By Kevin Parker
Round Table Executive editor
October 27 marked the beginning of the 2009-10 NBA season, and it could not have started better.
In the marquee matchup of the night, the new-look Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Boston Celtics in a matchup of the top two Eastern Conference contenders. The Cavaliers added 17-year veteran Shaquille O’Neal in the offseason to bolster a front line that was battered by Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.
Adding a winner like O’Neal – a four-time NBA champion, one-time MVP, 14-time All-NBA selection, and 15-time All-Star –the Cavs were labeled a sure-fire title-contender, but the Celtics proved that titles are not won overnight.
O’Neal contributed 10 points and 10 rebounds, though only two points came after halftime. The Cavs consistently struggled to find the right way to use Shaq, and it was painfully apparent as LeBron James shouldered the scoring load once again.
The Celtics, however, seamlessly blended in Rasheed Wallace and Marquis Daniels, the top two free agent signings in Boston. Signing Daniels and Wallace, according to Sports Illustrated, made Boston the early season title favorite.
With Kevin Garnett returning from a knee injury that cost the Celtics a potential NBA Finals appearance last season, the Celtics left Cleveland feeling positive about the season to come; the Cavaliers were left doubting the season to come.
Speaking of knees making or breaking teams, is there any more important knee than that of Gilbert Arenas? With two seasons lost to reconstructive knee surgeries, the Wizards have all but collapsed without Arenas.
Last year, the Wizards finished with a franchise-worst 19-63 record without Arenas, missing the high-scoring guard in late-game situations. Returning to action against the Dallas Mavericks, Arenas appeared to not lose his scoring touch, dropping 29 points and netting 9 assists in a 102-91 Wizards win.
Arenas scored more points against Dallas than he did all of last season, and scored the most since 2007. Seeing him return to form is great for the Wizards, as his clutch shooting and playmaking ability.
With new additions Fabricio Oberto and Randy Foye, the Wizards have a positive outlook on the season to come for the first time in about two years.
This NBA season proves to be one for the ages, with the stars aligning in more cities than in recent memory.
At the top are the clear contenders, Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers. Following are the Cavs, the Orlando Magic, and the San Antonio Spurs. At the next level are the Hawks, Nuggets, Blazers, and Mavericks.
With the top five teams all making major upgrades, the class of the league is as loaded as ever. It has been a long time since a team as good as the Spurs can upgrade and be considered no better than fifth best in the NBA.
The Mavericks are actually deeper and more talented than the team that went to the 2007 NBA Finals, yet aren’t even in the discussion of contenders.
With so many top tier NBA teams expected to compete for a championship, look for the 2009-10 NBA season to be as exciting as we’ve seen in a long time.