The NBA is back so let's take a quick look around the Eastern Conference.
There's a lot of new faces in new places that will definitely mix things
up from a year ago. Derrick Rose is back after taking a year off to
recover from ACL surgery, the Brooklyn Nets brought in two future hall of famers in Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, while the Detroit Pistons have added Josh Smith and Brandon Jennings.
However, the East is basically a four team race. The one thing we know is that everybody will again be chasing the
Miami Heat.
Eastern Conference Contenders
Miami
Heat - Obviously we have to start with the Heat. Coming off of two
straight NBA Championships and LeBron James' two consecutive NBA MVP's,
the road to the title goes through Miami. A big question is are they
still hungry enough to get their third straight ring? At the end of
last season Dwyane Wade was struggling with injuries and another year on
his rusty knees might slow him down even more. Chris Bosh has been the
third wheel of the "Big Three" but if he's able to take some of the
load off Wade this team could be just as strong as ever. The Heat lost
playoff hero Mike Miller but added former #2 overall pick Michael
Beasley and former #1 overall pick Greg Oden. Both are still young (24
and 25 respectively) but who knows how much they have left to offer.
Beasley averaged a career worst 10.1 points a season ago on a bad
Phoenix team and in my opinion has too many personal issues to deal with
before he can become a solid contributor again. Oden on the other hand
was hit with the curse of the Portland big man. Just like Sam Bowie
and Bill Walton, Oden suffered a serious leg injury that made him miss
the last three seasons. Oden's potential all depends on his health. If
he's healthy he will be a great asset to this team, especially if he can move
Bosh to his more natural position of power forward.
Indiana
Pacers - The Pacers were one game away from shocking the world and
reaching the NBA Finals a year ago. Indiana took the Heat to a game
seven as Paul George had a national coming out party as he went
head-to-head with LBJ and held his own for most of the series. That
performance helped George win the most improved award and put the
Indiana Pacers as team that could take down Miami. Along with George,
Roy Hibbert also showed the world what he can do in the playoffs.
Hibbert seemed to plateau for three years hovering around 12 points and
eight rebounds, but in the playoffs he ratcheted up his intensity and
aggressiveness. The 7'2 center averaged 17 and 10 in the postseason
including leading the Pacers in scoring and rebounding against the Heat
with 22 points and 10 boards. If Hibbert brings that same aggression
for an entire season he could challenge Dwight Howard for best center in
the league. One addition the Pacers made was a big one when they
brought in Luis Scola. This is a guy that shares the same tough
mentality the Pacers do and can give them quality minutes off the bench
to spell Hibbert and David West.
Chicago
Bulls - The last time Derrick Rose played a regular season he led the
Bulls to the best record in the NBA for the second year in a row. He
took off last year to fully recover from his ACL tear in the 2012
playoffs and Chicago finished fifth in the East. A lot of NBA fans,
especially ones in Chicago, questioned why Rose took so long to return
to action. Especially after seeing Adrian Peterson suffer the same
injury and become the NFL MVP. But, it might have been the best thing
Rose could have done. We have to remember he's still on 25 and if he
could have played last year he would have had a higher risk of
re-injuring himself. Now that he's had more than a year to fully
recover, the Bulls are primed to take back that top spot in the NBA.
Aside from Rose, the difference maker will be third-year man Jimmy
Butler. In the latter half of last year he became a legit scorer and
defender for the Bulls. We know what they'll get out of Joakim Noah,
Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng, but if Butler continues to improve that
will give Chicago one of the best starting lineups in the league. The
spark plug for the Bull is Noah, however, he is struggling with a groin
injury right now after being less than 100% for last year's playoffs
with plantar fasciitis. With this team back at full strength they could
be the ones to dethrone the defending champs.
Brooklyn Nets - In the
2012 offseason Brooklyn made a move to acquire Joe Johnson. This
offseason they made an even bigger one getting Paul Pierce, Kevin
Garnett, and Jason Terry from the Boston Celtics. I never thought I'd
ever see Pierce play for another team after giving 15 years to Boston
but they sent him away. Another key player added was Andrei Kirilenko.
He's never going to wow you on the court but he can fill a stat sheet
and play great defense. Add these four guys to a team with Deron
Williams, Brook Lopez and the previously mentioned Johnson and you have a
roster with 36 all-star and 16 all-NBA selections combined. That's a
pretty decent resume. The problem the Nets will run into is the same
problem that has plagued teams loaded with talent. There's only one
ball and one if not two of these stars will need to take one a smaller
role than they are used to. Some guys can't handle that and become a
detriment to their team. It might take a month or two for this team to
get a feel for how each other plays but if they start clicking Brooklyn
will be a team to watch out for come playoff time.
Eastern Conference Playoff Teams
1. Miami Heat
2. Indiana Pacers
3. Chicago Bulls
4. Brooklyn Nets
5. New York Knicks
6. Detroit Pistons
7. Atlanta Hawks
8. Washington Wizards
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LeBron James. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
2013-14 NBA Awards Predictions
Here's a quick look at my predictions for the 2013-14 NBA Awards
Rookie Of The Year - Victor Oladipo
Oladipo was the second overall pick in this years draft and has the one trait that translates the easiest from college to pro ball...defense. Unless you were a prolific scorer in college it usually takes a year or two to be able to put up numbers in the NBA, but defense is all about effort. And every coach will always leave a guy on the court if he plays good D. Also, remember this is a guy that shot 60% from the field and 44% from three-point range his last year at Indiana so he has the ability to score. With him being on a bad Orlando Magic team he will find a spot in the starting lineup early and continue to produce throughout the season.
Second Place: Michael Carter-Williams
Most Improved - Kawhi Leonard
We knew Leonard was a key part of the San Antonio Spurs but it wasn't until the playoffs, particularly the NBA Finals, when we saw how important he actually is to this team. In the Finals, he put up 14 points and 11 boards all while trying to contain LeBron James. With the Spurs "Big Three" getting older, especially Manu Ginobili, Leonard will be asked to continue to produce more often. He is the obvious predecessor to take over the reins of a well-rounded Spurs team. Just like Paul George transformed into a superstar a year ago for the Pacers, we will see the same from Kawhi this year.
Second Place: Andre Drummond
Sixth Man - Jamal Crawford
Is there a better pure scorer that comes off the bench than Jamal Crawford? No. It's amazing to watch this guy handle the ball and tear apart second units. He's 33 years old and in his 14th season but can still put up points with the best of them. He doesn't give you much on the defensive end and that has probably kept him from winning more sixth man awards, but this year he will add to his 2010 honors.
Second Place: J.R. Smith
Coach Of The Year - Kevin McHale
If Kevin McHale is able to control the emotions of Dwight Howard this team has the ability to challenge for the Western Conference title. Houston has all the tools in their starting lineup to produce and it's all up to the coach to harness those efforts. McHale had the Rockets scoring 106 points per game a season ago, good for second in the NBA. With the presence of Howard they have the potential to be a good defensive team as well.
Second Place: Mark Jackson
Defensive Player Of The Year - Roy Hibbert
One of the few true center's in the NBA showed his growth in the 2012-13 playoffs and will turn into a dominant force for the 2013-14 campaign. His blocks have gone up every year as pro and he finished with 2.6 last season. I expect his numbers to rise in all aspects of his game and if he gets to 12 boards and three blocks per game he'll be a lock for this award.
Second Place: Dwight Howard
Most Valuable Player - LeBron James
It's hard to pick anybody else. LeBron James has won the last two MVP awards because his game is still improving. In three years with the Heat his shooting percentages, rebounds and assists have increased while his turnovers have decreased. Kevin Durant is right on his heels after posting the elusive 50-40-90 (FG%, 3P%, FT%) season but still has a little work to do to surpass James. LBJ tries to improve a different aspect of his game each offseason and it will be interesting to see what he has in store for us in the 2013-14 season.
