Most fans, media and journalists attribute a players’ greatness to the number of championships that individual has won. But how is that truly the indicator of individual greatness in a league that requires the benefit of a well-rounded team?
It is the job of the owner and general manager to assemble a team around their star players. Throughout LeBron James’ first seven seasons in Cleveland, Dan Gilbert was unable to surround him with the necessary pieces to win a championship. Yet the basketball world still seems to live on the now overused adage, “Blame LeBron.”
You want stats? Okay, I’ll throw some career numbers your way.
Player A makes 48 percent of his field goals and has 28 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals a game.
Player B makes 45 percent of his field goals and has 25 points, five rebounds, five assists and one-and-a-half steals a game.
Based on statistics alone, which player would you prefer? I’ll answer that for you. Player A. No question.
Both have great numbers, but Player A has a distinct advantage in all major statistical categories. It seems as though Player A has the innate ability to create for others while also picking his spots to score. His ability to rebound also gives him an extra edge over Player B.
If you haven’t already guessed: Player A is LeBron. Player B is Kobe Bryant.
Oh, you want career postseason numbers too? Fine, I shall oblige—no need for attempted obscurity this time around (these include this postseason as well; LeBron’s are subject to [positive] change).
LeBron: 46.3 percent field goals, 28 points, eight-and-a-half boards, seven assists, two steals and one block.
Kobe: 44.8 percent field goals, 25.6 points, five rebounds, five assists and one-and-a-half steals.
The common misconception amongst anyone who follows professional basketball is that championships define a player. LeBron has yet to win a ring [insert LeBron-ringless joke], but his talents are undeniable.
Yes, he is partially or primarily at fault for his team’s failures last season.
However, if you recall, that was the first season of the “Big Three” experiment. Miami (and everyone else) had high expectations because the last time Pat Riley completely re-landscaped his roster to complement their very own Dwyane Wade, they won the title in 2006.
Surrounded by Shaquille O’Neal, Antoine Walker, James Posey, Jason Williams, Alonzo Mourning, Gary Payton and Udonis Haslem (the only other Heat player with a ring), Wade led the Heat to their only championship in franchise history. So he’ll always have one more than LeBron.
The media has constantly catered to James, which has bred more hate toward him than the love his game truly deserves.
Remind me please: When was the last time anyone reading this article has witnessed a player at 6’8” and 260 pounds run the floor, rebound, score and pass the way LeBron does? Also, remind me the last time we had the benefit of watching a bona fide superstar who cares more about getting his teammates involved than padding his scoring numbers?
He has just recorded two straight games where he eclipsed 30 points, ten rebounds and eight assists, leading the reeling Heat to two very impressive playoff victories against the Indiana Pacers (sans Chris Bosh) with their backs against the wall. He is the complete player. A triple threat on both ends of the court. First-Team All-Defense. MVP.
Give credit where it is long overdue.
The only logical comparison one can conceivably make is Magic Johnson, but he was never as physically gifted as LeBron is. James has all the tools Magic had and then some.
He has yet to add a ring to his trophy case. However, that does not put a damper on his sparkling play over his first nine years in the league.
We, the fans and the journalists, have been treated to an unbelievable show over the last decade, and instead of slurping another 16-ounce Haterade, get off your high horse, and enjoy the talent while it lasts.
Sure, you are all free to hate whomever you please. There are Kobe haters, LeBron haters and even Chris Paul haters throughout the world. Hate LeBron for the “Not one, not two..”, hate him for “The Decision”, but you best respect him on the hardwood.
One thing everyone can agree on, however, is the brilliance of the aforementioned players. Just do everyone—most importantly yourself—a favor and realize the greatness we are blessed to witness on a nightly basis.
Before we get into Western Conference Finals pre-series hype and predictions, there is an intriguing matchup that goes beyond the likes of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan.
Two of the NBA‘s most efficient Sixth Men will go head-to-head beginning Sunday in San Antonio for what is primed to be one of the most exciting series in this season’s playoffs. This season’s Sixth Man of the Year, James Harden is only in his third professional season at 22. Manu Ginobili, winner of the award after the 2007-2008 season, is at a completely different stage of his career at 34, however, his impact on his team equals that of Harden.
Both players are known for their innate ability to get underneath their opponents skin. They thoroughly enjoy playing the game within the game, which gives them with an often unnoticed edge on the court. The mental aspect of basketball is sometimes understated, however, both Ginobili and Harden, understand the importance of a mental edge (ala Reggie Miller vs. John Starks) and have conquered their foes night in and night out.
James Harden’s minutes, field goal percentage, free throw percentage, points, rebounds and assists have all increased in each of his first three seasons as a pro, per statistics listed on ESPN.com:
Now those numbers are eerily similar to those of his counterpart, Manu Ginobili in his first three seasons as a pro. However, before we get into Manu’s numbers, the fact that these two special players will merely be a subplot in the Western Conference Finals speaks volumes to how spectacular this series should be. Their personal games are almost mirror images of each other. They are great scorers who also look to make the correct play, always keeping their head up and eyes down court to make the precision pass to a cutting teammate.
