I'm just going to go ahead and say it.
This NBA season sucks.
It has been so dreadful to watch, and it isn't just because of the struggles of my beloved New York Knicks. (I mean seriously, what the hell?)
For example, on Monday night, as I sat on my favorite comfy chair in my PJs to watch some hoops, my interest drew me to the Celtics/Magic game. That turned out to be a big mistake, as I was "treated" to one lousy performance by the Magic, as they only managed to score 56 points – in thewhole game.
I mean are you kidding me? Fifty-six freaking points?
For comparison's sake, 42 college basketball teams scored more than the Magic did that night, and that includes the likes of powerhouse, 2-18 Arkansas Pine-Bluff.
Across the board, scoring is down. Last year, the league averaged 99.6 points per game. So far this year, it's down to 94.4 points per game, which if it keeps up for the whole year is the lowest points per game average since that terrible 2003-04 season that was only remembered for…actually I don't remember it at all.
In addition, 11 teams finished with a scoring average over 100 points last year, and not one team finished with under 91 points per game. This year? Only two teams are over the 100 – point barrier – the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets. And five teams are averaging less than 90 points per game.
But scoring isn't the only problem. I can't ever recall seeing games in which there was so many sloppy plays being made on a daily basis. There have been so many missed layups, and not only from the benchwarmers. Guys like Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony have missed easy layups and dunks in the early part of the season.
The worst part is the freak injuries that are having an impact on this season. It's hard to imagine how much better teams like the Memphis Grizzlies would be if they hadn't lost star forward Zach Randolph and fellow forward Darrell Arthur for a significant chunk of the season. Also, the absence of guys like Atlanta big man Al Horford and the L.A. Clippers' new point guard Chris Paul for extended periods of time have made this season hard to watch. Obviously, this all traces back to the lockout. With the shortened, jam-packed 66 game season, only a few days of teams rushing to sign new players, training camps lasting less than a week, and only two preseason games, there has been some bad basketball.
It is tough to build trust, to learn the tendencies of a new player, or a new coaching system in such a small amount of time.
Will this trend last the whole season?
Hopefully not.
It would seem that as players get used to each other and teams gear up for the postseason, the caliber of basketball will increase. But after one of the most exciting regular seasons in recent memory, this one so far has been a complete dud.
So instead of watching millionaire superstars sulk around and miss easy, point blank layups, I will gladly spend my time checking out the Buffalo Bulls do their thing on the basketball court.
Hey, it beats watching the Knicks.
Email: nathaniel.smith@ubspectrum.com