Second Place: Kevin Durant
Rookie Of The Year - Victor Oladipo
Oladipo was the second overall pick in this years draft and has the one trait that translates the easiest from college to pro ball...defense. Unless you were a prolific scorer in college it usually takes a year or two to be able to put up numbers in the NBA, but defense is all about effort. And every coach will always leave a guy on the court if he plays good D. Also, remember this is a guy that shot 60% from the field and 44% from three-point range his last year at Indiana so he has the ability to score. With him being on a bad Orlando Magic team he will find a spot in the starting lineup early and continue to produce throughout the season.
Second Place: Michael Carter-Williams
Most Improved - Kawhi Leonard
We knew Leonard was a key part of the San Antonio Spurs but it wasn't until the playoffs, particularly the NBA Finals, when we saw how important he actually is to this team. In the Finals, he put up 14 points and 11 boards all while trying to contain LeBron James. With the Spurs "Big Three" getting older, especially Manu Ginobili, Leonard will be asked to continue to produce more often. He is the obvious predecessor to take over the reins of a well-rounded Spurs team. Just like Paul George transformed into a superstar a year ago for the Pacers, we will see the same from Kawhi this year.
Second Place: Andre Drummond
Sixth Man - Jamal Crawford
Is there a better pure scorer that comes off the bench than Jamal Crawford? No. It's amazing to watch this guy handle the ball and tear apart second units. He's 33 years old and in his 14th season but can still put up points with the best of them. He doesn't give you much on the defensive end and that has probably kept him from winning more sixth man awards, but this year he will add to his 2010 honors.
Second Place: J.R. Smith
Coach Of The Year - Kevin McHale
If Kevin McHale is able to control the emotions of Dwight Howard this team has the ability to challenge for the Western Conference title. Houston has all the tools in their starting lineup to produce and it's all up to the coach to harness those efforts. McHale had the Rockets scoring 106 points per game a season ago, good for second in the NBA. With the presence of Howard they have the potential to be a good defensive team as well.
Second Place: Mark Jackson
Defensive Player Of The Year - Roy Hibbert
One of the few true center's in the NBA showed his growth in the 2012-13 playoffs and will turn into a dominant force for the 2013-14 campaign. His blocks have gone up every year as pro and he finished with 2.6 last season. I expect his numbers to rise in all aspects of his game and if he gets to 12 boards and three blocks per game he'll be a lock for this award.
Second Place: Dwight Howard
Most Valuable Player - LeBron James
It's hard to pick anybody else. LeBron James has won the last two MVP awards because his game is still improving. In three years with the Heat his shooting percentages, rebounds and assists have increased while his turnovers have decreased. Kevin Durant is right on his heels after posting the elusive 50-40-90 (FG%, 3P%, FT%) season but still has a little work to do to surpass James. LBJ tries to improve a different aspect of his game each offseason and it will be interesting to see what he has in store for us in the 2013-14 season.
Second Place: Kevin Durant
Thursday, June 6, 2013
NBA Finals Preview: San Antonio Spurs vs Miami Heat
The NBA Finals are here and a consistent contender in the San Antonio Spurs, match up with the defending champion, Miami Heat. The Spurs are coming off a sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies, while the Heat finished off the Indiana Pacers in a grueling 7-game series. Will the Spurs show any rust from the long layoff or will it be much needed rest for their older players? Will the Heat be tired from going the distance with the Pacers or will they find a second wind to go back-to-back. These are only a few of the questions we have before this series starts tonight.
Which Big 3 has the advantage?
The same year Miami's Big 3 were drafted in 2003, San Antonio's Big 3 were coming off their first of three championships together. Long before the term Big 3 was a cliche, the Spurs Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili made up a core that has stuck together for over 10 years. The originators will now take on the latest Big 3 to win a title in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
For the Spurs, Parker seems to have turned back the hands of time and is having arguably the best season of his career. Duncan is having his best season over the past three, whereas Ginobili is have his worst year in the last three seasons. Parker has been the second best player in the playoffs and showed it against Memphis, one of the best defensive teams in the league. Parker had his way with Mike Conley and Tony Allen all series. When his jumper was off in game 2 he dished out 18 assists and in game 4 he poured in 37 points on 15-21 shooting. Duncan has been his fundamental self averaging 17.8 points and 9.2 boards in the playoffs. 20 and 10 is no longer a nightly thing for the 37 year old Duncan, but is still very possible. And after seeing what Roy Hibbert and David West did to Miami's front line, I can see Timmy producing just the same. Ginobili on the other hand could be the wild card. Besides hitting a game winning three in double overtime against Golden State, the Argentinian has been relatively quiet. At 35, he looks to be hitting a wall averaging only 11.5 points in the playoffs. But, the Finals usually bring out the best in players that have proven they don't crack under pressure.
The Heat's Big 3 is in their third year as teammates and have reached the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year. LeBron was named NBA MVP for the fourth time and like Parker, is having one of his best seasons ever. He's also been the best player in the playoffs as well and showed us in the series against the Pacers. Not only was he asked to guard Paul George, Indiana's best perimeter player, but also carry the offense because Wade and Bosh have struggled mightily. Wade has been a shell of himself scoring 14.1 ppg and only reaching 20 points twice this postseason. He missed 13 games during the year with a knee problem so maybe that's still bothering him. Whatever his issue, the Heat will need more production from Wade if they want to get past the Spurs. As for Bosh, he had a really hard time against the bigger and stronger Pacers front line and only managed 11 points and 4.3 rebounds in the series. Playing against Duncan and Tiago Splitter might help Bosh as they aren't as physical and play more of his style.
Miami's Big 3 are all around their prime age but only LeBron is playing like it. Parker and Duncan are definitely holding their own but Ginobili looks like he's lost his game. If I'm going to give an edge I'd have to give it to the Heat, but only slightly. We know LBJ is the best player on the planet, but Wade showed up in game 7 against the Pacers and I think he might have found his groove. I also don't expect Bosh to play as poorly as he has. Against the Spurs during the regular season he put up 41 points and 21 rebounds in two games.
Will LeBron James guard Tony Parker?
This is a huge question and one that could determine the outcome of this series. As we've discussed Parker has been on a tear and hasn't shown signs of slowing down. After dismantling two of the best on ball defenders in Conley and Allen he might have to contend with the most athletic player in the league. But would it be smart for James to take on Parker? For an entire game, no. Parker can run for days and with all the screens he gets it would probably tire LeBron out to be able to produce effectively on offense. There's no question he is the Heat's best defender but with how much they need him to create on offense, they can't afford James to burn himself out chasing Parker all of the court. In late game situations I expect to see this match up, but not from the jump.
Which bench will have the bigger impact?
Bench players always have an impact on every game, either in a positive or negative way. Both teams have key contributors as reserves and will need their help to win the title. Both are also thin with post players and their strongest contributors play on the outside.
San Antonio looks to Ginobili, Matt Bonner, Gary Neal, and Boris Diaw when the starters need a rest. We've talked about Ginobili already but he is the best sixth man in this series even with struggling in the playoffs so far. The reason is because he can effect the game in other ways than scoring (4.5 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.4 spg). Bonner will never "wow" you with athleticism, like this jumpball with Zach Randolph, but he is one of the best three-point shooters in the league at 44%. Neal is a serviceable backup point guard to Parker and when given the minutes he can fill it up, as he's scored 20+ points multiple times this year. Diaw is a big body and if he's going to contribute it will be through rebounding and playmaking at the high post.
