If the NBA does close doors for 2011, there are some nice story lines we may miss. There are always things that could develop during the course of a professional basketball season. However, the NBA could offer up some terrific stories if they manage to pull this season out somehow. According to ESPN, some preseason games have already become victim to the NBA lockout and more could come. So fans are asking at this hour questions like, “Will the NBA play” or “Will the NBA season be canceled?” Unfortunately there is no answer currently leaving fans with the potential absence of pro basketball this year.
Here are my top five story lines we might miss if the NBA doesn’t play.
1) Lakers Bounce Back
After a horrible end to the 2010-2011 season, the Lakers will be poised to make another run at the NBA title.
Will the Lakers be able to bounce back after being bounced from the playoffs? Kobe Bryant still averaged over 25 ppg last season but you have to wonder how many years he has left at 33 years old.
2) Bulls And Rose Inching Closer?
You get this feeling that Chicago and their MVP Derrick Rose are just a few steps away from an NBA title.
Can Rose lead the Bulls back on the same path that Michael Jordan blazed. The NBA Most Valuable Player has a very high ceiling-but we’ll inevitably miss part of that rise if the NBA doesn’t pull of the 2011 season.
3) Are Blake Griffin and the Clippers legit?
We’ve seen tons of footage of Blake Griffin dunking on everybody and his brother. We even witnessed an incredible dunk contest featuring Griffin. The big question for this season is whether or not Griffin can lead the Clippers deep into the playoffs. Griffin is going to need the players around him to step up if that’s going to happen. It’s unfortunate that the Clippers finally have some talent worth watching yet we could miss what might potentially develop in the 2011-2012 season.
4) Will the Heat get even better?
Miami may have lost the 2010-2011 NBA Finals. The critics pounded the Heat for saying they would win multiple championships and failing to do so in their initial year together as the “Big Three.” The big question for this season will be whether Wade, James and Bosh can add to that chemistry or whether this so-called dynasty will collapse before our eyes. The Dallas Mavericks exposed some problems within the Heat offense. So one of the larger stories we might miss thanks to the NBA Lockeout will concern the Heat and their ability to step it up one more notch.
5) Can The Mavs Win Back to Back Titles?
Who would have thought one year ago that we’d even be talking about the Dallas Mavericks winning two championships in a row. The Mavericks were getting older last season but like a fine wine they rose to the challenges and finally hurdled the obstacles that held them back. The big storyline for the 2011-2012 season for Dallas would be whether or not they can keep it together after tasting sweet success and winning an NBA title. If the NBA Lockout continues, the Mavericks potential dynasty could unravel and never get the chance.
These are just a few of the story-lines that we could potentially miss if the NBA doesn’t play basketball this season thanks to a lockout. As we move closer to the finality of a missed season, fans may wonder what could have prevented this mess from happening to begin with. That may be because the NBA season in 2011-2012 would have been well worth watching. Just when the league begins to display a great amount of parity, things may get shut down for a year thanks to the lockout. Basketball fans will have to opt for college and high school hoops if that’s the case. The NBA could potentially damage itself in the flow of what seemed to be some decent momentum.