Now, a look at Manu’s first three years in the league:
The comparison between these players is not simply statistical, however, as there are clear similarities within their on-court demeanor and offensive prowess. For starters, both are left-handed, which also makes this comparison that much more unique.
Both Harden and Ginobili have perfected, what has been dubbed as, the “Euro-side-step”, which allows for them to bypass the player attempting to draw a charge and find the basket unguarded. It also makes their defenders looks increasingly foolish each time they decide to pull it out from their bevy of tricks.
Don’t stop there! Both Manu and James constantly appear as if they are lining up to take a perimeter jumper, only to change their mind at the final second, rifling the leather down the lane for an easy bucket by a teammate.
Click here for a Manu Ginobili example from late this season.
When you’re finished, check out James Harden turn defense into the fast break filthy flush.
James possesses the athleticism Manu lacks, however, make no mistake, Ginobili can get up and throw it down, however, he saves that energy to absorb contact and finish in traffic time and time again.
When you begin watching the NBA Western Conference Finals, just remember that the stars extend beyond the starting units. Championship basketball requires personal sacrifice and there is no better example of surrendering personal glory for the betterment of the team than Manu Ginobili and James Harden. Make sure to keep an eye on this Key Matchup as it truly may be the deciding factor in the series.
In this issue of Juice’s NBA Squeeze, get ready to feel a bit of a splash, even if you sat in the upper decks to avoid the splash zone, the Juice is loose. We are in the midst of the NBA conference semifinals with only eight teams remaining. There are two teams who currently hold 2-0 leads (Spurs, Thunder) and two who hold 2-1 leads (Celtics, Pacers). I will play devils advocate and tell you all what each team who is trailing needs to do in order to shock their opponents and reach their respective Conference Finals, beginning with?
Los Angeles Lakers
After suffering one of their worst playoff defeats in their colored history, the Lakers rebounded quite well in Game Two, exposing the Thunder offense, holding them to only 68 points through 46 minutes. The problem for the Lakers is that they gave up nine points in the final two minutes, failing to score themselves and falling into an 0-2 hole.
The only positive you can take from a game like that is the fact that the Lakers squandered their lead at the end due to mistakes that can be cleaned up. Kobe Bryant made an uncharacteristically lazy pass that Kevin Durant plucked out of mid-air, beginning the 9-0 run to end the game. L.A., however, has created a blueprint for defending the Thunder in the half court. Everyone realizes that OKC struggles to score when the pace of the game is slowed and the Lakers realize in order to come back in the series, they will need to play to their strengths.
Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol are ultimately incapable of being matched as a tandem in the postseason. Gasol’s passing ability and Bynum’s strength is too much for opposing teams to handle down low, specifically a Thunder team starting a banged up Kendrick Perkins. Kobe should only be taking 25 shots in Game Three (as he did in Game Two) if they are working the game inside/out. Working their inside presence will prove to be the only possible way the Lakers can climb out of their 0-2 hole. Kobe Bryant has gone down 0-2 eight times in his career and his team has only come back to win the series once –> and that was in 2004 versus the San Antonio Spurs when they reeled off four straight, thanks to 0.4.
They still have Fisher, right?
Miami Heat
After losing Chris Bosh to an abdominal strain, the Miami Heat have dropped the last two games and now face an uphill battle to repeat as Eastern Conference Champs. Dwyane Wade got into a heated exchange with Coach Erik Spoelstra, and one has to think it was a direct result of his terrible shooting performance. Wade needs to calm down and take his frustrations out on the Pacers in Game Four because if he fails to show up and they count of Mario Chalmers to score 23 again, they are in trouble.
Lebron James has taken on an entirely new role playing the power forward because of the Heat’s ineptitude in the front court. They lack depth at every position except for the small forward where they have a logjam, a plethora of less than effective guys like Mike Miller, Shane Battier and James Jones. Instead of upgrading their height and strength in the four and five spots, they’ve relied solely on Joel Anthony, Dexter Pittman and Eddy Curry.
With all that said, the Heat still possess the best two-some in the league with James and Wade and they can put up scary scoring numbers at any point in time. With their quickness and defensive integrity, the Heat will have to rely on them getting into the open floor. In the half court, they need to penetrate and kick out to open shooters and pray that those shots go down this time. Battier and Jones combined to shoot 1-13 and 0-9 from three point land. That can’t happen if this team has visions of a return to the Finals. The Heat cannot afford to play small in this series because Roy Hibbert is killing them on the glass/offensive end without a taller defender to challenge his shots.
Udonis Haslem and perhaps an Eddy Curry sighting is necessary for this team to come back in this series and make a return trip to the conference finals.
