(James Douglas is an NBA fan, freelance writer and BPL citizen journalist)

Basketball fans haven't had much to be happy about over the last three months as the NBA lockout threatened to wipe out the entire 2011/2012 season.

As the shortened season approaches, here are the top 29 things I'm most looking forward to:

1. Shaq's commentary.

2. Ricky Rubio's shnoz.

3. Watching Kevin Durant's poster business thrive.

4. D-Wade's acrobatics.

5. Can The Big Nowitzki be stopped?

6. OKC's backpacks and Williamsburg get-up.

7. The 2011/2012 Miami Heat and subsequent "this is their year" hysteria.

8. Some textbook Patty Mills Kevin Love towel waving.

9. Kobe's snarl and jaw-jut.

10. 'Aussie' Kyrie Irving.

11. Washington's fresh new uniforms.

12. Blake Griffin bringing more thunder, and signing a sponsorship with a teabag company. (hello Timofey Mozgov)

13. J.J. Barea's girlfriend, Zuleyka Rivera...(Look her up. I know!)

14. Kobe's last 'elite' season before his creaky knees give way and he needs to borrow Phil Jackson's cane.

15. Chris Anderson's 'hawk and more filthy, ridiculous tats. Can he out trailer-trash himself?

16. One of Amar'e Stoudemire's last seasons before his eye and knees explode.

17. Can my 2K12 team do better than the real deal?

18. Watching James Harden's beard rival San Francisco Giants' Brian Wilson's.

19. Jimmer Fredette and the colloquial use of "It's Jimmer-Time" and "You've been Jimmer-ed".

20. Celtics pregame and last tilt at a ring with its Garnett/Pierce/Allen/Rondo quartet. Same goes for San Antonio.

21. Derrick Rose's glorious porno 'stache.

22. Waiting for Ron Artest - aka Metta World Peace - to blow a fuse.

23. Metta World Peace's jersey.

24. KG's aggression/passion/borderline insanity.

25. Golden State's backcourt - Curry and Ellis - under Mark Jackson.

26. No more Kobe v LeBron. Time for Durant v LeBron v Rose...the baton has been passed.

27. Endless Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams trade rumours/conspiracies.

28. Ron Jeremy Stan Van Gundy's sideline tantrums.

29. A fresh Gilbert Arenas stuff up - remember 'Bring Your Gun To Work Day'?