June 25, 2010 – Some measure the end of the NBA season by the final game played last Thursday between the champion Lakers and Celtics. Some measure it by the end of “The Sports Guy’” whining about Boston. Others might look for Jim Rome’s woody out west, but too bad he’s been put on hiatus due to the U.S. Open and futbol. We here at Sportscream measure the end of the NBA season by the seasonal termination of the New York Post’s “Hoop du Jour” thrice-weekly column by hall-of-fame columnist Peter Vecsey. Perhaps we’ll get more from him this season due to the “free-agent-for-all” before he wanders away until the fall like a school teacher.

So, as our season closeout, we offer our 2009-10 wrapup or “Postview” of the NBA season, kind of the opposite of a preview.

Starting with the league itself, we need to rise and bow with David Stern, the once likable, now full of himself, commissioner who will retire in a few years (thank god), mete out subjective punishment and never have a discouraging word to say about his league. The refs are okay. So what if over half his teams lose money. These things are cyclical. Free agency and oligarchs are good. Nothing wrong with the competitive balance. After all, these things are cyclical.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

The Los Angeles Lakers deserve ups for their 16th championship, for Kobe having more rings than Shaq and for Phil Jackson garnering his 11th as a head coach (of two teams). Keeping Jackson as coach will be a big thing this summer. He supposedly makes $12 million now and owner Jerry Buss may think that’s too much, when the next coach in the league makes about half that. No word on whether a bonus of $2 million for winning the championship is in the 12 or on top of it. You’d think Buss, who allegedly has the most valuable NBA franchise, wouldn’t really care about the money paid to a coach who delivers success. Especially when he dates his daughter, but there may be some controversy about who has the wider hips in that duo. Perhaps Phil should pop the question and solve the whole matter? Actually, Phil is showing some wear and tear, knees, other mysteries and someone has yet to take that hanger out of his shirt.

The Lakers now have three in a row and seven in the decade so silly talk about dynasty and who’s better than who, and all time greatness will fill the air. Kobe is the NBA’s best player and only his fluctuating pompous-to-humble personality will keep him in second to Michael. He is the greatest Laker over Magic, Kareem, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West. Yes, that’s Kobe OVER Magic, despite what Michael Wilbon says after taking a ride on Magic’s private jet Boston to LA.

Keeping the Lakers in the mix for next year should not be a problem. They are returning the parts and are young enough to repeat. Andrew Bynum will return to health and make them stronger, before he hurts himself again. Kobe may get his finger fixed. Losing Jackson could turn out to be the difference between winning and losing as the dominance wore thin for the Lakers at several points last season. This team did not overpower its way to the top. They fought, got some breaks and showed what six or seven All Stars can do when they compete, have an obsessed leader, and are armed with experience and tools. Byron Scott or Brian Shaw may fit into the family, but Scott’s performances in New Jersey and New Orleans were best described as “asked to leave.” Shaw is an unknown.

The Phoenix Suns made a magical run, but Steve Nash gets a year older, the prospect of losing Amare Stoudamire looms and Steve Kerr’s jumping ship looks like the front office will return to flaky.

The Dallas Mavericks are in a similar spot as Phoenix. Jason Kidd IS old. Dirk Nowitski can leave and Mark Cuban will have to contend with incoming Russians and free-agent bolstered teams. He’ll make moves, it’s just not known if they will be radical enough to change the Mavs also-ran prospects or crumble the team into rebuild mode.

Just when the smaller market Denver Nuggets gathered enough parts (Martin, Anthony, Billups, Anderson, J.R. Smith, Nene) and a solid coach to make an impressive run, it began to crumble. Head coach George Karl’s health issues became foremost. Kenyon Martin and Nene are expected to hold up down low on worn parts and Chauncey Billups may have lost that step Joe Dumars’ keen eye thought he saw two years ago. Ty Lawson offers some youth.

The Utah Jazz continue on as a well-coached team with two star players, one of whom is a free agent (Carlos Boozer). Deron Williams keys the attack for a handful of mid-level talents either on the way up (Paul Milsap) or their way down (Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur). Any way you slice this team it needs new parts to surround Williams and fit coach Jerry Sloan’s system. Butler’s Gordon Hayward may provide some white-guy sharpshooting at small forward, but he could also fold up and take some time to develop.

