Just a few more hours and what is probably one of the most spectacular shows on earth will unfold. The NBA 2006-2007 season is finally here. I won't be making any bold predictions on who the 2007 champions will be because by now, everyone should realize that the Chicago Bulls will be hoisting their 7th Larry O'Brien trophy.
So much has been buzzing around the league during the off-season. From the explosive acquisition of Big bad Ben Wallace by the Chicago Bulls, to the mediocre finish by Team USA in the World Championships, to the debate that have swirled around the supposed "better" basketball to be used by the league, to the surprising drafting of one Andrea Bargnani by the Toronto Raptors and to the immense loss of one of Celtics history's most enduring pillars in Red Auerbach.
I have always loved the Chicago Bulls. From the time when Windy City decided to draft at 3rd over-all a lanky kid from North Carolina who would one day become undoubtedly the greatest basketball player of all time I have always watched the Bulls with such a passion. I could still remember the first time that the Bulls finally won their first NBA title at the expense of the Los Angeles Lakers and their aging superstar Magic Johnson. It signalled the start of a new era, the changing of the guard. From showtime, MJ propelled the game to soaring heights. Six championships later, Air Jordan decided to call it quits with the Bulls and disappointingly surfaced somewhere in Washington only to be booted out unceremoniously. Came the time of the Baby Bulls where mediocrity somehow became synonymous with the Chicago squad. Then came the time of the never-say-die, Ginebra-type Bulls squad led by a scrappy player out of Kansas in the person of Kirk Hinrich and the fourth quarter man himself, the first rookie ever to capture the sixth man award and in my opinion was hands down rookie of the year, Ben Gordon. Add to that a mix of do-it-all players in Andres Nocioni, Luol Deng and Chris Duhon, the Bulls was now, more than ever, looked like a team poised to make a run for the title within the next few years.
Then came the BIG signing. Big Ben Wallace wanted to come to Windy City. I could still remember the day when I read about it on the news. I couldn't believe my eyes. Finally, what could probably be the final cornerstone for the rebuilding Bulls was found and got reeled in, hook, line and sinker. With Big Ben in the fold, the intermittent hole in the middle left by the promising Eddy Curry was finally plugged. And what was the NBA's toughest defense in terms of opponent's field goal percentage suddenly became iron-clad. No offense to Tyson Chandler but Big Ben brings to the Bulls that certain kind of OOMPH that neither he and Curry combined could ever come close to. As if it wasn't enough, the Bulls managed to snag Tyrus Thomas, Thabo Sefolosha and Viktor Khryapa, two extremely talented rookies and a sophomore waiting in the wings to bust out. Watch out for the Bulls, after a 5-1 pre-season mark, they can no longer be called the league's whipping boys.
Open season. Without a doubt, Miami will have a hard time trying to protect what is theirs as several other teams have also been quite busy in the off-season. One significant mover and shaker was the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets as they acquired pure shooter Predrag/Peja Stojakovic and Bobby Jackson, both former Sacramento Kings and the now you see him, now you don't Chandler. Built around rookie of the year Chris Paul, the Hornets have one lineup that they could certainly boast around the league with.
But my card is still with the Bulls. A right mix of veteran smarts in Walace, PJ Brown and Adrian Griffin plus the court savvy and showmanship of the youth in Hinrich, Gordon, Nocioni, Duhon, Deng, Thomas and Sefolosha, making it through the second round in the Eastern playoffs should be a breeze, barring any injuries to this core. Hours na lang gyud...
What time is it?! GAME TIME!!
