The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: The Conference Semifinals
To maintain some kind of integrity and credibility, this was published before the Conference Semifinals begin. For whatever reason, there will be a 2nd round game before tonight's game 7 between the Lakers and Nuggets and tomorrow's game 7 between the Clippers and Grizzlies.
Recap
He is what he is. I will yet another woman analogy, really because I'm a biased guy. You know of that woman that is beautiful, right? However she provides a lot of headaches. She can be spoiled, self-centered, moody, or whatever. On top of that, she not really good for anything. You want to leave her. But then you go to that dinner party and she dresses her ass off and is enchanting the whole night. You go back home while being under her spell forgetting that you need to break up with her. That is what Bynum is. He's going to say idiotic things to the media and not show up for stretches. Then once in a while he's going to go 10-13-10 or snag 30 rebounds, or go for 30 points. And you are going to say, "yo, he's better than Howard! Why would the Lakers' think about trading him!" Back under that spell. Some say he's young, but go look at other stars at 25 years old, which is what Bynum will be this October. They were who they were at 24. Sure he'll mature, but his foundation is set. Don't fall into the Lamar Odom trap of "he just hasn't reach his potential." People were saying that while Odom was nearly 30.
I was only shocked that Dallas didn't at least get a game. Everything else wasn't a surprise. San Antonio is doing San Antonio things with Parker playing his best ever (averaged an impressive 7.7 assists, almost 2 more than his career average). Atlanta is predictably out as they are a perennial first round out. Sure, you don't expect Rose to do down with a season ending injury, but with Rose out, Deng banged up, and Noah going down a couple games with an ankle sprain, they were doomed in this round or the next. I didn't think LAL would miss World Peace, but it became apparent they needed him after Sessions and Blake were getting abused by Andre Miller. MWP shut Miller down in game 7 (1-10 FG with 3 points) which helped. Orlando, as I thought, fought hard. Memphis and the Clippers really won't have a true winner, as they have showed they are even teams. The winner will be arbitrary as they just so happened to have won the last game.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) San Antonio v. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Though LeBron won the MVP, and very rightfully so, you see why I had Chris Paul as my number 2 player in the league. Paul should have had plenty of MVP votes or points, or however they do it. With that being said, the Clippers are very flawed. All of their big men are vulnerable offensively. Their best scoring frontcourt player, Blake, is not a good free throw shooter. Also, they have a coach that will probably get worked by Popovich. The Spurs are the best in the league in having guys that know their roles and execute their roles to near perfection. Parker can get to the lane at will and they have spot up shooters all over the place. I worry about their undersized frontcourt, which would be even more problematic if they were playing the other Staples Center tenants, as they have bigs with actual offensive skill. Luckily, Evans, Jordan, and Martin aren't too much of a threat offensively. I have qualms about picking San Antone in a quickie only because of Paul. I just feel like San Antone is an overall better executing team on both ends. I like the Spurs in 5.
(2) Oklahoma City v. (3) Los Angeles Lakers
Yikes. So OKC basically got to rest for over a week. They are young, hungry, long, and athletic. And they have over a week of rest? This does not bode well for the Lakers as they showed how slow, inconsistent, and petulant they can be. The Lakers have hardly any advantages and even if they do, it is either cancelled out by another disadvantage or the advantage is not really significant. They only way they have a prayer is if Bynum plays like he did in game 1 against Denver. Otherwise, expect a drubbing. If OKC has any problems, it will be because they will jack up bricks from the outside and keep jacking them up when they are not going in. If Westbrook, Durant, and Harden can just get to the rim, they will be in good shape. If they are smart, which I'm sure they are, they will have taken notes from Denver, a team they would have beat in 4 or 5 games while the Lakers struggled the last 3 games of that series. I honestly don't see the Lakers having a real chance because they are not fast and athletic enough and too inconsistent. If they played hard and engaged with confidence from players not named Kobe all the time, they could force a 6 or 7 game series. However, they won't. They are who they are. Thunder in 5.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(4) Boston v. (8) Philadelphia
I'm thinking not many people are seeing this as an overly competitive series. Philadelphia really has no business being in the second round. Chicago lost Rose, first and foremost. Not only did Rose's injury hurt Chicago on the court, it also set them back psychologically given all the injuries they had to endure throughout the season. They were finally all relatively healthy then BOOM! To add to the fire, Luol Deng had to deal with torn ligaments in his wrist and Noah went down with a sprained ankle. No team in the playoffs could overcome injuries to their top players like that and the [7]6ers (I really don't get why we just say "sixers") barely got by even with all the Bulls' injuries. They were C.J. Watson making competent plays in the waning seconds from going 7 games against a truncated team. Boston should roll even though Philly's youth and athleticism will cause a few problems. Boston in 5.