Philadelphia Sixers
After gaining some confidence in the first two games at the Boston Garden, the Sixers’ confidence was grounded to say the least in Game Three. The Celtics failed to arrive in the first two games, and still managed to win Game One. After giving Philly some swagger headed home, the Celtics came out and crushed the Sixers on their home floor. It was almost sad because Boston played terrific defense and ran the Sixers out of their own gym. There is something to be said when Kevin Garnett is looking more like the player he once was putting up 27/13/4 (Pts/Rebs/Ast) in Game Three smells like trouble for an inexperienced Sixers roster.
However, in order to get back into this series they need to repeat their performances from the first two games in Boston. They have proven to themselves that they can defend the Celtics and keep the scoreboard close enough to give themselves a chance. They cannot get into a fast break contest with Rajon Rondo because he will pick your porous transition defense apart over and over again. Keeping the score in the mid-70′s is what Doug Collins so desperately needs for his team to prevail because they lack the offensive firepower to compete with a Celtics team that has the experience and talent to dominate them.
Defense has been the Sixers forte all season long and it allowed them to completely shut down a Bulls team once Derek Rose went down for the series. Team defense and leaking out on the break to get some easy buckets will allow them to climb back into the series ans square the series heading to Boston for Game Five. Evan Turner has proven he can rise to the occasion in these playoffs and a breakout all-around effort from him could be the difference in Game Four.
Los Angeles Clippers
Well, after falling flat on his face in the first two games, Chris Paul is quite happy for a return to Staples Center for the next two games. He is averaging 8 points and 6.5 turnovers through Games One and Two and it could be a result of his hip pointer/groin injuries, however, at this stage, there are no excuses. And he knows that better than anyone:”No excuses, I’ve just got to play better,” Paul said. ”But I don’t ever recall having that many turnovers.
Neither do we, Chris. Eight turnovers in Game Two? How can you expect to lead your team to a victory when you play below sub-par? A return home may be exactly what this inexperienced team needs. Without the veteran leadership of Chauncey Billups on the hardwood, the Clippers will need to rely solely on Paul’s brilliance to lead them back into the series. A tall order for one of the smallest guys on the court. A more effective and efficient Blake Griffin will also allow this team to climb out of their 0-2 series hole. For a guy with limited postseason exposure, he has been able to say all the right things off the court:
”We’re not going into these next two games thinking ‘Oh, let’s try to keep it close,”’ Griffin said. ”There’s no moral victories or moral losses here. We’re not worried about how many points we lost by.”
Without a consistent effort from the perimeter shooters (Randy Foye, Caron Butler, Mo Williams, Nick Young), Paul will not have the room he needs to work with to score at the rate he did in the first round. However, the main issue lies in the Clippers inability to contest the three point shots of the Spurs. After holding them to just 3-11 in the first half of Game Two, heading into the locker room trailing by just four, the Spurs exploded in the second half as they were given open look after open look. They finished the second half 9-14 from downtown as Danny Green hit 4-6 and Boris “Moobs” Diaw hit 2-2 (and 7-7 FG’s for the game). Defensive pressure and contesting shots is key because the Spurs are not the defensive team they once were, and if the Clippers can make this a defensive struggle and force the Spurs into turnovers, they may be able to salvage the series and return to San Antonio with an even series.
Answer me this: Is a 7 game (final regular season game + first 6 postseason) suspension enough?
Ron Artest came into the league as a defender. Out of St. Johns, he was always hard nosed and never took anything from anyone. Growing up in New York allowed his tough minded attitude to flourish as he soon saw his career taking off upon his arrival in Indiana. As a Pacer, Artest became an integral piece to a team vying to win a title in the waning years of Reggie Millers illustrious career. Not only was he the best perimeter defender in the NBA, he would also score 18 points grab 6 boards and dish out 4 assists per game. In 2004-’05, the year after the Detroit Pistons eliminated the Pacers from the playoffs en route to their first title in 15 years, the Pacers appeared poised to make another deep postseason run and wanted to make a statement early on. Just seven games into the young season, Artest had been posting career numbers – statistically having the best season of his life: 25 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 3 apg – easily his best seven game stretch ever. But then it happened. Malice at the Palace as it is now known; the worst event in NBA history. After a hard foul on Ben Wallace with under a minute to play, Artest ignited a ticking bomb. He then rushed the stands after a beer tossed from a fan hit him while lying on the scorers table. And the rest, is history. Artest was suspended the remaining 75 games and Indiana basketball has only recently recovered from that incident. It took over 7 years for the Pacers to become relevant once again – all thanks to Ron Artest.
