The Chicago Bulls were unable to pull out a close Game 4 versus the Miami Heat, falling in overtime, 101-93. Now, the Bulls are one game away from elimination while the Heat are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.
The Bulls had finished with the best record in the NBA for the 2010-2011 season at a mark of 62-20. Furthermore, they had the league's 2nd highest ranked defense based on PPG allowed (91.3) while scoring 98.6 PPG (20th in the league). However, they have met their match in the Heat, who had the 6th best defense based on PPG allowed (94.6) while scoring 102.1 PPG (8th in the league). Aside from a 103-point outburst and 21-point victory in Game 1, the Bulls have not been able to keep pace with the Heat, who have increased scoring with each game (82, 85, 96, 101). The most the Bulls have been able to score in the last 3 games is 93 points, which happened only because Game 4 went into overtime.
The Bulls have their hands full in turning the tide in the series, needing 3 consecutive wins to advance to the NBA Finals. Here are some ways that the team can take Game 5.
1) Capitalize on Home Court Advantage
The Chicago Bulls were 36-5 at home during the regular season and are 6-2 at home during the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Miami Heat were a solid 28-13 on the road during the regular season and are 3-3 on the road during the playoffs. In light of this, the Bulls need to build off the energy and enthusiasm of the fans early and run out to an early yet sustainable lead. If the Bulls can force the issue at home in Game 5, they can position themselves to retake control of the series tempo and momentum.
2) Re-establish Interior Dominance
Forward/center Chris Bosh has been waiting all season to play at the level of quality that he is playing right now. Likewise, forward/center Udonis Haslem has returned from injury in order to solidify the Heat's rotation. Their efforts combined with the rebounding of LeBron James, Joel Anthony, Dwyane Wade, Mike Miller, and Mike Bibby has neutralized the offensive rebounding and overall inside play of the Bulls. Now, with center Omer Asik out with a fractured left fibula, Kurt Thomas needs to return to the rotation and help Joakim Noah, Carlos Boozer, and Taj Gibson regain dominance of interior play in this series. Even if Bosh gets his share of points, the Bulls cannot let Bosh and the other Heat players to keep pace on rebounding, interior offense, or interior defense. Thomas in particular is an established shot blocker, so his defense should help support the defensive prowess of Noah and Gibson. On offense, Noah must step up and score to a level closer to Boozer and Gibson in order to put the pressure on Bosh, Anthony, and Haslem to play harder on defense and potentially risk getting into foul trouble. In winning the interior battle, the Bulls put less pressure on point guard Derrick Rose to carry the team to victory.
3) Use the Bench, Play Small, and Spread Out the Scoring
Regardless of Asik's injury, the absence of Kurt Thomas in this series has been somewhat confusing. Despite being past his prime now, Thomas still moves around as well as Anthony and Haslem do and needs to be in the lineup to help control the rebounding while also offering help defense on the driving LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Mario Chalmers. Meanwhile, Rasual Butler is a 3-point threat off the bench that, like Thomas, has been absent from the rotation in the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Butler's scoring ability can very well be used to complement the scoring of Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Taj Gibson, Kyle Korver, and Ronnie Brewer. Furthermore, Butler offers stronger defensive play than Korver and could be a good player to use to slow down a number of Heat players, including James, Wade, and Bosh. Overall, the Bulls can play with a small lineup, as long as their perimeter scoring is sufficient and their perimeter defense is sufficient. The biggest risk here is giving the opportunities for James Jones and Eddie House to join Mike Bibby, Mike Miller, and Mario Chalmers in knocking down three-point shots. Thus, Butler and Thomas--both former Heat players--must assert themselves if and when called upon in Game 5.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Lightning in a Bottle for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals?
The Oklahoma City Thunder were within 5 minutes of tying the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals 2-2. However, they lost hold of a 15-point lead, allowing the Dallas Mavericks to force overtime. In overtime, the Mavericks took control of the game and won, 112-105, gaining a 3-1 advantage in the series. With the win, the Dallas Mavericks are one win away from returning to the NBA Finals.
Down 3-1, the Oklahoma City Thunder must rally back and win 3 games in a row in order to advance to their first NBA Finals as a franchise in Oklahoma City. Their previous franchise NBA Finals appearances and lone NBA Championship were won while playing in Seattle as the Seattle Supersonics. The difficult endeavor begins with Game 5 tonight in Dallas. Here are some ways that the Oklahoma City Thunder can keep the series alive.
1) Contain Jason Kidd
As the oldest player on the team's roster and one of the team's co-captains, point guard Jason Kidd has put together a strong series for the Mavericks. He is averaging 11.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 8.3 APG, and 4.0 SPG while shooting .409 on 3PTFG and .900 on FT. He has also kept his turnovers and fouls down to 9 (2.3 per game) and 8 (2.0 per game) in the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals, respectively. His combination of steady offensive play and outstanding defense on Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant has enabled the Mavericks to take control of the series. The Thunder need to find ways to force Kidd to miss more 3-point attempts, commit more turnovers, and lose energy and intensity on defense. Using Kevin Durant at the top of the key to help run the offense has helped, but it was not enough to sustain a lead for the length of Game 4. Possible counters in Game 5 include Thabo Sefolosha, Eric Maynor, Daequan Cook, or, if especially bold, Serge Ibaka.
2) Contain Dirk Nowitzki
The more obvious problem for the Oklahoma City Thunder is the other Dallas Mavericks co-captain, forward/center Dirk Nowitzki. In Game 3, the Thunder forced Nowitzki to commit 7 turnovers, shoot 7-21 from the field, and score a modest 18 points. However, in Game 4, Nowitzki lit up the Thunder for 40 points, including 12-20 from the field and 14-15 from the line. One of the keys to slowing down Nowitzki in Game 3 was double-teaming Nowitzki frequently, including fronting him and playing strong denial defense to stop him from getting passes cleanly. In Games 1, 2, and 4, the Thunder used up a lot of fouls in guarding Nowitzki. This included 6 personal fouls on Nick Collison and 5 personal fouls on Serge Ibaka, as well as 6 personal fouls by James Harden. However, in Game 3, Ibaka, Collison, and Kendrick Perkins combined for only 4 personal fouls--including 0 fouls for Ibaka. On the defensive end, the Thunder need to either limit their fouls or use up their fouls wisely. They may consider adding Nazr Mohammed to the rotation for Game 5 to see if his agility can help contain both Nowitzki and center Tyson Chandler. They can also continue to mix usage of players from Russell Westbrook to Serge Ibaka in order to frustrate and confuse Nowitzki. On the offensive end, the Thunder may need to find ways to exploit Nowitzki on defense in order to get him in foul trouble. Nowitzki has had 3 or fewer fouls in each of the first four games of this series, so a combination of post-up plays, pick and rolls, and mismatches with Durant and others may be the cause of additional fouls by Nowitzki.
