Welcome to the NBA Playoffs, where this year will be unpredictable and upsets will happen. The chance of a lifetime for two teams fighting for the Larry O’Brien Trophy has finally arrived. Before we get to the matchup lets see how everyone else did.
Portland Trail Blazers: It appears that a team that struggled to make the playoffs before the stoppage was given new life when the NBA decided to go to Orlando and expand the playoff teams. The Blazers did just enough to hold off Memphis and a potential powerhouse in Phoenix, they even won the 1st game in their First Round series, then reality hits, and it is to (YOU GUESSED IT) the Lakers AGAIN! Yes did I mention Portland was playing the Lakers. Yeah because they have kicked Portland’s butts ever since Shaq and Kobe roasted them in the Western Conference Finals in 2000. This may have been the Blazers last shot at a championship with CJ McCollum, yes Damian Lillard is under contract for several years but they have a few up and coming prospects that could take his place. Your move Rip City.
Dallas Mavericks: I will be honest, yes the Mavs did get robbed by bad calls and REFBALL. That is where my sympathy ends. Even if they got those calls right Dallas still would have lost the series. Here are a few reasons. The offense besides Luka Doncic went stone cold in Games 5 and 6, Tim Hardaway having no answers for Kawhi Leonard, the bench getting shut down, and the 3 point shooting going silent. I think they will be back but I honestly think this is a missed opportunity, not if they are used to it.
Utah Jazz: What was I thinking, I thought that the Jazz would be the Cinderella Team of the Western Conference. WE ALL DID! I won’t go hard on them because they did everything they could to avoid blowing a 3-1 series lead to the Nuggets. They just didn’t have an answer for Jamal Murray, and Nikola Jokic. I know Jazz fans think that this was their best chance at a title this year but no, I think if they could get a big fish in free agency then they could compete with the LA teams and Golden State.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Even if they lost in Game 7 to the Rockets this is a team you have to give a lot of credit to based on their front office. A team that looked destroyed after PG13 and Westbrook left in trades was entering a long and dark rebuild. It appeared that the Thunder turned the clock back to 2016 and was able to ride into the playoffs on a hot streak. Then they got smashed by 2 old faces James Harden and the aforementioned Russell Westbrook. Even if both players were cold in the series OKC was no match for the Rockets small-ball offense. The thing I don’t understand is why didn’t they give Billy Donovan a new contract? I feel like he wanted a new challenge as well. With that being said I would let go of CP3 as well.
Orlando Magic: Like last year Orlando pulled off an upset win in Game 1, and like last year this appeared to be the beginning of a magical playoff run that was like a Disney Princess Movie. Then reality hits, it had nothing to do with Aaron Gordon, MCW, or Jonathan Issac out. They didn’t have the guns to keep up with the Bucks. I have to give them some praise as well, a team that pushed the best team in the NBA to the limit in Round 1 should always be watched next year. Knowing what I said there could be big fish in free agency headed for the Magic Kingdom.
Brooklyn Nets: This season and playoffs are perfect for this franchise, injured and no match for a powerhouse. Let’s take a look at this list: No KD, no Kyrie, no Deandre Jordan, no Spencer Dinwidde, and they had to bring in Jamal Crawford because even more players went down. Even if they were banged up they still kept the defending champs close in each of the 4 games but ultimately ran out of gas. With the rest of the team at full strength next year I think they could be a serious championship contender or a team that is not ready for the big time.
Philadelphia 76ers: Congratulations the Sixers once again can’t make it past the second round. This year was the deathblow to the Process of Philly’s hopes and dreams. The plan of this whole thing wasn’t to get swept by Boston 5 years down the road. I think what undid them was like the formerly known Redskins was signing the wrong people. They chose Tobias Harris and Al Horford over Jimmy Butler and JJ Reddick. Plus not to mention that Ben Simmons was injured in the playoffs. Now that Brett Brown is gone there should be a chance at getting a high profile coach that is good at teaching the players the fundamentals. The real issue is what do they do with the final year of Joel Embiid’s contract, do they trade him or get a better coach to help him. NOW WATCH THEM HIRE JASON KIDD AND LEARN NOTHING! Actually the hired Doc Rivers
Indiana Pacers: Nah I won’t go hard on them, they don’t deserve it. The problem this year with the Pacers wasn’t that Sabonis was injured and Oladipo looked gassed. Every scheme they tried against Miami failed. They were no match for their speed and 3 point attack. Not to mention TJ Warren went ice cold after roasting everyone in the 8 games prior to the playoffs. With these losses the Pacers have lost 11 out of their last 12 playoff games and it cost Nate McMillen his job. I don’t understand why they fired him. McMillen is a good coach but the teams that beat them the last few years were much better teams than the Pacers. I don’t know who to trust in the front office.