Now, after legally changing his name to World Peace to go along with his supposed rehabilitated image, in his third season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Artest proved once again in Prime Time yesterday just how vicious and unpredictable he is on the court. Pardon the comparison, however, Artest has proven that he is like a caged animal. For so long he has restrained himself on court and continued to become one of the more likable players in the league, however, it’s as if his internal clock went off – and he snapped. After throwing down a dunk and a few pounds of his chest, Artest felt James Harden’s presence impeding his all-out celebration. However, look closely at the replay and you can see Harden is making his way toward the inbounder, Serge Ibaka, to collect the basketball and return to the offensive end of the court. Animal unleashed. Cocked back elbow and swing through to the side of Harden’s head sending him to the floor with a concussion and done for the afternoon. One of the most despicable, disgraceful acts to ever make its way to a basketball court. With shades of Kermit Washington ala Rudy Tomjonavich. It was just plain disgusting.
There is such a thing called the professional basketball fraternity; it is a collection of pro ball players who are ultra competitive, however, they draw the line somewhere between hard foul and unnecessary acts of violence. Apparently the man renamed World Peace didn’t get the memo. He can say he is sorry, he can call the elbow unintentional a thousand times over; it will never resonate in the minds of anyone in the basketball world. We have all seen what he is capable of. His mental state has be called into question over and over again. His overall demeanor can be called questionable at best. It has already been 24 hours and the NBA still has yet to unleash their decision on the most volatile player in the game. He is unstable and unfit to be on a basketball court with the likes of Kobe Bryant or Kevin Durant. He has forever disgraced the purple and gold he currently dons and trails only Kermit Washington in Lakers cheap shots. Do us all a favor and recuse yourself. You are an incredible talent with unfortunate mental issues. You will be forever recognized as the instigator of the Malice at the Palace, and now for one of the worst cheap shots ever delivered in prime time. The U.S. society can only feel safe with you residing in a white padded room with bars across the windows.
After taking a hell of a lot of flak while nursing an injury earlier in the season, Carmelo Anthony said all the right things. The sensation now known as Linsanity hit New York City like a tsunami as the Knicks reeled of eight straight wins after struggling mightily to begin the season with Carmelo and Amare Stoudemire unable to find a groove while coupled on the court. Bracing for his return to action, the city of New York wondered if Carmelo would ruin the chemistry and up-tempo play because he thrives in isolation sets. When Stephen A. Smith sat down with Melo for a one-on-one, he asked about being called a ‘selfish player’, to which he responded, “It’s like a slap in the face. Never been a selfish player, none of my teammates I ever played with has said I was a selfish player.” However, not only did he struggle to score upon his return, he looked uncomfortable at times running offensive schemes with Lin and uninterested on the defensive end. “It’s going to take a lot of work, we all gotta be willing to do it,” Carmelo ended with. Then the Knicks lost their first six games coming back from the All-star break and there were even murmurs among NBA circles of Carmelo getting traded for the likes of Dwight Howard of Deron Williams.
Apparently, then head coach Mike Dantoni was so frustrated with his disgruntled superstar and unwilling to reconcile the relationship, he went to management and told them they need to trade Carmelo for D-Will, or he would resign as head coach. James Dolan chose Carmelo, Dantoni quit. In steps Mike Woodson, former head coach of the Atlanta Hawks who actually was very successful in turning that teams fortune around within five seasons. Since he has taken over as the sideline captain, the Knicks have gone 14-5 with impressive back-to-back victories against Indiana early on, a road win in Philadelphia, two blowouts of the Orlando Magic, two very important wins against 9th seeded Milwaukee, as well as home wins against Chicago and most recently, Boston. The Knicks look as if they will be a formidable opponent in the postseason, whomever they end up facing. But here come the questions again – how will Amare Stoudemire, who has missed the last three weeks due to a bulging disk in his back, fit in once he returns? Because ever since he has gone down, Carmelo has looked unstoppable, unconscious and even engaged defensively. Tyson Chandler noted in an interview prior to last Sundays matchup with the Heat that it behooves Melo to commit wholeheartedly on the defensive end because he leads by example. Tyson is the anchor, however Carmelo is the superstar. When he is engaged, the likes of J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and even Baron Davis want to play defense. And that is the difference. Lets break down his recent string of incredible games, with Knicks wins bolded, and losses italicized:
March 26th vs. Milwaukee, Knicks W 89-80: 8-20 FG, 12-12 FT, 28 points, 12 rebounds (Ok, so his FG% was a bit low, but 12-12 at the FT line = efficiency)
March 28th vs Orlando, Knicks W 108-86: 9-15 FG, 2-5 3FG, 5-6 FT, 25 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds.
March 30 at Atlanta, Knicks L 90-100: 11-24 FG, 13-14 FT, 36 points, 9 rebounds, 5 steals.
April 3 vs. Indiana, Knicks L 104-112 (4th quarter collapse): 17-31 FG, 39 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals. (Defensive lapses by team led to 4th quarter collapse. After last two wins vs. Indy and dominating first 3 quarters, they relaxed, and lost)
April 8 vs. Bulls, Knicks W, 100-99 (Melo game winner): 16-31 FG, 4-5 3FG, 7-9 FT, 43 points, 7 boards, 3 assists.