3) Contain Jason Terry
Although not a team captain, guard Jason Terry represents the third major threat of the Dallas Mavericks lineup. As the team's sixth man, Jason Terry brings high energy off the bench and causes some mismatches. Despite struggling in Game 4 with a 7-19 mark from the field, Terry closed out the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 assist. On the series, Terry is averaging 16.3 PPG on only a .375 mark from the field. He also has had only 10 assists in the series, with 6 assists in Game 3. However, he has committed only 7 turnovers in the series. Furthermore, he had 6 steals in the past 2 games after 0 steals in Games 1 and 2. In Game 5, the Thunder would be better served to make Terry one of the primary ballhandlers, forcing him to think 'pass first' rather than 'shoot first'. If the Thunder can get the ball out of the hands of Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea and make Terry, along with Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, handle the ball on as many plays as possible, this should disrupt the flow of the Mavericks offense.
Down 3-1, the Oklahoma City Thunder must rally back and win 3 games in a row in order to advance to their first NBA Finals as a franchise in Oklahoma City. Their previous franchise NBA Finals appearances and lone NBA Championship were won while playing in Seattle as the Seattle Supersonics. The difficult endeavor begins with Game 5 tonight in Dallas. Here are some ways that the Oklahoma City Thunder can keep the series alive.
1) Contain Jason Kidd
As the oldest player on the team's roster and one of the team's co-captains, point guard Jason Kidd has put together a strong series for the Mavericks. He is averaging 11.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 8.3 APG, and 4.0 SPG while shooting .409 on 3PTFG and .900 on FT. He has also kept his turnovers and fouls down to 9 (2.3 per game) and 8 (2.0 per game) in the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals, respectively. His combination of steady offensive play and outstanding defense on Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant has enabled the Mavericks to take control of the series. The Thunder need to find ways to force Kidd to miss more 3-point attempts, commit more turnovers, and lose energy and intensity on defense. Using Kevin Durant at the top of the key to help run the offense has helped, but it was not enough to sustain a lead for the length of Game 4. Possible counters in Game 5 include Thabo Sefolosha, Eric Maynor, Daequan Cook, or, if especially bold, Serge Ibaka.
2) Contain Dirk Nowitzki
The more obvious problem for the Oklahoma City Thunder is the other Dallas Mavericks co-captain, forward/center Dirk Nowitzki. In Game 3, the Thunder forced Nowitzki to commit 7 turnovers, shoot 7-21 from the field, and score a modest 18 points. However, in Game 4, Nowitzki lit up the Thunder for 40 points, including 12-20 from the field and 14-15 from the line. One of the keys to slowing down Nowitzki in Game 3 was double-teaming Nowitzki frequently, including fronting him and playing strong denial defense to stop him from getting passes cleanly. In Games 1, 2, and 4, the Thunder used up a lot of fouls in guarding Nowitzki. This included 6 personal fouls on Nick Collison and 5 personal fouls on Serge Ibaka, as well as 6 personal fouls by James Harden. However, in Game 3, Ibaka, Collison, and Kendrick Perkins combined for only 4 personal fouls--including 0 fouls for Ibaka. On the defensive end, the Thunder need to either limit their fouls or use up their fouls wisely. They may consider adding Nazr Mohammed to the rotation for Game 5 to see if his agility can help contain both Nowitzki and center Tyson Chandler. They can also continue to mix usage of players from Russell Westbrook to Serge Ibaka in order to frustrate and confuse Nowitzki. On the offensive end, the Thunder may need to find ways to exploit Nowitzki on defense in order to get him in foul trouble. Nowitzki has had 3 or fewer fouls in each of the first four games of this series, so a combination of post-up plays, pick and rolls, and mismatches with Durant and others may be the cause of additional fouls by Nowitzki.
3) Contain Jason Terry
Although not a team captain, guard Jason Terry represents the third major threat of the Dallas Mavericks lineup. As the team's sixth man, Jason Terry brings high energy off the bench and causes some mismatches. Despite struggling in Game 4 with a 7-19 mark from the field, Terry closed out the game with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 assist. On the series, Terry is averaging 16.3 PPG on only a .375 mark from the field. He also has had only 10 assists in the series, with 6 assists in Game 3. However, he has committed only 7 turnovers in the series. Furthermore, he had 6 steals in the past 2 games after 0 steals in Games 1 and 2. In Game 5, the Thunder would be better served to make Terry one of the primary ballhandlers, forcing him to think 'pass first' rather than 'shoot first'. If the Thunder can get the ball out of the hands of Jason Kidd and J.J. Barea and make Terry, along with Nowitzki and Shawn Marion, handle the ball on as many plays as possible, this should disrupt the flow of the Mavericks offense.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
The Miami Heat Even the Series 1-1 versus the Chicago Bulls
Last night, the Miami Heat took control of Game 2 of the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals, winning 85-75. With each quarter, the Heat held the Bulls to fewer and fewer points, capped off by an abysmal 10 point fourth quarter for the Bulls. Here are some aspects of Game 2 where the Miami Heat asserted themselves in order to tie up the series.
1) The Heat Defense Shut Down the Bulls
The Miami Heat held the Chicago Bulls to a horrid .341 shooting mark, including a 3-20 (.150) mark from the three-point line. The Bulls carried this frustration to the free throw line, making only 16 of 26 free throws (.616 mark). Amidst this, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer combined for only 16 points, while Derrick Rose shot 7-23 in earning 21 points and Luol Deng shot 5-15 in scoring 13 points. Overall, the Bulls had only 15 assists, compared to 23 assists in Game 1.
