The NBA Playoff Picture
I apologize for those who do not enjoy basketball, but right now it seems to be the only topic on my brain. Between March Madness and the NBA playoff race, every single basketball game has a heavy intensity. With the NBA Eastern Conference owned by Boston, I would like to take a look at the intense Western Conference playoff picture.
The Big Picture
Taking a break from college to look at the pros actually reveals that right now they are quite similar, in terms of the importance of games. With the current landscape in the West it seems that even in the NBA it is one and done at this point. At the time of this writing New Orleans is first place in the West, but that could change within the hour.
This is the first time in a while that I have actually cared about the NBA regular season. The NBA playoffs are always fun to watch, but only this year do I find myself checking scores, or watching games for more than just an incredible highlight. The West has been playing out of their minds, and they are improving the marketability of their league in doing so.
The other factor is the star power. Going down the list of teams in the playoffs:
- New Orleans: Chris Paul (…and David West should be the way he is playing. What a beast.)
- Lakers: Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol
- Houston: Tracy McGrady (without Yao no less)
- Utah: Deron Williams
- San Antonio: Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker
- Phoenix: Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shaq
- Dallas: Kidd, Nowitzki (until he got hurt)
- Golden State: Baron Davis? (Ok, here not so much.)
- Honorable Mention: Denver: Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony
The fact that the playoff race is dominated by all of these big names is perfect. David Stern could not ask for a better situation for the NBA right now…well, unless he could get the East out of junior varsity status.
Thoughts and Predictions
First of all, I do not like the Jason Kidd trade. Dallas gave up way too much for an aging veteran whose game is on the decline. I just do not understand what Jason Kidd gives you that you do not get with Devin Harris except a shaved head and an ugly jump shot. The blew up a team that made it to the Finals for a team that is going to miss the playoffs. I love Mark Cuban, but he blew it on this one.
On the other side of the coin, I was not a fan of the Shaq trade when Phoenix first made it. Plus, even though the team kept saying it was going to take some time we all wanted immediate results. Well surely enough the Suns have gotten it together and now are playing pretty well with Shaq. As long as they can continue to improve their offense they will be great. Even in his older, more fragile state Shaq can guard any center in the league. That is precisely why Phoenix brought him into the fold, and honestly I think it just might work.
Lastly, the MVP race is just as close. Right now the three prime candidates seem to be Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, and Kevin Garnett (LeBron is perhaps an honorable mention, but right now he is a step below these three). I have an admitted school-girl sports crush on Chris Paul, who is going to be the best point guard in the league for years to come. Kobe Bryant is definitely the most talented However I have to say that this year it is abundantly clear to me that Kevin Garnett should receive the MVP award.
Does anyone even remember how dreadful Boston was last season? Maybe I am the only one who recalls the losing streak that nearly reached 20 games. There were accusations of intentional tanking, and Doc Rivers had his job in question. Throw Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, and you have a team that now has the best record in the NBA. They are going to win 60+ games this year! Garnett has been a huge part of that because of his skill and more importantly his leadership. Kobe Bryant whined for an entire year about Los Angeles, and needed the addition of Gasol to actually play hard. Garnett, bless his heart, played his heart out in Minnesota for a decade. Did he ever dominate a summer with complaints and a crybaby me-first attitude? Hardly.
KG is a standup player and person, and turned an entire franchise around instantaneously. He brought the Celtics back to prominence, and reinvigorated the league. Also, do not mind that his team resides in the Eastern Conference. The Celts just tore through a road trip in the West, ending Houston’s 22 game winning streak in the process.
In Closing
So there are my thoughts about the NBA right now. Are you enjoying the playoff push as much as I am? Do you agree or disagree with my MVP pick? Holla back in the comments. Peace. (I thought an NBA article was as good a time as any to go e-balla)
Current standings picture obtained from NBA.com. Kevin Garnett image also obtained from NBA.com.
March 26th, 2008 | 10:14 am
#1. East junior varsity status? The East has some powerhouse teams, and the West just happened to get a few huge names from the East in recent years, making it stronger, though they are all NBA teams and all able to beat each other. JV status would mean they would never lose. But sadly, you guys underrate the East. The East WILL produce the NBA champ this year, Celtics, Pistons, or Cavs.