(2) Miami v. (3) Indiana
I never bought any Indiana stock. I know they earned the 3-seed, but they are one of the teams that benefitted from this hectic season. They have younger legs and were able to overwhelm many teams based on that. They are a very solid team, but not among the elite class of the NBA. Many are seeing this as a long dragged out series. I don't. When Miami decides to turn on the defensive intensity, it's a wrap. Indiana doesn't have players that can overcome that, other than Hibbert who has a sizable advantage over anybody the Heat has to offer. However, Hibbert isn't "next level" as far as dominant centers. He's basically a top 4 or 5 center by default; there aren't many classic, competent centers in the league that can play both ways. Shaq, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, Rik Smits, et cetera, were all at least 3 times the center Hibbert is. My point is that while Hibbert has an advantage, it shouldn't be taken too seriously. Mi gusta El Heat en cinco.
Recap
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| "They are who we thought they were!" |
I was only shocked that Dallas didn't at least get a game. Everything else wasn't a surprise. San Antonio is doing San Antonio things with Parker playing his best ever (averaged an impressive 7.7 assists, almost 2 more than his career average). Atlanta is predictably out as they are a perennial first round out. Sure, you don't expect Rose to do down with a season ending injury, but with Rose out, Deng banged up, and Noah going down a couple games with an ankle sprain, they were doomed in this round or the next. I didn't think LAL would miss World Peace, but it became apparent they needed him after Sessions and Blake were getting abused by Andre Miller. MWP shut Miller down in game 7 (1-10 FG with 3 points) which helped. Orlando, as I thought, fought hard. Memphis and the Clippers really won't have a true winner, as they have showed they are even teams. The winner will be arbitrary as they just so happened to have won the last game.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
(1) San Antonio v. (5) Los Angeles Clippers
Though LeBron won the MVP, and very rightfully so, you see why I had Chris Paul as my number 2 player in the league. Paul should have had plenty of MVP votes or points, or however they do it. With that being said, the Clippers are very flawed. All of their big men are vulnerable offensively. Their best scoring frontcourt player, Blake, is not a good free throw shooter. Also, they have a coach that will probably get worked by Popovich. The Spurs are the best in the league in having guys that know their roles and execute their roles to near perfection. Parker can get to the lane at will and they have spot up shooters all over the place. I worry about their undersized frontcourt, which would be even more problematic if they were playing the other Staples Center tenants, as they have bigs with actual offensive skill. Luckily, Evans, Jordan, and Martin aren't too much of a threat offensively. I have qualms about picking San Antone in a quickie only because of Paul. I just feel like San Antone is an overall better executing team on both ends. I like the Spurs in 5.
(2) Oklahoma City v. (3) Los Angeles Lakers
Yikes. So OKC basically got to rest for over a week. They are young, hungry, long, and athletic. And they have over a week of rest? This does not bode well for the Lakers as they showed how slow, inconsistent, and petulant they can be. The Lakers have hardly any advantages and even if they do, it is either cancelled out by another disadvantage or the advantage is not really significant. They only way they have a prayer is if Bynum plays like he did in game 1 against Denver. Otherwise, expect a drubbing. If OKC has any problems, it will be because they will jack up bricks from the outside and keep jacking them up when they are not going in. If Westbrook, Durant, and Harden can just get to the rim, they will be in good shape. If they are smart, which I'm sure they are, they will have taken notes from Denver, a team they would have beat in 4 or 5 games while the Lakers struggled the last 3 games of that series. I honestly don't see the Lakers having a real chance because they are not fast and athletic enough and too inconsistent. If they played hard and engaged with confidence from players not named Kobe all the time, they could force a 6 or 7 game series. However, they won't. They are who they are. Thunder in 5.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
(4) Boston v. (8) Philadelphia
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| Too bad this edition of Celts n' Sixers won't be as good. |
(2) Miami v. (3) Indiana
I never bought any Indiana stock. I know they earned the 3-seed, but they are one of the teams that benefitted from this hectic season. They have younger legs and were able to overwhelm many teams based on that. They are a very solid team, but not among the elite class of the NBA. Many are seeing this as a long dragged out series. I don't. When Miami decides to turn on the defensive intensity, it's a wrap. Indiana doesn't have players that can overcome that, other than Hibbert who has a sizable advantage over anybody the Heat has to offer. However, Hibbert isn't "next level" as far as dominant centers. He's basically a top 4 or 5 center by default; there aren't many classic, competent centers in the league that can play both ways. Shaq, David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing, Rik Smits, et cetera, were all at least 3 times the center Hibbert is. My point is that while Hibbert has an advantage, it shouldn't be taken too seriously. Mi gusta El Heat en cinco.
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