Pardon the Disappointment

Dear Michael Wilbon,

In regards to your 10/26 Article “In the NBA, Expect the Expected” I must say I flat-out disagree and am rather appalled with your assessment of the 2009/2010 NBA Season. While I normally look up to your sports insight and your commentary, I have to say I’m disappointed with your shallow expectations for the upcoming NBA season.  On the eve of the opening day of the NBA, I hold the highest of hopes for the upcoming season to be every bit as shocking and unexpected as it usually is.  As a veteran sportscaster you should know that injuries, conflicts, suspensions, and team chemistry problems are not only likely to occur on high-profile teams, but will certainly affect the standings within the race for the NBA finals in June. While some NBA fans root for the favorites to make it all the way to see that epic showdown at center court between Kobe and LeBron, I root for the underdog and the long shot.

While the upper echelon teams have seemingly made themselves stronger this off-season, I would argue that this year versus all others has the potential for some of the lower level clubs to make a deep run and steal the show from some of the top dogs.  To name a few of the organizations that could turn the power rankings on its head are the Hawks, Jazz, Trailblazers, Clippers, Thunder, Wizards and Bulls.  Each of these clubs has shown significant improvement either in younger player development or through off-season acquisitions that could help reorganize the East and West standing ladders throughout the season.  If you’ll remember back to the playoffs last year, one of the best that I can remember in recent history, the 7th seeded bulls entered into what appeared to be a slaughterhouse in the first round against the heavily favored Celtics. Much to the surprise of the NBA and its fans, the series was taken to 7 games, including 4 overtime games.  In each game the Bulls demonstrated why they deserved to be looked upon as one of the top-tier teams under the leadership of rookie Derrick Rose.

One of the most exciting things for fans is the anticipation of a new season, a turnaround, and the ultimate what-if scenario, the NBA Finals. To say that the results are set before the season even starts is not only absurd but down right naive.  No one can predict the events that will unfold throughout the 82 games of the approaching regular season, much less the playoffs.  Each team has the opportunity to prove their worth and maturity from the previous season, no matter how steep the slope ahead of them.

So here’s the way I see it: The Celtics are looking old and rusty, the Magic are rollin’ the dice swapping Vince for Hedo, The Cavs are investing in the Big-Yesterday, The Lakers have created their own version of the Surreal Life, and the Spurs have lost their continuity.  With all of this drama in the land of the favorites, I think I’ll play the field.  Anything can happen in any game of basketball.  Every team has the opportunity to wow its fans with a last minute buzzer beater.  So with less than 24 hours before the first tip-off I would like to encourage all fans of the underdog to hold their heads high in anticipation.  In the words of author H. Jackson Brown, Jr. “Never expect to lose. Even when [you’re] the underdog, still prepare a victory speech.”