For each conference, list your Finals contenders in order with comments. For most, I assume it would be 2-4 teams in each conference.
I think what is right, Memphis might just win it all this year They are pretty stacked, Zbo and Gasol combo is trouble for any team in the league and Gay is pretty good
The Heat will win if: a) LeBron doesn't choke again the finals. b) Wade gets out of his slump that he's in now. c) Bosh grows some balls and contributes to the damn team. The Thunder are still the team to beat imo though.
West: Thunder - The best team in the West, arguably. Durant is the co-MVP of the season, able to score from anywhere and do whatever he needs to do for his team in order to win. Westbrook has his slumps every now and then, but most of the time, he is an amazing scorer who still finds his teammates for easy baskets. James Harden is hands down the 6th Man of the Year; a scoring machine off the best. Ibaka, Perkins, and Collison all provide great defense in the post and can cause severe problems to any team that relies on scoring in the paint. However, post scoring for the Thunder is a problem, as their bigs cannot hope to outscore an opponent's. Westbrook can hold them back when he transforms into Westbrick. Spurs - Older and more experienced, the Spurs shouldn't be slept on either. It remains to be seen if this will be like last year, where they fizzled out in the playoffs after a great regular season. Ginobli is fully healthy, and still going strong. Pop has been making the rotation adjustments necessary to keep Duncan rested, and Duncan is responding by putting up consistent numbers. Tony Parker is having an awesome season, MVP caliber. Their bench is very solid, as is Jackson and Blair. They'll go as far as their Big 3 will take them. We'll see whether age will slow them down, or if their experience will allow them to make that extra push in the playoffs. Grizzlies - The dark horse candidate from the West. An imposing front court with Gay, Randolph, and Gasol all providing a healthy dose of scoring and rebounding. Conley and Mayo are fairly good, as is Tony Allen. They've proven they can beat the best out of both conferences, with stout defense and gritty play. No team should want to face them in the playoffs. I have doubts about their bench, and whether or not they can all coexist on the offensive end. Nobody is expecting them to make the jump to contender status, but they have the team built to take out the Heat. --- Bulls - The Bulls have been chugging along even without Rose. They have so many rebounders it boggles the mind, and their defense both on the perimeter and in the post is a wonderous achievement thanks to Thibs commitment to defense. Asik, Noah, Gibson, Boozer have all been great in Rose's absence. They've had to deal with a lot of injuries to their backcourt, a reverse of last year. Luckily, players like Watson and Lucas have stepped up their game. They need Derrick Rose, however, if they want to reach the promised land. Rose is a mindblowing offensive player; able to blow by any defender and finish hard at the rim. He can get his teammates involved easily, and is the clear cut leader of the Bulls. He can't do it alone, though. If the Bulls want to win it all, they need players like Hamilton and Boozer to score more and become the 2nd and 3rd options they need to be. Heat - The team everyone loves to hate. It's hard to see the Heat not winning. You've got the other MVP of the season, LeBron James literally doing it all. Scoring, rebounding, passing, defense, you name it. Dwyane Wade, though banged up, is still affecting games with his shooting and driving. Bosh is a perfect third wheel, doing the dirty work and scoring whenever James and Wade aren't. Their perimeter defense is outstanding. Haslem, Chalmers, and Battier are all decent role players, but everyone else on their bench leaves something to be desired. They have almost zero post scoring outside of LBJ and Bosh. Nobody is afraid of Turiaf or Anthony. The Heat may be the favorites to win this year, but it remains to be seen if the LeBron and Wade can carry all that weight once again before one of them stumbles. Pacers - I know, crazy right? But, hear me out. The Pacers are probably the most well-balanced team in the league, which has its upside and downside. Granger, Hibbert, West, Collison, Hill, George, Barbosa, Amundson, Hansborough, Jones. Ten very good players on their roster, each one supporting the team in different ways. Indiana has been solid all around, and have proven they can defeat the top teams both in the East and the West. Vogel should be in the running for COY. However, being too balanced can be a bad thing. The Pacers have no clear-cut go-to guy (Rose for Chicago, James for Heat). No player on the team you can say will give you 20+ a night, and this inconsistency could kill them. However, unlike the 76ers, a team similar to them, I believe Danny Granger is making strides to be that kind of alpha player, who takes the big shots and makes the big plays. If he does make that transition, the Heat and Bulls better watch out.
East Bulls Heat West Thunder Grizzlies Spurs Lakers I will say that one of these teams will have a very tough matchup with Dallas in the 1st rd.
West: Spurs- Their chemistry is at an all time high. I think Pop has learned his lesson in the past. Never underestimate the Spurs. Lakers - It's sad for me to put these guys here, but I think they have what it takes this year. East: Miami - for obvious reasons. Boston - My darkhorse. I think they're gonna go nuts in the playoffs.
East: 1) Miami - arguably best team in the league but struggling mightily right now. However, they have 2 rounds to snap out of it b/c only Chicago in the east can take them out. LBJ/Wade/Bosh are too much to overcome unless you're OKC/Chicago 2) Chicago - best rebounding/defense in the league, with one of the best big men rotation, and a top 7 player. A great recipe to win a championship. West: 1) OKC - most talented in the West, with the best player in the West. Everything hinges on their defense, and production outside of the big 3. 2) Memphis - clicking now. Inside/outside game, rebounding, defense, good PG play -> basically a very well-rounded team. If Randolph can be 90% of what he was last year in the playoffs, this team could go to the Finals. 3) Lakers - boasts a big 3, and very talented. Everything hinges on their bench, one of the worst in the league. Also, can Kobe attack the basket in the playoffs?
EC: 1. Heat 2. Bulls WC 1.Memphis 2.OKC 3. Lakers 4.Dallas 5.Spurs I think Memphis will be a hard out for okc. I like Tony Allen on Durant, and I don't think perkins+ibaka can handle Gasol and Zbo.
Gibert Arenas pick up is going to be craziness come playoff time. This guy hasn't lost it. He scored 14 points in 17 minutes last night. The one problem the grizzlies have had throughout last season and this season was a consistent bench scoring. Now that is not the case. Arenas can put up points in a hurry, and OJ is in his second year on the bench. Dante Cunningham is a younger Shane Battier type, and Spieghts is a poor man's Zach Randolph. Pondexter is a poor man's tony allen. The one problem the grizzlies have that I don't like coming into the playoffs is the fact that we wont have home court advantage against the spurs or the thunder and that could be our undoing. Beyond that: West: Thunder Spurs Grizzlies East: Magic Bulls Heat Pacers(darkhorse)
He can't because he has been shooting jumpers the entire season. The question is, is Kobe ready or will he ever be ready to give the ball to Bynum and Pau and finally use Lakers' advantages?
Spurs-Pop has rested his players for full games & they still have the best record in the west. OKC-I like Durant, Westbrook & Hardin with Perkins, Ibaka & Collison underneith. Lakers- Only if they can tighten up the loose screws in Bynum's head. Rockets-If KMart & KLow are back, I like our chances. With CamBert, we have 18 & 18 in the middle also. Bulls- They have the best record in the NBA while they have been without their best player for an extended streatch. They'll be tough to beat with Rose. Heat-On paper, they are the ONE. However, til they prove they can win THE series, I'll keep them as contenders only. Pacers-All season long, they have played consistant ball & have the 3rd best record in the east. For the life of me, I don't understand how. Bulls beat the Spurs in the finals.