The San Antonio Spurs are symbolic of Tim Duncan. He’s tired and worn out. Tony Parker could join him and Manu Ginobli, the team’s best player, is prone to injury and killing bats. Richard Jefferson was supposed to bring another All Star to the mix but didn’t. George Hill, Dujuan Blair and ageless Antonio McDyess provided some help. But coach Greg Popovich’s team is at a crossroads and he can only hope for another tree like Duncan and well-preserved performances from his aging roster. James Anderson a SG from Oklahoma State will be looked to to provide what Jefferson was supposed to. The Spurs are getting payback for the David Robinson/Tim Duncan windfall. As David Stern says, “all things are cyclical.”

Here are the good things you can say about the Houston Rockets: Rick Adelman is a good coach. They almost made the playoffs. Trevor Ariza was often longed for in Los Angeles when the Lakers and Ron Artest struggled. Yao Ming did not play at all. Aaron Brooks was one of the better point guards in the league. Shane Battier is a solid citizen and top notch defender. The trouble is there is a need for more. With the return of Yao and the late-season addition of Kevin Martin they have a start. Rookie big Patrick Patterson from Kentucky adds heft down low.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are the apple of the league’s eye because they are young, have Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green and the league will do anything it can to support their spineless decision to let them slither from Seattle. By making the playoffs, the Thunder will add more talent through the draft, some mid-level free agent help and look to guys like Nenad Krstic and Nick Collison to add grunt help. Kentucky’s Eric Bledsoe gives PG depth and more end-to-end speed to a young team.

The Portland Trailblazers took a flyer last season, decimated by injury and a dopey front office. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden have been on the court together for about five minutes. General manager Kevin Pritchard and his assistant were launched. Nate McMillan remains a well-respected coach. Support players like Marcus Camby, Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez are in flux as the Blazers look to add via draft, trade or free agency.

The New Orleans Hornets have a new coach and are in the enviable position of holding two elitist point guards in Chris Paul and Darren Collison. They also have David West, Emeka Okafor and Mo Peterson up front. New ownership and still-recovering New Orleans may play into the hands of roster changes for 2010-11. New coach Monty Williams and GM Jeff Bower may see the benefit of a trade and save long term with Chris Paul, if it brought in a stud or package to help build around.

The Los Angeles Clippers have a roster. They also have an owner. They don’t have a coach. They have Chris Kaman, Baron Davis, Eric Gordon and yet-to-be-unveiled Blake Griffin as a youthful core to attempt to finally be competitive. Owner Donald Sterling has an open invite to sell controlling interest to David Geffen, which will probably go away if LeBron goes off the market. General manager Neil Oshley added Al-Farouq Aminu a PF from Wake Forest to increase his talent level. Coach still TBD.

The Golden State Warriors are much excited about Stephan Curry, who, once Don Nelson decided to play him, took the team up a notch and declared his personal talents. After Curry, Monta Ellis, Andris Biekins and Ronny Turiaf lead this team. Enough said. They have a host of draft choices in the first and second round but that’s not the answer.

The Memphis Grizzlies picked the wrong year to improve. After living at the front of the draft for years, the Grizz hold the 12th pick this year, when the guys that could help the starting five of Rudy Gay, Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Zack Randolph, live in the 3 to 7 range. Xavier Henry, a 6-6 SG from Kansas is insurance for Mayo. In 2010-11, we are assuming penance-happy Commission Stern doesn’t reach out and ground Randolph for keeping company with, and perhaps financing, bad guys from his homey town. The Grizz look to add to their talent base from anywhere they can get it. Wonder if they’d make that Pau Gasol trade today?

The Minnesota Timberwolves pick number four and thank god the point guards will all be gone. The T-Wolves need to add to their front line of Kevin Lowe, Al Jefferson (trade bait) and believe-it-if-you-can Darko Milicic and perhaps revisit the Ricky Rubio chip and bring him in to play and sell tickets with Jonny Flynn or trade his rights for value. Wesley Johnson adds athleticism and shooting at SF.

Quick, name two players on the Sacramento Kings after Tyreke Evans. If fifth selection DeMarcus Cousins is one of your choices we still make our point, just like Evans fills the Kings point for years to come. Sam Dalembert, a shot blocker, was recently picked up from Philadelphia. Jason Thompson, a sleeper from Rider College, Carl Landry, who we thought had long-range potential in Houston and Sean May, ex-Tar Heel, ex-Bobcat, are the most likely names to spot. Guard Beno Udrih may be the best guy after Evans, trouble is they both play the point. C DeMarcus Cousins is the rookie pick up here. Trouble is scouts are torn between his being an overeating, immature bust or a dominating big man for ten years.

Tomorrow: The East