2008–09 NBA season

2008–09 NBA season
League National Basketball Association
Sport Basketball
Duration October 28, 2008 – April 16, 2009
April 18 – May 30, 2009 (Playoffs)
June 4 – 14, 2009 (Finals)
TV partner/s ABC, TNT, ESPN, NBA TV
Draft
Top draft pick Derrick Rose
Picked by Chicago Bulls
Regular season
Top seed Cleveland Cavaliers
Season MVP LeBron James (Cleveland)
Top scorer Dwyane Wade (Miami)
Playoffs
Eastern champions Orlando Magic
  Eastern runners-up Cleveland Cavaliers
Western champions Los Angeles Lakers
  Western runners-up Denver Nuggets
Finals
Finals champions Los Angeles Lakers
  Runners-up Orlando Magic
Finals MVP Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers)
NBA seasons
← 2007–08

2009–10 →

The 2008–09 NBA season was the 63rd season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 1,230-game regular season (82 games for each of the 30 teams) began on Tuesday, October 28, 2008, and ended on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. The 2009 NBA Playoffs started on Saturday, April 18, 2009 and ran until Sunday, June 14 when the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic 99-86 to win the 2009 NBA Finals, four games to one.

The 2008 NBA Draft was held on June 28, 2008, and Derrick Rose was selected first overall by the Chicago Bulls and eventually awarded the 2009 NBA Rookie of the Year Award. In 2009 the NBA all-star game was hosted in Phoenix. The west won with a score of 146-119. 2009 all-star MVP's were Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant.[1]

The year was the first NBA season since 1966–67 without a Seattle franchise, the SuperSonics having moved to Oklahoma City in July 2008, becoming the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Contents

Transactions

Coaching changes

Offseason
Team 2007–08 coach 2008–09 coach
Charlotte Bobcats Sam Vincent Larry Brown
Chicago Bulls Jim Boylan Vinny Del Negro
Milwaukee Bucks Larry Krystkowiak Scott Skiles
Miami Heat Pat Riley Erik Spoelstra
New York Knicks Isiah Thomas Mike D'Antoni
Dallas Mavericks Avery Johnson Rick Carlisle
Detroit Pistons Flip Saunders Michael Curry
Phoenix Suns Mike D'Antoni Terry Porter
In-season
Team Outgoing coach New coach
Oklahoma City Thunder P. J. Carlesimo Scott Brooks (interim)
Washington Wizards Eddie Jordan Ed Tapscott (interim)
Toronto Raptors Sam Mitchell Jay Triano (interim)
Minnesota Timberwolves Randy Wittman Kevin McHale (interim)
Philadelphia 76ers Maurice Cheeks Tony DiLeo (interim)
Sacramento Kings Reggie Theus Kenny Natt (interim)
Memphis Grizzlies Marc Iavaroni Lionel Hollins
Phoenix Suns Terry Porter Alvin Gentry (interim)

Notable occurrences

July

October

December

January

February


NBA All-Star Break
The 2009 NBA All-Star Game was played at the US Airways Center, home of the Phoenix Suns, on February 15, 2009, with the West winning 146–119 and the Phoenix Suns' Shaquille O'Neal and Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant being named the Co-MVPs. During the NBA All-Star Weekend, Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks won the Sprite Slam Dunk competition; Kevin Durant, who won the Rookie Challenge MVP, also won the inaugural H.O.R.S.E Competition and Miami's Daequan Cook beat Rashard Lewis in a tiebreaker to win the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout.


