Good games make basketball fun again

I'll admit that I have been turned off of the NBA the past few seasons.

It seemed that wherever I looked, and whenever I wanted to douse myself with new National Basketball Association (NBA) news I was constantly bombarded with stories that did not concentrate on a ball and a hoop.

From the brawl in 2004 in Detroit, to constant squabbling between teammates and coaches, to players being charged with crimes and stories on how bad a general manager is running a particular team, these stories just did not interest me.

However, despite the best efforts of the Sacramento Kings latest acquisition, and NBA badman Ron Artest, who continuously makes a mockery of his own reputation on a daily basis, the NBA is turning my head this season and is making me realize why basketball and the NBA are two things that I have always loved.

For one thing, I'm a diehard Piston's fan, and they currently lead the NBA with 35-5 record.

I started cheering for the Pistons when one of my all-time favourite athletes Grant Hill wore number thirty-three for Detroit's hoops squad. And after winning the NBA championship two seasons ago and coming up just short last season, the hard-working, dedicated, and team oriented Pistons look poised for another run at the title.

Although the Pistons are doing well, and they have helped raise my spirits somewhat after that heartbreaking loss to my beloved Colts of the National Football League, it is not the Pistons that have drawn my attention back to the NBA this season, it has been the incredible individual performances.

One of the most amazing performances of all-time and in any professional sport occurred on January 22nd when Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant poured in 81 points on the Toronto Raptors.

Bryant's 81 points sits second behind Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100 in a game back in 1962, and can be argued as being one of the most prolific and historic feats any professional athlete has ever accomplished.

Bryant was enjoying an amazing season even before his breakout performance against the Raptors, and currently leads the NBA in scoring with 35.9 points per game. Bryant's former teammate Shaquille O'Neal also made peace with Bryant before a January 16th contest; the two had been bickering back-and-forth in the media with each other since O'Neil left to join Miami in 2004.

Other stars including Allen Iverson (33.5 points per game), Lebron James (30.8 points per game), Dwayne Wade (26.7 points per game), and Carmelo Anthony (25.8 points per game) are all enjoying great seasons by putting the ball in the basket.

Steve Nash, reigning MVP and 2005 Canadian Press Male Athlete of the Year, is also enjoying a great season by leading the NBA in assists at 11.5 assists per game, and chipping in with 19 points per game for the Phoenix Suns.

So looking beyond the statistics I'd like to thank the NBA for cleaning up their act, and once again becoming the pleasurable and pleasing sporting experience that I grew up with.