10 Things I Liked About the 2010/2011 NBA Season

With the Lockout plunging the NBA World into a place darker than Jimmer Fredette’s future in the league, it’s nice to reminisce about the good times this past NBA season gave us.

1) Miami’s Big Three

I know, I know…many of you hate it. Miami instantly became the most despised team in NBA History overnight. Yet it was hard to not appreciate the huge storyline it gave to the NBA season, and we ALL (don’t deny it) couldn’t wait to see the Big 3 play together.

2) Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season

After we had to wait a year for Griffin’s debut, his rookie season started off with all sorts of hype. And Griffin didn’t disappoint, throwing down thunderous dunk after thunderous dunk, and in the process, making Timofy Mozgov his bitch.

3) Blake Griffin’s Nicknames

Some of the best I’ve heard: Blake Superior, Blake Lively (because he’s lively?), Blake The Quake, The Beige Bomber, Poster Child, The Pigment Weak Freak (my personal favorite), and Carrot Hops.

4) Greg Monroe:

It’s not easy being a Pistons’ fan these days, but if there were any bright spot in our season, it was young #10. Monroe stormed onto the scene in the 2nd half of the season, nearly averaging a double-double and offering Pistons’ fans some hope in a very dark period for the franchise.

5) Dirk Finally Winning an NBA Championship

The Winnerschnitzel finally got what’s his and won himself a ring. Dirk put up insane numbers in the playoffs, further establishing himself as a top 20 (or possibly even higher) player of all-time. Ein Hoch auf Sie, Dirk.

Ghostface Drillah holding up that trophy son

6) Also Rick Carlisle, Jason Kidd, and Mark Cuban finally getting their rings

I got a soft spot for Rick Carlisle, whom I think is one of the very best (and probably the most underrated) coaches in the game today. Carlisle brought the Pistons back to relevance, but was fired after not being able to get them over the hump. I hated seeing him go, but I’m ecstatic that he got a ring. Same goes for J-Kidd…the NBA’s best half-white rapper is as deserving of a ring than anybody. Now everyone knows “what the Kidd did”. And Cubes…the mastermind of it all. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying he’s a great owner.

7) Ray Allen becomes the King of 3′s

Jesus Shuttlesworth all up in here. On February 10th, Ray Allen made one of the most memorable shots of his stellar career, surpassing Reggie “I’m Overrated” Miller and becoming the league’s all-time leader in 3′s made.

8) Kevin Love

Love is in the air…..getting all the rebounds. Allright fine. I apologize for that bad joke. Let’s move on. Kevin Love was the only good thing Minnesota had going for them, becoming the first player to record a 30-30 game since Moses Malone did it in 1982. But he didn’t stop there. Love put together a remarkable streak of 53 consecutive double-double’s, the longest since the legendary Elvin Hayes strung-up 55 consecutive in 1973-1974. Of course, this was all en-route to winning the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award too.

9) This Year’s Dunk Contest

Now I don’t necessarily agree with Blake Griffin winning it all, but him, DeMar DeRozan, JaVale McGee, and Serge Ibaka put on a show.

10) James Harden’s Beard

Fear the Beard.

Need I say more?

- ASJ