2) The Heat Starters Played with High Efficiency
The Miami Heat starters each had positive +/- ratios, with the lowest rating being LeBron James's +8 mark. Chris Bosh led the team with a +22 mark. Meanwhile, although Joel Anthony's stat line was modest, he maintained a +16 and only missed one shot (the only shot he attempted for the game). Dwyane Wade had a pretty strong box score, capping things off by making 8-10 free throws and committing only 1 turnover. Likewise, Mike Bibby had a quiet yet strong game in passing for 4 assists without committing any turnovers.
3) The Heat Won the Rebounding Battle
Simply put, the Heat outrebounded the Bulls 45-41. Although they gave up 17 offensive rebounds, the Heat did not allow the Bulls to convert on second chance shot opportunities as much as in Game 1.
4) Dwyane Wade and LeBron James Took Charge
In Game 1, the Chicago Bulls made Chris Bosh the Miami Heat's #1 scoring option. In Game 2, the Miami Heat said 'no way' and went back to feeding the basketball to Wade and James. Wade outplayed Rose on offense, scoring more points in taking fewer shots. Meanwhile, when LeBron James realized that the pick and roll with Joel Anthony and Chris Bosh was not working for him like it has in past playoff series with Anderson Varejao and the Cleveland Cavaliers, he called off the pick plays and created his own shots.
5) Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller Stepped Up
Sure, the +/- ratings show that both Haslem and Miller were each at -11. However, they combined for 15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 41 minutes of play. There are a number of role players looking to step up for the Heat, but Haslem and Miller--both injured this season--are the two players who can give the South Beach Big Three the most help in competing for the NBA Championship. While Haslem has won a NBA Championship before, Miller has years of experience and remains a sharpshooting. If Haslem and Miller can stay healthy in this series, then the Bulls bench will need to counter with improved play from Kyle Korver and the others.
1) The Heat Defense Shut Down the Bulls
The Miami Heat held the Chicago Bulls to a horrid .341 shooting mark, including a 3-20 (.150) mark from the three-point line. The Bulls carried this frustration to the free throw line, making only 16 of 26 free throws (.616 mark). Amidst this, Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer combined for only 16 points, while Derrick Rose shot 7-23 in earning 21 points and Luol Deng shot 5-15 in scoring 13 points. Overall, the Bulls had only 15 assists, compared to 23 assists in Game 1.
2) The Heat Starters Played with High Efficiency
The Miami Heat starters each had positive +/- ratios, with the lowest rating being LeBron James's +8 mark. Chris Bosh led the team with a +22 mark. Meanwhile, although Joel Anthony's stat line was modest, he maintained a +16 and only missed one shot (the only shot he attempted for the game). Dwyane Wade had a pretty strong box score, capping things off by making 8-10 free throws and committing only 1 turnover. Likewise, Mike Bibby had a quiet yet strong game in passing for 4 assists without committing any turnovers.
3) The Heat Won the Rebounding Battle
Simply put, the Heat outrebounded the Bulls 45-41. Although they gave up 17 offensive rebounds, the Heat did not allow the Bulls to convert on second chance shot opportunities as much as in Game 1.
4) Dwyane Wade and LeBron James Took Charge
In Game 1, the Chicago Bulls made Chris Bosh the Miami Heat's #1 scoring option. In Game 2, the Miami Heat said 'no way' and went back to feeding the basketball to Wade and James. Wade outplayed Rose on offense, scoring more points in taking fewer shots. Meanwhile, when LeBron James realized that the pick and roll with Joel Anthony and Chris Bosh was not working for him like it has in past playoff series with Anderson Varejao and the Cleveland Cavaliers, he called off the pick plays and created his own shots.
5) Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller Stepped Up
Sure, the +/- ratings show that both Haslem and Miller were each at -11. However, they combined for 15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block in 41 minutes of play. There are a number of role players looking to step up for the Heat, but Haslem and Miller--both injured this season--are the two players who can give the South Beach Big Three the most help in competing for the NBA Championship. While Haslem has won a NBA Championship before, Miller has years of experience and remains a sharpshooting. If Haslem and Miller can stay healthy in this series, then the Bulls bench will need to counter with improved play from Kyle Korver and the others.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
2011 NBA Western Conference Finals, Game 1: Halftime Report - Matchup Problems Galore
At halftime of Game 1 of the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Mavericks lead the Oklahoma City Thunder by a score of 55-48. This included a 16-3 Mavericks run to close out the first half. Throughout the first half, there appear to be a number of matchup problems for both teams. The Dallas defense in particular is playing a matchup zone that has completely flustered Oklahoma City point guard Russell Westbrook. In the meantime, here are some possible lineup adjustments that both teams can make to neutralize opposing players.
Mavericks threat #1: Dirk Nowitzki
> Thunder counter: Thabo Sefolosha
Mavericks threat #2: J.J. Barea
> Thunder counter: Nate Robinson
Mavericks threat #3: Jason Terry
> Thunder counter: Russell Westbrook
Thunder threat #1: Kevin Durant
> Mavericks counter: Deshawn Stevenson
Thunder threat #2: James Harden
> Mavericks counter: Shawn Marion
Mavericks threat #1: Dirk Nowitzki
> Thunder counter: Thabo Sefolosha
Mavericks threat #2: J.J. Barea
> Thunder counter: Nate Robinson
Mavericks threat #3: Jason Terry
> Thunder counter: Russell Westbrook
Thunder threat #1: Kevin Durant
> Mavericks counter: Deshawn Stevenson
Thunder threat #2: James Harden
> Mavericks counter: Shawn Marion
We're #1! (And #4!)
The Cleveland Cavaliers made some strong moves at the trade deadline last season, including sending popular All-Star guard Mo Williams and high-flying swingman Jamario Moon to the Los Angeles Clippers for veteran All-Star guard Baron Davis and a first round draft pick. Although some were skeptical of this trade on the Cavaliers' end, Davis brought leadership and stability to the Cavs. Now, the first round draft pick that came with him from the Clippers is the #1 overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft!
As was mentioned during last offseason, each successful era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball has begun with the acquisition of the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. First, the Cavaliers selected Austin Carr in 1971. Next, the Cavs chose Brad Daugherty in 1986. Then, the Cavaliers drafted LeBron James in 2003. Now, Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams head up a short list of potential #1 picks for the Cavs in 2011. Furthermore, like the 1986 NBA Draft, the Cavaliers have a second lottery pick. In 1986, the pick was Ron Harper. This year, the pick could be Kemba Walker. Regardless, the bold words of owner Dan Gilbert last offseason combined with the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery victories mark the beginning of the next successful era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball. Stay tuned...