#2. As for the MVP race, it’s possible that you dissed LeBron just to piss me off, but I won’t back down. Best stats out of the 4 that you mentioned. Celtics, Lakers, and Hornets are all capable of winning games without their superstars. The Cavs went 0-5 when LeBron didn’t play. He is by far the most valuable player to his team, which is what the award is. The award is given after the conference finals, so as long as the Cavs make it to the Conference finals, Lebron will win it.
#3. Bryant and Lebron are both miles ahead of CP3, even though is 20 and 11 are through the roof. It just doesn’t add up because he doesn’t take over and dominate the game like the other 2. Garnett is my second favorite out of the 4, but he will not be looked at as much of an MVP because his team did fine without him, and he also has Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, both superstars, all stars, and team USA members, giving them elite status and knocking KG’s worth, though undeserving.
March 26th, 2008 | 1:18 pm
The Western Conference’s playoff race has been incredibly entertaining this year, much like the Eastern Conference in the NHL. I agree with Justin that the West is totally dominate in comparison to the East. The 9th place team in the West is only 6 games back from first, with a record of 43-28, where as the third seed in the East is only 46-27. It’s not even close. However, I will give Inxane that the Celtics and the Pistons are two of the best teams in the league. Though, neither the Celtics or the Cavs will win the title.
InXane: I don’t think Justin dissed Lebron to make you inxane, but I’m glad he did. However, it pains me to say that I disagree with him. You of all people no how much I dislike him, but he is still an amazing player. Him and Kobe Bryant are the two best players in the league, hands down. MVP to me means most valuable to his team and where they would be without that player. Until the Gasol trade I would have given it to Kobe, but now that they’re a powerhouse team I would unfortunately say Lebron deserves it. Like X said the Cavaliers went 0-5 without Lebron. They have a poor enough record with him in a terrible conference, so imagine what they would be like without him for the whole year.
CP3 is an amazing up and coming player, but I don’t think he can dominate a game and raise his play to a level that James and Bryant can yet. The type of level that’s needed to win big games for his team.
Justin: KG? Seriously? He’s an awesome player, but come on. He plays with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. He played his heart out in Minnesota, and is a great competitor, one of the best. But he is not MVP material simply because his team can succeed without him. The Lakers might be able to succeed without Bryant, but no where near the way they do with him. Especially in the competitive conference. And yes, maybe Kobe did whine over the summer, but it’s not fair for you to say that he didn’t play hard before Gasol. The Lakers were in a pretty good playoff run and good record before Gasol, because of Bryant. He plays his heart out every game. KG=GayG.
MVP*: 1) Lebron 2) Kobe 3) Xane
*Arguable, but where I stand as of now.
March 26th, 2008 | 1:19 pm
Sidenote: I said, “You of all people no [...]“. I said “no” instead of “know”. Unbewiivable.
March 26th, 2008 | 1:42 pm
First I would like to say that I too find myself checking scores and looking for televised games for the first time in my life. I love watching the playoffs but the regular season never mattered to be before this year.
1- I agree with Ben and he pretty much Summed up how I feel about the East and that nobody gives those teams the credit they deserve. The west is exciting and stacked but we are talking a matter of a couple games between the 7th seeded Raptors in the East and the 8th seeded Warriors in the West. If you take some of the games away from the Powerhouse Celtics and Pistons the race would look a little more like the West. As for who is going to win it all, baring injuries (or Suspensions as seen in last years playoffs) I do not see any team beating the Celtics to 4 games.
2- MVP Race
KG - Good candidate but will not receive the award due to the super stardom that the Celtics possess and, like Ben stated, they did fine when KG was out.
LeBron - People do not realize that even though they are 4th in the East, they are sitting behind a dominant Pistons team. I do feel that without LeBron this team would fall out of the playoff contention, or possibly an 8 seed.
Kobe - Aside from KG, Kobe by MILES has the best team out of the 4 players named. His supporting cast is unreal, especially with the addition of Gasol. Granted, The Lakers are tied with NO for tops in the west, but this team would still be in the race without Kobe. They definitely would not be at the top, but they are a playoff team.