Coming off the Heat's bench is Ray Allen, Chris Andersen, Norris Cole, Shane Battier, and Mike Miller. Regulated to the bench, Allen has been up and down all year, but mostly down averaging a career low 10 points per game. He was on fire from deep in their first series against the Bucks but has faded badly until game 7 with the Pacers where he was 3-5. That's all that he offers anymore is three-point shooting and if he's off he might as well stay on the bench. Andersen, one of Shaq's favorites, has provided a huge lift for the Heat since joining the team. A friend of mine thinks he's one of the main reasons the Heat were 40-4 after he was signed in late January. There's no doubt he's helped by adding much needed rebounding to a poor rebounding team as well as a rim protector. Cole can provide defensive pressure on Parker as he was able to disrupt George Hill and DJ Augustin of the Pacers, and can knockdown 3's. Battier and Miller are one in the same. Battier might draw a charge or two but their sole responsibility is to hit open three-pointers when James or Wade drives and dishes.
I will give the advantage to the Heat because their bench can provide in more areas. The Spurs bench outside of Ginobili only offers scoring but the Heat get scoring and defense out of their reserves.
Who will control the 3-point line and rebounding?
We know that supplementing Miami's Big 3, they have surrounded them with three-point threats. Along with the bench players I just mentioned, Mario Chalmers is another guy that hit from deep and even Bosh has been knocking down 3's in the playoffs. In their meeting in San Antonio, the Heat made 12 of 28 from downtown helping them win without Wade and LeBron, 88-86. But the Spurs are an underrated three-point shooting team. Bonner, Ginobili, Danny Green, and Kawhi Leonard are all capable of getting hot from long range. Also, in the postseason the Spurs have a better three-point percentage (36.2%) than the Heat (35.6%) and San Antonio also makes more (7.4) than Miami (7.1) per game. So you might not think of the Spurs as deep threats but they have the right players to compliment Duncan and Parker's paint production.
We saw the Pacers decimate the Heat on the boards and it was no different for the Spurs in their two meetings this year. San Antonio held a 94-70 edge combined in the two games. Much like Indiana, the Spurs attack the glass in a team effort not just relying on Duncan and Splitter to grab the rebound. But, Bosh proved he can board with the Spurs and that's a huge plus. Wade also seemed to be rejuvenated in game 7 as he grabbed nine rebounds, including six offensive. It was the only game in which Miami had the rebounding advantage, so maybe that means they solved their problem on the glass.
Both are very similar in both categories but I'm going with the Spurs to control each aspect. They are sneaky good from three-point range and have great size at every position.
Who will win the series?
We still haven't seen these two teams play a legit game this year but the Heat did win both meetings. Although in game one Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sent Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Green back to San Antonio after the first game of a back-to-back, and Leonard was hurt. This made NBA Commissioner David Stern pretty upset. So, in the second meeting Heat coach Erik Spoelstra figured he'd sit James, Wade, and Chalmers to get back at Coach Pop. We have two games to look at to determine what will happen in this series but we really don't know what to expect when both teams match up at full strength.
However, to me the Spurs have too much experience and the best coach in the league and will pull this out. Popovich is one of the greatest coaches ever along side Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach. Pop already has four championships and except his first season and a lockout year, his team has won 50+ games every year since 1998. If this is a long series, which I think it will be, there will come a time where Popovich seriously out coaches the young Erik Spoelstra. Also, another title for Tim Duncan will solidify him as the best power forward ever and possibly the best player of his era. Not to mention, Tony Parker has reestablished himself as the best point guard in the NBA. Yes, better than Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Let's not forget that it was Parker who was the Finals MVP in 2007 when the Spurs swept LeBron's Cavs. James is the best player in the NBA and will be the best player in this series. But, San Antonio has the next two best players and the best coach which will be tough for King James to overcome. And don't sleep on the other starters for the Spurs. Green, Leonard, and Splitter will out perform Miami's complimentary players to take home the championship.
Spurs in 6
Which Big 3 has the advantage?
The same year Miami's Big 3 were drafted in 2003, San Antonio's Big 3 were coming off their first of three championships together. Long before the term Big 3 was a cliche, the Spurs Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili made up a core that has stuck together for over 10 years. The originators will now take on the latest Big 3 to win a title in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh.
For the Spurs, Parker seems to have turned back the hands of time and is having arguably the best season of his career. Duncan is having his best season over the past three, whereas Ginobili is have his worst year in the last three seasons. Parker has been the second best player in the playoffs and showed it against Memphis, one of the best defensive teams in the league. Parker had his way with Mike Conley and Tony Allen all series. When his jumper was off in game 2 he dished out 18 assists and in game 4 he poured in 37 points on 15-21 shooting. Duncan has been his fundamental self averaging 17.8 points and 9.2 boards in the playoffs. 20 and 10 is no longer a nightly thing for the 37 year old Duncan, but is still very possible. And after seeing what Roy Hibbert and David West did to Miami's front line, I can see Timmy producing just the same. Ginobili on the other hand could be the wild card. Besides hitting a game winning three in double overtime against Golden State, the Argentinian has been relatively quiet. At 35, he looks to be hitting a wall averaging only 11.5 points in the playoffs. But, the Finals usually bring out the best in players that have proven they don't crack under pressure.
The Heat's Big 3 is in their third year as teammates and have reached the NBA Finals for the third consecutive year. LeBron was named NBA MVP for the fourth time and like Parker, is having one of his best seasons ever. He's also been the best player in the playoffs as well and showed us in the series against the Pacers. Not only was he asked to guard Paul George, Indiana's best perimeter player, but also carry the offense because Wade and Bosh have struggled mightily. Wade has been a shell of himself scoring 14.1 ppg and only reaching 20 points twice this postseason. He missed 13 games during the year with a knee problem so maybe that's still bothering him. Whatever his issue, the Heat will need more production from Wade if they want to get past the Spurs. As for Bosh, he had a really hard time against the bigger and stronger Pacers front line and only managed 11 points and 4.3 rebounds in the series. Playing against Duncan and Tiago Splitter might help Bosh as they aren't as physical and play more of his style.
Miami's Big 3 are all around their prime age but only LeBron is playing like it. Parker and Duncan are definitely holding their own but Ginobili looks like he's lost his game. If I'm going to give an edge I'd have to give it to the Heat, but only slightly. We know LBJ is the best player on the planet, but Wade showed up in game 7 against the Pacers and I think he might have found his groove. I also don't expect Bosh to play as poorly as he has. Against the Spurs during the regular season he put up 41 points and 21 rebounds in two games.
Will LeBron James guard Tony Parker?
This is a huge question and one that could determine the outcome of this series. As we've discussed Parker has been on a tear and hasn't shown signs of slowing down. After dismantling two of the best on ball defenders in Conley and Allen he might have to contend with the most athletic player in the league. But would it be smart for James to take on Parker? For an entire game, no. Parker can run for days and with all the screens he gets it would probably tire LeBron out to be able to produce effectively on offense. There's no question he is the Heat's best defender but with how much they need him to create on offense, they can't afford James to burn himself out chasing Parker all of the court. In late game situations I expect to see this match up, but not from the jump.
Which bench will have the bigger impact?
Bench players always have an impact on every game, either in a positive or negative way. Both teams have key contributors as reserves and will need their help to win the title. Both are also thin with post players and their strongest contributors play on the outside.
San Antonio looks to Ginobili, Matt Bonner, Gary Neal, and Boris Diaw when the starters need a rest. We've talked about Ginobili already but he is the best sixth man in this series even with struggling in the playoffs so far. The reason is because he can effect the game in other ways than scoring (4.5 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.4 spg). Bonner will never "wow" you with athleticism, like this jumpball with Zach Randolph, but he is one of the best three-point shooters in the league at 44%. Neal is a serviceable backup point guard to Parker and when given the minutes he can fill it up, as he's scored 20+ points multiple times this year. Diaw is a big body and if he's going to contribute it will be through rebounding and playmaking at the high post.
