The Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever: Part 3

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever continued...

8. Make it rain (3's)!

The 1979-1980 NBA season sported many new and significant changes. The New Orleans Jazz had just made their move to Utah, the Indiana Pacers joined the league, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird both entered into their Rookie seasons, and the NBA contracted its first Cable television venture. The most significant change of all however, was the incorporation of the three point line into the professional game.

The three point line was not exactly new or unique to the game of basketball before the NBA adopted it. Both the short lived American Basketball League and the ABA had been using it for around a decade up to that point. The ABA in particular had been utilizing the shot as a marketing tool to compete with the league.

On October 12, 1979 Boston Celtics Guard Chris Ford made the first 3 point field goal in NBA history. Since then throwing the rock up from behind the arch has become a staple of the game. From spectacular clutch shots to last minute buzzer beaters the 3 point shot has provided a brilliant plot twist for each and every game played.


9. Leaping over the Great Wall.

The game of basketball and the popularity of the NBA has known no greater cross border success than within the walls of China. The NBA, per Shanghai native Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets, has known its most significant short term growth through the 30 million viewers each week and an estimated 500 million active fans all across China.

China has produced many fantastic NBA stars. When the Dallas Mavericks 7'1 Wang made his debut in the NBA he became the first Chinese born player to step foot on the court. The popularity of Chinese stars such as Wang (Mavericks), Ming (Rockets), Jianlian (Wizards), and Bateer (Nuggets) cannot easily be realized through the scope of American viewership. When Bateer and Wang faced off in Bateer's second game in the league 400 million Chinese viewers tuned in to watch.

The popularity of the NBA and the sport of basketball should only continue to grow in China. The Dream Team may have introduced the high octane NBA game to the world. But it is players like Ming and Jianlian that are going to keep it relevant.

10. Supposed Indecision 2010

The summer of 2010 was a media circus to say the least. At no other time in NBA history had the league showcased so many high profile free agents. On the block were big names such as Dallas Mavericks Forward Dirk Nowitzki along with Joe Johnson (G Atlanta Hawks), Carlos Boozer (F Utah Jazz), Paul Pierce (G Boston Celtics), Amar'e Stoudemire (F Phoenix Suns), Chris Bosh (F Toronto Raptors), Dwayne Wade (G Miami Heat) and of course the biggest name of them all- LeBron James (F Cleveland Cavaliers).

Speculation ran rampant over the course of the off-season; with many of the player's projected destinations changing by the hour. When the dust finally settled most teams were able to retain their superstars. Nowitzki, Johnson, Pierce and Wade all stayed with their respective franchises. However, Boozer, Stoudemire, Bosh and James had all decided to move on.

If 2010's free agency class were likened unto a lottery, LeBron James would qualify as the jackpot ticket. Practically every team with the available cap space took it upon themselves to lobby hard for LBJ; anything less would be considered a consolation prize. The Miami Heat won the day when they were able to obtain LeBron. Their spoils were in large part due to the efforts of Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh to lure their Olympic teammate to the roster.

The media coverage of LeBron's free agency has become a topic of much discussion and will undoubtedly remain so for some time to come. For many the coverage leading up to and including the 1 Hour ESPN special titled "The Decision" was completely over the top. In the wake of the 24 hour news fiasco LeBron endured accusations of self aggrandizement, as well as being branded as a narcissist. The once beloved King James was courted with so much enthusiasm one could have easily mistaken him for Disney's Princess Jasmine. But as is the story with the Princess (sorta), LeBron hopped on his magic carpet and took his talents to South Beach, leaving Agrabah behind.

For others, LeBron was the victim of an aggressive multi-party marketing strategy to fill the void left by Jordan. Will LeBron ever be Michael Jordan? The easy answer is no. Just like their will never be another Babe Ruth or Wayne Gretzky. But truth be told, he does not have to be. LeBron is still easily the most physically talented player in the game today. In spite of what your feelings may be about the man; the machine LeBron James is
now coupled with two other perennial all-stars and an
organization that features basketball wizard Pat Riley at the helm. I constantly hear the naysayers casting aspersions about the Heat and their ability to match up with the other top Franchises in the league. I simply submit the question: Who matches up well with the King and the Heat? I am looking forward to the 2010-2011 NBA season with much anticipation.

