Well the NBA playoffs are finally here (that means only five more months until NFL Kickoff!) and this year’s postseason fraternity has inducted two new members. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers, both of whom just recently returning to prominence from years of NBA obscurity, mutually have had very respectable seasons and are looking to make magical runs into the playoffs. Also jockeying for position in the hunt for the elusive NBA championship: the 2005 champs San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, and the Los Angeles Kobes (I mean Lakers) from the West. And representing the East: the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat, New Jersey Nets, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Milwaukee Bucks, and Chicago Bulls. Eastern Conference
Detroit still reigns supreme in the increasingly talented eastern conference. Once predicted to win 70 or more games this year, the Pistons finished with 64 wins and coasted to a number one seed in the east. The Pistons, now Larry Brown-less, came into the season with a new attitude and a new coach. Former Minnesota head coach Flip Saunders took over the reigns of a motivated Pistons group that had already been to the NBA finals the past two seasons, winning it all in 2004. Defense, defense and more defense was the forte of the Pistons while coached by Larry Brown, but Saunders has liberated this Pistons team from their defense laden oppression with his “flex” offense. A new coach and a new offense have turned this once shackled group of drearily efficient players into a free-spirited, high-flying band of acrobats. Flip and the gang should easily handle their first round opponents and will likely coast all the way to the eastern conference championship.
Also vying for the right to be called the beast of the east would be the identity deficient Miami Heat. The Heat front office came down with a bad case of Steinbrenner-itis this off season letting go of their faithful gang of overachieving role players and bringing in the likes of Jason Williams, Antoine Walker, James Posey, and late additions of Derek Anderson and Gary Payton. Mixing in these semi-superstars with the nucleus of Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade had many Miami fans salivating at the thought of having pure talent on the roster top to bottom. Too bad camaraderie wasn’t for sale this off season. I watched a Miami team struggle to find their niche and find each other on the court. Miami also got bitten by the injury bug; all five Heat starters missed a combined 79 games this season. The Heat finished the year with a solid record of 52 – 30 yet significantly under-achieved and left much to be desired of their performance.
The biggest story of this postseason would undoubtedly be the first playoff appearance of the LeBron James led Cleveland Cavaliers. The phenomenon that is LeBron James, finishing up his best season by far, has lead his Cavs team into the promise land of the playoffs for the first time since 1998. Averaging 31.4 points per game this year, which is third highest in the NBA, LeBron has elevated his play to MVP caliber status while catapulting his team to the 4th seed in the eastern conference. James will have the opportunity to silence the playoff critics with a strong showing in the post season, solidifying and foreshadowing his future dominance.
Western Conference
The wild, wild west featured two 60+ game winning teams this year. The San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks ripped through the league this year with dominating defense. Wait; did I just use “Dallas Mavericks” and “dominating defense” the same sentence? Mark Cuban’s crew, notoriously known for their offensive prowess, surprised the league this year by playing exceptional defense. Under the direction of third year head coach Avery Johnson, the Mavs traded in their “let them score so we can get the ball back” mentality for a “no easy baskets” attitude. Dallas only allowed 92.6 points per game this year and holding opponents to less than 44% shooting. Although the Mavericks played as well as they did this year, they still finished behind the blue collar San Antonio Spurs. Coming off a 2005 championship, the rich got richer when the Spurs added ex-Maverick Michael Finley and sharp shooting point guard Nick Van Exel. The Spurs went through the season with a workman like attitude and finished with a 63 – 19 record and a number one seed in the West. Spurs all-pro big man Tim Duncan had one of his worse years statistically due to nagging foot injuries but still was the overall leader of the team. With Timmy hampered, San Antonio benefited from an all-star year from guard Tony Parker. His 18.9 points and 5.8 assists per game helped propel the Spurs to supremacy once again. With their deep bench and strong defensive play the Spurs should coast through the first round before clashing with the Dallas Mavericks.