April 11 at Milwaukee, Knicks W, 111-107: 13-26 FG, 2-4 3FG, 4-5 FT, 32 points, 10 rebounds.
April 15 vs Miami, Knicks L, 93-85: 14-27 FG, 12-15 FT, 42 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists. (He was the only reason Knicks had any chance in this game)
April 17 vs. Boston, Knicks W, 118-110: 13-24 FG, 7-8 FT, 35 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists. (A triple double?!)
In the month of April, the Knicks have gone 7-4, while Carmelo has averaged 32 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3 assists while shooting 50% from the field. He has always been one of the most gifted offensive players in the league – which is why Mr. Dolan gutted his entire roster to acquire him last February. There isn’t a player in the league playing better than he is right now – and the fact that he is drawing so much attention is allowing J.R. Smith ans Steve Novak to find open space outside to drain open threes, as evidenced tonight by their combined 15-20 effort. Carmelo has shown he can be a willing passer as he knows his scoring run recently has resulted in increased defensive attention. Drawing the double and kicking to the open perimeter shooters has the Knicks peeking at the right time, and it is all thanks to the resurgent Carmelo Anthony. The two glaring flaws in Carmelo’s game throughout his career was an immaturity on the defensive end and an unwilling passer. Now that he has been able to shake those off, the skys the limit for him. He knows as well as anyone that the fans in New York City recognize effort and energy and reward with an uproar of cheers. He wants to be the King of New York. And he has finally realized what it will take to become just that.
With New York now a full game ahead of Philadelphia for the 7th seed, they need to finish strong as they hit the road against New Jersey, Cleveland and Atlanta before coming home to host a scarily talented L.A. Clippers squad. They end the season with a roadie in Charlotte, but that might as well be chalked in as a double-you right now.
Now that the condensed NBA season is coming to a close, it’s time to map out the legitimate title contenders in the very deep Western Conference. Throughout the season, all the chatter in NBA circles as well as ESPN tagged the Oklahoma City Thunder to breeze through to the Finals. Now that the postseason is set to begin in a little more than a week, the tide has turned and the power in the West has shifted. Here are your Western Conference LEGITIMATE contenders, in no particular order.
1) Los Angeles Clippers (38-23, 4th West): Not a typo. The LA Clippers were skating on thin ice and Vinny Del Negro was about knee deep in hot water after losing three straight in mid March, capped by a defeat in New Orleans. All the Chris Broussards out there were talking about Vinny losing the locker room, players wanting him fired, management speaking internally of replacing him, etc. Then Donald Sterling came out and gave him his “vote of confidence.” The Clippers have won 12 of their last 14. The two losses are to the Lakers and Grizzlies. However, they have also defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder twice in the last six days. Aside from the San Antonio Spurs, the Clippers are the hottest team in the league. Nick Young and Mo Williams highlight a very deep bench that also features the likes of Kenyon Martin and Eric Bledsoe. Blake Griffin and Chris Paul provide this team with enough star power to take the Clips to the Finals as they have learned to impose their will on opponents rather than remain stagnant on offense and solely rely on their talent. Paul has literally saddled this team on his back lately and the Clippers are imposing their will on opponents through their defense. What other team has held Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to 10-35 FG’s and 11-34 FG’s in their last two meetings? Exactly. No body. Blake has become one of the better passing big men in the game averaging 5 per contest in his last 5 games. Vinny Del Negro has made in-game adjustments that are noticeable, and he (I can’t believe I’m saying this) deserves to be mentioned in the running for Coach of the Year. Yes, he and the Clips had a lull in March, but they have since responded and they are doing it on the defensive end, not with the flashy lobs. They have proved they have the wherewithal to defeat the leagues best teams, and they really do not lose much when they go to their bench – not many teams can say that.
2) San Antonio Spurs (43-16, 1st West): With tonight’s win against Golden Tank coupled with the Oklahoma City loss at the Clippers, the Spurs move into first place by way of the tiebreaker with the Thunder. This team is never talked about, never hyped up, yet they have won 4 championships in the last 12 years, however, none since 2007. The Spurs have won 17 of their last 20 games. Without question the hottest team out there right now. And Tim Duncan is killing it. He put up 28 and 12 boards in last weeks win over the Grizzlies, giving us a blast from the past. They have also been able to rest Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili throughout the season because they have such a deep roster. With the additions of Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw to an already stacked roster, this team appears poised for a trip to the Conference Finals, at least. They have nine players averaging 9 points or more and only Tony Parker is averaging more than 30 minutes per game this season, again, giving credit to Gregg Popovich for keeping his players fresh for a deep run come playoff time. Every night it’s another guy doing work for this squad. Gary Neal pops out with 17 points here, Tiago Splitter hangs a 15 point, 8 board performance there. Tony Parker dropped 42 on the Thunder early in the season. This team is the most well-rounded, bet coached and most fundamentally sound squad by far. If they stay healthy (ahem, Manu), there isn’t a team that can contend with them. They like to slow the ball down and execute their offense, however, if their opponent wants to run, they adjust and kill you at your game. They are probably the only team in the NBA that can pull that off. You would think this team only scores in the mid-90′s, but go take a look – they are 3rd in the league, averaging 102 points per game. Tony Parker is having his most efficient year at the PG position averaging 19 and 8, while shooting a career high 80% from the FT line, which is crucial to his game because of how often he finds space and gets into the lane.
