An Open Letter to the Basketball Gods

Dear Sirs (or Madams…however ironic that’d be),

You’re truly awesome beings. You’ve been generous enough to bestow upon us an incredible sport; one that combines artistry and athleticism unlike any other and has kept legions of fans enthralled for generations. You’ve given us plenty to celebrate over the past 117 years; so many compelling rivalries, dominant dynasties, colourful personalities, courageous underdogs, fearless heroes, cunning villains and players who simply never fail to amaze us with their talents. Those you provide for are relentless and occasionally ungrateful in their pleas and demands, but you somehow almost always managed to deliver.

For all the hard work you’ve put in over the past few years, especially after a scandalous crisis that could’ve shredded the league’s credibility passed with little commotion (…let us pray it stays that way…), you deserved a vacation; a chance to relax and just let the game be. You could’ve easily just cooked up any other plain ‘ol season to appease your faithful subjects, but instead you went balls- out and gave us a season to truly remember. We have so much to thank you for, it’s hard to know where to start. So it might as well be at the beginning:

For Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, the Al’s, Jamario and Big Baby; all the rookies who represent the future of the league and the potential they bring.

For the offseason madness; the Kobe saga, the Celtics’ rebirth, the Bulls’ confusion. For the trade demands, lawsuits, coaching beefs, job threats and fresh rivalries that built up unrivalled promise coming into the season.

…and for delivering on it.

For Dwight Howard and Amare Stoudemire, two beasts who emerged as the league’s dominant big men and are still young and improving every year. For the fear they impose on those in their path and for every abusive throwdown that’s left a helpless victim cowering in their wake.

For the mere presence of the New York Knicks. Their stubbornness and stupidity in affairs both on and off the court made them a walking punchline all season, a role they graciously accepted through simply appalling basketball. Knicks jokes became almost cliché by about midseason, but they were never in short supply.

For the Portland Trailblazers, who after years of futile attempts to legitimize themselves, took the league by storm this year, nearly making the playoffs after losing their supposed saviour. They played exciting, inspiring ball and brought respect back to a franchise that’s been crippled by disappointment.

For the Celtic’s backup cast; the supporting players who were so heavily hated on by everyone and their grandma, who everyone said would be Boston’s Achilles Heel. The same ones who immediately stepped into huge roles and delivered, shattering any doubts about their ability to hold their own amongst three superstars. And for the Lakers’ bench mob; the supporting players who were so heavily hated on by their own leader. The same ones who stepped up and made him trust them for the first time ever.

For the Indiana Pacers, a team that even amidst a prolonged streak of boring, sub-par basketball can keep us amused with tales of injury-inducing locker room outbursts, high-speed shootouts on crowded downtown streets, and providing shelter to wanted murderers. Well played boys.

For Dikembe Mutombo; his immobility, his voice, his essence.

For Josh Smith, J-Rich, Iggy and all the other high-flyers who kept our eyes wide, jaws dropped and made Court Cuts worth watching every week. Also for every lumbering oaf that was unable to get out of the way.

For an awesome All-Star weekend fitting of a New Orleans revival, the proverbial cherry on top of an outstanding season for the Hornets that brought cause for celebration to a city that desperately needs it.

For the Rocket’s historic win streak, which turned the West on its head against all odds and served as one of the best among many underdog surprises this season. 22 wins amazed and inspired, leaving us all to wonder what might’ve gone down if Yao hadn’t first.

For the trade deadline swapping spree (and the incompetence of Chris Wallace). It made for an exciting twist to the season’s stretch run on many levels, shaking things up for several teams and getting Larry Hughes the hell out of Cleveland.

For the Western Conference. Never before has so little separated the competition as they swapped spots for months in a thrilling race to the postseason. Even as the East teams were engaged in a crucial battle for late lottery picks, the Bestern kept things interesting.

For Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett, four players who had legendary campaigns and could’ve easily laid claim to the MVP trophy. They were indispensable to their teams, leaving us mere mortals awestruck by their excellence.

For the Playoffs, which gave us several near-upsets, breakout performances, heroic victories and noble defeats. We saw a dynasty fall, an era of incredibly entertaining basketball come to an end and the re-affirmation that the Mavs are few cards short. Most importantly, we saw two teams rise out nowhere to become the class of their conferences in less than a season, restoring dignity to the league’s most storied franchises and, in Boston’s case, making sure that the better team won.
For all this and more,

Thank You.