As the regular season draws closer to its finale...

[Andrew]

...I can't help but think of some of the stories this year and the subplots that will accompany the Playoffs ahead.

For me, the most exciting story is of course the Bulls' unlikely charge towards the postseason. When the Bulls started 0-9, it looked like another dismal NBA season in the Windy City. Who would have thought we'd be talking about the possibility of them gaining home court advantage in the first round, which they would have if the playoffs began tomorrow? Who would have predicted the winning streaks, especially the five, seven and nine game streaks? Aside from a four game slide in March the Bulls have bounced back well after losses in 2005.

And it seems the expectations just keep getting higher. First, it was cracking the top eight. Then it was securing a place in the top eight and making the playoffs. Then it was avoiding the Atlantic champions. Now it's getting home court advantage and maybe even advancing to the second round. While I won't pretend I'd be too upset had they started the year strong and been a top four team in the East all season, the come from behind charge has definitely been exciting and fun.

Then there's the Tale of Three Sophomores, namely LeBron, Dwyane and Carmelo. Wade's explosion and unexpected numbers were the talk of the first couple of months. Even though it's not really the top story of the league anymore - and isn't it interesting how the long NBA season can be divided into subplots as easily as it's broken down into calendar months - his numbers are still there, he's still having great games and the Heat will be finishing the regular season atop the Eastern Conference.

LeBron and Carmelo's stories seemingly mirror each other. While LeBron blew everyone away with numbers that were quickly compared with the likes of Michael Jordan and Oscar Robertson, Melo began the season shooting a terrible percentage and not showing much statistical improvement from his rookie year. Their teams reflected the play of their young stars, with the Cavaliers flying high and the Nuggets struggling. Flash forward to April and the Nuggets have come right back. While LeBron continues to play well, the Cavaliers have fallen in the standings and fired coach Paul Silas.

In the spirit of Hollywood the Shaq/Kobe soap opera still exists, even though Shaq has long been written out of the Lake Show and is starring in his own spinoff down in Miami. Both times the teams met, so much emphasis was placed on their every move. Would Kobe try to dunk on Shaq? Would Shaq block Kobe? Would they acknowledge each other before the tipoff? Would they speak after their game? What did the game mean to each of them? Would things get nasty?

They didn't even need to be squaring off to keep the plot going. Even apart, Shaq remains a character in the Kobe Saga even if he's just showing up in a flashback. With the team handed over to Kobe the Lakers' success has constantly been measured against the squad that featured them as a duo. To make matters worse for Kobe, who will now miss the postseason for the first time his career, Shaq's first season in Miami has been quite successful so far. Even though both are involved in their own shows now, there will always be a link between the them.

Phoenix and Seattle are this year's bottom-to-top teams, though to be fair Seattle wasn't quite in the basement last season. The Suns have simply had an awesome year, starting was one of the league's hottest teams and remaining an elite team right through to April. They might boast one of the lowest scoring MVPs in league history if Nash takes home the honour, they've been one of the most entertaining teams to watch and they even dominated the All-Star Saturday events.

Seattle meanwhile continues to win yet doesn't receive quite as much attention. With Phoenix and San Antonio as the top two, Seattle is almost forgotten yet they could be causing problems for the Suns or Spurs...or maybe both, should they get by one of them to make it to the Western Conference Finals.

If the playoffs began today, one of last year's Western Conference Finalists the Minnesota Timberwolves wouldn't be participating. Despite KG's best efforts, the Timberwolves fell below .500 this season and although they're clawing their way back towards the playoffs, are in for a down-to-the-wire battle.

Vince Carter was traded and has rejuvenated his career in New Jersey, who are also among the teams currently trying to fight their way into the playoffs. Even if they succeed they will have defied the pre-season predictions after dismantling a team that twice made the NBA Finals.

It was another season of player movement. Vince Carter, Chris Webber, Baron Davis and Antoine Walker headed the list of current or recent All-Stars who switched teams, while a host of role players were also exchanged. New Orleans acquired two players through trades who left without suiting up for a single game.

And of course, there's Grant Hill's comeback. Even though the Magic probably won't make the playoffs, he may sit out the rest of the season and he's already missed a few games due to various ailments, on the whole it's been a successful comeback for someone a lot of folks didn't expect to see back again, especially in such an effective role.

Those are just some of the stories in the NBA this season, and I haven't really gone into great detail with them. As I said, it's interesting how much happens in the NBA season, with different teams and players the talk of the league at various points of the season.

What are some of your favourite stories this year, and which subplots are you looking forward to in the postseason? I'll post mine at another time, as this post is already getting rather long.

[Ataraxia]

Definitely Melo and the Nuggets return has been the best part of the season.

The other story has to be Grant Hill, its great of he made such a great comeback after struggling with those injuries for multiple years.

