#lockout #NBA
The NBA and its players agreed on a 66-game regular season, which not-so-ironically will tip off on Christmas Day.   Six months removed from their NBA title, Dallas will host Miami for the 2:30 p.m. holiday kickoff. Training camp and free agency will begin next week (Dec. 9.)  But who benefits most from the now significantly shortened season?

1. Miami Heat – I think its a consensus that the Heat are the single team that benefits most from a shortened NBA Season.

For one, D. Wade and Lebron have been very active in the extended off-season not only tweeting about the labor stoppage but hosting all-star basketball games around the world. While I’m sure most players have been working out, at least on paper they’ll be more ready to go than most other teams. With chemistry issues attributed to their early 2010-11 season struggles this could be important.

Additionally with every game now having more meaning Miami the team will presumably show more of the focus they did in the playoffs.   Lastly, the Lockout has decreased emphasis on the Heat’s last season meltdowns. With a shifted focus, Miami won’t have immense pressure to win every game, which will benefit them.

2. Boston Celtics – This ones a given.  With the very ummmmm “experienced” Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett what other team could benefit from less wear and tear exibited by the length of the traditional season?  Ray Allen ( 36 ) Kevin Garnett (35) are both free agents at years end and with Paul Pierce poised to pass Larry Bird on the team’s illustrious all-time scoring list, the team will be focused to win NOW as the window is clearly closing FAST!

Since teams weren’t allowed to have any contact with players during the lockout its safe to assume there will be plenty of out of shape schlubs when the bell rings on Christmas.  Kevin Garnett has kept a very low profile through all of this and something tells me he’s been working his teammates something awful to get the younger guys focused and build team chemistry.

3. Chicago Bulls – Although taking home the game’s most coveted personal hardware, Derrick Rose was beat up.  He averaged around 37 minutes a game last season which was close to 3,000 minutes played. His performance in the playoffs suffered because of it although he was brilliant in short bursts.  His field goal percentage fell from 45 to 39 percent; his three point shooting fell from 33 to 24 percent.

With a longer offseason, Derrick undoubtedly was able to get himself right.  A shorter season will keep Derrick fresh for the playoffs, assuming they make it.

In addition to Derrick, the Bulls defense was the stellar during the 2010-11 campaign raking second thanks to Joakim Noah and Luol Deng among others.  Because of the many particulars of an intricate NBA defense it will take some time for teams to perfect the various sets, screens and progressions.  But a defensive minded squad like the Bulls will likely gel sooner than most because passion and hustle are the two main ingredients to such a team’s success.