Figuring out the NBA...

By: Byron Parker

We all know that the NBA is such a predictable league. Things that happen year in and year out seems like thay are just conditioned to occur. The NBA has not yet found a way to obtain the same ratings that they once had back in the dynasty days of the Lakers, the Celtics and the Bulls. So it seems like things are set up purposely to try to bring the NBA back to its silver and golden days. Many don't want to believe that, but it's somewhat true. You can see it from the way the officials make calls in tight playoff series, the way schedules are set up, and even the way trades are made.

The NBA has a habit of trying to turn the league into what it doesn't need to be. And David Stern isn't really the one to blame for that. Stern has done a tremendous job dealing with issues in the league, whether you don't want to believe it. The Tim Donaghy betting scandal has been put under the radar, and Stern has dealt with that issue with pure proffesionalism. He didn't let it get out of hand like many others expected it to.

But I personally think that there is a conspiracy in the league, involving the GM's. Many general managers are former NBA players; either ex-teammates or ex-rivals.

Take a look at the Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin McHale. Former Celtic who played in the 80's along with players like Larry Bird and Robert Parish. These three were known as the "Big Three" of their time. McHale was active during the Lakers-Celtics rivalry of the 80's. If it wasn't for the Lakers, the Celtics would've had the best starting five in the NBA at that time. Their starting lineup consisted of himself, Bird, Parish, Dennis Johnson and Danny Ainge. Guess where Danny Ainge is at now. He's the GM of the NBA's best, Boston Celtics. Now as former teammates, Ainge and McHale has to have some sort of relationship outside of their playing career.

So it's understandable how the trade of Kevin Garnett to Boston was worked out. Maybe Ainge wanted to re-live the glory days in Boston by bringing KG there. But something had to be done in order to bring Garnett there, right? Garnett was complaining that he didn't want to play for Boston. Look at him now though. He's in a Celtics jersey enjoying life, and now he's been talking about how he's always wanted to be a Celtic. I don't know how he automatically changed his mind, but he did. It may have had something to do with the communication of the two front offices. So now with the emergence of Garnett in Boston, the Celtics are the best team in the NBA. Thanks to the whole trade deal between two former teammates from the glory days.

Pop Quiz: Which NBA team just made a trade that now has them picked as favorites in the Western Conference by a new gang of bandwagon fans?

Correct, the Los Angeles Lakers (don't take credit if you didn't get that one right). The Lakers basically traded away a bunch of bums/potential bums for an all star in Pau Gasol. We all know Gasol will definitely be a help for the Lakers, and with the development of Andrew Bynum, the Lakers are now an elite team in the West. We haven't seen them play together yet, so we still can't write the Lakers up for anything, even though lots of people, including myself are ready to give them the title in the West.

So who's behind the whole trade?

Jerry West who was a former Laker, is now the President of Basketball Operation for Memphis. A former superstar in the NBA who has been the cornerstone for what the NBA stands for. West was also the general manager for the Lakers in the Celtics-Lakers days. These were the days when McHale and Ainge were playing. The rivalry was heated at this time, and a key player for the Lakers was Mitch Kupchak. He was on the Lakers team, along with Magic Johnson, James Worthy and Byron Scott. Wonder what Kupchak is doing now? He is the general manager of the Lakers!

So while Jerry West was the GM of the Lakers, Kupchak was playing for his team. There had to be chemistry between West and Kupchak in order to bring Gasol to L.A. This deal went down, similar to the KG trade in Boston. A whole bunch of garbage players went to a team that now have a chance at the NBA title. Garnett was traded to Boston in exchange for Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, cash considerations, Boston's '09 first round draft pick, and the '09 first round pick that Minnesota traded to Boston in the Ricky Davis-Wally Szczerbiak trade of '06. Gasol was traded to Los Angeles for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie, draft rights to Marc Gasol and two first round draft picks. Sounds like Boston and Los Angeles gave up about the same.

The Gasol trade has me thinking that Mitch Kupchak wants to re-live the same glory days that Danny Ainge is trying to re-live in Boston. Something tells me that the NBA wants this to happen as well. Hey, I'm sure a lot of people want this to happen too. Who else wouldn't want to see the Lakers-Celtics renew their rivalry? Imagine both teams, fully healthy in the 2008 NBA Finals. Sounds sweet doesn't it? The ratings would boost to an all-time high, and the NBA could possibly have a chance to become what it once was. Let's face it. When the San Antonio Spurs are in the Finals, it's flatout boring to watch, because who most likely is going to win? But Kobe, Bynum and Gasol vs. Garnett, Allen and Pierce...that's something to watch!

I know what you're thinking at this point...
"Where the hell are you going with this?"

Isn't it a coincidence how the NBA works nowadays? They wonder why people don't care much for it anymore. Stuff like this is making the NBA false. It's almost becoming like a ''staged act''. Former NBA players are attempting to re-live their lives through their players. People want things to be what they once were, but the more they try, the stupider it looks. Look at last year's playoffs. Everybody wants LeBron James to be "the next Michael Jordan." Not saying that this played the entire role in the Cavs ability to get past Detroit in the Eastern Conference Finals, but the refs did give LeBron a lot of calls that weren't really necessary. It is a shame that refs base calls on the amount of respect that they have for that certain player. It's true. But as soon as LeBron gets to the finals, the refs can't LeBron those calls because they were facing the "well-respected" Spurs. So the Cavs ended up getting swept. What a disaster. The NBA found themselves in a whole on that one, and they ended up getting nothing out of those playoffs. Is it a conspiracy? Yes it is! I promise you that. The NBA is almost at ESPN's level. The level of self-promotion has gotten ridiculous.

If GM's have to make trades to their former teams in order to liven up the NBA, then that's pitiful. If referee's have to lean their calls towards a specific team/player to liven up the NBA, then that's pitiful.

Maybe it will all work out for the NBA in the long-run, but when it does, I will know that it is all just for the ratings. The NBA no longer has the integrity that it once had. It's nobody's fault either. Like I said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the recent trade that just went down because it could possibly be a reset button for the NBA. They might be able to re-capture all of the fans and we may have something to look forward to every season. Every season will be different, no matter who goes on which team.

Regardless of all the bull, I am and will forever be an NBA fan. I just won't respect some of the things that goes on in the league. The NBA is funny now, and I can do nothing but laugh.