As we embark on a new NBA season tonight, the main storyline is going to be focusing on the most dominant scorer in the game and how we may have seen him play his last game in the uniform that made him famous. If you don't believe me, just check out the promo for tonight's game:
I don't know about you, but I think that Michael Jordan is going to play a key role in the resurgence of the basketball in Washington. Put the Wizards down for a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals and if the Wizards win 50-55 games this season you can peg MJ as a serious MVP candidate. Also watch out for the Wizards new backup center, Kwame Brown. Throughout the preseason, Kwame has been the Wizards' MVP, and his quickness, length, and outstanding board work will give the Wizards yet another defensive guy off the bench. That's worst-case scenario. Best case scenario is he develops an offensive game in addition to all of that, which he's shown flashes of doing this preseason.
Of course, they'll have to deal with the L.A. Lakers who are reportedly shopping malcontent star guard Kobe Bryant to Chicago for a package of star in the making Ron Artest, explosive guard Jamal Crawford, and high-flying Tyson Chandler. It'll be interesting to see where that goes.
As for my predictions for this season, here's what I got:
MVP: Jason Kidd
Jason getting traded from Phoenix to New Jersey will help shift the balance of power to the East as part of the Nets Big 3 along with Kenyon Martin and Keith Van Horn.
Rookie of the Year: Kwame Brown
I already elaborated on this some, but Kwame is the only one that's really in the running for this award. He has great shooting touch and an intensity that can't be taught. Best of all, Kwame's a great teammate! Everyone has him as a lock for this award.
NBA Finals: Kings over Nets in 6
After the disappointment of last season, Chris Webber finally gets his team over the hump and takes down the Nets who don't have enough depth past their Big 3 to beat a Western Conference power.
(Many thinks to no mas and Crucifictorious of We Rite Goode for unintentionally giving me the inspiration behind this post.)