Coming off the Heat's bench is Ray Allen, Chris Andersen, Norris Cole, Shane Battier, and Mike Miller. Regulated to the bench, Allen has been up and down all year, but mostly down averaging a career low 10 points per game. He was on fire from deep in their first series against the Bucks but has faded badly until game 7 with the Pacers where he was 3-5. That's all that he offers anymore is three-point shooting and if he's off he might as well stay on the bench. Andersen, one of Shaq's favorites, has provided a huge lift for the Heat since joining the team. A friend of mine thinks he's one of the main reasons the Heat were 40-4 after he was signed in late January. There's no doubt he's helped by adding much needed rebounding to a poor rebounding team as well as a rim protector. Cole can provide defensive pressure on Parker as he was able to disrupt George Hill and DJ Augustin of the Pacers, and can knockdown 3's. Battier and Miller are one in the same. Battier might draw a charge or two but their sole responsibility is to hit open three-pointers when James or Wade drives and dishes.
I will give the advantage to the Heat because their bench can provide in more areas. The Spurs bench outside of Ginobili only offers scoring but the Heat get scoring and defense out of their reserves.
Who will control the 3-point line and rebounding?
We know that supplementing Miami's Big 3, they have surrounded them with three-point threats. Along with the bench players I just mentioned, Mario Chalmers is another guy that hit from deep and even Bosh has been knocking down 3's in the playoffs. In their meeting in San Antonio, the Heat made 12 of 28 from downtown helping them win without Wade and LeBron, 88-86. But the Spurs are an underrated three-point shooting team. Bonner, Ginobili, Danny Green, and Kawhi Leonard are all capable of getting hot from long range. Also, in the postseason the Spurs have a better three-point percentage (36.2%) than the Heat (35.6%) and San Antonio also makes more (7.4) than Miami (7.1) per game. So you might not think of the Spurs as deep threats but they have the right players to compliment Duncan and Parker's paint production.
We saw the Pacers decimate the Heat on the boards and it was no different for the Spurs in their two meetings this year. San Antonio held a 94-70 edge combined in the two games. Much like Indiana, the Spurs attack the glass in a team effort not just relying on Duncan and Splitter to grab the rebound. But, Bosh proved he can board with the Spurs and that's a huge plus. Wade also seemed to be rejuvenated in game 7 as he grabbed nine rebounds, including six offensive. It was the only game in which Miami had the rebounding advantage, so maybe that means they solved their problem on the glass.
Both are very similar in both categories but I'm going with the Spurs to control each aspect. They are sneaky good from three-point range and have great size at every position.
Who will win the series?
We still haven't seen these two teams play a legit game this year but the Heat did win both meetings. Although in game one Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sent Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Green back to San Antonio after the first game of a back-to-back, and Leonard was hurt. This made NBA Commissioner David Stern pretty upset. So, in the second meeting Heat coach Erik Spoelstra figured he'd sit James, Wade, and Chalmers to get back at Coach Pop. We have two games to look at to determine what will happen in this series but we really don't know what to expect when both teams match up at full strength.
However, to me the Spurs have too much experience and the best coach in the league and will pull this out. Popovich is one of the greatest coaches ever along side Phil Jackson and Red Auerbach. Pop already has four championships and except his first season and a lockout year, his team has won 50+ games every year since 1998. If this is a long series, which I think it will be, there will come a time where Popovich seriously out coaches the young Erik Spoelstra. Also, another title for Tim Duncan will solidify him as the best power forward ever and possibly the best player of his era. Not to mention, Tony Parker has reestablished himself as the best point guard in the NBA. Yes, better than Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook. Let's not forget that it was Parker who was the Finals MVP in 2007 when the Spurs swept LeBron's Cavs. James is the best player in the NBA and will be the best player in this series. But, San Antonio has the next two best players and the best coach which will be tough for King James to overcome. And don't sleep on the other starters for the Spurs. Green, Leonard, and Splitter will out perform Miami's complimentary players to take home the championship.
Spurs in 6
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
5 Reasons Why The Indiana Pacers Could Beat The Miami Heat
The Miami Heat are the overwhelming favorite to not only represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA finals, but to take home their second consecutive championship. Last I checked, the odds for the Heat to win the title are 1/3, which means you have to bet $3 to win $1. Terrible odds when you consider that there are still multiple teams left. But it just goes to show you how pretty much everybody, even Las Vegas, expects Miami to blow past the rest of the competition.
The Heat started the playoffs by disposing of a completely out matched Milwaukee Bucks team in a clean four game sweep. Then they eased by a depleted Chicago Bulls team in five games. Now, they turn their sights on the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are the 3-seed in the East and are the biggest long shot left to win a championship. But we've seen crazier things happen before and don't think they are just going to rollover and let Miami walk into the finals. Let's take a look at a few things Indiana has going for itself that will help them take out the mighty Heat.
1. Indiana held a 2-1 series lead last year
From the land of stats that don't but do matter comes this one. A year ago in the Eastern Conference Semis the Pacers took a 2-1 lead after a 19-point victory in Indy. During that game Lance Stephenson, at the time a seldom used bench player, gave LeBron James and the Heat the two-handed choke sign which was not received so well by the rest of the team. Stephenson is now a starter and will have to show out on the court instead of the bench this year. Miami went on to win the next three games but the Pacers showed they can hang with the Heat for half a series now it's time to show they can do it for the entire series. Just like the Pistons had to find a way past Larry Bird and the Celtics and Michael Jordan's Bulls past those same Pistons. The Pacers have a bad taste in their mouth from a year ago and have been looking forward to get another shot at LeBron and Miami.
2. The Pacers won 2 of 3 in regular season
The Pacers were only one of two teams to have a winning record against the Heat during the regular season holding a 2-1 advantage (the New York Knicks were 3-1). I know what some of you are saying "it doesn't matter because it's only the regular season", but why wouldn't it matter? Both teams had their full compliment of players, except Chris Andersen who only played in two of the games, and the games were in the heart of the season. If the Heat didn't care about winning games they wouldn't have gone on a 27 game winning streak. Do any of those wins transfer to playoff wins, no, however it gives a team confidence knowing they haven't struggled against their opponent in the most recent matchups.
3. Paul George
With Danny Granger sidelined due to injury Paul George stepped into the leading role for Indiana this season. George thrived in the situation leading the Pacers in scoring at 17.4 a game and won the NBA's Most Improved award. Not only is he looked at to lead Indiana's offense but will be the primary defender against LeBron. In the three games during the regular season George was able to hold his own against the 4-time MVP. Here's a breakdown of those games.
PTS REB AST PTS REB AST RESULT
Game 1 George 29 11 2 LBJ 22 10 4 Pacers 87-77
Game 2 George 15 6 6 LBJ 28 6 3 Pacers 102-89
Game 3 George 10 6 5 LBJ 13 6 7 Heat 105-91
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Paul George is as good as LeBron James but he obviously has the ability to neutralize his production by matching his numbers. Ironically, the only game LeBron drastically out-performed George was the biggest margin of victory for Indiana. James is the best player on the planet but if George can get close to matching his production it gives the Pacers a great chance to take this series.