Houston Rockets: Rockets let’s be honest, was it really worth trading everything for Russell Westbrook? No! I think that the small-ball scheme is a very good scheme to run against slower teams. The problem. If your offense is cold you can’t get rebounds, I also think it was a total mistake that they traded Clint Capela. If they don’t Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard wouldn’t roast them, their rebounding numbers are average, and this series would have been closer. With this loss the Rockets did not want to give Mike D’Antoni a new contract and allowed him to leave and also Russell Westbrook is likely gone as well. I am also surprised that Daryl Morey is still around.
Los Angeles Clippers: The Clippers streak of 50 years without an appearance in the Conference Finals continues as they like the Jazz blew a 3-1 series lead to the Nuggets. I feel like that they were just unlucky, they had leads in Games 5-6-7 and lost because they did everything they could to win yet Denver matched them at every term. That included Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Even if this year was far beyond expectations the Clippers I think will be very active this offseason. If they bring in Westbrook look out!
Milwaukee Bucks: This may be the greatest embarrassment in franchise history. Losing to the 5th seeded Miami Heat in 5 games in the 2nd Round after being heavy favorites for the title. I had a feeling this would happen because the Bucks looked terrible in the first 8 games plus their first round series against the Magic. In this series the Bucks were outplayed in every game including Games 2-3. In those games they let the outcome either be decided by REFBALL or they shot themselves in the foot. Them like the 76ers tried to avoid this 5 years down the road. Next year could be the last chance that the Bucks have at a championship during their “Own the Future” project. Giannis, Brook Lopez, and many others as well as Coach Bud are in the last year of their contracts plus ownership is very desperate to get Bradley Beal, Brandon Ingram, or Chris Paul this offseason. Don’t tell me they are getting the same treatment as the Maple Leafs in the next few years.
Toronto Raptors: The Raptors in everyone’s minds should have re-signed Kawhi Leonard after last year’s title run. Why? Because they knew this was going to happen. There are a few key elements for why Toronto was outmatched by Boston.
- Pascal Siakum played bad
- The shooting was ice cold
- They had no answers for Jayson Tatum
- They couldn’t close out Games 5 and 7
If they did all of those things they would’ve had the chance to defend their title. To me they will be huge buyers for Brandon Ingram in the offseason. Getting a swing player like Kawhi would be huge for them. All I can say is this, Cherish that title because it might be the only one you might win for a long time.
Denver Nuggets: The Comebacks Kids have run out of gas! This time it had nothing to do with them. They got LeBronned and then Unibrowed for 5 games. Even if they looked like a team of destiny the Nuggets weren’t quite ready for a chance at the franchises 1st championship. I am happy for them though. They overcame 2 3-1 series deficits, Jamal Murray looks like a Superstar, and they have some more top prospects on the way. Even though this was a rough ending I think they will be back.
Boston Celtics: Everyone said last year that Kyrie Irving was the biggest problem in BeanTown. WRONG! Their biggest issue is that Brad Stevens can’t coach in the playoffs. He is good in Rounds 1-2 but always plays second fiddle to LeBron or the Heat in the ECF. This time they were no match for Tyler Herro and Duncan Robinson, not to mention Miami had the depth advantage in the series. I feel like the best chances that Boston has of winning a championship in the past few years have vanished. But who cares they will probably be back.
Remember when I said that the NBA rigged the finals to be the Lakers vs. Anyone but the Bucks that statement lived up to the expectations. Anyways who is coming out of the West?
