In last year’s wish list I saw only two of my six wishes come true (#1 and #6). Once again I have prepared a Christmas List that hopefully isn’t too late for Santa to read.
#1 – Best of 11 Western Conference Playoffs Series
The balance of power in the NBA has been tilted to the Western Conference for quite a while now, but this season is just crazy good. Even without the Rondo trade you could argue that eight teams have a legitimate chance of going to the NBA Finals.
Golden State, Memphis, San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Portland and the Clippers all have good to great rosters, and if last season’s playoffs are anything to go by, it really could be a roll of the dice.
Add in the possibility of the Pelicans making a run at the eight seed and emulating the Warriors of the 2000s and it gets very interesting. If Adam Silver can amend the series to be best of eleven it would be greatly appreciated by basketball fans everywhere.
#2 – LeBron James in the Dunk Contest
After the much publicised move back to Cleveland perhaps LeBron is on a mission to writing all his PR wrongs. One thing he hasn’t addressed so far is that time he promised that he would be in the dunk contest and never backed it up.
There is no doubt that his participation would generate a crazy amount of attention and it might go a long way to the revival of the novelty contest. Come on Santa, make LeBron do it!!!
#3 – No more rookie injuries
With season ending injuries to Julius Randle and Jabari Parker, the ROTY candidates aren’t faring well. Add in the indefinite injury to Aaron Gordon plus the existing foot injury to Joel Embiid and that is four of the top seven draft picks spending significant time on the sidelines and it’s not even half way through the season.
Let’s hope the Wiggins, Exum and Smart all make it through the season with no major injuries.
#4 – The Kings to play one game with 4 on 5 defence
It’s always fun when a new owner comes in and tries to shake things up a bit and Vivek Ranadive has provided plenty of entertainment so far. His resume as an owner includes trading for a horrible Rudy Gay (good move so far), firing his head coach after a long losing streak coinciding with their best player being out with viral meningitis and proposing some crazy strategies including playing 4 on 5 on defence.
The last one is almost laughable but if Ranadive asks Ty Corbin to do it would he really say no? How long will it take for the broadcast team to quickly come up with picture in picture action a la the running between the wickets wizardry on the Channel 9 cricket coverage? The Kings play the Knicks on the 27th of December so why not watch the Triangle vs the Cherry Pick. Make that happen Vivek!!!
#5 – A super fun trade deadline
Last season’s trade deadline was disappointing to say the least. The biggest names involved were Danny Granger, Spencer Hawes and Steve Blake along with no first round draft picks (that weren’t heavily protected) being moved. The year before that JJ Redick was the biggest name in the annual rumour fest.
The new CBA is somewhat to blame for this lack of activity but surely there is an owner tired of treading water that pressures the front office into making a silly blockbuster trade.
While we are at it why not make it a 15 team, 45 player spectacular also involving a coach swap or two. It won’t happen but I love a good shake-up in the NBA so I’m wishing for a major one in February.
What are your NBA Christmas Wishes Roarers?
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
So long as they are Ranadive crazy and not Donald Sterling crazy. A Deron Williams trade makes no sense for them but then again the Rudy Gay trade looked horrible when they first did it. Maybe Ranadive is a basketball genius masked as an impatient billionaire. I wonder if Smith will ever get over being that unwanted that a team agreed to pay him $20mil+ not to play with them. Must be a big ego hit.
rouleur
Guest
Personally think its great having a couple of crazy owners in the comp (unless they own my team!). Whats the chances Vivek brings Deron Williams in for about 3 players (when Collison is better at half(?) the price) and picks up Josh Smith now too? Its always fun trying to second guess these guys!
Justin Twell
Roar Guru
Don't think we'll ever see LeBron in a dunk contest.
Mark Pybus
Roar Guru
Good point. Don't want a Game 6 where it's Charlie V and the Mavericks vs Chris Douglas Roberts and the Clippers.
Jayme Markus
Roar Guru
You're wishing the death of the players in the West! They wont be able to walk come Finals time after beating the crap out of each other for so long. I agree the Kings 4 on 5 D has to happen, it would be hilarious. I watched the first Ty Corbin coached game just hoping I could see it.