Bulls is very interesting aswell, I didnt think any of the rookies they drafted would be difference makers but turns out the Bulls actually had the best draft out of all. The rise of Ben Gordon has been astonishing, many saw him as an undersized two guard who wont do well in the league but hes reversed that opinion. Whilst Deng has also shown great capability and you cant forget Chris Duhon and Andres Nocioni who both have made valuable contributions.

The fall of the Cavs and Magic is interesting aswell, both teams started so well but are not struggling. Both looked set to make the playoffs but now the Magic are fading away fast and the Cavs look like they will struggle to make it past the first round.

The brawl between the Pistons and Pacers is an unfortunate part of this season, it was quite shocking to see that happen Live. A dark day for the NBA and therefore its best left alone.

As for the stars being traded I think the two that have really paid off are Vinsanity's trade to the Nets and Toine's return to Boston. Vince has played incredibly well and his showing why everyone adoured him in Toronto not so long ago, but of course hes statement of that he didnt try hard still flows in the air and has mande several fans lose respect for him. As for Toine well he cameback to the same organisation and the same GM that battered him(kinda) but he did the opposite of what most ppl thought he would do, hes made the Celtics a better team.

C-Webb is prolly the flop, the 76ers were expected to top the atlantic but have been subpar and only due to Allen Iverson's incredible talent have they managed to stay in the playoff picture.

Then theirs Okafor's double double record, which cannot be forgotten. He truly looks like he'll be an all-star in the near future and hopefully the Bobcats can improve as an organisation in the following years and not plummit after a good season or two like whats happend to recent expansion teams such as the Raptors.

Of course theirs also been Karl Malone's retirement, even though he had alot of drama surrouding him before his annoucement he still remains to be of the greatest players to play the game. Add to that Reggie Miller's annoucement that this will be his last season, Im not a Miller fan either but he too like Malone is a legend of the game, unfortunate that both these great players could not win a title during their marvelous careers.

Thats all really, Kobe vs Shaq doesnt interest me since I dont like either player that much and cant think of anything else at the moment.

Good thread Andrew

[Fresh8]

Good stuff Andrew... nice recap! U too Najira...

Basically for me, Ben Gordon has been an interesting story to watch. At the beggining he was struggling to et over 30% from the field but slowly he has worked his way back into form and he's definitely an exciting Bulls player. Leading the NBA with 21 (?) double digit scoring fourth quarter games, he is now considered a contender for both Sixth Man and Rookie of the Year awards... Ben has turned into a good story by the season's end!

The Kobe/Shaq saga had a huge emphasis up unti lthe Christmas game... however afterwards, don't u think the focus is on Kobe and the Heat? The heat are doing great thanks to Shaq/Wade... while the blame is pinned on the Lake Show's lone laker... Kobe Bryant. For Lakers Fans... Kobe's story ain't too enticing and exciting because its only the fourth time in team history since moving to Hollywood that we're missing the playoffs.. lets look on to the future and hope for better things. But it really delivers an important message; 'be careful what you wish for'

As for Shaq, he can really make a claim for MVP as he has shifted teams and has them as the number one seed. to Shaq.

The revival of the Nuggets has caught us by storm. I seriously am hoping for a Suns-Nuggets matchup for the Western Conference Finals... both teams have the potential to reach it that far. Exciting squads shooting the lights out... what more could you wish for? lol And I think only the Spurs and the Nuggets are the only teams that could beat the SUns right now.

The Wizards, Bulls, Suns, Sonics, Celtics have all had great seasons. The Bobcats also have pulled off some surprise wins here and there... kudos to the expansion team.

Grant Hill is obvious in this thread!

And one last thing: Pacers. I really want them to do well, Reggie deserves it. However, they own the sad story as Reggie's dream for a final run might have been shattered by the brawl... What is sadder.. is his retirement.

Great season with teams scoring over 100... Suns done it alot of times this season- i think theyve had 17 games over 120??? (Cant remember but its more than the last 7 seasons combined...) The 90's are back? Maybe they are!

[Andrew]

I can't believe I forgot to mention the whole Pacers/Pistons brawl and all the trouble the Pacers have had this year with suspensions and injuries. And that too is a sign of how quickly the landscape can change in the NBA. For the first 10 games of the season, Artest was scoring a lot more while remaining one of the league's top defenders. He's become something of an afterthought having not been around most of the year.

Gordon's one of my favourite aspects of the whole Bulls story this season. He's been so important in the charge and I've got to believe he's only going to get better.

[T-Comm55]

This has been a unique season with all the coaching changes and superstars being traded, expansion team and of course the brawl. The biggest trade of the season is of course Miami acquiring Shaq and the biggest freeagent signing is Phx signing steve Nash . The best rookie is Emeka Okafor . The surprise team of the season has been the bulls and the worst team of the season, sry to say knicks. I am a true knicks fan and this has the been the most disappointing season. They started out with the best record in the atlantic division and now they are the worst. All in all I hope the playoffs are just as instering and unique as the season has been

[Indy]

Everybody, here come the pacers. Jermaine will be back in time for the playoffs, so will jamall tinsley. THe pacers are going to make a serious push for the eastern conference title. They have the Heat number this season, Im not too worried about the Pistons, and the Celtics should be an easy seiries win (although they we cant take it for granted, because nothing is definite for the pacers this season).