March

April

May

June

Records broken

Standings

By division

Eastern Conference

Atlantic Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Boston Celtics 62 20 .756 35–6 27–14 15–1
x-Philadelphia 76ers 41 41 .500 21 24–17 17–24 6–10
New Jersey Nets 34 48 .415 28 19–22 15–26 8–8
Toronto Raptors 33 49 .402 29 18–23 15–26 6–10
New York Knicks 32 50 .390 30 20–21 12–29 5–11
Central Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
z-Cleveland Cavaliers 66 16 .805 39–2 27–14 13–3 82
x-Chicago Bulls 41 41 .500 25 28–13 13–28 9–7 82
x-Detroit Pistons 39 43 .476 27 21–20 18–23 7–9 82
Indiana Pacers 36 46 .439 30 25–16 11–30 7–9 82
Milwaukee Bucks 34 48 .415 32 22–19 12–29 4–12 82
Southeast Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
y-Orlando Magic 59 23 .720 32–9 27–14 14–2 82
x-Atlanta Hawks 47 35 .573 12 31–10 16–25 11–5 82
x-Miami Heat 43 39 .524 16 28–13 15–26 9–7 82
Charlotte Bobcats 35 47 .427 24 23–18 12–29 5–11 82
Washington Wizards 19 63 .232 40 13–28 6–35 1–15 82

Western Conference

Northwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
yDenver Nuggets 54 28 .659 33–8 21–20 12–4 82
xPortland Trail Blazers 54 28 .659 34–7 20–21 11–5 82
xUtah Jazz 48 34 .585 6 33–8 15–26 10–6 82
Minnesota Timberwolves 24 58 .293 30 11–30 13–28 3–13 82
Oklahoma City Thunder 23 59 .280 31 15–26 8–33 4–12 82
Pacific Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
c-Los Angeles Lakers 65 17 .793 36–5 29–12 14–2 82
Phoenix Suns 46 36 .561 19 28–13 18–23 11–5 82
Golden State Warriors 29 53 .354 36 21–20 8–33 6–10 82
Los Angeles Clippers 19 63 .232 46 11–30 8–33 2–14 82
Sacramento Kings 17 65 .207 48 11–30 6–39 7–9 82
Southwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-San Antonio Spurs 54 28 .659 28–13 26–15 10–6
x-Houston Rockets 53 29 .646 1 33–8 20–21 9–7
x-Dallas Mavericks 50 32 .610 4 32–9 18–23 7–9
x-New Orleans Hornets 49 33 .598 5 28–13 21–20 9–7
Memphis Grizzlies 24 58 .284 30 16–25 8–33 5–11

x- clinched playoff berth
y- clinched division title
c- clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
z- clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs

By conference

# Eastern Conference Western Conference
Team W–L GB Team W–L GB
1 z-Cleveland Cavaliers 66–16 c-Los Angeles Lakers 65–17
2 y-Boston Celtics 62–20 4 y-Denver Nuggets[b][c] 54–28 11
3 y-Orlando Magic 59–23 7 y-San Antonio Spurs[c] 54–28 11
4 x-Atlanta Hawks 47–35 19 x-Portland Trail Blazers[b] 54–28 11
5 x-Miami Heat 43–39 23 x-Houston Rockets 53–29 12
6 x-Philadelphia 76ers[a] 41–41 25 x-Dallas Mavericks 50–32 15
7 x-Chicago Bulls[a] 41–41 25 x-New Orleans Hornets 49–33 16
8 x-Detroit Pistons 39–43 27 x-Utah Jazz 48–34 17
9 Indiana Pacers 36–46 30 Phoenix Suns 46–36 19
10 Charlotte Bobcats 35–47 31 Golden State Warriors 29–53 36
11 New Jersey Nets[d] 34–48 32 Minnesota Timberwolves[e] 24–58 41
12 Milwaukee Bucks[d] 34–48 32 Memphis Grizzlies[e] 24–58 41
13 Toronto Raptors 33–49 33 Oklahoma City Thunder 23–59 42
14 New York Knicks 32–50 34 Los Angeles Clippers 19–63 46
15 Washington Wizards 19–63 47 Sacramento Kings 17–65 48

Tiebreakers

  • a Philadelphia finished ahead of Chicago by virtue of a better conference record (25–27 vs. Chicago's 24–28; the teams split their regular season series).
  • b With three teams tied for #2, the tie between Denver and Portland was broken first, since it determined a division championship. Since Denver finished ahead of Portland by virtue of a better division record (12–4 vs. Portland's 11–5; the teams split their regular season series), they won the tiebreaker. Since San Antonio's seeding can't be affected by the tie between Portland and Denver, Portland was relegated to the #4 seed, and the tie for #2 was "re-broken" between Denver and San Antonio.
  • c Denver finished ahead of San Antonio by virtue of winning their regular season series 2–1.
  • d New Jersey finished ahead of Milwaukee by virtue of a better conference record (23–29 vs. Milwaukee's 21–31; the teams split their regular season series).
  • e Minnesota finished ahead of Memphis by virtue of winning their regular season series 3–0.

