After a lockout and shortened season in 2012, the NBA fans were treated to a great year of basketball in 2013. There were ups and downs for teams and players and huge shocks along the way. The season was covered in drama from the get-go; beginning on opening night with a renewal of a recent major rivalry between the Celtics and the HEAT, to the final minute of the NBA season where the title came down to one possession in Game 7 between Miami and San Antonio.
Here are 5 things we learned from the 2012-13 NBA season:
#5 – The NBA, Where Amazing Happens
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| This NBA season was one to remember, from the opening tip, to the last possession of the NBA Finals Game 7 (via NBA) |
What a season it was! The 2012-13 season, the 67th season in NBA history, was packed full of shockers, upsets, record-breakers, excitement, energy, passion, electricity, heart, courage, sacrifice, talent, and greatness personified. The 2011-12 season put a damper on fans as many were expecting the NBA to never be the same again, and it jeaopordized the very foundations of the league. Nonetheless, the season started sentimentally on Christmas Day and the fans were treated to a – although short – quite amazing NBA season.
But 2012-13 was better:
The buzz for the 2012-13 season began as soon as the Finals ended, where OKC fell to Miami in 5. Many were excited for the new prospects coming out of the draft such as Anthony Davis, Damian Lillard and Dion Waiters. Then, the big offseason acquisitions and moves, the like of the blockbuster multi-player trade that sent Dwight Howard to LakerLand and disrupted the whole face of both conferences. There were free-agent signings and trades and many fans were optimistic and excited for the upcoming season.
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| Rajon Rondo’s flagrant foul on Dwyane Wade, Opening Night. |
From the start there was drama; the Celtics-HEAT opening night game which renewed a recent classic rivalry which had grew even bigger over the Summer, with former Celtics SG Ray Allen leaving the Celtics for less money in order to play for the rival team Miami HEAT, which many called a betrayal. Even Kevin Garnett seemed to be mad at Ray. The opening night game boiled over with Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade, as Rajon fouled Wade hard, which resulted in a flagrant foul. The match was exhilirating and breath-taking, and this is just how the 2012-13 season panned out.
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| GIF: Kevin Garnett was not so happy about Ray Allen leaving Boston for South Beach. (via thescore) |
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| I guess this didn’t work out so well. |
Secondly, came the firing of Lakers head-coach, Mike Brown, who they hired on May 25, 2011 to be Phil Jackson’s successor. After an 0–8 preseason record and a 1–4 start to the regular season, Mike Brown was fired and this was the third-fastest coaching change in NBA history. The Lakers didn’t do well under new coach Mike D’Antoni and struggled the entire season, barely making the playoffs with a measly 45-37 record and the 7th seed, then being swept in 4 by the Spurs. This was a huge shock to fans everywhere, as they expected that the Lakers would become a superteam and win the NBA championship after Lakers acquired 2x MVP Steve Nash and the best Center and Defensive player in the NBA, Dwight Howard. The Lakers were the complete opposite of what we all expected.
The NBA season also had a lot of positives for teams. The Nuggets, Grizzlies & Clippers all saw highest winning percentage in franchise histories, although however ALL coaches of these teams were fired in the 2012-13 NBA season. We also saw the emergence of many young stars and the future of the NBA, where it looks bright.
The NBA connected with people through the disasters through America such as Hurricane Sandy, Boston Marathon Bombings and the Oklahoma Tornado and showed respect, gratitude and support to the victims of these tragic events. One again it showed that NBA Cares.
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| #BostonSTRONG – The Knicks and Celtics honored the city of Boston after the tragic events on April 15, 2013. (via ESPN) |
2012-13 NBA season was also The Year of the Superstar Injury, littered with season-ending injuries to major stars for teams. Neither Andrew Bynum or Derrick Rose played a single-game for their teams the Philadelphia 76ers and Chicago Bulls respectively. Kevin Love fought injuries all season long, only playing a total 18/82 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the season. Point-Guards were tearing ligaments left and right, including star PG Rajon Rondo for the Boston Celtics on January 27, thus ending the Celtics Big Three era and Russell Westbrook’s knee injury in a critical time for a young and threatening OKC Thunder squad. Not to forget Kobe Bryant’s emotional season-ending injury in the playoffs where all hope was lost for the Lakers. Also, the Celtics losing 3 players in less than 1 week. The 2012-13 season was packed full of injuries, thus limiting the talent in some ways.
