THE LOCKOUT
This topic came damn close to never happening. For NBA fans worldwide the summer of 2011 was one of the most nerve-wrecking times that we have ever had. The league was fresh off an incredibly exciting season and was continuing to skyrocket in popularity. Not since the Jordan days do I remember so many people actually caring about basketball. It was all about to disappear, however, as virtually every expert and insider and talking head was predicting doom for the 2011-2012 season. Even worse, many of them were claiming that the next TWO seasons were in jeopardy, meaning no NBA until tthe 2013-2014 season. I watched the negotiations and the drama with an ever increasing resignation to the fact that I was gonna be without my favorite sport for a long time. I was trying to cope with the fact that I was going to have to spend my late spring evenings actually watching baseball. I wasn't ready for it, but I didn't have a choice.
Then it happened. At 2am on some summer night, I got a text that I assumed would either be a booty call or a desperate drunk friend needing a ride. It was neither. It was the best news that I have ever gotten. The NBA was f***ing back. 66 games and in time for the Christmas orgy of good ones. The following day I was just....happy... I was just so purely glad that my favorite sport was gonna be around, and it just made me appreciate s*** like that that I usually take for granted.
The impact of the shortened season has been analyzed to hell and back. Some of the doomsaying regarding it came true, some of it did not. For instance, there has been a significant impact on scoring and defense, as lack of practice has led to an assload of chemistry and cohesion issues. It hasn't been a major detriment to the league or anything, but those who closely follow the stats have certainly noticed the toll the season has taken.
Many experts also predicted an increase in injuries due to higher levels of strain with lesser time for rest. The data says that injuries haven't been much of an issue, however. There have been a lot of high profile injuries, but overall it doesn't look like the lockout has caused any sort of injury plague this year. This is a great article regarding the effects of the compressed schedule http://www.foxsportsarizona.com/04/22/12/Analyzing-the-effects-of-a-lockout-seaso/landing_suns.html?blockID=714668&feedID=3702
It's good to have basketball back, and even though this season flew by it has definitely been one of the most dramatic and engrossing ones in recent memory. Bring on the playoffs, baby!
--
MRNICEWATCH - Somebody call the Brinks truck!
I INVENTED POSTING