Playoffs

Teams in bold advanced to the next round. The numbers to the left of each team indicate the team's seeding in its conference, and the numbers to the right indicate the number of games the team won in that round. The division champions are marked by an asterisk. Home court advantage does not necessarily belong to the higher-seeded team, but instead the team with the better regular season record; teams enjoying the home advantage are shown in italics.

  Conference Quarterfinals Conference Semifinals Conference Finals NBA Finals
                                     
1  Cleveland 4  
8  Detroit 0  
  1  Cleveland 4  
 
  4  Atlanta 0  
4  Atlanta 4
5  Miami 3  
  1  Cleveland 2  
Eastern Conference
  3  Orlando 4  
3  Orlando 4  
6  Philadelphia 2  
  3  Orlando 4
 
  2  Boston 3  
2  Boston 4
7  Chicago 3  
  E3  Orlando 1
  W1  L.A. Lakers 4
1  L.A. Lakers 4  
8  Utah 1  
  1  L.A. Lakers 4
 
  5  Houston 3  
4  Portland 2
5  Houston 4  
  1  L.A. Lakers 4
Western Conference
  2  Denver 2  
3  San Antonio 1  
6  Dallas 4  
  6  Dallas 1
 
  2  Denver 4  
2  Denver 4
7  New Orleans 1  

Statistics leaders

Category Player Team Stat
Points per game Dwyane Wade Miami Heat 30.2
Rebounds per game Dwight Howard Orlando Magic 13.8
Assists per game Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets 11.0
Steals per game Chris Paul New Orleans Hornets 2.8
Blocks per game Dwight Howard Orlando Magic 2.9
Field goal percentage Shaquille O'Neal Phoenix Suns .609
Three-point field goal percentage Anthony Morrow Golden State Warriors .467
Free throw percentage José Calderón Toronto Raptors .981

Awards

Yearly awards

Players of the week

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week.

Week Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref.
Oct. 28 – Nov. 2 Bosh, ChrisChris Bosh (Toronto Raptors) (1/1) Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) (1/4)
Nov. 3 – Nov. 9 James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/7) Stoudemire, Amar'eAmar'e Stoudemire (Phoenix Suns) (1/1)
Nov. 10 – Nov. 16 James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/7) Billups, ChaunceyChauncey Billups (Denver Nuggets) (1/1)
Nov. 17 – Nov. 23 Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade (Miami Heat) (1/3) Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) (1/2)
Nov. 24 – Nov. 30 Harris, DevinDevin Harris (New Jersey Nets) (1/2) Roy, BrandonBrandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers) (1/2)
Dec. 1 – Dec. 7 Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade (Miami Heat) (2/3) Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) (2/2)
Dec. 8 – Dec. 14 Harrington, AlAl Harrington (New York Knicks) (1/1) Duncan, TimTim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs) (1/1)
Dec. 15 – Dec. 21 Nelson, JameerJameer Nelson (Orlando Magic) (1/2) Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) (2/4)
Dec. 22 – Dec. 28 James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/7) Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/3)
Dec. 29 – Jan. 4 Stuckey, RodneyRodney Stuckey (Detroit Pistons) (1/1) Jefferson, AlAl Jefferson (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1)
Jan. 5 – Jan. 11 Howard, DwightDwight Howard (Orlando Magic) (1/4) Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (2/3)
Jan. 12 – Jan. 18 Nelson, JameerJameer Nelson (Orlando Magic) (2/2) Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) (3/4)
Jan. 19 – Jan. 25 James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (4/7) Bynum, AndrewAndrew Bynum (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1)
Jan. 26 – Feb. 1 Lee, DavidDavid Lee (New York Knicks) (1/1) Parker, TonyTony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) (1/2)
Feb. 2 – Feb. 8 James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (5/7) Gasol, PauPau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/2)
Feb. 18 – Feb. 23 Howard, DwightDwight Howard (Orlando Magic) (2/4) Gasol, PauPau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers) (2/2)
Feb. 24 – Mar. 1 Harris, DevinDevin Harris (New Jersey Nets) (2/2) West, DavidDavid West (New Orleans Hornets) (1/1)
Mar. 2 – Mar. 8 Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade (Miami Heat) (3/3) Williams, DeronDeron Williams (Utah Jazz) (1/1)
Mar. 9 – Mar. 15 James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (6/7) Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (3/3)
Mar. 16 – Mar. 22 James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (7/7) Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) (4/4)
Mar. 23 – Mar. 29 Howard, DwightDwight Howard (Orlando Magic) (3/4) Parker, TonyTony Parker (San Antonio Spurs) (2/2)
Mar. 30 – Apr. 5 Howard, DwightDwight Howard (Orlando Magic) (4/4) Kidd, JasonJason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks) (1/1)
Apr. 6 – Apr. 12 Gordon, BenBen Gordon (Chicago Bulls) (1/1) Roy, BrandonBrandon Roy (Portland Trail Blazers) (2/2)