Here is a full-list of all injured players in the 2012-13 NBA campaign (via CBSSports):
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| The NBA all-injured team. (via Sportage.com) |
- Lou Williams, SG, Atlanta Hawks, ACL
- Jared Sullinger, PF, Boston Celtics, Back
- Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics, ACL
- Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls, ACL
- Andrew Bynum, C, Cleveland Cavaliers, Knee(s)
- Anderson Varejao, C, Cleveland Cavaliers, Knee and lung
- Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks, Knee
- Danilo Gallinari, SF, Denver Nuggets, ACL
- Festus Ezili, C, Golden State Warriors, Knee
- David Lee, PF, Golden State Warriors, Hip
- Danny Granger, PF, Indiana Pacers, Knee
- Pau Gasol, PF, Los Angeles Lakers, Knee
- Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers, Achilles,
- Antawn Jamison, PF, Los Angeles Lakers, Wrist
- Carlos Delfino, SF, Milwaukee Bucks, Foot
- Zaza Pachulia, C, Milwaukee Bucks, Achilles
- Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves, Knee and Hand
- Anthony Davis, C, New Orleans Pelicans, Knee
- Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Pelicans, Ankle
- Jason Smith, PF, New Orleans Pelicans, Shoulder
- Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks, Shoulder
- Iman Shumpert, SG, New York Knicks, ACL
- Amar’e Stoudamire, PF, New York Knicks, Knee
- Russell Westbrook, PF, OKC Thunder, Knee
- Aaron Afflalo, SG, Orlando Magic, Hamstring
- Glen Davis, PF, Orlando Magic, Foot
- Jason Maxiell, PF, Orlando Magic, Eye
- Jason Richardson, SG, Philadelphia 76ers, Knee
- Channing Frye, C, Phoenix Suns, Shoulder and Heart
- Marcin Gortat, C, Phoenix Suns, Foot,
- Malcom Lee, SG, Phoenix Suns, Knee and Hip
- Nicolas Batum, SF, Portland TrailBlazers, Shoulder
- Wesley Mathews, SG, Portland TrailBlazers, Elbow
- Greivis Vasquez, PG, Sacramento Kings, Ankle
- Enes Kanter, C, Utah Jazz, Shoulder
- Brandon Rush, SG, Utah Jazz, Knee
- Trey Burke, PG, Utah Jazz, Foot
- Leandro Barbosa, SG, Washington Wizards, ACL
- Bradley Beal, SG, Washington Wizards, Ankle
As you can see from the list, there was a huge number of players injured, and when they come back next season, they will surely lighten up the league again.
All the support I have received today is truly inspirational. I knew that I was choosing the road less traveled but I’m not walking it alone
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins34) April 29, 2013
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to me thru email, texts, calls, tweets, letters, and every other form of communication. #support
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins34) April 29, 2013
Similar to the same story as the Lakers, the Boston Celtics also struggled unexpectedly on starting the 2012-13 NBA season. After a solid offseason of retooling and the draft pick of Jared Sullinger, the runners-up to the Eastern Conference looked better and refined on paper and had a very deep and strong rotation. The Celtics set off to a mediocre start and had uneven stretches along the season. The team lost all hope on January 27, when they learnt that Rajon Rondo had tore his ACL, but however the Celtics and Paul Pierce & KG’s never-say-die attitude kicked in and they went onto to win 7-straight – their best stretch of the season. The Celtics however did run out of gas after all the injuries and eventually the legends of KG and Pierce fell to the Knicks in 6, only after a remarkable run – summing up the Celtics past 5 years.
VIDEO: Celtics AMAZING comeback falls just short (via ABC)
The Knicks future remains uncertain as the 2014 Melo free-agency decision looms, the question is: Where do the Knicks go from here?
Kevin Durant, widely regarded as the 2nd best player in the NBA, also fell short in his quest at a NBA Championship. With the Thunder sealing the #1 seed in the tough Western Conference, they were primed for a deep playoff push, but even then many still believed they would not be able to overthrow the reigning champions Miami. This was evident on the featured Christmas Day match-up on ABC, where the HEAT showed excellence in a win against the Thunder. The problems are still there for the Thunder, with star Harden moving on, a very ineffective Center in Kendrick Perkins and the murky return on how the injury will affect Russell Westbrook, the Thunder have many questions, one being: Will Kevin Durant grow tired of OKC? Only time will tell.