I think with everybody playing so well, and jermaine and jamall back, NOBODY will want to have to go to conseco.

[shadowgrin]

My favorite NBA story this year is the Phoenix Suns! I didn't think Nash would make that big an impact with such a team, guess I was wrong. Fun team to watch and made it as one of the top teams this season. I can't wait to watch them in the playoffs to see if their offense oriented playing style will be effective in the defense oriented playoffs.

They have the Heat number this season

Shaq always improves his play in the post season. Even Wade showed what he's really made of during last year's playoffs so I think the postseason will be a different story than the regular season where the Pacers "have the Heat's number."

conseco

Hmm, Pacers homecourt. One of the noisiest if not the noisiest arena in the NBA coupled with the way the Pacers are playing right now, damn.

[air gordon]

pretty much everyone would said though minus the laker soap opera. i wouldn't say the pacers-indiana was a favorite but definitely one of the biggest stories this year. my top 3 favorite stories are:

1. the bulls leading the charge amongst the teams surprising everyone
2. wade and shaq dominating the east
3. grant hill's comeback

what i look forward to most in the playoffs:

1. attending my first bulls playoff game in what seems a lifetime
2. the sonics & suns trying to defy the critics with thier unplayoff-like style
3. the pacers making the playoffs despite stern's efforts to keep them down

[Ataraxia]

pretty much everyone would said though minus the laker soap opera. i wouldn't say the pacers-indiana was a favorite but definitely one of the biggest stories this year. my top 3 favorite stories are:

Pacers-Indiana whats that?

Another interesting story is the soaring popularity of Dwyane Wade and Josh Smith, Wade did well during the latter part of last season burst out this season and now their are hundreds of Wade followers, It was mostly abt Bron and Melo last season but I think Wade but actually be the most popular out of the lot now, course most of his fans(I would say 80%) are bandwagoners.

Josh Smith brought back alot of life into the dunk contest, course you cant forget JR kinda got the new feel to the contest with his dunk. Amare Stoudemire too played his part along with Steve Nash on bringing alot more popularity to the contest which had become same ol' same ol' in the recent past. Josh Smith now too has burst out with popularity after that with everyone having a signature or wallpaper of him and making it look like they've support Smith all the way, just shows what 1 dunk contest can do to a players popularity.

[Dean]

i think he may of meant Pistons-Pacers

[Ataraxia]

i think he may of meant Pistons-Pacers

I know that, im just pulling his strings.

[Fresh8]

I notcied... Yao, T-mac and the Rockets haven't really been a big focus this year! Is that good or bad?

[T-Comm55]

I notcied... Yao, T-mac and the Rockets haven't really been a big focus this year! Is that good or bad?

Yao and T-Mac was a hot topic coming into this season but they didnt play very well in the start of the season and after the all-star the rockets improved their team with Wesley and James, thus improved their game and now they are a scary team heading into the playoffs.

[air gordon]

lol strings pulled

[cyanide]

I notcied... Yao, T-mac and the Rockets haven't really been a big focus this year! Is that good or bad?

Yao and T-Mac was a hot topic coming into this season but they didnt play very well in the start of the season and after the all-star the rockets improved their team with Wesley and James, thus improved their game and now they are a scary team heading into the playoffs.

Yup, and maybe one of the reasons why they're doing so well is that the media kinda left them alone, hence less pressure, and they're quietly winning without the pressure of expectations.

[Fresh8]

There has been considerably less attention on Yao.. remember the last two seasons... they followed his every move? Poor guy didnt really like it!

[Andrew]

LeBron has become the new focus of the league, as well as guys like Carmelo and Wade along with the well-established guys like Shaq, Kobe, Duncan and KG. Yao's having a nice season but if he had exploded as a 25-12 guy with a few blocks and assists thrown in for good measure, he'd probably still have that attention.

[Fresh8]

The fact that he's gotten less attention is better for him though IMO... I think it was suffocating for gim...

[Sauru]

i have to agree with you there. its bad enough having to adjust to a new country,rules,play style, way of life. i think with some of the preasure off him he can just settle in and hopefully play better. maybe then alot of the haters will get off his case. which BTW the main reason he has haters is he was so hyped. if he was never hyped and was doing what he is doing now everyone would say how good he was, but instead he didnt live up to the hype so they bash him.

[Fresh8]

But if u think about it.. how can he not have been hyped? 1) His height and 2) He's Chinese and 3) He's newly discovered really doesnt help minimise any hype!

[COOLmac©]

Yao and Tmac gets left out because many think their team will make any noice in the playoffs...or better yet not make it to the playoffs.......
but those guys in houston have something else focus in their minds......with Jeff Van as the captain.....always expect the unexpected