3) Los Angeles Lakers (39-22, 3rd West): Kobe Bryant is out resting a shin injury, and the Lakers haven’t missed a beat (if you don’t count their blowout loss to Phoenix). They have gone 4-1 since Coach Kobe was added to the suits and Andrew Bynum has looked fierce. He is probably the best big man in the game, but don’t tell him I said that. Ron Artest has replaced Metta World Peace over the last week as he has averaged 17 points, 5 boards, 2 steals while shooting 50% over his last five games. Matt Barnes has lifted a bench that was completely ineffective through the first half of the season as he has put up 12 points, 8.5 boards and 4 assists in 28 minutes over his last five as well. Who would’ve thought this team would survive without Kobe? I did. Watch their games and its clear. They move the ball, play inside out and draw and kick out to open shooters. They play active on defense because they do not have many stagnant offensive possessions as they thrive on enthusiasm. I am by no means saying this team is better off without Coach Kobe, however, it is clear that this team has enough weapons to contend in the West sans the league’s leading scorer. They are still much better off with the Black Mamba in uniform as they need a perimeter threat to go along with their double seven-foot presence down low. Bynum hasn’t shot the ball particularly well over their recent stretch (41%), however, he has averaged 22 points and 17 rebounds, causing havoc against any defender that dare challenge him in the post. It’s a good thing Dwight Howard didn’t want a trade to the Lakers, because Bynum is a much more refined big man than D12, and he’s also two years younger. Ramon Sessions has been the difference maker in this Lakers team as they finally have a PG who can keep up with the other quick, athletic guards in the upper echelon of the West (Tony Parker, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul). He has also averaged 14 points and 7 assists since his arrival, while shooting a hot 50% from the field.
4) Oklahoma City Thunder (44-17, 2nd West): Even after a recent lull in their otherwise terrific season, the Thunder remain a very dangerous team with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Their only downfall is that they turn the ball over at a high rate and the reason is simple: the loss of backup PG, former VCU standout, Eric Maynor to an ACL injury. He provided the stabilizing presence they so desperately needed as Westbrook is still very raw as a point guard. He does not have the necessary instincts a true point guard needs to have in crucial situations. If he wants to improve, he will need to watch film of Chris Paul, learn clock management, find teammates in a position where they can thrive, etc. Not taking away from Westbrook’s talent and athleticism because he is a freak and is still very young, but at this point in his career, he needs a mentor. Derek Fisher was a nice addition to help guide this young team from the guard position, however he is still too slow to be effective on the defensive end. All that said, the Thunder are insanely talented. Serge Ibaka leads the league in blocks, Kevin Durant is the best scorer in the league, Westbrook is averaging 24 points per game and James Harden is the consensus Sixth Man of the Year. No question this team has improved from last season’s trip to the West Finals, but again, Maynor’s absence has really begun to show and opposing teams are exploiting their second unit from the PG position. They are legitimate contenders because they have incredible talent and a very good coach in Scott Brooks. Kendrick Perkins’ value goes way beyond the box score. He actually boxes out his man on every single defensive possession. I have never seen a center so fundamentally sound outside of San Antonio and Chicago, but Perkins comes from Boston’s defensive system which was run by Bulls Head Coach, Tom Thibodeau, where Kendrick won his ring in 2008, so it comes as no surprise. Wow, the West playoffs are going to be insane.
Dark Horse: Memphis Grizzlies (35-25, 5th West): Have to include them, mainly because of their impressive run last season and the fact that they are getting healthy and hot at the right time. Zach Randolph is back from his early season injury and beginning to get himself into game shape. Rudy Gay, who was absent from last season’s playoff run, is healthy and thriving. Mike Conley is having his best season as a pro at the PG position and OJ Mayo is playing as well as any other bench player in the last few weeks. Tony Allen adds a perimeter defender with championship pedigree from his time in Boston. They are currently matched up with the LA Clippers in the first round, however the Clippers only trail the Lakers by 1 game for the Pacific division, while the Lakers have two games vs. the Spurs and one vs. OKC remaining in their final five. The Grizzlies are the dark horse – they have the talent and depth to make a long run, however, the teams in front of them have more talent. Don’t count them out though.