As was mentioned during last offseason, each successful era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball has begun with the acquisition of the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft. First, the Cavaliers selected Austin Carr in 1971. Next, the Cavs chose Brad Daugherty in 1986. Then, the Cavaliers drafted LeBron James in 2003. Now, Kyrie Irving and Derrick Williams head up a short list of potential #1 picks for the Cavs in 2011. Furthermore, like the 1986 NBA Draft, the Cavaliers have a second lottery pick. In 1986, the pick was Ron Harper. This year, the pick could be Kemba Walker. Regardless, the bold words of owner Dan Gilbert last offseason combined with the 2011 NBA Draft Lottery victories mark the beginning of the next successful era of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball. Stay tuned...
Monday, May 16, 2011
Durantula and the Thunder Win Game 7 and the Series
Congratulations to the Oklahoma City Thunder on advancing to the 2011 NBA Western Conference Finals! Special props go out to Kevin Durant, who followed up his Game 6 struggle with an unforgettable Game 7 performance. In scoring 39 points, Durant overcame a defensive strategy revolving around stoppy him. Overall, Durant made all 9 of his free throws and also connected on 4 three-pointers. He, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, and Nick Collison highlighted a solid team effort and performance.
Also, congratulations are in order for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies upset the highly favored San Antonio Spurs in the first round and nearly became the first #8 seed in NBA Western Conference history to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Like the Thunder, the Grizzlies have a good mix of talent, youth, and experience that should make them contenders out of the West in the years ahead. Coach Lionel Hollins should be proud!
Also, congratulations are in order for the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies upset the highly favored San Antonio Spurs in the first round and nearly became the first #8 seed in NBA Western Conference history to advance to the Western Conference Finals. Like the Thunder, the Grizzlies have a good mix of talent, youth, and experience that should make them contenders out of the West in the years ahead. Coach Lionel Hollins should be proud!
Season Predictions Revisited
Predictions: 3/16; close on 2 others
Season MVP - Kobe Bryant - incorrect - winner: Derrick Rose
*Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin - correct
Most Improved Player - J.J. Hickson - incorrect - winner: Kevin Love
Coach of the Year - Jerry Sloan - incorrect - winner: Tom Thibodeau
NBA Championship - Lakers defeat Celtics, 4-2 - incorrect - winners: TBD
NBA Finals MVP - Pau Gasol - incorrect - winner: TBD
*Scoring Champion - Kevin Durant - correct
Rebounding Champion - Luis Scola - incorrect (22nd RPG/28th Total Rebounds) - winner: Kevin Love
>Assists Champion - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (2nd APG/3rd Total Assists) - winner: Steve Nash
>Steals Champion - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (2nd SPG/4th Total Steals) - winner: Chris Paul
Blocks Champion - Josh Smith - incorrect (15th BPG/t-14th Total Blocks) - winners: Andrew Bogut (BPG) and Serge Ibaka (Total Blocks)
Defensive Player of the Year - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (5th) - winner: Dwight Howard
All-Star Game MVP - LeBron James - incorrect - winner: Kobe Bryant
Long-Distance Shootout Champion - Dorell Wright - incorrect - winner: James Jones
*Rookie Challenge MVP - John Wall - correct
Slam Dunk Champion - Terrence Williams - incorrect - winner: Blake Griffin
Season MVP - Kobe Bryant - incorrect - winner: Derrick Rose
*Rookie of the Year - Blake Griffin - correct
Most Improved Player - J.J. Hickson - incorrect - winner: Kevin Love
Coach of the Year - Jerry Sloan - incorrect - winner: Tom Thibodeau
NBA Championship - Lakers defeat Celtics, 4-2 - incorrect - winners: TBD
NBA Finals MVP - Pau Gasol - incorrect - winner: TBD
*Scoring Champion - Kevin Durant - correct
Rebounding Champion - Luis Scola - incorrect (22nd RPG/28th Total Rebounds) - winner: Kevin Love
>Assists Champion - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (2nd APG/3rd Total Assists) - winner: Steve Nash
>Steals Champion - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (2nd SPG/4th Total Steals) - winner: Chris Paul
Blocks Champion - Josh Smith - incorrect (15th BPG/t-14th Total Blocks) - winners: Andrew Bogut (BPG) and Serge Ibaka (Total Blocks)
Defensive Player of the Year - Rajon Rondo - incorrect (5th) - winner: Dwight Howard
All-Star Game MVP - LeBron James - incorrect - winner: Kobe Bryant
Long-Distance Shootout Champion - Dorell Wright - incorrect - winner: James Jones
*Rookie Challenge MVP - John Wall - correct
Slam Dunk Champion - Terrence Williams - incorrect - winner: Blake Griffin
2011 Eastern Conference Finals: The Chicago Bulls Win Game 1 Versus the Miami Heat
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Miami Heat, 103-82, last night to take a 1-0 lead in the 2011 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. While the series is still young and the Heat can very well even up the series, here are some ways that the Bulls dictated the flow of Game 1.
1) Make Chris Bosh the #1 Option
All season long, Chris Bosh has been criticized for his lack of quality play. An All-Star for his talent and performance in the past, Bosh shifted away from his strong low post play and primarily focused on midrange jumpshooting this season. While this has been a normal tactic of Pat Riley-influenced teams--think Charles Oakley, P.J. Brown, and Udonis Haslem--Bosh relinquished his ability to score on offensive rebounds. In doing so, Chris Bosh immediately became known as the third member of the South Beach Big Three.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been a top-ranked defense all season. This is largely in part because of the nonstop hustle of Joakim Noah and the defensive brilliance of Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, who was a key assistant of Doc Rivers for the Boston Celtics. Thibodeau has been credited for helping contain both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in past series versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Thus, Coach Thibodeau and the team combined elements of defensive schemes to keep James and Wade in check while also using a strategy like the rival Atlanta Hawks did in guarding Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic this year in the playoffs. Different scenarios, yes--Bosh is thought of as the #3 option on the Heat while Howard is clearly the #1 option on the Magic--but the fact of the matter remains that no NBA team can win the NBA championship with only one player scoring a lot of points. Last night for the Miami Heat, they had four legitimate scorers: Bosh, Wade, James, and Mario Chalmers. Their other three scorers--Mike Bibby, James Jones, and Jamaal Magloire--combined for 10 points.