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| As LeBron James capture his 2nd ring, Durant still searches for his 1st. (via ESPN) |
Finally, there was the thrilling NBA Finals, in which the HEAT went onto win their 2nd championship in 3 back-to-back NBA Finals trips and became back to back champions. After answering all the critics from the media after the infamous ‘Decision’ in 2010 and then the failure and choke-job in the 2011 NBA Finals, the Miami HEAT bounced back and took the 2012 NBA Championship with supreme skill, by finishing 2nd in the Eastern Conference and then beating NY, Indiana, Boston and then finally OKC in 5 in the NBA Finals to win their 2nd championship in franchise history and their 1st in the ‘Big-Three’ era.
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| PHOTO: Future HOF Ray Allen signing with Miami (via HEAT.com) |
Although many saw this championship as a success, there was still a HUGE amount of pressure on Miami leading into the 2012-13 NBA season after people waiting on the results of LeBron’s infamous “Not 1, Not 2, Not 3, Not 4, Not 5, Not 6…” comments during the ‘Decision’ to come true. Also the addition of former Celtic and future HOF Ray Allen and other solid offseason moves gave Miami a even more dominant squad. All pressure was on.
LeBron fresh off his 3rd MVP, a Olympic Gold Medal and NBA Championship looked to lead Miami into another dominant season. And how dominant it was.
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| PHOTO: Brilliant duo – Dwyane Wade & LeBron James (via NBA.com) |
After a strong showing in the playoffs defeating the Bucks in 4, Chicago in 5, and a tough test of Indiana in 7, the HEAT advanced to the NBA Finals
So, Miami had done it, they had reached their 3rd consecutive NBA Finals in 3 years since the ‘Big-Theree’ assemblance at the beginning of the 2010-2011 season.
But what stood in their way were a team, adored by the fans, with veteran leadership and their core still intact – The San Antonio Spurs. The team defined excellence and were looking for Tim Duncan, the greatest PF of ALL-TIME, ring #5.
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The Spurs had finished 2nd in the Western Conference and the season before they fell short in the WCF to OKC. This was a team that hold the record for 14 STRAIGHT NBA SEASONS WITH 50+ WINS, that is just remarkable. And the team were looking to cap-off an amazing run with Popovich, Tim, Manu and Tony. This was a match-up for the ages and the series was one too. The series was a great one, including Tony Parker’s game winner in Game 1, the blow-outs in games 2, 3 & 4 and not to forget the scorching 3 point shooting of Danny Green. But… this was possibly the best play of the NBA season:
AND POSIIBLY THE BIGGEST SHOT OF HIS CAREER AND MIAMI HEAT FRANCHISE HISTORY, RAY ALLEN HIT THIS AMAZING 3 POINT SHOT IN THE FINAL SECONDS OF GAME 6:
With many calling it the GREATEST NBA Finals of all-time, the series went down to Game 7, more specifically, the FINAL POSSESSION.
The NBA Championship is going to come down to one possession. Unreal.
— ESPN (@espn) June 21, 2013
After a gruesome win in Game 6 facing elimination by the HEAT, many wondered if the Spurs had anything left for Game 7. But they did, they pushed and pushed, they were fighting and fighting, 3s answering 3s, and-1s answering and-1s, the teams didn’t budge. But eventually the HEAT got the upper-hand after Duncan missing a game-tying shot and went onto win their 3rd championship in franchise history, back-to-back champions and their 2nd championship in 3 years and in the ‘Big Three’ era.
Everything came together for the Heat, and they remain a dynasty in the making with a second consecutive title.
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| PHOTO: King James, 2x NBA Champion, 2x NBAFinals MVP, 4x MVP (via BeyondTheBuzzer)
This truly was an amazing NBA season and one to remember, but now it’s time to look to the future. With young teams on the rise and blockbuster trades the 2013-14 NBA season looks to be a great one. Be sure to follow TheSportMatrix.com for ALL news, results, trades, videos, media, etc. when the season starts.
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