Happy trails and thanks for reading. Please remember to tune in for my MLB postseason preview as well as my soon to come NBA preseason power rankings and predictions.

-The Groundskeeper

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever: Part 2

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever continued...

4. Sam Bowie say what?!

"There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us." - Magic Johnson

If Bill Russell could have been a Hawk, it is safe to say that the infamous #23 could have easily been a Portland Trail Blazer. The 1984 NBA Draft is widely regarded as one of the deepest in NBA history. It sported future big names and Hall of Fame members such as: Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, John Stockton and of course Michael Jordan.

The Houston Rockets had the first pick in the NBA draft. Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon was at the top of almost everybody's draft card. Teams were doing all they could to wheel and deal their way into that top spot and the coveted draft rights to 7ft, 250lbs shot blocking machine. At the top of the list of those wheeler and dealers were the Portland Trailblazers. The Blazers were in dire need of a Center to immediately step up and fill in for the ailing Bill Walton. The Rockets however, also needed to fill that spot and the Blazers, despite their efforts, ultimately ended up with the number 2 pick.

Hakeem Olajuwon would not have been a pick for anyone to scoff at. He had produced a spectacular college career and was widely regarded as a future league MVP. Sam Bowie on the other hand was in many minds not even the best Center left in the draft after Hakeem had been picked. The Blazers decision to take Bowie has in retrospect been dubbed as the biggest draft bust in professional sports history. Although, it should be pointed out that as un-coveted as Bowie was, Jordan was not exactly the Bulls first choice either. In fact Rob Thorn, then general manager of the Chicago Bulls, was quoted by the Chicago Tribune after selecting Jordan as saying:

"We wish Jordan were 7-feet, but he isn't. There just wasn't a center available. What can you do? Jordan isn't going to turn this franchise around. I wouldn't ask him to. He's a very good offensive player, but not an overpowering offensive player."

Much to the pleasant bewilderment of Thorn, the Bulls and Michael Jordan turned out to be the perfect consortium. Chicago was able to cultivate Jordan's talents through the unorthodox coaching styles of the great Phil Jackson as well as surround him with the requisite supporting cast. The ingredients could not have been more proper and even more so, down right genius. The NBA was the stage; and in the Bulls, Jordan had found a production; and in Jordan, the Bulls had found a star.

Michael "Air" Jordan and his high flying- gravity defying, rim rattling, performance in the clutch antics went on to change the game forever. From his best selling shoe brand to his cinematic feats of the decade, M.J was more than just a basketball player; #23 transcended the game. When even the most casual observer looks back on Jordan and the 90's they will undoubtedly find themselves compelled to bear witness to the fact that no player has ever brought more attention and esteem to the NBA and the game of basketball. Simply put, there is not a word in existence that could more adequately describe Michael Jordan than "iconic".

"By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time." —Introductory line of Jordan's NBA Encyclopedia biography


5. The Malice at the Palace

The spectacle between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons at the Pistons home arena 'The Palace of Auburn Hills' could hardly have been billed as the "Thrilla in Manila" (the famous final boxing match between greats Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier). This observation is not solely predicated upon the fact that it was capriciously unplanned, but rather that it was also an appalling manifestation of the NBA at its worst.

With less than a minute left in the game Piston's Center Ben Wallace responded to then Pacer Forward Ron Artest's hard foul, which was committed while he (Wallace) was going up for a dunk. Wallace reacted by shoving Artest hard to the chest. From there the altercation transformed into an all out violent affair. Players from both teams engaged in pushing, shoving and even the exchange of punches.

As the incident started to seemingly calm down Artest lied upon the scorers table in what can only be described as a taunt (although Artest claims to have been trying to disengage). That is when a fan hurled a beverage at the young Forward and things once again escalated. Artest sprang up from the scores table and vaulted into the stands after a man whom he had mistakenly identified as the assailant. As he did, other players ventured into the stands as well. Now the fight that was once between players, incorporated fans. Once Artest had made it out of the stands he was aggressively approached by two fans on the court. He responded by punching one of them in the face. Teammate Jermain O'Neal intervened by gaining a running start and punching the other fan in the face.