4. The Pacers were best 3-point defensive team during the regular season
LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh no doubt run the Miami Heat but they still rely on the three-point shooting of their role players. During the regular season Miami was third in three-pointers made (8.7 per game) and second in three-point percentage (39.6%). However, the Pacers ranked first in opponents three-point percentage (32.7%). It's hard enough to worry about guarding the rim against the big three but when you have to stop Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, and Norris Cole from hitting three's it's even more difficult to contain the Heat. Indiana needs to clamp down on the role players hitting big three's and there's hope for the Pacers. The big three will get theirs but it's usually one of the "other guys" that are a determining factor. In the two losses during the regular season the others scored only 11 points on 3-12 from beyond the arc in Game 1 and scored 31 with 4-11 from distance in Game 2. In the single Miami win, Chalmers and Allen alone scored 37 with 6-10 three's and the Heat as a team were able to hit 50% from deep. Not only do the Pacers guard the three well but gave up the second fewest points (90.7) and held opponents to a league best 42% from the field. Holding Miami to jump shots and forcing misses from long range will play right into the Pacers game-plan.
5. Indiana is the best rebounding team in the league
They say the Miami Heat have the most trouble against good rebounding teams. Well guess what, the Indiana Pacers averaged the most rebounds in the league during the regular season (and playoffs) at 45.9 a game. As for Miami, they ranked dead last with 38.6 per game. Rebounding is such a huge part to every game, to be able to keep possessions alive or hold your opponent to only one shot often determines the outcome. In all their meetings this year the Pacers held an edge on the boards. A big question will be how much of the game 7'2 Roy Hibbert plays. The Heat like to play small with Bosh at center and LeBron at power forward so it will be interesting to see if Pacers head coach Frank Vogel will still play Hibbert around 30 minutes a game. Even though the big man leads Indiana on the boards, he isn't the only one attacking the glass as George and Stephenson grab more than eight a game and David West hauls in 6.8 per. It's a total team effort by the Pacers which means it's going to take a total team effort by the Heat to box out and keep them off the glass.
Before you get all riled up thinking I'm taking the Pacers to beat the Heat, I'm not. Because even though Indiana has all that going for them, what Miami has is LeBron James. I do think it will be a hard fought series because there is no love lost from a physical post season meeting a year ago, but Miami is on a whole other level than every team in the east. I'll take the Heat in 6.
The Heat started the playoffs by disposing of a completely out matched Milwaukee Bucks team in a clean four game sweep. Then they eased by a depleted Chicago Bulls team in five games. Now, they turn their sights on the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers are the 3-seed in the East and are the biggest long shot left to win a championship. But we've seen crazier things happen before and don't think they are just going to rollover and let Miami walk into the finals. Let's take a look at a few things Indiana has going for itself that will help them take out the mighty Heat.
1. Indiana held a 2-1 series lead last year
From the land of stats that don't but do matter comes this one. A year ago in the Eastern Conference Semis the Pacers took a 2-1 lead after a 19-point victory in Indy. During that game Lance Stephenson, at the time a seldom used bench player, gave LeBron James and the Heat the two-handed choke sign which was not received so well by the rest of the team. Stephenson is now a starter and will have to show out on the court instead of the bench this year. Miami went on to win the next three games but the Pacers showed they can hang with the Heat for half a series now it's time to show they can do it for the entire series. Just like the Pistons had to find a way past Larry Bird and the Celtics and Michael Jordan's Bulls past those same Pistons. The Pacers have a bad taste in their mouth from a year ago and have been looking forward to get another shot at LeBron and Miami.
2. The Pacers won 2 of 3 in regular season
The Pacers were only one of two teams to have a winning record against the Heat during the regular season holding a 2-1 advantage (the New York Knicks were 3-1). I know what some of you are saying "it doesn't matter because it's only the regular season", but why wouldn't it matter? Both teams had their full compliment of players, except Chris Andersen who only played in two of the games, and the games were in the heart of the season. If the Heat didn't care about winning games they wouldn't have gone on a 27 game winning streak. Do any of those wins transfer to playoff wins, no, however it gives a team confidence knowing they haven't struggled against their opponent in the most recent matchups.
3. Paul George
With Danny Granger sidelined due to injury Paul George stepped into the leading role for Indiana this season. George thrived in the situation leading the Pacers in scoring at 17.4 a game and won the NBA's Most Improved award. Not only is he looked at to lead Indiana's offense but will be the primary defender against LeBron. In the three games during the regular season George was able to hold his own against the 4-time MVP. Here's a breakdown of those games.
PTS REB AST PTS REB AST RESULT
Game 1 George 29 11 2 LBJ 22 10 4 Pacers 87-77
Game 2 George 15 6 6 LBJ 28 6 3 Pacers 102-89
Game 3 George 10 6 5 LBJ 13 6 7 Heat 105-91
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Paul George is as good as LeBron James but he obviously has the ability to neutralize his production by matching his numbers. Ironically, the only game LeBron drastically out-performed George was the biggest margin of victory for Indiana. James is the best player on the planet but if George can get close to matching his production it gives the Pacers a great chance to take this series.
4. The Pacers were best 3-point defensive team during the regular season
LeBron, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh no doubt run the Miami Heat but they still rely on the three-point shooting of their role players. During the regular season Miami was third in three-pointers made (8.7 per game) and second in three-point percentage (39.6%). However, the Pacers ranked first in opponents three-point percentage (32.7%). It's hard enough to worry about guarding the rim against the big three but when you have to stop Shane Battier, Ray Allen, Mario Chalmers, and Norris Cole from hitting three's it's even more difficult to contain the Heat. Indiana needs to clamp down on the role players hitting big three's and there's hope for the Pacers. The big three will get theirs but it's usually one of the "other guys" that are a determining factor. In the two losses during the regular season the others scored only 11 points on 3-12 from beyond the arc in Game 1 and scored 31 with 4-11 from distance in Game 2. In the single Miami win, Chalmers and Allen alone scored 37 with 6-10 three's and the Heat as a team were able to hit 50% from deep. Not only do the Pacers guard the three well but gave up the second fewest points (90.7) and held opponents to a league best 42% from the field. Holding Miami to jump shots and forcing misses from long range will play right into the Pacers game-plan.
5. Indiana is the best rebounding team in the league
They say the Miami Heat have the most trouble against good rebounding teams. Well guess what, the Indiana Pacers averaged the most rebounds in the league during the regular season (and playoffs) at 45.9 a game. As for Miami, they ranked dead last with 38.6 per game. Rebounding is such a huge part to every game, to be able to keep possessions alive or hold your opponent to only one shot often determines the outcome. In all their meetings this year the Pacers held an edge on the boards. A big question will be how much of the game 7'2 Roy Hibbert plays. The Heat like to play small with Bosh at center and LeBron at power forward so it will be interesting to see if Pacers head coach Frank Vogel will still play Hibbert around 30 minutes a game. Even though the big man leads Indiana on the boards, he isn't the only one attacking the glass as George and Stephenson grab more than eight a game and David West hauls in 6.8 per. It's a total team effort by the Pacers which means it's going to take a total team effort by the Heat to box out and keep them off the glass.
Before you get all riled up thinking I'm taking the Pacers to beat the Heat, I'm not. Because even though Indiana has all that going for them, what Miami has is LeBron James. I do think it will be a hard fought series because there is no love lost from a physical post season meeting a year ago, but Miami is on a whole other level than every team in the east. I'll take the Heat in 6.
Friday, April 19, 2013
NBA Eastern Conference First Round Predictions
The NBA playoffs have arrived and in the East can anybody dethrone the Miami Heat?