Players of the month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Month.

Month Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref.
October – November James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/4) Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) (1/2)
December Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade (Miami Heat) (1/2) Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/2)
January James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/4) Bryant, KobeKobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers) (2/2)
February Wade, DwyaneDwyane Wade (Miami Heat) (2/2) Gasol, PauPau Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1)
March James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/4) Paul, ChrisChris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) (2/2)
April James, LeBronLeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers) (4/4) Nowitzki, DirkDirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks) (1/1)

Rookies of the month

The following players were named the Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month.

Month Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref.
October – November Rose, DerrickDerrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) (1/3) Mayo, O. J.O. J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies) (1/2) [54]
December Rose, DerrickDerrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) (2/3) Westbrook, RussellRussell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) (1/2) [55]
January Lopez, BrookBrook Lopez (New Jersey Nets) (1/2) Gordon, EricEric Gordon (Los Angeles Clippers) (1/1) [56]
February Lopez, BrookBrook Lopez (New Jersey Nets) (2/2) Westbrook, RussellRussell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder) (2/2) [57]
March Rose, DerrickDerrick Rose (Chicago Bulls) (3/3) Love, KevinKevin Love (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1) [58]
April Beasley, MichaelMichael Beasley (Miami Heat) (1/1) Mayo, O. J.O. J. Mayo (Memphis Grizzlies) (2/2) [59][60]

Coaches of the month

The following coaches were named the Eastern and Western Conference Coaches of the Month.

Month Eastern Conference Western Conference Ref.
October – November Rivers, DocDoc Rivers (Boston Celtics) (1/2) Jackson, PhilPhil Jackson (Los Angeles Lakers) (1/1)
December Brown, MikeMike Brown (Cleveland Cavaliers) (1/3) Scott, ByronByron Scott (New Orleans Hornets) (1/1)
January Van Gundy, StanStan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic) (1/1) McHale, KevinKevin McHale (Minnesota Timberwolves) (1/1)
February Brown, MikeMike Brown (Cleveland Cavaliers) (2/3) Sloan, JerryJerry Sloan (Utah Jazz) (1/1)
March Brown, MikeMike Brown (Cleveland Cavaliers) (3/3) Adelman, RickRick Adelman (Houston Rockets) (1/1)
April Rivers, DocDoc Rivers (Boston Celtics) (2/2) McMillan, NateNate McMillan (Portland Trail Blazers) (1/1)

Salary cap

The NBA announced that the salary cap for the season would be $58.680 million, immediately going into effect on July 9 as the league's "moratorium period" had ended and teams could begin signing free agents and making trades.[61]

The tax level for the season was set at $71.150 million, with each team paying a $1 tax for each $1 by which it exceeds $71.150 million. The mid-level exception was $5.585 million for the season and the minimum team salary, which was set at 75% of the salary cap, was $44.010 million.[61]

For the 2007–08 season, the salary cap was set at $55.630 million ($3.05 million), the tax level was $67.865 million ($3.285 million) and the mid-level exception was $5.356 million ($229,000).[61]

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