2) Have 5-6 Legitimate Scorers for Each Game
As the Miami Heat have shown that they can score points on any given day, the Chicago Bulls need to step up their offensive play for this series. That is, both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks lacked the offensive power to keep up with the Bulls' stellar defense, while the Miami Heat do have the firepower to test the Bulls defense. As such, scoring 70-80 points per game will not beat the Heat.
Last night, the Chicago Bulls had six strong scorers: Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Ronnie Brewer. Gibson and Brewer specifically played outstanding games last night off the Chicago Bulls bench. Add in the scoring ability of Kyle Korver and potential from Omer Asik and the other bench players and the Bulls look like they are ready to take control of this series.
3) Continue to Dominate the Boards
The most intriguing aspect of the Chicago Bulls is the team's ability to dominate the offensive boards and rebounding in general. Granted, both Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah missed extensive time this season, meaning that the team found a lot of success with having only one of the two players in the rotation at a time. However, the rebounding threats that both Boozer and Noah provide are not seen very often in the NBA. The pair combined for 23 rebounds in Game 1, including 12 offensive rebounds. The Miami Heat as a team only had 33 rebounds in Game 1, including a modest 6 offensive rebounds. Chris Bosh did his part with 9 rebounds, but the next best rebounders--LeBron James and Joel Anthony--were held to 15 points and 0 points, respectively.
4) Capitalize on Home Court Advantage
For the first time since 1998, the Chicago Bulls are in the Eastern Conference Finals. This includes having the new NBA MVP, Derrick Rose, who is not pre-occupied with trying to fill the shoes of Michael Jordan. After being spurned by LeBron James and Chris Bosh in offseason recruiting, Rose cemented his status as the team's best player, with Boozer becoming the Bulls' new low post threat. In turn, the fans have responded quite well. In Game 1, the crowd gave endless support to the Bulls, as they turned a 48-48 tie into a 21-point victory. If the Bulls can continue to play this way in Chicago, they will not feel the pressure to win all of the road games in Miami.
1) Make Chris Bosh the #1 Option
All season long, Chris Bosh has been criticized for his lack of quality play. An All-Star for his talent and performance in the past, Bosh shifted away from his strong low post play and primarily focused on midrange jumpshooting this season. While this has been a normal tactic of Pat Riley-influenced teams--think Charles Oakley, P.J. Brown, and Udonis Haslem--Bosh relinquished his ability to score on offensive rebounds. In doing so, Chris Bosh immediately became known as the third member of the South Beach Big Three.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls have been a top-ranked defense all season. This is largely in part because of the nonstop hustle of Joakim Noah and the defensive brilliance of Head Coach Tom Thibodeau, who was a key assistant of Doc Rivers for the Boston Celtics. Thibodeau has been credited for helping contain both LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in past series versus the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. Thus, Coach Thibodeau and the team combined elements of defensive schemes to keep James and Wade in check while also using a strategy like the rival Atlanta Hawks did in guarding Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic this year in the playoffs. Different scenarios, yes--Bosh is thought of as the #3 option on the Heat while Howard is clearly the #1 option on the Magic--but the fact of the matter remains that no NBA team can win the NBA championship with only one player scoring a lot of points. Last night for the Miami Heat, they had four legitimate scorers: Bosh, Wade, James, and Mario Chalmers. Their other three scorers--Mike Bibby, James Jones, and Jamaal Magloire--combined for 10 points.
2) Have 5-6 Legitimate Scorers for Each Game
As the Miami Heat have shown that they can score points on any given day, the Chicago Bulls need to step up their offensive play for this series. That is, both the Philadelphia 76ers and the Atlanta Hawks lacked the offensive power to keep up with the Bulls' stellar defense, while the Miami Heat do have the firepower to test the Bulls defense. As such, scoring 70-80 points per game will not beat the Heat.
Last night, the Chicago Bulls had six strong scorers: Derrick Rose, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, and Ronnie Brewer. Gibson and Brewer specifically played outstanding games last night off the Chicago Bulls bench. Add in the scoring ability of Kyle Korver and potential from Omer Asik and the other bench players and the Bulls look like they are ready to take control of this series.
3) Continue to Dominate the Boards
The most intriguing aspect of the Chicago Bulls is the team's ability to dominate the offensive boards and rebounding in general. Granted, both Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah missed extensive time this season, meaning that the team found a lot of success with having only one of the two players in the rotation at a time. However, the rebounding threats that both Boozer and Noah provide are not seen very often in the NBA. The pair combined for 23 rebounds in Game 1, including 12 offensive rebounds. The Miami Heat as a team only had 33 rebounds in Game 1, including a modest 6 offensive rebounds. Chris Bosh did his part with 9 rebounds, but the next best rebounders--LeBron James and Joel Anthony--were held to 15 points and 0 points, respectively.
4) Capitalize on Home Court Advantage
For the first time since 1998, the Chicago Bulls are in the Eastern Conference Finals. This includes having the new NBA MVP, Derrick Rose, who is not pre-occupied with trying to fill the shoes of Michael Jordan. After being spurned by LeBron James and Chris Bosh in offseason recruiting, Rose cemented his status as the team's best player, with Boozer becoming the Bulls' new low post threat. In turn, the fans have responded quite well. In Game 1, the crowd gave endless support to the Bulls, as they turned a 48-48 tie into a 21-point victory. If the Bulls can continue to play this way in Chicago, they will not feel the pressure to win all of the road games in Miami.
Monday, May 2, 2011
2011 NBA Playoffs: First Round Review
So far, so good--the 2011 NBA Playoffs have been pretty exciting. Here are some thoughts regarding the results of the First Round.