1 Miami Heat (66-16) vs 8 Milwaukee Bucks (38-44)
The Miami Heat start their run for a second straight title against the Milwaukee Bucks, a team they went 3-1 against during the regular season. Teams that rebound the ball well cause the Heat problems and the Bucks rank 5th in the league in that category. Milwaukee is also the 2nd best offensive rebounding team partly because they are the 3rd worst shooting team in the NBA. More missed shots mean more rebounds but thankfully for the Heat they have the best shooting percentage by a large margin at 49%. That's the team matchup but I want to know who's going to guard LeBron James, the likely regular season MVP. Marquis Daniels, Ersan Ilyasova and Mike Dunleavy will all get their shot but will they be able to at least slow him down, probably not. The Bucks leading scorer Monta Ellis struggled in each of the four meetings, scoring double-digits only once. Milwaukee needs more from him and consistency from Brandon Jennings, both can fill it up but also miss a lot. But let's face it, Miami has been on a roll the second half of the year going 37-3 since the beginning of February. LBJ, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Co. should have little trouble disposing the Bucks.
Prediction: Heat in 4
2 New York Knicks (54-28) vs 7 Boston Celtics (41-40)
One of the oldest rivalries in the game is renewed when the New York Knicks meet the Boston Celtics. With the city of Boston dealing with the recent tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings it might give the Celtics the edge they need to make this series interesting. The Celtics lost Rajon Rondo 38 games into the season and have been dealing with more injuries as of late. Kevin Garnett has been tending to a sore ankle the last few weeks and should serve as an integral part of this series. The Knicks like to play small-ball and if KG can take advantage on the boards and in the post he could be the x-factor. But the Paul Pierce-Carmelo Anthony matchup is what we need to keep our eye on. Anthony went on a torrid pace to rip the scoring title away from Kevin Durant down the stretch and this might be his best chance to make the NBA Finals. But never sleep of Paul Pierce. The Truth (one of the best nicknames ever) has been in this situation plenty of times and always seems to step up. Pierce is one player that can slow Melo down on defense while causing him trouble on the offensive end. But with that being said I feel the Knicks have too much fire power with the emergence of J.R. Smith and Tyson Chandler coming back from injury. It should be a good series but Boston will have trouble keeping up with the New York offense.
Prediction: Knicks in 6
3 Indiana Pacers (49-32) vs 6 Atlanta Hawks (44-38)
These two teams split their four meetings this year with the home team winning each game and I see more of the same in the playoffs. Indiana is one of the best defensive teams in the league holding opponents to 90.7 points per game, good for second fewest, and are also one of the biggest. Their front line of Roy Hibbert (7'2), David West (6'9), and Paul George (6'8) causes matchup problems for almost any team in the NBA. George and George Hill are also two of the most improved players this year, both benefiting from more playing time. After the loss of Danny Granger to injury, George was put in a similar role and flourished with 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. As for Hill, the departure of Darren Collison opened the door for him to put up his best numbers of 14.2 points and 4.7 assists. The Atlanta Hawks saw Joe Johnson leave for Brooklyn which led to Jeff Teague and Al Horford having their best seasons. Teague finished with 14.6 points and 7.2 assists while Horford averaged his first double-double with 17.4 and 10.2 boards. These teams are very similar, both are big and both have seen players step up in new roles. As with all Hawks games the x-factor for them is their leading scorer Josh Smith. He is a great player but finds himself on the perimeter too often when he should be in the post. Also, depending if the Hawks decide to put him on West or George his defense is going to be key if Atlanta wants to win. In the end Indiana's defense and rebounding will determine who advances. The Hawks will put up a fight but the Pacers will move on.
Prediction: Pacers in 7
4 Brooklyn Nets (49-33) vs 5 Chicago Bulls (45-37)
After missing the playoffs a year ago while playing in New Jersey, the Nets made the move to Brooklyn and secured home court advantage against the Chicago Bulls. Deron Williams is one of the best point guards in the NBA and Brook Lopez is one of the best center's nobody really talks about. Williams' numbers are slightly down from previous years (18.9 points and 7.7 assists) but is still capable of carrying a team. Lopez had a solid year with 19.4 and 6.9 boards while Reggie Evans dominated the glass in the late stages of the season. Evans put up Dennis Rodman like numbers the last two months averaging over 15 rebounds a game and he had nine games of 20-plus throughout the year. But how much better would this series be if Derrick Rose was back from his ACL injury. It was in the first game of the playoffs a year ago when Rose went down and you could hear the entire city of Chicago hold their breath. He still is not ready to return and he shouldn't at this point. It's more important for him, and the Bulls organization, that he does not come back until fully healed. The Bulls have had other injury problems as well with Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich, Richard Hamilton and Taj Gibson all missing a significant time. The biggest question mark is Noah. The energy and defense he brings to this team is hard to replace. With Noah on the court he provides a stopper to Lopez in the post but him being able to play is still up in the air. Honestly, I haven't been impressed with the Nets at all this year. I think Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace are at the tail end of their careers and will have trouble with Luol Deng and the young upstart Jimmy Butler. Noah is a significant piece to the puzzle but I still think the Bulls will pull this out in a gritty battle.
Prediction: Bulls in 6
1 Miami Heat (66-16) vs 8 Milwaukee Bucks (38-44)
The Miami Heat start their run for a second straight title against the Milwaukee Bucks, a team they went 3-1 against during the regular season. Teams that rebound the ball well cause the Heat problems and the Bucks rank 5th in the league in that category. Milwaukee is also the 2nd best offensive rebounding team partly because they are the 3rd worst shooting team in the NBA. More missed shots mean more rebounds but thankfully for the Heat they have the best shooting percentage by a large margin at 49%. That's the team matchup but I want to know who's going to guard LeBron James, the likely regular season MVP. Marquis Daniels, Ersan Ilyasova and Mike Dunleavy will all get their shot but will they be able to at least slow him down, probably not. The Bucks leading scorer Monta Ellis struggled in each of the four meetings, scoring double-digits only once. Milwaukee needs more from him and consistency from Brandon Jennings, both can fill it up but also miss a lot. But let's face it, Miami has been on a roll the second half of the year going 37-3 since the beginning of February. LBJ, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Co. should have little trouble disposing the Bucks.
Prediction: Heat in 4
2 New York Knicks (54-28) vs 7 Boston Celtics (41-40)
One of the oldest rivalries in the game is renewed when the New York Knicks meet the Boston Celtics. With the city of Boston dealing with the recent tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombings it might give the Celtics the edge they need to make this series interesting. The Celtics lost Rajon Rondo 38 games into the season and have been dealing with more injuries as of late. Kevin Garnett has been tending to a sore ankle the last few weeks and should serve as an integral part of this series. The Knicks like to play small-ball and if KG can take advantage on the boards and in the post he could be the x-factor. But the Paul Pierce-Carmelo Anthony matchup is what we need to keep our eye on. Anthony went on a torrid pace to rip the scoring title away from Kevin Durant down the stretch and this might be his best chance to make the NBA Finals. But never sleep of Paul Pierce. The Truth (one of the best nicknames ever) has been in this situation plenty of times and always seems to step up. Pierce is one player that can slow Melo down on defense while causing him trouble on the offensive end. But with that being said I feel the Knicks have too much fire power with the emergence of J.R. Smith and Tyson Chandler coming back from injury. It should be a good series but Boston will have trouble keeping up with the New York offense.
Prediction: Knicks in 6
3 Indiana Pacers (49-32) vs 6 Atlanta Hawks (44-38)
These two teams split their four meetings this year with the home team winning each game and I see more of the same in the playoffs. Indiana is one of the best defensive teams in the league holding opponents to 90.7 points per game, good for second fewest, and are also one of the biggest. Their front line of Roy Hibbert (7'2), David West (6'9), and Paul George (6'8) causes matchup problems for almost any team in the NBA. George and George Hill are also two of the most improved players this year, both benefiting from more playing time. After the loss of Danny Granger to injury, George was put in a similar role and flourished with 17.4 points and 7.6 rebounds a game. As for Hill, the departure of Darren Collison opened the door for him to put up his best numbers of 14.2 points and 4.7 assists. The Atlanta Hawks saw Joe Johnson leave for Brooklyn which led to Jeff Teague and Al Horford having their best seasons. Teague finished with 14.6 points and 7.2 assists while Horford averaged his first double-double with 17.4 and 10.2 boards. These teams are very similar, both are big and both have seen players step up in new roles. As with all Hawks games the x-factor for them is their leading scorer Josh Smith. He is a great player but finds himself on the perimeter too often when he should be in the post. Also, depending if the Hawks decide to put him on West or George his defense is going to be key if Atlanta wants to win. In the end Indiana's defense and rebounding will determine who advances. The Hawks will put up a fight but the Pacers will move on.