1) San Antonio Spurs (41-16, 2nd West) - Aside from an inexcusable blowout home loss to the Lakers sans Kobe Bryant, the Spurs have been unstoppable. The only other loss in their last 14 games is at Utah when Tim Ducan and Tony Parker didn’t travel with the team. They have won 12 of their last 14 and are only trailing Oklahoma City by one game for the Western Conference #1 seed. They just downed the stingy Memphis Grizzlies 107-97 with Duncan leading the charge, scoring 28 and grabbing 12 boards. Everyone wants to write this team off because of the perception that San Antonio is too old to win and they were ousted last season by Memphis in the first round while they were the #1 seed. But this team is different. They are the deepest squad in the league. They have Gary Neal, Stephen Jackson, Manu Ginobili, Boris Diaw and Tiago Splitter all coming off the bench. That’s at least three starters on at least half of the NBA. With two more games against the LA Lakers prior to the playoffs, San Antonio will surely be tested, however, it seems this team is up for the challenge.
2) Los Angeles Clippers(37-23, 4th West)- After a rocky road trip which saw the Clippers lose three straight capped by an embarrassing defeat in New Orleans, most were writing this young team off after jumping on the bandwagon early on. Nothing a little home cooking can’t fix, eh? There were murmurs louder than whispers of Vinny Del Negro’s job security as well as the undisciplined locker room, missing the presence of their veteran leader, Chauncey Billups. Then the Grizzlies came into town. The Clippers mowed through five straight at home – bouncing back from a rough trip and positioning themselves at a shot for the Pacific division crown. They then traveled to Dallas and completely demoralized them, led by Randy Foye’s 8 three point shots. Then there was the Battle For L.A. Trailing the Lakers by only 1.5 games heading into that matchup, the Clippers had their sights set on proving their worth while Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum had other ideas. After the Clippers erased a double digit fourth quarter deficit to take the lead briefly with under two minutes to play, Kobe beat them. Since that loss? Clippers have won five of six after today’s win against Golden State, highlighted by a thrilling win in Oklahoma City where Chris Paul put up 31 points and the game winner and Blake Griffin did this:
Paul has put up 17.5 points, 10 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in the month of April while Blake Griffin has posted 19 points, 11 boards and 4.5 assists over his last five games. Winning nine of their last eleven has kept them in the hunt for the Pacific division lead, however, they may need to win five of their remaining six games to make that a reality. They play host to Oklahoma City Monday night in what figures to be a very enticing matchup.
3) Boston Celtics (34-25, 4th East) - Like the Spurs, most had written this team off months ago as ‘too old’ or a team whos ‘window for a championship had closed’. After losing Jermaine O’neal (hardly a loss) for the season, Kevin Garnett moved to the Center postion and this team has responded quite well. They have the most wins in the league since the All-star break with a record of 19-8, which has propelled them into the division lead ahead of the stumbling Sixers. With two impressive wins against the Heat, Rajon Rondo’s impressive 20 game streak of 10+ assists and Ray Allen moving to the bench after his return from injury, this team is poised for a deep run in the postseason. Garnett is putting up 19 points and 9 boards over his last five games and thoroughly outplaying his counterpart every night. He proved in two matchups with the Heat that Chris Bosh has a mountain to climb if he wants to be considered in the same category as KG. Rondo has taken hold of the assists lead with his incredible streak and also recorded his sixth triple double of the season against Atlanta on Wednesday with 20 assists. Boston, if matched up with either Chicago or Miami in the postseason may actually defeat either of them on their way to the Finals. They’re getting hot at the exact time of year they need to.
4) Indiana Pacers (37-22, 3rd East) - The Pacers have clinched a playoff spot and currently own the third seed in the East after reeling off 10 wins in their last 13 games, including wins over Miami, Oklahoma City, Houston and New York. After getting off to a hot start, the Pacers have been able to maintain their success after the All-star break and remain in the thick of things in the East. They have proven they can hang with the Heat and the Bulls in the regular season, it remains to be seen how they’ll respond in the playoffs. With the addition of David West, George Hill, Leandro Barbosa (at the deadline) and the emergence of Paul George, this team has enough depth to contend, even though no one is giving them a chance. Roy Hibbert is one of the better centers in the league around the rim, Danny Granger is their perimeter threat and they have plenty of depth. The only starter who averages more than 30 minutes per game is Granger at 33 per contest, allowing this team to remain fresh for the postseason while maintaining home court advantage in their first round matchup.
