话说湖人超级粉丝尼克尔森在之后的庆祝中该用了多大的劲儿才没让自己激动地发抖啊。
原文：2009-10 preview: Gazing into crystal basketballWelcome to my prediction column for the 2009-10 NBA season.
Pleasewipe your shoes on the Charlotte Bobcats before you enter. Yeah,despite the Bobcats' contributions from coach Larry Brown and humbleHall of Famer Michael Jordan, I'm forecasting another season of doormatpotential in Charlotte. But while Larry is encouraging replacementreferees to call the game "the right way," what other developments canI foresee without provoking Nostradamus to pull a few spin moves in hisgrave?
Well,I'm predicting the league's decision to be a bit more lenient in regardto on-court traveling makes it through an entire season without beingnoticed. It also should be noted that, based on statistics collectedduring the NBA's exhibition season, coaches will burn about 90 percentof their future practice time on free-throw shooting.
Anyway,aside from allowing players to truly walk the walk and Brown donatingmoney to the league's emergency-party fund, here's a list ofpredictions that may hold even greater importance:
Most Valuable Player Thisdistinction won't be attached to Kobe Bryant. Kobe has enoughhigh-profile playmates in L.A. — and enough postseason focus — to keephis numbers from reaching an MVP level.
MiamiHeat guard Dwyane Wade should be statistically crazy, but his teamwon't rise high enough in the Eastern Conference for him to achieve anhonor usually bestowed upon a player working for a squad with a gaudyrecord. Orlando's Dwight Howard is working with Vince Carter andprobably won't touch the ball enough.
Boston's Kevin Garnett may be the most valuable at both ends, but doesn't score enough to wake up voters.
Thatleaves us with LeBron James, who should be able to dodge ShaquilleO'Neal's vast ego enough times on rim journeys to post fabulous numbersand win lots of games.
I'm betting that LeBron even shakes David Stern's hand.
Western Conference champions Theaforementioned traveling rule will make it legal for players to gatheron the catch and take two steps before dribbling the ball. This meansSan Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker will be taking three steps on hisway to the hoop. While this particular rules upgrade could have aprofound impact on the standings, I believe Kobe and the Los AngelesLakers will prevail once again.
Todo so, they'll have to hope nobody throws beer on Ron Artest, pray thatKhloe Kardashian avoids raiding Lamar Odom's gummi-bear stash and makesure debris from a meteor shower does not find Andrew Bynum's kneeduring its plummet to Earth.
If they can avoid these potential doomsday events, the Lakers will be golden.
Rookie of the Year It would be easy to pick Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin and move on.
So that's what I'm doing.
OK,there could be quite a challenge from Sacramento's Tyreke Evans, but ifcoach Paul Westphal puts the ball in his hands, the kid's triple-doublepotential could include turnovers.
Eastern Conference champions Byadding Rasheed Wallace and a healthy knee for KG, the Boston Celticsnow have three (that includes you, Kendrick Perkins) bigs capable ofswatting opposing shots or teammate Rajon Rondo if Rondo's ego makeshim difficult to play with.
Orlandocertainly has more quality depth than a year ago, but could havechemistry issues (back to you, Vince), and the Cavaliers failed to addneeded quickness to their post area.
If Garnett can move around in typical KG fashion, the C's should have enough skill, depth and experience to reach the Finals.
Plus-Minus Award Theplus-minus statistics continue growing in their importance to deepthinkers around the league. In a close race determined only by thenumbers, this one goes to Jack Nicholson, whose beloved Lakers averagea plus-15 when he sits courtside with his left leg crossed over hisright knee.
Tweet Revenge Award DetroitPiston Charlie Villanueva receives the Carmelo Anthony Courage Awardfor averaging a triple-single in his first 10 games after returningfrom a month-long stint in a Twitter rehab facility.
Free Agent Bust of the Year WithElton Brand ineligible to defend his title, this award goes to HedoTurkoglu of the Toronto Raptors. Sure, Hedo is a very good player, butat superstar prices, his performance could be more bust than boom.
Rookie Steal of the Year WhileDeJuan Blair and his cartilage-free knees may be a revelation in SanAntonio, look for second-round pal Marcus Thornton to seize availableminutes in New Orleans and furnish the Hornets (who acquired him fromMiami) with a solid weapon.
Interesting Stat of the Year Despitea referee lockout that lasts well past the start of the next calendaryear, Spurs superstar Tim Duncan is T'ed up four times in November ...by Joey Crawford. Crawford, unofficially working from an easy chair inhis living room, is stripped of his remote control by Stern.
Most Improved Player PortlandTrail Blazers coach Nate McMillan ignores last season's plus-minusstats and provides enough minutes for former overall No. 1 draft pickGreg Oden to grab this honor. When asked to comment on his teammate'sMIP distinction, personable first-year Blazers point guard Andre Millerreplies, "Oden? Which one is he?"
Coach of the Year Ifhe can coax his team into just threatening to reach the playoffs, whocould deny the contributions of Houston's Rick Adelman?
NBA champions In a rematch of the 2008 Finals, the Lakers and C's square off with the home-court advantage belonging to L.A.
Despitethe absence of former assistant coach Kurt Rambis, the Lakers reach atactical stalemate with Boston and its ubuntu spirit. With the unionreferees back on the floor and Artest riding the karmic flow of coachPhil Jackson, the Lakers win Game 7 on a Bryant free throw awardedafter a late technical foul against Wallace.
Nicholson uncrosses his legs to join the ensuing celebration