The biggest and I truly mean biggest surprise of the NBA season this year was the very improved play of the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers came into the 2006 season with a revamped roster and a renewed sense of hope for this once abysmal franchise. Bringing in guards Sam Cassell and Cuttino Mobley during the off season proved to be the best acquisition the Clippers had made in the past 5 years. Cassell averaged 17.3 points on the year and provided solid veteran leadership to a young Los Angeles backcourt. Cuttino’s 14.9 points per game and defensive tenacity gave the Clippers one of the more complete backcourts in the league. Improved backcourt play wasn’t the only reason for the surge the Clipps made this year. The Clippers frontcourt became a force to be reckoned with. Power forward Elton Brand, after 4 years of mere above average performances, exploded onto the NBA scene this year becoming a dominant presence in the low post. Brand looked almost “Mail Manesque” posting 24.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per contest this year. His improved play this year garnered some most valuable player talk during the early portion of the season. Also enjoying a breakout season was Clipper center Chris Kaman. “Mr. Double-Double” as he became known, Kaman averaged 11.8 points and 10 rebounds and helped the Clippers to a five seed in the western conference. The Clippers shall enjoy a playoff appearance but that’s all it will be, they should make an abrupt exit in the first round losing to the Denver Nuggets.
Teams to Watch
In the East, the New Jersey Nets come into this post season with much momentum and brimming with confidence. The big three of Kidd, Richardson, and Carter have led the Nets all season and present match up problems for many teams. Vinsanity, in his second year with the Nets, enjoyed one of his best seasons averaging 24.2 points and providing a bevy of highlight worthy slam dunks and alley-oop finishes. New Jersey’s athleticism and ability to play defense should push them past the first round and into a marquee second round series with the Miami Heat.
Carmello Anthony and the pastel blue Denver Nuggets come into the playoffs as the fourth seed in the West and with much confidence to boot. Denver, who gave the Spurs a run for their money during last year’s first round, played a better brand of basketball this season. The Nuggets also benefited from the consistently strong play of forward Carmello Anthony. Considered by some the third best of the 2003 draft class, Carmello played with a chip on his shoulder and proved that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breathe with LeBron and Dwyane Wade. The Nuggets will meet with the up and coming Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, which should prove to be a semi-competitive series.
Best First Round Series
Western conference offense will truly be on display when the 2 seed Phoenix Suns take on the 7 seed Los Angeles Kobes. Kobe Bryant proved to the league this year that he could succeed without Shaq, sort of. Kobe, coming off a year plagued by scandal and controversy, came into the 2006 season looking to prove to that he was capable of carrying a team alone. Bryant was indulged in his quest by the Lakers front office when they built a team that was able to pass the ball to Kobe and to get out of the way. An 81 point game, averaging 35.1 points per game, accounting for over one-third of the Lakers total offense, and bringing back Phil Jackson and his triangle offense, Kobe has shot his team into the playoffs with limited help from his teammates. Not saying that he wanted it anyway. Kobe will be taking on the Amare-less Phoenix Suns. Amare Stoudamire was out for majority of the season with a knee injury and left the Suns without his dominating presence on in the low post. Amare’s absence put an even bigger burden on the shoulders of last year’s MVP Steve Nash. No Stoudamire, no Joe Johnson (Atlanta Hawks), and no Quentin Richardson (New York Knicks) left the Suns with many roster voids to fill. Bringing in the likes of Raja Bell, Kurt Thomas, Eddie House, Boris Diaw, and the improved play of Leandro Barbosa enabled the Suns to keep the “100 points a game” party going. Steve Nash lifted this group to elite status, a number 2 seed, and a possible second consecutive MVP honor. This Suns – Lakers series should play out to be an offensive showcase. The “run & gun” style of the Suns against the offensive juggernaut that is Kobe Bryant should give fans a spectacular show.
NBA Finals Prediction
The Eastern conference representative will come from the Motor City of Detroit. I don’t see a single team that will challenge the Pistons for the Eastern conference crown. The Pistons are a better team offensively this year averaging four more points than they did last season. Good offense coupled with outstanding defense spells NBA finals in my book.
The Western conference will be represented by the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs have finally found the defensive intensity needed in order to be an elite team. With Tim Duncan hobbled by injury and no Amare Stoudamire at all, the Mavericks will make their first appearance in the NBA Finals in team history.
It is my prediction that the Mavericks and the Pistons will meet in the 2006 NBA finals. The Pistons will come into the finals having likely had an epic battle with the Miami Heat but will still be able to put forth an A+ performance in the finals. The Mavs will definitely be battled tested come finals time. If they make it to the finals they will have faced the Grizzles, Spurs, and Suns in best of seven situations. The Mavs will present some matchup problems for the Pistons but the experience and poise of Detroit will prevail.
2006 NBA Champions: Detroit Pistons