Thoughts on the upcoming season

The 2012-2013 NBA season is upon us. After last year’s lockout-shortened tilt, basketball fans can look forward to a full 82-game slate this time around. While the reigning champion Miami Heat is looking stronger than ever, there are a few teams out there that look poised to mount a challenge to wrest that title away.

The Boston Celtics are one of those teams.

I am no fool. I am a believer. I love the Boston Celtics. All of those things have been keeping me up nights for the past few weeks, watching what will likely be the last run for the Celtics as we currently know them. Not being a fool yet still being a believer are things that contrast quite frequently. Here’s why.

I love a good conspiracy theory. I am constantly thinking I could possibly be a part of one, a la “The Truman Show” (not much proof to back that one up…yet). JFK assassination? Go rent Oliver Stone’s movie and watch the last 45 minutes while Kevin Costner breaks it all down in court. If you didn’t believe, you will. Did aliens land in Roswell back in 1947? Absolutely. Do they live among us? Um, no. Is Bigfoot real? No. Is “Harry and the Hendersons” still a great movie? Yes.  Like I said, I’m no fool. Here’s the rub: The NBA is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Don’t let them.

Watching the Celtics from 2007-2008 on has been wonderful. The Cs have been a fixture late in the playoffs ever since the big three was assembled. It has made the start of summer extra special for half a decade, but sadly they don’t have a chance to win it all this year. Because the NBA doesn’t want them to win. There it is: The NBA is a fake.

I’m not saying that the players are doing anything dastardly like shaving points to affect the outcome of games…but the officials, now, that’s a different story. I’m not even going to mention Tim Donaghy and the fact he was betting on games - oh wait, I just did. I’m talking about the refs in this year’s playoffs. Are they doing a horrible job of calling the Heat and Celtics Eastern Conference Finals? Yes. Are they doing it because they are bad referees? No. They are doing it because the NBA officials are telling them to! Am I crazy? I would say no, you may say otherwise. That’s your right. But I’m telling you … it’s a conspiracy.

Paul Pierce fouls out of two consecutive games. Lebron James shoots 24 foul shots one game, the same game the Celtics shoot 29. Rajon Rondo gets decapitated in overtime of Game 2; no call. The league wants the Heat in the finals. They want the Heat against the Thunder. They want to crown a new champion; they are tired of old stars winning titles. The Spurs and Celtics? That’s not sexy. Been there done that, says the NBA. There is a new crop of marquee names that the league wants to push, to sell tickets and jerseys. Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Lebron … just to name a few. None of them are champions, but the league desperately wants that to change. Why didn’t they allow Chris Paul to go to the Lakers? I’ll tell you why. The Lakers are getting old. They don’t have many more runs in them. Conspiracy.

Let’s go back through the last few champions. Starting in 1999 it goes Spurs, Lakers, Lakers, Lakers, Spurs, Pistons, Heat, Spurs, Celtics, Lakers, Lakers and Mavericks. The Spurs and Lakers weren’t old when they started winning, but they are now. Shaq was the reason for the first three, Kobe the last two. Shaq was also the reason Miami won in 2006, with a lot of help from Dwyane Wade. Look at that list: all old teams. Last year the Mavericks had the oldest roster in the league. The NBA caters to younger fans; they want kids watching these games. They want to put a hip product out there. They don’t want to see the Celtics and Spurs walking it up the court like your dad on open gym on a Sunday afternoon. They want Lebron fast breaking with D-Wade and Kevin Durant making it rain from down town. Not Ray Allen rubbing icy hot all over himself pre- and post-game.

I want the Celtics to win. I will watch and cheer. I can honestly say that I think they are the better team. Too bad they don’t have a chance. The series may go seven, because that makes the NBA more money, but Boston won’t be raising another banner. Big Brother is watching and won’t allow it to happen.

I have so many topics to write about its making my head spin right round baby right round. (Anytime I can get some 80’s music lyrics in the first sentence, it’s going to be a good column.)

An injury to Derek Rose was just what the doctor, as in Doc Rivers, ordered. Now instead of losing in the second round, the Celtics will most likely beat the 8th-seeded Sixers and play in the Eastern Conference Finals. I know KG and crew had some success against Miami late in the year, which has Green Teamers thinking another trip to the Finals. But as much as I can’t stand Lebron and the Heat, me getting my own reality show is more likely than a Celtics series win, which means the “New Big Three” era in Boston will end. It’s been a nice five-year run resulting in one NBA title and another Finals appearance. Let’s be happy with that because KG, Ray Allen and maybe even Rondo will be somewhere else next season.

Joe Buck won the sports Emmy for best play by play recently. Yes, he is smooth, knowledgeable and talented on Fox Sports. But do you know anyone who enjoys his play by play? Me either. It’s like when they give the Oscar for Best Picture so some artsy flick that five people on the entire planet took the time to see. Buck is good, like caviar. But I don’t know many people who really like either one.