When I was much younger, maybe before my teens, I remember getting upset that my dad didn’t want to watch the Timberwolves game, and kept flipping away from the game. It was opening night, I believe. Why is it so important? he wanted to know. Why WAS this important. The question reverberated in my brain, and I caught maybe one or two more games that season. That was my first attempt to get into the NBA. 20 years later, it still hasn’t stuck.
Don’t take this as a sign that my dad has completely steered me away from basketball. He had the same reaction when I was upset that the cable went out before the Wilds’ first game ever, and I’m still a huge hockey fan (I mean, I write for two different hockey sites). He was just right on the NBA. What’s the big deal?
But this time, I’m going to do it. I’m going to start watching the NBA this season. Yep, this is the season for it. Let me run through a few reasons why after 30 years, I’m going to start watching the league ESPN really wants me to watch.
The home team will be good: Allegedly. I took a look at some Wolves games when they were in the Western Conference Finals a few years back. If the Wolves are going to be good this year, maybe it might be good for my soul, given how bad the other teams I follow are. And I don’t think this makes me a bandwagon fan, because otherwise I’ve never been a fan before.
Less competition: No NHL to watch, so I won’t feel bad about slipping NBA games in the nightly rotation. In addition, F you, NHL!
My favorite college player is in the NBA: Yes, this is his second year in the league, but Jajuan Johnson of the Celtics was always my favorite when he was at Purdue. I’m pretty OK with having another outlet to watch him play.
Comfort with bad officiating: One of the biggest complaints most people have with the NBA is that the games are so laxly officiated, or tilted towards the stars. After an increased awareness of MLB’s umpiring faults, and a handful of games with replacement refs in the NFL, I think I will now be OK with the NBA’s officiating now.
The Wolves coach seems to be an all right guy:
Coach Adelman, when asked if he will watch tonight's NBA games: "I don't know, it's Tuesday, NCIS is on." #twolves
— alex c (@alex_cono) October 30, 2012
Since I am NOT an NCIS fan, I am going to watch some NBA. This is the year I will get into it
I won’t last through November.
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