Right now is a great month to be a sports fan. The baseball playoffs are reaching their climax, and the true contenders in college and pro football are proving they have lasting power. There are even rumors that they are playing hockey again. The one sport missing, professional basketball, gets under way on Nov. 1 with the Pistons-Heat game. If you think that’s too long to wait, just hang in there! Here are 5 reasons to get excited about the upcoming NBA season.
5. LeBron James
Cleveland sports fans are a little preoccupied at the moment. But in between ALCS games, they’re wondering how LeBron will follow up his impressive third NBA season. King James’ year was defined by game 5 of the conference finals against Detroit, when he scored 29 of Cleveland’s last 30 points for an overtime win. If LeBron can improve on the 27.3 points per game he averaged last year, Cleveland might even forgive him for wearing a Yankees hat to an Indians playoff game. As long as the world gets another “The LeBron’s” commercial, I’ll forgive him.
4. The Warriors
The most exciting playoff series of last season was the Golden State-Dallas matchup. The Warriors became the first eight-seed in history to defeat the number one team in a seven game series. Golden State will be an exciting team to watch this season if for no other reason than having Baron Davis. Davis, who averaged over 27 points a game in last year’s playoffs, performs with an intensity that often leads to explosive but humorous temper tantrums. And the Warriors home crowd is by far the most raucous in the NBA. Games at Oracle Arena often have the feel of a Duke-UNC college basketball game.
3. Gilbert Arenas
Everyone loves the Wizards’ point guard, the new cover boy for NBA Live 2008. Besides being one of the most clutch players in the game, Arenas is also one of the quirkiest. He brags that he once ate 12 cheeseburgers in one sitting, used to say “hibachi” while shooting, claims he puts his dog on a treadmill, and threw a one million dollar birthday party for himself last year hosted by P Diddy. “Agent Zero” said he will opt out of his contract next year, giving him a strong incentive to have more games like last year’s 60-point effort against the Lakers.
2. The Spurs
The Spurs are not exciting in a good way, which is exactly why theirs make for great games. Whether because of their unimaginative play, Manu Ginobili’s flops, Tim Duncan’s missing personality, or Bruce Bowen’s thuggish play, everyone hates the Spurs. This will make things fun come spring when Steve Nash, the Suns, and everyone else try to take down San Antonio in the playoffs. If the team can overcome this extensive vilification, they’ll win their fifth NBA championship since 1999.
1. The Celtics
Every sport has a team or two that makes the whole league more exciting when they are competitive. In the NBA, the Celtics are one of those teams. Now that they have added Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to a team that already boasts Paul Pierce, the Celtics are officially back. It will be interesting to see how Doc Rivers deals with three players all looking to be team leader, and whether Garnett and Allen, both over 30, can stay healthy.