Eastern Conference
1) Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers:
The Indiana Pacers are much like how the Oklahoma City Thunder were a couple years ago: young with a lot of potential. As such, the Pacers struggled to close out games versus the Bulls, blowing 4th quarter leads in Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3 and almost doing so in Game 4. The Pacers will need to make some decisions in order to determine which young players to keep and which players to trade for veterans to balance out the roster. This is further compounded by the pending departure of team executive Larry Bird, although former team executive Donnie Walsh may return if forced out of New York.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls showed that they have enough talent to challenge for the NBA Championship this year. Primarily, they combine the MVP leadership and play of Derrick Rose with the fierce offensive rebounding of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. While Rose initiates plays and team momentum, it can be argued that boxing out Noah and Boozer are the most important keys in beating the Bulls. Added to the mix are strong scorers Luol Deng and Kyle Korver as well as a number of other solid veterans and role players. Although the wins were not dominant, the competitive fire and clutch play of the Chicago Bulls was present in the First Round, with more to be seen in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
2) Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Miami Heat continue to be somewhat of an enigma. The New Big Three of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh remain league leaders in a number of statistical categories. Yet, their inconsistency leaves them vulnerable. While Wade and James tend to find ways to get their points and contribute every game, Bosh has shown a tendency to fade out every so often, settling for a collection of jumpshots rather than attacking the low post like he did more often in Toronto. Furthermore, not much was mentioned about the drawbacks of the South Beach Big Three all coming from the same draft class (NBA Draft 2003). While other team core groups have more variance in experience levels and playing philosophies, Wade, James, and Bosh risk falling into bad habits together when they struggle. Despite all of their talent, the key to their NBA Championship run is the ability of veterans and role players to fill the gaps and outplay opposing players.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers were also a bit of a riddle. The heartwarming return of Coach Doug Collins was complicated by the Sixers' slow start to the season. They have a number of young players complementing veterans Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand. While Brand is arguably on the decline, Iguodala may still have some improvement left in his development. Granted, Coach Doug Collins may only have a couple more years of head coaching in him, so the team must continue to grow in 2011-2012 should they want to make a run at an NBA Championship in the near future.
3) Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have had an interesting ride the past couple decades. From the Patrick Ewing era to the Larry Johnson era, the team had some memorable playoff runs. Thus, the additions of Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony combined with the coaching of Coach Mike D'Antoni may have potentially signaled the start of another strong era of Knicks basketball. In the short-term, the trade to get Carmelo Anthony has proven to be neutral; that is, with or without 'Melo, the team was destined for defeat versus a talented but aging Boston Celtics team. The key here is how the trade for and presence of Anthony impacts the team in the long-term. It is clear the Knicks gave up a good amount of talent to land a cornerstone player, so Anthony must put to rest any doubts within the next couple years to move the Knicks from borderline relevancy to NBA Championship contention.
While the Knicks seem to be forming their new core group, the Boston Celtics are running out of time (as cliche as it sounds) with their current Big Three. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen remain critical pieces of another Boston Celtics NBA Championship run. However, this year's run relies on rising stars Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis and aging veterans Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal. While the O'Neals must fill the void created by the departure of defensive mainstay Kendrick Perkins, Rondo and Davis represent the future core of the Celtics. The Celtics are hoping that Jeff Green fits well in the long-term to help ease the pending declines of Pierce and Allen. Despite the roster concerns, the Boston Celtics remain a favorite in the East, and they can challenge the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks in whatever seven-game series presents itself.
4) Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
Despite the changing over of head coaches to Coach Larry Drew and the trading of starting point guard Mike Bibby, the Atlanta Hawks overcame a major obstacle in their quest for an Eastern Conference title and NBA Championship run by knocking off the rival Orlando Magic. Guard Kirk Hinrich has proven to be a good fit into the Hawks' style of play, with fellow former Chicago Bull Jamal Crawford also filling a bigger void. Furthermore, the versatility of other players, including Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, and Zaza Pachulia make the Atlanta Hawks an intriguing team out of the East. Still, the team must overcome another obstacle in getting out of the Second Round, with Hinrich's/Crawford's former Bulls standing in their way.
While the Hawks seem to be surging, the Orlando Magic are stuck in a bind. They made gutsy trades to bring back Hedo Turkoglu and add Gilbert Arenas. However, they moved Coach Stan Van Gundy's favorite player, Rashard Lewis, and also traded away key frontcourt backup Marcin Gortat. As it stands, the Magic are now arguably a weaker team than before these trades, as they lost to the rival Atlanta Hawks this year in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Time is running out on the team built around Dwight Howard, as the Hawks finally used a strategy long recommended to fallen teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers in past playoff series: let Howard have his points and shut down Mickeal Pietrus, J.J. Redick, Jameer Nelson, and the other perimeter players. With Superman Howard's free agency pending in the near future, the Magic may need to consider finding a couple new cornerstone players.
Western Conference
1) Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs
Sadly, the San Antonio Spurs are becoming an aging NBA Championship team. As such, their slow starts to games showed a lack of urgency and proved to be a poor match against a young and hungry Memphis Grizzlies team. Statistically, Tim Duncan had the worst season of his career, so next year (lockout or not) will be interesting to see how Duncan rebounds from 2010-2011 and how Coach Gregg Popovich further evolves the team's strategy. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker remain strong cornerstones, with players such as George Hill, Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair, and Gary Neal representing a good up-and-coming young group of players and guys like Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner remaining key role players. The Spurs as is look like they have a couple more good years/NBA Championship runs in them.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies are similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder in that they have added veteran talent to support their still young talent. The post play of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol ultimately powered the Grizzlies over the Spurs, with Mike Conley serving as one of the league's best neutralizers for Tony Parker--i.e. Conley plays like another version of Parker. Even with Rudy Gay out, O.J. Mayo, Tony Allen, and others stepped their games up against the Western Conference's winningest regular season team this year. The Grizzlies will be facing something completely different in matching up with the Thunder, but the team's depth and balance--which was enough to supplant the #1 seed Spurs--may be enough to do the same to the Thunder.
2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets
Like the Celtics in the East, the Los Angeles Lakers remain a favorite in the Western Conference. Despite not claiming the West's #1 seed, opposing players and coaches continue to respect the Lakers as defending NBA Champions (Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich even named the Lakers as the best team in the West after his Game 6 elimination loss to the Grizzlies). Ultimately, any team with clutch stalwarts Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher can overcome just about any obstacle, with supporting cast members Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and Ron Artest reminding the league why they remain favorites to win the NBA Championship for a Three-Peat.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Hornets put up a valiant effort following the untimely injury of post player David West. West looks to be out until at least the middle of next season, so Coach Monty Williams, point guard Chris Paul, post player Emeka Okafor, and others will need to figure out how to remain relevant in the always competitive Western Conference. While West and Okafor seemed to gel much better this season than last, the team will have to figure out how to improve their chemistry and play while also keeping a spot in the lineup warm for West. It should be an interesting offseason and 2011-2012 season for the Hornets.
3) Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland TrailBlazers
The Dallas Mavericks are one of the aging teams in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry remain in their primes, but Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion are on the decline. Other young players such as J.J. Barea represent some hope for the future of the Mavericks, but any possible NBA Championship run revolves around Coach Rick Carlisle and team superstar Nowitzki. Unfortunately, a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers means matchup problems in handling superstar Kobe Bryant, so the Mavericks will have their hands full in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Portland TrailBlazers seem to be a solid contender in the Western Conference. They have well-balanced play, from savvy veteran point guard Andre Miller to post player LaMarcus Aldridge. Brandon Roy followed up poor early series play with breakout performances the rest of the series. While Gerald Wallace was a steal of a trade acquisition, the retention of Rudy Fernandez and the rise of Wesley Matthews meant strong wing play and depth. However, the TrailBlazers did not take the route that Don Nelson and the Golden State Warriors used to knock off the Mavericks a few years ago in the NBA Playoffs by having swingman Stephen Jackson guard big man Dirk Nowitzki—this year, this role could have been filled by Jackson’s former Charlotte Bobcats teammate Wallace. Regardless, the First Round loss should not stand in the way of at least a couple more years of Portland TrailBlazers NBA Playoffs basketball.
4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a joy to watch. Coach Scott Brooks appears to have his team focused, hungry, and humble. Rising superstar Kevin Durant seems poised to build a winning NBA career legacy, with outstanding play down the stretch in a clinching Game 5 victory. Likewise, Kendrick Perkins has meshed well with the Thunder’s core group, including guard Russell Westbrook, swingman James Harden, and big man Serge Ibaka. The Thunder would have likely been the underdogs versus the San Antonio Spurs in a Second Round series, but instead they find themselves favored over the underdog Grizzlies. It is time to see how far this Oklahoma City Thunder team can go.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets functioned much like their trade allies the New York Knicks fared this year. While New York ended the year with Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets started the year with him. Basically, the Nuggets shifted focus from superstar player and company to a collection of solid players. The team’s overall personality fit well with Coach George Karl in perhaps his last run at an NBA Championship. Unfortunately, sluggish play by key players J.R. Smith and Chris “Birdman” Andersen led to the unraveling of the team’s 2011 NBA Playoffs run, with Smith now appearing to be on his way out of Denver. With Smith possibly vacating the star status role formerly held by Anthony, it will be interesting to see who among the young players or incoming free agents will take command of the Nuggets’ lineup.
Eastern Conference
1) Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers:
The Indiana Pacers are much like how the Oklahoma City Thunder were a couple years ago: young with a lot of potential. As such, the Pacers struggled to close out games versus the Bulls, blowing 4th quarter leads in Game 1, Game 2, and Game 3 and almost doing so in Game 4. The Pacers will need to make some decisions in order to determine which young players to keep and which players to trade for veterans to balance out the roster. This is further compounded by the pending departure of team executive Larry Bird, although former team executive Donnie Walsh may return if forced out of New York.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Bulls showed that they have enough talent to challenge for the NBA Championship this year. Primarily, they combine the MVP leadership and play of Derrick Rose with the fierce offensive rebounding of Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer. While Rose initiates plays and team momentum, it can be argued that boxing out Noah and Boozer are the most important keys in beating the Bulls. Added to the mix are strong scorers Luol Deng and Kyle Korver as well as a number of other solid veterans and role players. Although the wins were not dominant, the competitive fire and clutch play of the Chicago Bulls was present in the First Round, with more to be seen in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
2) Miami Heat vs. Philadelphia 76ers
The Miami Heat continue to be somewhat of an enigma. The New Big Three of Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh remain league leaders in a number of statistical categories. Yet, their inconsistency leaves them vulnerable. While Wade and James tend to find ways to get their points and contribute every game, Bosh has shown a tendency to fade out every so often, settling for a collection of jumpshots rather than attacking the low post like he did more often in Toronto. Furthermore, not much was mentioned about the drawbacks of the South Beach Big Three all coming from the same draft class (NBA Draft 2003). While other team core groups have more variance in experience levels and playing philosophies, Wade, James, and Bosh risk falling into bad habits together when they struggle. Despite all of their talent, the key to their NBA Championship run is the ability of veterans and role players to fill the gaps and outplay opposing players.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers were also a bit of a riddle. The heartwarming return of Coach Doug Collins was complicated by the Sixers' slow start to the season. They have a number of young players complementing veterans Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand. While Brand is arguably on the decline, Iguodala may still have some improvement left in his development. Granted, Coach Doug Collins may only have a couple more years of head coaching in him, so the team must continue to grow in 2011-2012 should they want to make a run at an NBA Championship in the near future.
3) Boston Celtics vs. New York Knicks
The New York Knicks have had an interesting ride the past couple decades. From the Patrick Ewing era to the Larry Johnson era, the team had some memorable playoff runs. Thus, the additions of Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony combined with the coaching of Coach Mike D'Antoni may have potentially signaled the start of another strong era of Knicks basketball. In the short-term, the trade to get Carmelo Anthony has proven to be neutral; that is, with or without 'Melo, the team was destined for defeat versus a talented but aging Boston Celtics team. The key here is how the trade for and presence of Anthony impacts the team in the long-term. It is clear the Knicks gave up a good amount of talent to land a cornerstone player, so Anthony must put to rest any doubts within the next couple years to move the Knicks from borderline relevancy to NBA Championship contention.
While the Knicks seem to be forming their new core group, the Boston Celtics are running out of time (as cliche as it sounds) with their current Big Three. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen remain critical pieces of another Boston Celtics NBA Championship run. However, this year's run relies on rising stars Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis and aging veterans Shaquille O'Neal and Jermaine O'Neal. While the O'Neals must fill the void created by the departure of defensive mainstay Kendrick Perkins, Rondo and Davis represent the future core of the Celtics. The Celtics are hoping that Jeff Green fits well in the long-term to help ease the pending declines of Pierce and Allen. Despite the roster concerns, the Boston Celtics remain a favorite in the East, and they can challenge the Miami Heat, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks in whatever seven-game series presents itself.
