State of the NBA: A New Age

The National Basketball Association has been one of the most famous professional sports leagues in the United States. Before the 21st century players like Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, David Robinson, John Stockton, Reggie Miller, and Isiah Thomas stayed on one team their whole careers. With today's basketball its all about three things in free agency/trades-money, chance to win a championship, and where they want to live the rest of their lives. The extremely sad thing about all of this is that the loyalty a player has to a town has certainly decreased since the times of Bird, Magic, and Stockton. With this being the case, since around the year 2005 we are seeing teams build and become "mega teams". The biggest example of a "mega team" is the Miami Heat. The Heat signed Lebron James and Chris Bosh in the 2010 NBA free agency. This set up a "big three". But Miami wasn't the first "big three", in 2007 the Boston Celtics acquired Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett adding to Paul Pierce making a team of three all-star players. Ever since then teams have now been forming "mega teams". Usually this wouldn't be a problem, but I've noticed all of these mega teams are in big market and nice cities. For example the cities such as Miami, Boston, Brooklyn, New York, and Los Angeles have acquired big name players thru trade or free agency. With "mega teams" up and coming the level of competition will decrease and you will see small market teams such as Charlotte, Cleveland, New Orleans, Orlando, Sacramento, etc. start to shrink. But someone might say that the small market teams can rebuild with the high draft picks they would receive. That is true but once their first round pick's first contract with the team that drafted him is up and the team is not winning he will most likely want to leave the city because the things that are most important are winning a championship and the city the would want to live in. This most likely would be a cycle and the same teams will struggle and the same big market giants will flourish. Over the past years the NBA has been becoming too predictable. Now I feel like the only 4-7 games that are going to be interesting next season are the 2013 NBA Finals between the Heat and Thunder. That's why I believe the NBA season in around five years will be a joke.

Top Ten Sports Rivalries

Top Ten Sports Rivalries

What makes a good rivalry? This top ten is based off the pure hatred for a franchise/school, the passion of their fans, the tenacity of the games played between them, the history of their rivalry, and the great games they have played.

10.  New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers


This is one of the greatest rivalries in NBA history. During the 90's the Knicks and Pacers met 5 times in the playoffs. Some of those included great games including the 8 points in 8.9 seconds by Reggie Miller when the Pacers came back from 6 points in 18.7 seconds, the Game 7 matchup to go to the Eastern Conference Finals where Patrick Ewing missed a game tying lay-up as time expired. During those times Knicks fans and Pacers fans hated each other. This rivalry was great in the 90's but has declined in the 00's. That is why slips down to 10 on our list.




9.  Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs


These Original 6 teams have had a bitter past with each other. When the Canadiens and Maple Leafs squared off during Original 6 times they were the only two teams in Canada. When they would play it would be vertually a battle for Canada. With two of the biggest fan bases in the NHL whenever these two teams play its more than just a game.




8.  Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers


Although this rivalry may not have much history, the games played today are intense. With both teams having a dying hatred for the other franchise these games don't go unseen. Players on both teams can't stand each other. With these teams being know as the toughest defenses in the NFL, games are low scoring and physical. This rivalry has made up for the lack of history with great games and passion for their team.




7.  FC Barcelona vs. Real Madrid


The rivalry know as "El Classico" consists of some of the best players in the world. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are two of the best clubs in the world. The two clubs have been battling each other since 1929. The reason this makes our list is that whenever "El Classico" is going on all of Europe's eyes are on it. Another reason this cracks our top ten is because of the fans. The fans in these games are crazy! This rivalry was very deserving of our list.



6.  Navy vs. Army


If this rivalry doesn't make the top ten of any sports rivalries list you must be insane. This is probably the most classiest rivalry in sports, although both sides would love to see their team destroy the other. This rivalry has great history dating back to 1890. With both schools being independents in football, the most important game on the schedule is the one facing their military opponent. The Army-Navy Game deserves number 6 on our list.


5.  Notre Dame vs. USC


This rivalry is one of the best in college football. This rivalry has had some of the great games played. The game known as the "Bush Push" was pivotal to USC for them making the Rose Bowl BCS National Championship. The Irish led by 3 and USC had the ball inside the three yard line with seconds remaining. USC QB Matt Leinhart did a QB sneak and was stopped by a wall of Irish players until Trojans RB Reggie Bush pushed him into the end zone. This play was also controversial. The NCAA rulebook states " the runner shall not grasp a teammate; and no other player of his team shall grasp, push, lift, or charge into him to assist him in forward progress". That game took the rivalry and made it more special whenever the Irish and Trojans square off.


