Another year of NBA basketball will pass and About Basketball takes a look back at the best and worst NBA moments, NBA teams, and NBA players of 2008, wrapping it all up with a nice little bow.
Best NBA Team: Boston Celtics
Could Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen make that much of a difference for the Boston Celtics who traded away future players/picks, such as a beastly Al Jefferson, and help the Celtics win their 17th NBA championship? You're dang skippy. But, it doesn't happen without Paul Pierce's theatrics (both clutch moments and moments of seeming histrionics), the development of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins, and the bench play of the Celtics, particularly James Posey. So while having The Big Three certainly helped to win a championship, it's takes a team of 12 to take the title.
Others considered: Los Angeles Lakers; New Orleans Hornets; San Antonio Spurs
Best "Non"-NBA Team: The Redeem Team
Team USA had to win it all at the Beijing Summer Olympics this year... had to. Anything less than taking back the gold would be meaningless. Luckily, they did, thanks to Kobe Bryant being on the team and Dwyane Wade (playing inspired ball off the bench), Carmelo Anthony, and LeBron James making up for their less than stellar performances at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The games weren't close until the gold medal game when Team USA beat Spain 118-107 after previously beating them 119-82 earlier during the Olympics. Either way, Team USA established their once diminishing dominance in a sport that was created in America.
Other considered: Spain national team
Best NBA Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
James is very young, but he has achieved and displayed a lot on the basketball court. Sure, Bryant won the NBA MVP award for the 2007-08 campaign, but it's hard to overlook James' overall development. Known as a scorer, he also contributes discernibly in rebounds and assists. James has also improved as a defender and free-throw shooter over the year, arguably the last two things that he doesn't do at a superb level. No wonder teams are already making moves for salary cap room now for when LBJ is a free agent after the 2009-10 season. I guess the comments will be rolling in now.
Others considered: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers; Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics; Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets
Most Improved NBA Player: Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
Has anyone improved more than Granger during 2008? All of his stats are up from previous years and he's showing that he can do it all at a high level. In fantasy basketball circles, he's known as a poor man's Shawn Marion (pre-Miami Heat days) because he contributes in every category. However, he's showing that he can be every bit as good as Marion during his hey day in regards to filling up the stats sheet.
Others considered: Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles Lakers; Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets; Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic
Young NBA Player (First or Second Year) That Stepped Up: Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics
Imagine being a 21-year-old point guard, arguably the most important position on the hardwood, and you are given the starting nod along with future Hall of Famers, Garnett, Allen, and Pierce. You can either grab the opportunity and excel or fall flat on your face. At the point guard position, there is no middle ground. Well, Rondo took the rock and did a Maurice Cheeks from the early 80s Philadelphia 76ers teams - steady point guard play amongst a group of star players. Look at his stats and you'll see a big improvement (*cough* other than at the charity stripe *cough*) in scoring, dishing the ball, and defensively. It all contributed in an NBA ring for Rondo.
Others considered: LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland Trail Blazers; Rudy Gay, Memphis Grizzlies; Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
Comeback NBA Player: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
Okay, it's hard to name one of the NBA's brightest stars a comeback player, right? Not really. Not when you consider Wade only played in eight games after the NBA All-Star Game in the 2007-08 season, and then come back to dominate the world, leading Team USA in scoring (16.0 ppg in only 18.8 minutes per contest) and once again showing why he's such a bright star, thus far this season, it's not hard. Wade is back, people!
Others considered: Honestly, no one.
Most Entertaining Moment: Dwight Howard winning the 2008 NBA Slam Dunk Contest
Talk about a flair for the dramatic and some innovation. Howard's charisma and ridiculous ability to jump was all over the slam dunk contest as he wore a Superman cape, showed a couple of dunks never seen before, and held the crowd and television audience fully captivated. Watch him take flight as Super Dwight.
Others considered: Any time Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson are in TNT Studios (here is one example); LeBron James commercial with Nicole Scherzinger (okay, so it doesn't happen on the court, but LeBron plays in the NBA, right?); Paul Pierce getting hurt, but coming back in Game One of the 2008 NBA Finals.
Biggest Head Scratcher: Pau Gasol traded to the Los Angeles Lakers from the Memphis Grizzlies for...
Who was Gasol traded for? Kwame Brown, Aaron McKie, Javaris Crittenton, and two first round draft picks. So, in other words, a player widely-known as a bust and a few players that didn't have any real or even pseudo-real NBA court-time experience. Awesome. Well, for the Lakers anyway as Gasol helped the Lakers make a run to the NBA Finals, falling just short of winning a title, something he never would have done with his former team, the Memphis Grizzlies. Kwame Brown? Really?
Others considered: The Stephon Marbury/New York Knicks contract/playing time saga; Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming were actually healthy at the same time and helped lead the Houston Rockets to a 22-game winning streak, second best all-time; the Golden State Warriors win 48 games, but still miss the 2008 NBA playoffs! The Atlanta Hawks only won 37 games and made the postseason in the east. Ouch.
Here's looking at an even better 2009 in the NBA!