4) Atlanta Hawks vs. Orlando Magic
Despite the changing over of head coaches to Coach Larry Drew and the trading of starting point guard Mike Bibby, the Atlanta Hawks overcame a major obstacle in their quest for an Eastern Conference title and NBA Championship run by knocking off the rival Orlando Magic. Guard Kirk Hinrich has proven to be a good fit into the Hawks' style of play, with fellow former Chicago Bull Jamal Crawford also filling a bigger void. Furthermore, the versatility of other players, including Josh Smith, Al Horford, Marvin Williams, and Zaza Pachulia make the Atlanta Hawks an intriguing team out of the East. Still, the team must overcome another obstacle in getting out of the Second Round, with Hinrich's/Crawford's former Bulls standing in their way.
While the Hawks seem to be surging, the Orlando Magic are stuck in a bind. They made gutsy trades to bring back Hedo Turkoglu and add Gilbert Arenas. However, they moved Coach Stan Van Gundy's favorite player, Rashard Lewis, and also traded away key frontcourt backup Marcin Gortat. As it stands, the Magic are now arguably a weaker team than before these trades, as they lost to the rival Atlanta Hawks this year in the 2011 NBA Playoffs. Time is running out on the team built around Dwight Howard, as the Hawks finally used a strategy long recommended to fallen teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers in past playoff series: let Howard have his points and shut down Mickeal Pietrus, J.J. Redick, Jameer Nelson, and the other perimeter players. With Superman Howard's free agency pending in the near future, the Magic may need to consider finding a couple new cornerstone players.
Western Conference
1) Memphis Grizzlies vs. San Antonio Spurs
Sadly, the San Antonio Spurs are becoming an aging NBA Championship team. As such, their slow starts to games showed a lack of urgency and proved to be a poor match against a young and hungry Memphis Grizzlies team. Statistically, Tim Duncan had the worst season of his career, so next year (lockout or not) will be interesting to see how Duncan rebounds from 2010-2011 and how Coach Gregg Popovich further evolves the team's strategy. Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker remain strong cornerstones, with players such as George Hill, Tiago Splitter, DeJuan Blair, and Gary Neal representing a good up-and-coming young group of players and guys like Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner remaining key role players. The Spurs as is look like they have a couple more good years/NBA Championship runs in them.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies are similar to the Oklahoma City Thunder in that they have added veteran talent to support their still young talent. The post play of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol ultimately powered the Grizzlies over the Spurs, with Mike Conley serving as one of the league's best neutralizers for Tony Parker--i.e. Conley plays like another version of Parker. Even with Rudy Gay out, O.J. Mayo, Tony Allen, and others stepped their games up against the Western Conference's winningest regular season team this year. The Grizzlies will be facing something completely different in matching up with the Thunder, but the team's depth and balance--which was enough to supplant the #1 seed Spurs--may be enough to do the same to the Thunder.
2) Los Angeles Lakers vs. New Orleans Hornets
Like the Celtics in the East, the Los Angeles Lakers remain a favorite in the Western Conference. Despite not claiming the West's #1 seed, opposing players and coaches continue to respect the Lakers as defending NBA Champions (Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich even named the Lakers as the best team in the West after his Game 6 elimination loss to the Grizzlies). Ultimately, any team with clutch stalwarts Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher can overcome just about any obstacle, with supporting cast members Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and Ron Artest reminding the league why they remain favorites to win the NBA Championship for a Three-Peat.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans Hornets put up a valiant effort following the untimely injury of post player David West. West looks to be out until at least the middle of next season, so Coach Monty Williams, point guard Chris Paul, post player Emeka Okafor, and others will need to figure out how to remain relevant in the always competitive Western Conference. While West and Okafor seemed to gel much better this season than last, the team will have to figure out how to improve their chemistry and play while also keeping a spot in the lineup warm for West. It should be an interesting offseason and 2011-2012 season for the Hornets.
3) Dallas Mavericks vs. Portland TrailBlazers
The Dallas Mavericks are one of the aging teams in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry remain in their primes, but Jason Kidd and Shawn Marion are on the decline. Other young players such as J.J. Barea represent some hope for the future of the Mavericks, but any possible NBA Championship run revolves around Coach Rick Carlisle and team superstar Nowitzki. Unfortunately, a matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers means matchup problems in handling superstar Kobe Bryant, so the Mavericks will have their hands full in the Western Conference Semifinals.
The Portland TrailBlazers seem to be a solid contender in the Western Conference. They have well-balanced play, from savvy veteran point guard Andre Miller to post player LaMarcus Aldridge. Brandon Roy followed up poor early series play with breakout performances the rest of the series. While Gerald Wallace was a steal of a trade acquisition, the retention of Rudy Fernandez and the rise of Wesley Matthews meant strong wing play and depth. However, the TrailBlazers did not take the route that Don Nelson and the Golden State Warriors used to knock off the Mavericks a few years ago in the NBA Playoffs by having swingman Stephen Jackson guard big man Dirk Nowitzki—this year, this role could have been filled by Jackson’s former Charlotte Bobcats teammate Wallace. Regardless, the First Round loss should not stand in the way of at least a couple more years of Portland TrailBlazers NBA Playoffs basketball.
4) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been a joy to watch. Coach Scott Brooks appears to have his team focused, hungry, and humble. Rising superstar Kevin Durant seems poised to build a winning NBA career legacy, with outstanding play down the stretch in a clinching Game 5 victory. Likewise, Kendrick Perkins has meshed well with the Thunder’s core group, including guard Russell Westbrook, swingman James Harden, and big man Serge Ibaka. The Thunder would have likely been the underdogs versus the San Antonio Spurs in a Second Round series, but instead they find themselves favored over the underdog Grizzlies. It is time to see how far this Oklahoma City Thunder team can go.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets functioned much like their trade allies the New York Knicks fared this year. While New York ended the year with Carmelo Anthony, the Nuggets started the year with him. Basically, the Nuggets shifted focus from superstar player and company to a collection of solid players. The team’s overall personality fit well with Coach George Karl in perhaps his last run at an NBA Championship. Unfortunately, sluggish play by key players J.R. Smith and Chris “Birdman” Andersen led to the unraveling of the team’s 2011 NBA Playoffs run, with Smith now appearing to be on his way out of Denver. With Smith possibly vacating the star status role formerly held by Anthony, it will be interesting to see who among the young players or incoming free agents will take command of the Nuggets’ lineup.
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