4.  Montreal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins


In my opinion this is the greatest rivalry in the NHL. These are two Original 6 teams who know each other very well. These two teams have two crazy fan bases. For both teams these games are highlighted on their schedules. This rivalry has great history, crazy fan bases, and fantastic games to add to the hatred of each other.


3.  Ohio St. vs. Michigan


This rivalry is know as "The Game". Michigan and Ohio St. fans cannot stand each other. I have never seen two teams conitnually have a pre game scuffle in warm ups like Michigan and Ohio St. has. Ohio St. had owned the rivalry by winning seven straight from 2004 to 2010. Until finally Michigan fans got their vengeance as the Wolverines topped the Buckeyes in 2011. This rivalry always involves great games, including in 2006 where the No. 1 team in the country Ohio St. played the No. 2 team in the country Michigan. This was the final game of the regular season for both teams. Ohio St. would win and go to the National Championship.


2.  North Carolina vs. Duke


This rivalry is intense! Duke and North Carolina have some of the best programs in college basketball. Almost every year both teams are in contention to win the NCAA championship. The atmosphere in both arenas for the games are insane. Duke University is probably the toughest place to play in college sports and when you put a hated rival in the mix it's a recipe for disaster for the University of North Carolina. Carolina's arena is also rocking when Duke comes to Chapel Hill. North Carolina and Duke have played each other ever since 1920. This rivalry is hard to top in our list.

1.  Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees


Do I even need to explain this choice? These two teams/fans can not stand one another! I was lucky enough to witness one of these games in New York. I remember there were a couple of people kicked out of the bleacher section. I had never seen any fan base bash on another fan base like that ever. Both are successful franchises always looking to top on another. Who doesn't remember the 3-0 defecit the Red Sox came from against the Yankees in the ALCS in 2004. The Red Sox would win the World Series that year breaking the curse of when the Red Sox sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees back in 1919. This rivalry has everything needed in a great rivalry, which is the reason it is number 1 on our list.

Winners from the NHL's Free Agency

Winners-

Minnesota Wild- This is an obvious choice as a winner in the free agency period. When you sign the two biggest free agents you are bound to have an excellent team prior to the past season. The Wild acquired LW Zach Parise from the reigning Eastern Conference Champions the New Jersey Devils. Parise, 27, played a full 2011-2012 season scoring 31 goals with 38 assists. Parise will certainly help the Wild get out of the scoring rut they endored last season. The Wild were last in the NHL averaging only 2.0 goals a game. The Wild also acquired D Ryan Suter from the Nashville Predators. Suter ,27, was part of one of the best defensive duos in the NHL. Him and Norris trophy nominee Shea Weber accumulated 95 points last season. Suter will greatly improve Minnesota's blue line. Both signed 13-year $98,000,000 deals.

Tampa Bay Lightning- The Lightning are coming of a disappointing season after missing the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A big concern for the Lightning coming into the offseason was goaltending. The Lightning, last in the NHL with goals allowed, made much needed help regarding goaltending and defense. With struggling Roloson most likely out of Tampa that leaves only Mathieu Garon in net. Then Lightning made a fantastic deal with the Nashville Predators acquiring Predator's goalie Anders Lindback. The Lightning got much needed help in net. Lindback played 16 games with Nashville, he had a 2.44 GAA and had a .912 SV%. The Lightning also added huge defenseman help. They acquired Matt Carle from Philadelphia and Sami Salo from Vancouver adding to the defense including 21year old Victor Hedman and 31year old Marc-Andre Bergeron. With these acquisitions the Lightning are poised for a run in 2012- 2013.

Matt Carle- The 27 year old defenseman made pay day when he got a 6-year $33,000,000 deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Carle had 38 points in a full 82 game season. Carle was very lucky to be a free agent when he was. With almost 10 teams striking out on Suter that left teams with defensive needs. Carle being the next best defensemen in line was offered lots of money from all sorts of places. Carle was tied for 20th in points among defenseman in the 2011-2012 season, but had a dissapointing 55 hits last season.

Alexander Radulov- This is sort of an interesting one. Radulov returned to the NHL in late March with the Nashville Predators, after Radulov finished his time in the KHL. He scored 13 points in 17 games. Radulov became a free agent afterwards. He accepted a contract with the KHL's CSKA Moscow for 9.2 million a year! That is more than Alex Ovechkin!

Stats provided by ESPN.