Just when we began to fear the worst that there would be no NBA basketball at all this year, the players and owners were finally able to put aside their differences and pony up to strike a tentative agreement. Though the deal is yet to be completed and ratified just yet, the chances of an actual season taking place this year looks a lot brighter now than it did several days ago. NBA Commissioner David Stern broke the news early Saturday morning in front of a camera crew where he announced plans for a 66-game season which would start on December 25 and end on April 26. For the casual sports fan, Christmas is around the time of year everyone gathers around the television to watch some of the more intriguing match-ups the NBA has to offer. And this year's slew of games is no different.
Basketball fans will be treated to an opening day extravaganza which will feature a handful of heavyweight match-ups including a rematch of last year's NBA Finals -- the defending Champion Dallas Mavericks toeing off against runner-ups the Miami Heat where LeBron James and D-Wade will seek revenge after tasting defeat last June. Other match-ups include the Boston Celtics vs. the New York Knicks as well as Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers facing the Derrek Rose led Chicago Bulls who's coming off a monster year which saw the 23 year old point guard take home MVP honors. Also added to the lineup as of today will be last year's Rookie of the Year Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers against the Golden State Warriors with one more game expected to be added in the coming days according to sources.
Over the last few years basketball has almost become just as synonymous with Christmas day as opening presents and decorating the tree. And with basketball back on television, one thing that's certain is that it'll give us a lot more to do during the holiday other than sit around the fireplace and drink eggnog. Though the lockout has still served as an inconvenience by shortening the normal 82-game season by 16 games as well put a lot of people out of work, the timing of basketball making its return couldn't be any better as far as ratings go given it allows football to pass the Paton as the NFL regular season is reaching its climax allowing the NBA to take center stage.
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A Success-Phil career - This edition of Throwback Thursday, we take a look back at the career of current L.A. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson. Jackson, who's better known as a coach, also served his time as a player. Starting his career with the New York Knicks in 1967, Jackson became a fan favorite coming off the bench. Although he wasn't a huge role player for the Knicks' championship run in 1970 and '73, he became well known for his defensive play. Jackson would finish his playing career with the New Jersey Nets where he played for two seasons before retiring in 1980. Although the 6 ft 8 in forward had a decent go around on the hardwood, it wasn't long before his winning reputation as a coach came along. But it wasn't as easy as one would think. Before landing the head coaching job with the Chicago Bulls, many team's turned Jackson down when seeking a job as a coach. Little did they know that P-Jax would later become one of the greatest to ever draw up plays.Jackson became the brains behind the operation, utilizing the triangle offense, earning the reputation as the "Zen Master". Coaching a Bulls team led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and the infamous Dennis Rodman among others, Jackson became the team's most winningest head coach, and helped guide them to six NBA tittles, including two three-peats from 1991-'93 and '96-'98. After taking a year off at the end of the '98 season and vowing to never coach again, Jackson would return in '99, this time with the L.A. Lakers. With a different scenery having migrated to the Western Conference, the former NBA Coach of the Year wouldn't take long to adapt. In just his first year coaching in Hollywood, Jackson's Lakers would three-peat as NBA Champions from 2000-'02.Jackson would once again retire from coaching, just days after losing his first ever NBA Finals series in 2004. But similar to his return in '99, the "Zen Master" would find himself back under the bright lights of Tinsel Town for the 2005-'06 NBA season. With his rehiring, Jackson would have to get used to coaching a Laker team without it's key big man in Shaquille O'neal. After missing out on the NBA Finals until 2008, Jackson would get his first taste of the long lived Lakers-Celtics rivalry. However, his team would be on the losing end, after just six games. L.A. would redeem themselves the following year by defeating the Orlando Magic, resulting in Jackson's 10th NBA tittle as a coach and 12th overall. With a record 10th tittle, Jackson surpassed the great Red Auerbach for the most Championships won as a head coach.& Just one night after Kobe set the franchise record for most points all-time as a Laker, Jackson became the most winningest coach in franchise history with a win over the Charlotte Bobcats. With his 534th win as a Laker head coach, Jackson surpassed the previous mark of 533 wins held by Pat Riley. The 2009-'10 season is said to be Jackson's last at the throne of the Lakers head coach, but with the best record in the Western Conference and sole possession of first place, there's no telling what the future holds for the 'Master of Zen' if the Lakers just happen to repeat as World Champions this year. With Jeanie Buss under his arm, the chances of a return are always good.