Los Angeles Lakers: Everyone thought that the NBA would be free after Golden State missed the playoffs this year. The bad part was that LeBron is back and he is with the Lakers, the most insufferable and biggest fanbase in the game. Now they are back in the Finals and have the chance to overtake the Celtics as the most successful franchise in the NBA. When you look at the Lakers after the Kobe era they were in contention for the #1 pick almost every single year. Even if they got LeBron last year they still needed a Hollywood Blockbuster to get them back to the playoffs let alone the big dance. They traded basically the entire team plus 4 First Round Picks to the Pelicans for Anthony Davis. With those moves made by Rob Polinka the Lakers were indeed BACK. They stormed past almost everyone in the regular season but once the playoffs began they had plenty of questions. They lost Game 1 to Portland and everyone thought they were in trouble. 4 straight wins will answer that question. Against the Rockets in Round 2 Wash, Rinse, Repeat. In the Conference Finals they exposed the Nuggets hopes and dreams into Kobe Bryant’s graveyard. The talent on the roster needs 0 introductions for why they dominate everyone that comes their way. LeBron James the best player of his generation, if he wins a 4th championship he would surpass Shaq, Bird, and Magic in the GOAT Conversation and would put him in a class all to himself with championships for 3 different teams. Anthony Davis a man on a mission, in the WCF he nearly single handedly carried them past Denver and into the finals. If he wins a championship he will be a sure fire Hall of Famer. The 3rd star on the team, Kyle Kuzma. He has had a rough postseason but is a player that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Then there are the ringer chasers or old vets. Two names come to mind.
- Rajon Rondo, a former champion with the 2008 Celtics is back on a real team and has turned back the clock to his prime with mid-range shots and defense.
- Dwight Howard, one of the best Centers of his Generation, years of elite play despite not being the same player he once was now gets the chance at winning his first title after several years in Orlando and Houston.
The rest of the Lakers are hungry as well. The bench players on paper are scrubs but play at their best when it matters most. The coaching staff is led by Frank Vogel and Jason Kidd. If they win it all this year Bucks fans like me will be very salty at Kidd for doing that in LA and not Milwaukee. The only team remaining on their quest for title #17 the team that LeBron once made a dynasty is out for revenge with a young and exciting cast.
Miami Heat: This year has been a dream come true for the people of South Beach. They hosted the Super Bowl, the Dolphins got their QB of the future, the Panthers made the NHL bubble in Toronto despite an early exit, the Marlins made the playoffs for the first time since 2003, and the cherry on the sundae that is the Heat in the NBA Finals. This was a hard team to predict coming into this season. A team that had lost Dwayne Wade to retirement, replaced him with ironically his successor at Marquette as well. They were also a team that had plenty of questions in terms of depth and young talent. This year was far beyond everyone’s expectations. They may have been the 5th seed but they had a winning record against every team in the East. In the playoffs they not only made the Finals they stormed past the Pacers, Bucks, and Celtics with ease. They have a roster of speed, 3 point shooting, defense, inside scoring, mid-range, and rebounding. Lets see what they have. Jimmy Butler, one of the most underrated players in the game finally gets the chance to win a championship and potentially create another dynasty for the 305 after years of dominance in Chicago, Minnesota, and Philly. Bam Adebayo is the player that I would have said “Who is he” last year. This year he is becoming one of the best defensive players in the league. Goran Dragic, another underrated talent finally gets the chance at a title after a long and productive career. This postseason they may have christened their own version of the “Splash Brothers”. Duncan Robinson has been lights out all season, and in the playoffs has been a key man in opposing teams gameplans. Tyler Herro the Boy Wonder of the Playoffs, I am salty that this was the pick the Bucks gave up for Nikola Mirotic last year and he has become the next D-Wade in the hearts of Heat fans. With Andre Iguodala, Kendrick Nunn, Udonis Haslem, Jae Crowder, Derrick Jones, and Kelly Olynyk as well there is no weak spot for them. The 2 big reasons why the Heat are back from the brink of the past few years. Erik Spoelstra, and Pat Riley. Those two have once again transformed this franchise into a likeable team again. It is the Party Boys from the West Coast vs the Party Boys from the South WHO WILL TAKE THE CROWN!
Prediction: I know a lot of people are picking the Lakers to win because of the Kobe Story in convincing fashion but I don’t buy that. I think this series is going to be much closer than everyone thinks. With the talent and depth that Miami has it will be a tough out. But can it take out a GIANT? Fine the Heat will win it all in 7, because that is how this league is going to be at the end of this long year.
Bragging Rights Sports 