5) Los Angeles Lakers (38-22, 3rd West) - They have reeled off 10 of their last 14, including three in a row without the likes of Kobe Bryant, resting a shin injury. Andrew Bynum put together a 30 rebound performance in San Antonio, Metta World Peace has averaged 18 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals while shooting a sizzling 60% FG and 48% 3FG over his last five games – easily his best stretch thus far this season. He’s looking more and more like the Ron Artest we saw in Houston matched up against the Lakers in the playoffs and if he can continue to play like that when Kobe comes back, you will be hard pressed to beat the Lakers. Even Matt Barnes recently found his stroke last night vs. Denver, finishing with 24 points and 10 boards shooting 9-11 from the field and 4-4 from long distance off the bench. The Lakers achilles heel remains their inability to take care of the ball as they allowed Denver to creep back into the game because of their 22 turnovers. With games against Dallas, Oklahoma City and two with the Spurs over their remaining six, the Lakers will have to kick into top gear to remain the leaders of the Pacific division with the Clippers on their heels.
NOT
1) Orlando Magic (34-25, 6th East) - Since the trade deadline has come and gone and Dwight still remains in Orlando, the Magic have gone 6-10. They were 28-16, third in the East and flying under the radar as one of the elite teams in the league. Then Stan Van Gundy notified the world of Dwight Howard’s plan behind closed doors. The guy who was so desperate to maintain his likable public persona is guilty of going to management and requesting a coaching change. SVG called out his star and made for an awkward dynamic heading into the stretch run, however, the visual in that media session is priceless:
Ryan Andersen is most likely to take home Comeback player of the Year award, posting 16 points, 7.5 rebounds while shooting 41% from three. The issue with this team is the absence of a slasher, someone who can crete his own shot and score off the dribble. Jason Richardson could have been that guy, but he has yet to prove that he can outside of Golden State. He has yet to average more than 14 points per game in a Magic uniform and that just wont cut it. The Magic have four tough road games remaining in their last seven against Boston, Denver, Utah and Memphis. They very well might end up moving down to the eight seed before the season ends.
2) Philadelphia Sixers (31-28, 8th East)- Talk about a tale of two halves. After beginning the season 20-9, Philly has struggled mightily to prove they belong in the upper echelon of the East. They have since fallen completely from grace and in danger of being left out of the playoffs. They currently sit in the eighth spot, tied with New York at 31-28. They are 2-5 in April, and 11-14 since the All star break. They just lost to New Jersey and recently lost to Washington by 21. It’s abundantly clear this team is not ready to make that leap and will either be a very quick out in the playoffs or they may not make it at all. Six of their final seven games are on the road with tough games in Orlando, Indiana and Milwaukee who are only two games behind Philly for the final spot in the East. It was fun while it lasted though, eh Philly?
3) Utah Jazz (31-29, 10th West) - After reeling off six straight victories in mid-March to bring their record to 26-22, looking as if they would be a lock for one of the final three spots in the tight West playoff race, they have collapsed. They have since gone 5-7, stumbling to the finish line and now sit 1.5 games behind Houston and Denver for a chance at the postseason. With a very tough six game stretch to end the season which sees them play Memphis, Dallas, Orlando, Phoenix and Portland twice does not make things easier. After impressive wins against the Lakers and Oklahoma City in mid-March, this team has been incredibly inconsistent, winning in Houston, yet losing in New Orleans and at home to Sacramento. Inexcusable losses with the season winding down may just send Utah home without a shot at redemption. They need to bolster their backcourt in order to compete because they have one of the deepest frontcourts in the league. Devin Harris is a shell of his former All-star self, and they do not get consistent play from the two guard spot.
4) Miami Heat (41-17, 2nd East) - They are a meager 4-4 in April with losses to Boston (twice), Chicago and Memphis and now sit 3.5 games behind Chicago for the top seed in the East. Lebron has probably fallen a bit out of favor in MVP voter eyes in the process as well. The Heat have been exploited. If you impose your will by slowing the game down, limiting turnovers, executing on offense and defense, the Heat are mere mortals. They look lost in the half court offense, usually waiting till late in the shot clock to get a fade-away, off balance jump shot to the rim. Chris Bosh, as important as he is to this team’s success, needs to develop some sort of post game if the Heat want to be successful. He cannot just be a jump shooting big man and expect to depend on hitting his 15-18 footer every night. He rarely goes strong to the hoop and in a slower game, this will continue to hurt the Heat. Wade and Lebron looked as if they were trading possessions late in the game against Boston this week. “It’s my turn to shoot, bro.” Without consistent play from the point guard position (Chalmers and Cole), the Heat will be forced to use Lebron or Wade in that role and it limits their ability to score. With Sunday’s game at New York as well as rematches with Boston and Chicago remaining, Miami has a chance to regain that swagger heading into the postseason.
Both have great numbers, but Player A has a distinct advantage in all major statistical categories. It seems as though Player A has the innate ability to create for others while also picking his spots to score. His ability to rebound also gives him an extra edge over Player B.
floor, rebound, score and pass the way LeBron does? Also, remind me the last time we had the benefit of watching a bona fide superstar who cares more about getting his teammates involved than padding his scoring numbers?
