October 27 is opening day for the NBA regular season. Many things have happened since the Lakers won the NBA title this spring. Several teams have new head coaches, including the Sixers, Pistons, Timberwolves, Wizards and Kings. With the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Clippers chose Blake Griffin out of Oklahoma. Blake is currently sidelined with a bruised knee but seems to ready for action when the season opens. In a stunner, the Timberwolves drafted Ricky Rubio with the fifth overall pick, but Ricky chose to stay in Spain to play, and will reconsider the NBA at a later time. The Warriors drafted and signed one of the top college players of recent memory, Stephen Curry.
Other notable players have been traded, including Shaq. He was traded to the Cavs, where he will team with LeBron. This will make a big splash in the Eastern Conference, and it looks like it could push the Cavs to the NBA finals, where they look to make up for last years embarrassing performance against the Orlando Magic. Another big name player to change teams is Allen Iverson, he signed a one year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Zach Randolph also signed with the Grizzlies in the off season. It remains to be seen how the new guys will interact with young Grizzlies stars like Rudy Gay, and OJ Mayo.
Again this year, it wouldn't be the NBA if there wasn't some kind of controversy. The replacement refs kicked off the preseason with no issues, but many people think there will be missed calls and games fumbled due to these inexperienced fill-in refs. There is also another ongoing issue with the NBA referees. Many people think there could be another gambling controversy, but David Stern as assured everyone that the replacement refs were well trained and will perform as well as any of the regular refs. Stern also said that the NBA will expand its use of instant replay to better assist with many in game issues, including calls on buzzer beating shots.
Other notable players have been traded, including Shaq. He was traded to the Cavs, where he will team with LeBron. This will make a big splash in the Eastern Conference, and it looks like it could push the Cavs to the NBA finals, where they look to make up for last years embarrassing performance against the Orlando Magic. Another big name player to change teams is Allen Iverson, he signed a one year deal with the Memphis Grizzlies. Zach Randolph also signed with the Grizzlies in the off season. It remains to be seen how the new guys will interact with young Grizzlies stars like Rudy Gay, and OJ Mayo.
Again this year, it wouldn't be the NBA if there wasn't some kind of controversy. The replacement refs kicked off the preseason with no issues, but many people think there will be missed calls and games fumbled due to these inexperienced fill-in refs. There is also another ongoing issue with the NBA referees. Many people think there could be another gambling controversy, but David Stern as assured everyone that the replacement refs were well trained and will perform as well as any of the regular refs. Stern also said that the NBA will expand its use of instant replay to better assist with many in game issues, including calls on buzzer beating shots.
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