Just as the NFL seems to be on its way out of labour negotiation hell, the NBA is plunging into a dank, depressing chasm of boring bickering of its own. The lockout has begun, and if ESPN’s resident “capologist” is to be believed, there’s a 75% chance that there will be no NBA basketball played in 2011-2012.
Still, the internet will march on undaunted, talking about how the Lakers need to make a trade, what the Bulls can do to get over the hump, and what players have been sleeping with members of LeBron James’ family.
So let’s make the generous assumption that the countless points of contention in the labour mess get sorted out in time for the league to have a free agency period and rank the available talent. (Spoiler alert: There’s not much.)
1. Nene, F/C, Denver Nuggets – Denver’s big man has been banged up throughout his career, but he’s still only 28 and coming off one of the best seasons of his career. He was a one-man wrecking ball in the playoffs, owning the paint at both ends of the court and dunking on everything in sight. He’s not the most polished player, but there are few more explosive big men in the Association.
2. Tyson Chandler, C, Dallas Mavericks – Chandler had faded into obscurity when the Hornets sent him to Charlotte in 2009, but he revived his career in Dallas and was arguably the best player on the Finals-winning team that wasn’t born in Germany. No, he’s not much of an offensive player, but he scores enough off of offensive rebounds that he isn’t a liability on that end. Drafted 10 years ago out of high school, he’s just 28 and one of the best defensive centres in a league bereft of them.
3. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies – After cutting his beard and his weight a couple summers ago, Gasol has made the trade that sent his brother Pau to the Lakers seem like something resembling a reasonable deal. He’s not as quick or skilled as Pau, but plays strong interior defence and has a good variety of post moves. He also played tough in the playoffs, a trait that doesn’t seem to run in the family.
4. David West, F, New Orleans Hornets – If it weren’t for a catastrophic ACL injury West suffered in March, the Hornets might have won a playoff series and he might have been the most coveted free agent on the market. Now he’s looking like a pretty big risk. As steady a performer over the last five or six years as you’ll find in the league, West is an excellent complementary offensive player with a great mid-range game and a wide array of post moves. Though he’s right in his prime at 30, the lockout could be good for him, as his knee will have greater time to heal before team doctors check it out in free agency.
5. Thaddeus Young, F, Philadelphia 76ers – Still only 23, Young has more upside than any player available in free agency, but questions are starting to arise if he’ll ever realize that potential. He has all the tools to be a big-time scorer at the 3, but hasn’t developed a steady enough outside shot to play the position. He has a nice feel around the basket, but at 6’8 can be swallowed up when playing the 4. He hasn’t drastically improved over the last couple of seasons, so any team signing him might have to be content with adding a versatile, hard-working player who will score in the low-to-mid teens while running the floor and playing some defence. And who knows, maybe one day they’ll end up with an All-Star.

Some thoughts on All-Star Weekend before you start looking over March Madness odds in your sportsbook:

Rookie Challenge – The sophomores won a surprisingly competitive game behind a record 46 points from Kevin Durant. If he’s not in the Sunday game next year, something’s wrong.

HORSE - Durant edged out O.J. Mayo in another entertaining affair. This kid can score from anywhere.

Shooting Stars – Detroit beat the hometown team from Phoenix. This needs to cut, and soon.

Skills Challenge – Derrick Rose beat Devin Harris, and Rose didn’t even look awake until his double-pump reverse to cap off the event.

Three-Point Shootout – Daequan Cook beat Rashard Lewis in overtime, and Lewis’ seven-point

performance in that round was embarrassing.

Slam Dunk Contest – Nate Robinson was the Kryptonite to Dwight Howard’s Superman by jumping over the 7-footer, but what should be talked about is how Rudy Fernandez got hosed in the first round.

All-Star Game – The West won in a blowout, but Shaq’s dance with the Jabbawockeez during introductions was the most entertaining part. It was also good to see Shaq and Kobe Bryant together again while receiving co-MVPs of the game. To paraphrase LeBron James, it’s gonna be a sad day when the big fella hangs ‘em up. The most entertaining player and person the NBA has ever had.