Prediction: Pacers in 7
4 Brooklyn Nets (49-33) vs 5 Chicago Bulls (45-37)
After missing the playoffs a year ago while playing in New Jersey, the Nets made the move to Brooklyn and secured home court advantage against the Chicago Bulls. Deron Williams is one of the best point guards in the NBA and Brook Lopez is one of the best center's nobody really talks about. Williams' numbers are slightly down from previous years (18.9 points and 7.7 assists) but is still capable of carrying a team. Lopez had a solid year with 19.4 and 6.9 boards while Reggie Evans dominated the glass in the late stages of the season. Evans put up Dennis Rodman like numbers the last two months averaging over 15 rebounds a game and he had nine games of 20-plus throughout the year. But how much better would this series be if Derrick Rose was back from his ACL injury. It was in the first game of the playoffs a year ago when Rose went down and you could hear the entire city of Chicago hold their breath. He still is not ready to return and he shouldn't at this point. It's more important for him, and the Bulls organization, that he does not come back until fully healed. The Bulls have had other injury problems as well with Joakim Noah, Kirk Hinrich, Richard Hamilton and Taj Gibson all missing a significant time. The biggest question mark is Noah. The energy and defense he brings to this team is hard to replace. With Noah on the court he provides a stopper to Lopez in the post but him being able to play is still up in the air. Honestly, I haven't been impressed with the Nets at all this year. I think Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace are at the tail end of their careers and will have trouble with Luol Deng and the young upstart Jimmy Butler. Noah is a significant piece to the puzzle but I still think the Bulls will pull this out in a gritty battle.
Prediction: Bulls in 6
Thursday, April 18, 2013
2012-13 NBA Awards Picks
With the 2012-13 NBA season coming to an end it's time to hand out some hardware.
Rookie Of The Year
Damian Lillard - This was one of the easier awards to hand out as Damian Lillard was consistent throughout the season and played more minutes than anybody in the league. Also, one of the few top rookies to actually play the entire year without an injury. On the season, the Weber State product averaged 19 points and 6.5 assists for a young Portland team. Lillard creates a great building block to go along with LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicholas Batum.
Second Place: Anthony Davis
Most Improved
Paul George - When Indiana Pacers all-star Danny Granger was going to start the season on the injured list, Paul George was looked at to try and fill his shoes. And he didn't disappoint. George led the Pacers in scoring at 17.4 and steals with 1.8 a game. He was also second on the team in rebounds (7.6) and assists (4.1). George has the Pacers as a 3-seed in the East with a 49-32 record.
Second Place: Nikola Vucevic
Sixth Man
J.R. Smith - Always the first guy off the bench, J.R. Smith put up the best numbers of his career while helping the New York Knicks secure the 2-seed in the East. Smith played his most minutes in any season and led all NBA reserves with 18.1 points per game, good for second on his team. He was an integral part of the Knicks and will need to continue his great play if they hope to challenge the Heat in the playoffs.
Second Place: Jamal Crawford
Coach Of The Year
George Karl - Nobody expected the Denver Nuggets to be as successful as they were this year but they managed to get the 3-seed in the West thanks to George Karl. With out a premier player, Karl has the Nuggets playing great team basketball with nine players averaging at least eight points a game. He lost Danilo Gallinari to a season ending ACL tear but are still a threat in the West as they lead the league in points with 106.1 a game and had the best home record at 38-3.
Second Place: Mike Woodson
Defensive Player Of The Year
Joakim Noah - This was a tough category but Joakim Noah was a defensive force for the Chicago Bulls helping them hold opponents to 92.9 points per game, good for third in the league. He posted career bests in rebounds (11.1), blocks (2.1), and steals (1.2). Noah also recorded a triple-double against Sixers on Feb. 28 with 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 blocks.
Second Place: Tony Allen
Most Valuable Player
LeBron James - In the middle of the season there was some debate to Kevin Durant being the MVP but once he lost his scoring title there is no question LeBron James will get his 4th MVP trophy. James is fourth in the league in scoring with 26.8 points and fifth in shooting percentage at .565 with also grabbing a career best 8.0 boards and dishing out 7.3 assists. He's led the Miami Heat to the best record in the NBA (66-16) and has them poised for another title run.
Second Place: Kevin Durant
Rookie Of The Year
Second Place: Anthony Davis
Most Improved
Paul George - When Indiana Pacers all-star Danny Granger was going to start the season on the injured list, Paul George was looked at to try and fill his shoes. And he didn't disappoint. George led the Pacers in scoring at 17.4 and steals with 1.8 a game. He was also second on the team in rebounds (7.6) and assists (4.1). George has the Pacers as a 3-seed in the East with a 49-32 record.
Second Place: Nikola Vucevic
Sixth Man
J.R. Smith - Always the first guy off the bench, J.R. Smith put up the best numbers of his career while helping the New York Knicks secure the 2-seed in the East. Smith played his most minutes in any season and led all NBA reserves with 18.1 points per game, good for second on his team. He was an integral part of the Knicks and will need to continue his great play if they hope to challenge the Heat in the playoffs.
Second Place: Jamal Crawford
Coach Of The Year
Second Place: Mike Woodson
Defensive Player Of The Year
Joakim Noah - This was a tough category but Joakim Noah was a defensive force for the Chicago Bulls helping them hold opponents to 92.9 points per game, good for third in the league. He posted career bests in rebounds (11.1), blocks (2.1), and steals (1.2). Noah also recorded a triple-double against Sixers on Feb. 28 with 23 points, 21 rebounds, and 11 blocks.
Second Place: Tony Allen
Most Valuable Player
LeBron James - In the middle of the season there was some debate to Kevin Durant being the MVP but once he lost his scoring title there is no question LeBron James will get his 4th MVP trophy. James is fourth in the league in scoring with 26.8 points and fifth in shooting percentage at .565 with also grabbing a career best 8.0 boards and dishing out 7.3 assists. He's led the Miami Heat to the best record in the NBA (66-16) and has them poised for another title run.
Second Place: Kevin Durant
Friday, February 8, 2013
Early NBA MVP Race
We are a little past the midway point in the NBA season and a
few weeks away from the All-Star break so it's time to take a look at
the MVP race. The last five years the debate has been dominated by
LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, with Derrick Rose winning two years ago and Kevin Durant's name coming into the mix last year.
Until a few weeks ago there were multiple guys that you could make an argument for to win the MVP. But injuries have taken Chris Paul and Tim Duncan out of the conversation. Paul has missed nine straight games and 12 out of the last 14 for the Clippers. Paul still ranks second in assists (9.7) and first in steals (2.56) but his Clippers have dropped six of the last nine he's been out. As for Duncan, he's missed six of the last eight for the Spurs due to a sore left knee and now a sprained ankle. Timmy has his best numbers over the past three seasons (17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) but even with him out of the lineup the Spurs have been able to run their winning streak to eleven.