CP3 - Currently My Choice For MVP
This is where I disagree with Ben, in that NO would be nowhere if it wasn’t for Paul. He has them tied for the LEAD in the West and last year they did not even make the playoffs. He posts an AMAZING 20+ PPG, Leads the league in Assists AND Steals, and makes the players Around him better.
Tyson Chandler is getting better . . . . Because of Paul.
David West . . . All-Star . . .and playing amazing . . . Because of Paul.
Peja . . . Still has a stoke, but not as good as he was with the Kings.
Ohh and the other starter . . . Mo Peterson. . . averages 8.3 points a game on 42 percent shooting.
Paul Is playing more and more like that one guy who won MVP a couple times. . . . Steve Nash, that’s it .
Making his team better, and playing more all around. He might not have highlight real Dunks or fade away 3’s that everyone sees on SC, but he playing basketball the right way. ALL AROUND.
Finally, I do think that CP3 in no way has the MVP on lock. It is going to come down to who wins the west and how each player performs in the Playoffs, This is where LeBron and Kobe might take a slight edge due to experience and their known level of play in the playoffs.
CP3MVP
March 26th, 2008 | 11:07 pm
I will give this post the time it deserves but it will have to wait. Be patient.
March 27th, 2008 | 7:58 am
I do not believe that the Celtics have the East wrapped up, the beloved Pistons can give them a run for their money. I do believe that in a seven game series the Celtics will win, but I definitely believe that the Pistons will take them to game 7 back in Boston. This geography could be the Pistons downfall. I do believe that the rest of the East is sub par and I completely agree that the West is incredibly dominant. The Magic and Cavs are decent teams, but decent teams in an overall poor conference. They would be nothing in the West. The Cavs in fact wouldn’t even be in the western playoffs.
This leads me straight in the MVP race. Granted the Cavs aren’t much of anything without LeBron, but they still aren’t that good with him. I would give the award, along with thePhantom I believe, to C3P0. The hornets have risen so drastically, to the top of the best conference the NBA has seen in years. They are not special without him and they are great with him. (CP3’s assist beat the Cavs last night after LeBron scored what he thought to be the game winner). As has already been mentioned, KG is removed from the race because of his team. By no stretch of the imagination do I think that KG is the MVP and I am a huge fan of KG. Granted his team was horrible last year, but he wasn’t the only trade. They got Ray Allen and all of a sudden Paul Pierce starting playing well. He was always a good player but he was a dormant volcano. Yes, a dormant volcano. Without KG the Celtics are good. Not to mention Rondo having a good year. Kobe is the best in the league, but unfortunately for Puke Zappa, he is not the MVP.
I have always enjoyed the NBA regular season, but this year it is just at another level, to everyone’s enjoyment.
Predictions:
Cavs lose first round.
Lakers win the west.
Celtics win the chip.
I am pleased and excited.
I wet myself with excitement.
P.S. Congratulations to Michael Wilbon for becoming a father 3/26/2008. Please welcome into the world with me Matthew Raymond Wilbon.
March 27th, 2008 | 8:30 am
A dormant volcano makes no noises or eruptions while dormant. Pierce, in the 2 years previous to Allen and Garnet, hed 25 and 26.8 ppg per year, was an NBA All Star, and was a stud on Team USA. Yes, dormant volcano. He has played well this year yes, but 5 LESS points per game, slightly better shooting average, and another half assist per game, does not make him an erupting, former dormant volcano.
As for the game last night, Lebron made a terrific layup to ice the game, then played incredible defense on C3P0, forcing him to make a wobbly pass. Why was David Wesley open? Only Joe Smith knows. Z had a great supporting game for Lebron, but the rest of the Cavs just didn’t show up.
Cavs will most likely play the Wizards in the first round, same as the past 2 years, this time, without their 2 best players, Butler and Arenas. The result will be the same. Cavs will NOT lose in the first round, and if they do, I’ll eat my shorts.
Celtics winning the chip? I would like to see that happen, thoughI could see them getting bounced by the Hawks in the 1st round, if they make it.
March 27th, 2008 | 9:58 am
I love xanes excuses for lebron. Also 5 less points because of the other two.
March 28th, 2008 | 7:52 am
I also wanted to add that the heat are 13-59 and are 43 1/2 games out of the lead. Also not one team in the west has clinched a playoff birth yet.