As the Pacer's exited the floor towards the tunnel leading to the locker room they were met with a barrage of food, debris and a folding chair from the fans still in the stands. This led Pacer Guard Stephen Jackson to return from the locker room with what appeared to be a dust pan in an attempt to battle off fans. He was restrained however, and the atrocious catastrophe was left to the overwhelmed stadium security to sort out.

In the wake of the debacle the legal repercussions of the event were as follows: 5 players were charged with assault and all 5 were convicted; each of them receiving a year of probation and community service. Five fans were also charged with assault.

The NBA also levied out some consequences of their own. The 5 fans that were charged with assault also received a lifetime ban from Piston's home games. The NBA also took measures to limit the sale of alcohol at NBA games in congruence with increasing their stadium security presence. As far as the players were concerned the NBA initially suspended Artest, Jackson, O'Neal and Wallace indefinitely. Once the league finished sorting through the events of that night the more notable punishments handed out were as follows: Pacer's Forward Ron Artest was fined $4,995,000 along with receiving a suspension that lasted the remainder of the season (73 regular season games and incidentally 13 playoff games). Pacer's Guard Stephen Jackson was suspended for 30 games and fined $1,700,000. Pacer's Center Jermain O'Neal was suspended for 15 games and fined $4,111,000. Detroit Piston's Center Ben Wallace was suspended 6 games and fined 400,000 dollars. Piston's Guard Chauncey Billups and Pacer's Guard Reggie Miller also received fines and suspensions.

The Malice at the Palace will always remain as black spot on the legacy of the NBA and a constant reminder to officials and coaches to get involved before things become unmanageable. Since the brawl there has been a noticeable uptick in the assessment of technical fouls and increasingly stringent guidelines for officials with respect to what constitutes the big T.

Enjoy ESPN's coverage of the event:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-169695640295285298#


6. Bargaining with a Lockout

The 1998-1999 NBA season did not see its first tip-off until February 5th after a collective bargaining agreement was reached between the NBA and the Players Association. The Players Association had been threatening a players lockout for years leading up to the 98-99 season and were eventually led to stage one due to not being able to meet a timely agreement with the league.

The shortened season led to an absence of the NBA All-Star game as well as many of the non-conference games that usually take place during a season. A total of 50 games per team were played in place of the regular 82 game schedule, with the addition of a full playoff schedule. The San Antonio Spurs led by David Robinson and Tim Duncan were crowned champions.

The NBA struggled for a few years following the lockout to match their pre-lockout revenues, but was eventually able to recover. The players however, were very content with the terms of the agreement and were able to have much more negotiating power within many different facets of their contracts. Players, money, and the NBA collectively have been markedly different since.

7. Grounded

James Jordan (Michael Jordan's father) was murdered on July 23, 1993 at a highway rest stop in North Carolina by two asinine teenagers. They were later caught and convicted to a life in prison. The sudden loss of his father rocked Michael's world. This sobering incident only served to exacerbate Jordan's purported thoughts of an early retirement.

On October 6, 1993 Michael Jordan stepped away from the NBA and the game of basketball. The face of the Bulls was now gone and the impact of Jordan's retirement was felt league wide. National and world wide interest in the NBA saw a definite decline. For fans of teams that, in spite of their respect of Jordan, loathed him and the Bulls, this was the opening they had been looking for. Parity had finally struck its chord in the NBA and the title was up for grabs.

While M.J was testing his skills on the baseball diamond, Hakeem Olajuwon and his Houston Rockets were winning championships; 2 to be exact. However, in March of 1995 the Chicago Bulls (who were at that point in mid season sitting on a 31-31 record) got their leader back. M.J scored 19 points in his much anticipated return to the Bulls, and also provided the NBA with their most viewed game on television since 1975. Although Jordan had been removed from the game for over a year the "Sultan of the Hardwood" soon regained his basketball mojo and led the Bulls into the postseason. Jordan and the Bulls were ultimately eliminated by the Orlando Magic in a 6 game Eastern Conference series. However, the following season the Chicago Bulls were right back in the NBA Finals; and as history now dictates, Michael Jordan led them to another astonishing 3 Championships in a row.


This concludes part 2 of my 3 part series the Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever. Tomorrow I will post Moments 8-10. Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed it.

Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever: Part 1

This is post two of the Groundskeeper NBA preview. Last post we explored some of the aesthetic changes that have taken place over time. In this post we will take a look at Moments 1-3 of our Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever. It is hard to put this list in any specific order. Although due to my obsessive compulsive nature I was forced to try. So here it is, the Groundskeeper Ten:

1. Bill Russell and the Celtics Wed

The list of NBA laureates is short. It is a class that contains the likes of Jordan, Chamberlain, Johnson and Bird. It is a short list of the most complete and accomplished games to ever set foot on the hardwood. And there at the top sits the iconic 11 ring winner Bill Russell. The Celtics may be the most storied franchise in basketball, but they would have never gotten there without Russell.

And Russell, might have been an Atlanta Hawk.

In April of 1956 the Boston Celtics orchestrated a trade that went on to change the game of basketball forever. Bill Russell is remembered for many things; although, perhaps his most significant contribution to the game is the least heralded: The 24 second shot clock.

The NBA had been mulling over the idea of a shot clock for quite a few years previous to Russell. However, the advent of the Celtics fast break offense, fueled largely by Russell's insatiable hunger for the board and his tenacious shot blocking, put them over the edge.

The shot clock is the cause for many a heartache and many a celebration in today's modern game. Pacers great and NBA analyst Reggie Miller once stated that his most potent offensive weapon was "the shot clock". Because of it the game will never be the same. Forever live the buzzer beater, and when you witness it, be sure to pay homage to William "Bill" Russell.

2.The Magical 1980 NBA Finals (Game 6)

The Lakers led the series at three games to the 76ers two. The Dr. of Dunk Julius Erving of the Philadelphia 76ers and the sky hooking phenom 7'2 Center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers had been headlining the series. By even contemporary standards the NBA could hardly have asked for a more star studded program. However, enthusiasm for the league was in decline. The stars of the 60's and 70's were at the twilight of their careers and fresh talent had yet to emerge.

In Game 5 Abdul-Jabbar suffered an ankle injury that sidelined him for the brunt of the game. In the 4th quarter of the game he limped back onto the floor and helped lead the Lakers to the win that put them a game away from wearing the NBA crown. As it turns out though, the ankle injury proved to be too severe, and Jabbar would have to sit for game 6.

The Johnson and Bird era had been building its foundation on the courts of the NCAA. When Magic Johnson stepped on the floor to fill in for the injured Jabbar in Game 6 of the NBA Finals, the era emerged beyond the college game and into the pro arena. Johnson's 42 point, 15 rebound, and seven assist "Magical" performance captured America's attention. The NBA was back.

3. Dare to Dream: The Greatest Team Ever Assembled

College players were tasked with carrying the mantle for the United States in Olympic and World basketball tournaments, up until 1992 that is. In the 1988 Summer Olympics the United States and their team of undergrads finished third. The following year FIBA announced that it would open up Olympic competition to professional players. The USA Basketball team enthusiastically seized the opportunity and the 1992 Dream Team was born.

10 year old kids could not have dreamed this up. Led by his Airness Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls at shooting guard; the team also featured his teammate SF Scottie Pippen, as well as SF Larry Bird (Boston Celtics), PG Magic Johnson (Los Angeles Lakers), PF Karl Malone (Utah Jazz), PG John Stockton (Utah Jazz), PF Charles Barkley (Phoenix Suns), C Patrick Ewing (New York Knicks), SG Clyde Drexler (Portland Trailblazers), C David Robinson (San Antonio Spurs), SF Chris Mullin (Golden State Warriors), and a lone collegiate athlete PF Christian Laettner (Duke).

With the exceptions of Mullin and Laettner all of the aforementioned players are members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as well as members of the NBA's 50th anniversary 50 greatest players of all time list.

The 1992 Dream Team went on to win Gold in the Summer Olympics. They defeated their opponents by a margin of 43.8 points a game, led by Charles Barkley with 18 points a game. The positive impressions created by the Dream Team were not limited to the American spectator. International perception of basketball and the NBA specifically was transformed. The style and swagger of the NBA game permeated world round. The 1992 Dream Team helped the NBA transcend American borders, and catapulted it up into the stars for all the world to see.


Tomorrow we will examine Moments 4-7 of our Ten Moments that Changed the NBA Forever.