Well, it’s been an eventful week at Madison Square Garden. First, Kobe Bryant set an MSG-record with 61 points as his Lakers beat the New York Knicks. Two days later, LeBron James scored 52 in his triple-double performance in another win over the Knicks. Ahead of the matchup between these two NBA betting giants on Sunday in Cleveland, the question has to be posed: which one of these All-Stars do you want on your team?

James is younger, and physically, he’s just an all-around beast. He’s also seemed to develop defensively, and most think it’s due to his experience going up against Bryant when the two led the United States to a gold medal in Beijing last summer. Bryant is more experienced, and there isn’t a player in the league with more of a killer instinct than the man with the nickname, “The Black Mamba”. James is more apt to get his teammates involved, and Bryant will too, but as he proved against the Knicks, Kobe is more than willing to gun until his arms are tired. It’s a tossup, and this probably changes every day, but if I were to choose one player, for one season, or even one game, I’ll take Bryant. If I’m starting a franchise, Bron because of his age and “potential”. You couldn’t really go wrong with either player.

The NBA is coming up on the All-Star break, but a couple teams could see their NBA betting chances of winning the championship take a big hit courtesy of some ill-timed injuries to key players.

Orlando’s Jameer Nelson should be preparing to make his All-Star debut as the fifth-year guard is having a splendid season. However, Magic fans were left holding their breath when Nelson went down hard in Monday’s 105-95 loss at home to Dallas. Nelson has been diagnosed with a torn labrum and a dislocation in his right shoulder, but he has the option of rehabbing to get through to offseason surgery. Either way, this is a damaging blow to Orlando’s NBA betting odds, as the Magic don’t have a guard close to Nelson’s caliber (although rookie Courtney Lee has looked nice this year).

Out in Tinseltown, Andrew Bynum is wishing that he never has to face the Memphis Grizzlies again. The young center on the West-leading Lakers suffered a serious knee injury for the second straight year against the Grizz, this time coming on Saturday when he was run into by teammate Kobe Bryant. The Lakers’ NBA betting chances should still be in good shape, as they reached the Finals last year without Bynu, but it’s clear they are a much better team with him. Bynum is a major presence iin the post, which opens up the floor for Bryant (Monday’s 61-point explosion in New York notwithstanding) and Pau Gasol. Bynum won’t be back before the playoffs, and even then, it’ll be up in the air.

The Toronto Raptors were a great NBA betting pick to start the season, as it looked like Chris Bosh was ready to move into the upper echelon due to his Olympic experience. But Bosh has fallen off over the last couple of months, coinciding with the firing of Sam Mitchell. Also not coincidentally, Andrea Bargnani has flourished, leaving some to wonder if Bosh is on his way out of the door next season.

Both Bosh and Bryan Colangelo have moved to quash the rumors of Bosh’s exit, started by ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith (side note: Smith is a loudmouth who is rarely right), but Bosh’s body language has been disturbing. In a 23-point loss at home to Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Bosh looked completely overwhelmed by his counterpart, and spent most of his time sulking around. For Toronto to have a sniff of the postseason, they need their “All-Star” to start acting like one.

Now that the Super Bowl dust has settled, I’ve got some thoughts about the NBA All-Star selections made late last week. There are some notable snubs, as there are every year. In the East, Cleveland’s Mo Williams has had a huge hand in the boost to the Cavaliers’ NBA betting chances, but was passed over in favor of New Jersey’s Devin Harris, whose selection can’t really be argued either, other than the Cavs have a far better record. Boston’s Ray Allen is having a great year, but because of the strength of the swingman in the East (Boston teammate Paul Pierce, Atlanta’s Joe Johnson, Indiana’s Danny Granger), the veteran misses out.

In the West, some eyebrows were raised with the pick of Shaquille O’Neal, who is having a resurgent season in the desert. The fact that the game is held in Phoenix probably had a little to do with it, as Shaq is arguably the greatest ambassador the NBA has. However, Minnesota’s Al Jefferson is one of only three players in the league averaging 20 and 10. Also, Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant is putting up absurd numbers, but both of these young stars play on terrible teams, and the thinking is that they’ll have plenty more chances to make it to the All-Star game.