Let's first talk about Kobe and my question is where are all of his fans? The past five years, Kobe fans have been loud and proud saying that he is the best player in the league, but this year they've been quiet. That's mainly in part because his team is currently four games under .500 but his numbers are no different than any of the last five season. Actually you can make the argument that they are better because he has a higher field goal percentage at 46% and more assists at 5.3. But still nothing from the little mambas. And the argument about Kobe being better because he has more rings than other players is the worst argument to make. Rings don't make one player better than another. If that was the case here is a list of all the players better than Kobe (who has 5 rings) with how many rings they've won. Bill Russell (11), Sam Jones (10), John Havlicek (8), Tom Heinson (8), K.C. Jones (8), Tom Sanders (8), Robert Horry (7), Frank Ramsey (7), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(6), Bob Cousy (6), Michael Jordan (6), Jim Loscutoff (6), Scottie Pippen (6).
Now on to the actual MVP candidates. Like I said earlier, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul have been playing great for title contending teams but their recent injuries have knocked them out of the top three. So, Carmelo Anthony has moved into that spot as he's guided the New York Knicks to a 31-16 record and second place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are one the surprise teams this year as they only managed to finish seventh in the East last season, Melo's first full season with the team. In the first game this year, NY smashed the defending champions Miami Heat 104-84 behind Anthony's 30 points and 10 boards. We weren't sure if it was a fluke but it became a trend as the Knicks have consistently won. Carmelo himself is having his best scoring season since 2006-07 with Denver as he is second in the league at 28.5. His field goal percentage is only at 45% but that is partly because he's taking 6.6 three pointers per game but he is shooting a career best 41.5% from distance.
Coming in at #2 is Kevin Durant. Durant is making the strongest case of his career for MVP as he's leading the league is scoring for the fourth straight season. He is undoubtedly the best scorer and offensive player in the league. This year he is on pace to be the only player ever to lead the league in scoring while shooting 50% from the field (51.7), 40% from three (42.2), and 90% from the free throw line (90.2). Aside from all that offense he's averaging 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and over a block and steal per game. All of this while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the second best record in the league at 37-12, only behind San Antonio. The fact of him putting up those offensive numbers and his team challenging for the best record in the league makes him a top candidate. By the end of the year, Durant could very well come out as the MVP and I would have no problem at all with it. His efficiency on the offensive end has been amazing to watch and he's improved his game every year he's been in the league. If he doesn't get it this year, he definitely will sometime in the near future.
My MVP right now though, is LeBron James. LeBron has won three of the last four MVP awards and if you thought his numbers were good in those years, this season they are even better. He's fourth in scoring at 26.8, pulling down a career best 8.2 rebounds, and dishing out 7.0 assists. He's also leading the league in Player Efficiency Rating while shooting 55.6% from the field and 40.8% from deep, both career highs. LeBron has steadily improved since joining the Heat but he does so many great things on the basketball court every night that we almost take it for granted. He's the only player in the league to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. He has the Heat in first place in the East at 32-14, positioned to make a run at a third straight NBA Finals appearance. One thing I know is that voters like to share the wealth, they don't like voting for the same guy every year. It's even less likely when Durant might do something for the first time in the history of the NBA. But a good question to ask your self, if we are voting for the Most Valuable Player, which team would still be contending if these players were taken off their respective squads? I would have to say OKC is more likely to still be in the mix. I'll definitely take Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and Kevin Martin over Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen. It's really hard for me to make this call because Durant is my favorite player to watch and I'll never be a fan of LeBron after what he did to the Pistons in the 2007 playoffs. It's kind of like Michael Jordan, I'll never cheer for the guy but I totally respect his game. And ultimately, right now my vote goes to LBJ.
Until a few weeks ago there were multiple guys that you could make an argument for to win the MVP. But injuries have taken Chris Paul and Tim Duncan out of the conversation. Paul has missed nine straight games and 12 out of the last 14 for the Clippers. Paul still ranks second in assists (9.7) and first in steals (2.56) but his Clippers have dropped six of the last nine he's been out. As for Duncan, he's missed six of the last eight for the Spurs due to a sore left knee and now a sprained ankle. Timmy has his best numbers over the past three seasons (17.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 blocks) but even with him out of the lineup the Spurs have been able to run their winning streak to eleven.
Let's first talk about Kobe and my question is where are all of his fans? The past five years, Kobe fans have been loud and proud saying that he is the best player in the league, but this year they've been quiet. That's mainly in part because his team is currently four games under .500 but his numbers are no different than any of the last five season. Actually you can make the argument that they are better because he has a higher field goal percentage at 46% and more assists at 5.3. But still nothing from the little mambas. And the argument about Kobe being better because he has more rings than other players is the worst argument to make. Rings don't make one player better than another. If that was the case here is a list of all the players better than Kobe (who has 5 rings) with how many rings they've won. Bill Russell (11), Sam Jones (10), John Havlicek (8), Tom Heinson (8), K.C. Jones (8), Tom Sanders (8), Robert Horry (7), Frank Ramsey (7), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar(6), Bob Cousy (6), Michael Jordan (6), Jim Loscutoff (6), Scottie Pippen (6).
Now on to the actual MVP candidates. Like I said earlier, Tim Duncan and Chris Paul have been playing great for title contending teams but their recent injuries have knocked them out of the top three. So, Carmelo Anthony has moved into that spot as he's guided the New York Knicks to a 31-16 record and second place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks are one the surprise teams this year as they only managed to finish seventh in the East last season, Melo's first full season with the team. In the first game this year, NY smashed the defending champions Miami Heat 104-84 behind Anthony's 30 points and 10 boards. We weren't sure if it was a fluke but it became a trend as the Knicks have consistently won. Carmelo himself is having his best scoring season since 2006-07 with Denver as he is second in the league at 28.5. His field goal percentage is only at 45% but that is partly because he's taking 6.6 three pointers per game but he is shooting a career best 41.5% from distance.
Coming in at #2 is Kevin Durant. Durant is making the strongest case of his career for MVP as he's leading the league is scoring for the fourth straight season. He is undoubtedly the best scorer and offensive player in the league. This year he is on pace to be the only player ever to lead the league in scoring while shooting 50% from the field (51.7), 40% from three (42.2), and 90% from the free throw line (90.2). Aside from all that offense he's averaging 7.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and over a block and steal per game. All of this while leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to the second best record in the league at 37-12, only behind San Antonio. The fact of him putting up those offensive numbers and his team challenging for the best record in the league makes him a top candidate. By the end of the year, Durant could very well come out as the MVP and I would have no problem at all with it. His efficiency on the offensive end has been amazing to watch and he's improved his game every year he's been in the league. If he doesn't get it this year, he definitely will sometime in the near future.
My MVP right now though, is LeBron James. LeBron has won three of the last four MVP awards and if you thought his numbers were good in those years, this season they are even better. He's fourth in scoring at 26.8, pulling down a career best 8.2 rebounds, and dishing out 7.0 assists. He's also leading the league in Player Efficiency Rating while shooting 55.6% from the field and 40.8% from deep, both career highs. LeBron has steadily improved since joining the Heat but he does so many great things on the basketball court every night that we almost take it for granted. He's the only player in the league to lead his team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. He has the Heat in first place in the East at 32-14, positioned to make a run at a third straight NBA Finals appearance. One thing I know is that voters like to share the wealth, they don't like voting for the same guy every year. It's even less likely when Durant might do something for the first time in the history of the NBA. But a good question to ask your self, if we are voting for the Most Valuable Player, which team would still be contending if these players were taken off their respective squads? I would have to say OKC is more likely to still be in the mix. I'll definitely take Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka, and Kevin Martin over Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen. It's really hard for me to make this call because Durant is my favorite player to watch and I'll never be a fan of LeBron after what he did to the Pistons in the 2007 playoffs. It's kind of like Michael Jordan, I'll never cheer for the guy but I totally respect his game. And ultimately, right now my vote goes to LBJ.
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