the Toronto Raptors, Randy Wittman of the Minnesota T Wolves, PJ Carlesimo Oklahoma City Thunder, and Maurice Cheeks from the Philadelphia 76ers all got the bad news already this season. These firings show the lack of patience teams are having with their staffs and the high expectations of teams league wide.
Putting these two extremes together makes sense to me as there are some awful teams out there in the watered down NBA, and a few powerhouses that are taking complete advantage of this. If the Bull’s record is somehow broken this year by one of these 3 teams, yes it will be a great accomplishment that will go down in history, but in no way will I be able to admit that this team is better then the 95-96 Chicago Bulls. The league’s talent is definitely not at a high, contrary to what fans think, and if you ask me it is due to the youth in the league and their progression that is being made in the NBA instead of the College game.
PS:
In a less publicized start from the NHL, (National Hockey League, for everyone who has forgot), the San Jose Sharks have jumped out to a swarming start collecting a record 52 points in their first 30 games played. This is the hottest start since the 1929-1930 Boston Bruins. They have tore through the beginning of their schedule like I have never seen before. The goaltending duo of Nabokov and Boucher and the scoring and playmaking of Marleau have the Sharks favorites to get to the finals in the Western Conference.
Peter Lomuscio
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