2008â€“09 NBA season

The NBA season 2008/ 09 was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association. The regular season began on October 28, 2008 and ended on April 15, 2009. Three days later started the NBA playoffs, which ended on 14 June with the NBA Finals in 2009. The NBA All- Star Game was held on 15 February 2009 at U.S. Airways Center in Phoenix. Since the season 1966/67, this was the first season of the NBA, where no team from Seattle took part, as the Seattle SuperSonics were moved to Oklahoma City.

4.1 NBA Finals 2009

Season notes

Offseason

On 26 June 2008, the Milwaukee Bucks agreed to trade Bobby Simmons and Yi Jianlian against Richard Jefferson of the New Jersey Nets. Also on June 26, Jermaine O'Neal and Nathan Jawai changed from the Indiana Pacers to the Toronto Raptors, who received in return TJ Ford, Rasho Nesterović, Roy Hibbert and Maceo Baston. The Memphis Grizzlies traded Kevin Love, Mike Miller, Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins against OJ Mayo, Antoine Walker, Marko Jarić and Greg Buckner of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

On 2 July, the city of Seattle was an agreement with the Seattle SuperSonics, whereby these could move its location from the " Emerald City " to Oklahoma City. In early September it was announced that the former Seattle SuperSonics now renamed Oklahoma City Thunder.

On July 29, joined Ron Artest of the Sacramento Kings to the Houston Rockets. In turn, these Bobby Jackson, Donte Greene and a First Round Pick 2009 received. On the same day Renaldo Balkman of the New York Knicks against Taurean Green, forward Bobby Jones and a second- round draft pick in 2010 traded to the Denver Nuggets.

After Shaun Livingston paused since February 26, 2007 due to a knee injury, he signed on 3 October 2008 a two-year contract with the Miami Heat.

As most of the top American leagues guest appearances, two NBA teams for pre-season games in various cities in Europe. The games were held in Berlin, Paris, London and Barcelona on October 14. The Berlin meeting was held at the O2 World between the New Orleans Hornets and Washington Wizards. New Orleans won with 96:80.

Regular Season

The regular season 2008/ 09 started on October 28. After the Boston Celtics at the start of last season, a winning streak of 12-0 would lie, they had to admit defeat in this year after the third season game against the Indiana Pacers. In contrast, the reigning vice-champion, the Los Angeles Lakers remained unbeaten until the eighth game against Detroit.

The first great players exchange the current season took place between the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons. Allen Iverson was traded to guard Chauncey Billups and forward Antonio McDyess. However McDyess returned in early December 2008 back to the Pistons. While the Nuggets managed with Billups on the 2nd place in the playoffs, Iverson was plagued by injuries and the Pistons reached only the 8th Place.

The Boston Celtics reached with 19 wins in series a team record. This winning streak was stopped at the first Christmas of the Los Angeles Lakers.

On January 13, achieved the Orlando Magic during 139:107 away win against the Sacramento Kings an NBA record of 23 litters were transformed three points. They needed for only 37 trials, which corresponds to a hit rate of 62 percent.

Best team in the regular season with 66 victories were the Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James, second best the Lakers Kobe Bryant. Last year's champion Boston Celtics with 62 wins third strongest team, with Kevin Garnett was sidelined 20 games due to injuries. In the West, played as in the previous nine teams to the eight playoff spots, the missed Phoenix Suns end up with 46 wins for the first time since 2004 the playoffs. In the east, the power density was weaker, because already 39 victories ranged for a playoff place. The dominant player of the season were LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.

End figures

W = Wins, L = Losses, PCT = percentage share of victory, P = behind Division leaders

In parentheses are the rankings in the seedings of the respective Conference playoffs are listed.

The winner of a division is on of the decisive play-off seedings guaranteed at least fourth place, even if more than three teams have a higher number of wins achieved.

Honors

Most Valuable Player: LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
Rookie of the Year: Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
Sixth Man of the Year: Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks
Most Improved Player: Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers
Coach of the Year: Mike Brown, Cleveland Cavaliers
All- NBA First Team: F - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat

F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
F - Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
C - Yao Ming, Houston Rockets
G - Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers
G - Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

F - Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
C - Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix Suns
G - Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
G - Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs

F - LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers
F - Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics
C - Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
G - Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
G - Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets

F - Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
F - Shane Battier, Houston Rockets
F - Ron Artest, Houston Rockets
G - Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat
G - Rajon Rondo, Boston Celtics

Derrick Rose, Chicago Bulls
O. J. Mayo, Memphis Grizzlies
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
Brook Lopez, New Jersey Nets
Michael Beasley, Miami Heat

Eric Gordon, Los Angeles Clippers
Kevin Love, Minnesota Timberwolves
Mario Chalmers, Miami Heat
Rudy Fernandez, Portland Trail Blazers
D. J. Augustin, Charlotte Bobcats

Play-offs

All play-off rounds were played in best- of-seven - mode. After five years of the post-season started for the first time with the Portland Trail Blazers.

NBA Finals 2009

→ Main article: NBA Finals 2009

Television transmission

In German-speaking countries was of NASN in sections two days a highlights show shown. After Premiere has almost ten years NBA broadcast live, the pay- TV broadcaster decided not constitute an offer for the NBA season 2008/ 09 be given. Consequently, in Germany no live broadcasts were seen. However, the NBA International League Pass offered an alternative to the TV coverage. In addition, the online video provider to max cathedrals had decided to transfer parts of the playoffs.

In the U.S., ABC, TNT, ESPN and NBA TV share the national rights to the games. The final was televised in cooperation with ABC and ESPN.

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