The first round is over and only eight teams remain, seven have fallen (the Bucks don’t count) and are now faced with a plethora of decisions in the off season. Let’s take a look at the teams in order of ranking.
Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Did they even play in the first round? Their series was over before it started. Three of the four games were televised on NBATV and not on the big stations making it seem as if this series was being played in North Korea and we were not welcome to view it. Those of us that did see them play saw a team that is going to win back to back championships. The Heat were already an easy pick to win it all, couple that with the glut of injuries effecting the NBA and it’s almost unfair how easy their road is going to be.
The Bucks have a very unfavorable situation awaiting them this summer. Of course Jennings and Ellis will make the most money by remaining in Milwaukee, however, that requires them to remain in Milwaukee. Who in their right mind purposely plays for the Milwaukee Bucks? Whomever the Bucks hire to be their new GM had better hope that Ellis and Jennings are unaware that there are actually 29 other teams in the NBA. The Bucks are going to lose at least on of the two and continue to mire in NBA obscurity. But hey they have Ersan Ilyasova and he is easily the most underrated player in the NBA.
New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics
They did it, they finally got out of the first round. Got interesting for a minute though didn’t it? Give the Knicks their credit, it got real interesting in the fourth quarter of game six, but they held off the Celtics and Carmelo came through in the clutch. Carmelo and JR Smith get all the attention, but Iman Shumpert was the key to New Yorks advancement into round two. His defense was stellar and he came up with multiple key shots to keep the Knicks out of touch.
The Celtics have perhaps the most interesting situation facing them of any team in the NBA this offseason. What do they do with KG and Pierce? Are they too old to compete? The Celtics have multiple players who are worth more to their franchise than to other teams around the NBA. They will never receive fair value in a trade and therefore their best bet is to retain the services of their aging players and go at it again with a healthy Rondo. It’s disappointing the fourth quarter Celtics didn’t show up for more games, I’m looking at you Avery Bradley. Reports of the Celtics demise have been greatly exaggerated, as long as they are able to cut back KG and Pierce’s minutes and get them some serious rebounding help that is.
Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks
The Pacers did their job, it took them a couple of hiccups in Atlanta to realize they are the vastly superior team, but in the end the cream rose to the top. The Pacers are probably the closest thing to a sleeper team in the playoffs. They lack a true star, but have a number of players that can contribute on any given day that ends in “y”.
The Hawks have a few decisions to make this off season, but I think, much like Jason Kidd after a long night of drinking, they will be in the driver’s seat. Devin Harris will be back if the Hawks want him, there will not be a long line of suitors for his point guard services. Josh Smith is where it gets interesting, much was made at the trade deadline of his shaky status with the Hawks, yet he remained in Atlanta. I don’t see a lot of teams that will be willing to offer Smith a max contract, and that is what he has said he is seeking. Who wouldn’t offer a player with above average but not star-level stats, who is not your man in the clutch and has proven time and time again an inability to take over a game let alone a series, a max contract? Did I mention that he suffers from a deep rooted delusion that he is a good three point shooter?
Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls
Man the Bulls have heart. Forget healthy, does anyone on that team have a recognizable pulse? Just when you thought they couldn’t withstand any more injuries, here comes mister flu walkin’ through that door. Yet they still managed to beat the Nets on their home court in a game seven, this is not a team to take lightly.
The Nets are stuck as is. They currently have almost 90 million dollars locked up in guaranteed contracts for this next season, and over 60 million of that is locked up in bad contracts (Deron Williams, Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, and Joe Johnson are all overpaid). They may be able to move the expiring contract of Humphries at the deadline, but other than that I don’t see a lot of movement with this squad.
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets
OKC got the job done without their star point guard, Kevin Durant is just that good. They played their game and other than losing Westbrook, this one went pretty much by the books, aside from a few scares here and there of course. Kevin Martin stepped up and proved his worth, I still think the deeper into the playoffs they go, the more they are going to miss James Harden. OKC is a fun team with likable players, the fact that the team was stolen from Seattle, and it was, is the only thing preventing them from being everyone’s second favorite team.
The future is bright for the Houston Rockets. Don’t be surprised if Dwight Howard heads south this summer, the Rockets have a lot more ahead of them than the Lakers do. I am not a fan of offering Dwight max money but that is what he is going to get. Houston is one of the few places that I think he would work out, his ego and personality really are that much of a problem. Even if Houston stands pat, I am confident Daryl Morey will swindle a legitimate piece from some unsuspecting GM in return for a pair of Hakeem Olajuwon’s game worn Etonics.
San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers
The Spurs are a basketball machine, put games in, victories come out. They have to now be the favorite to come out of the west. The Lakers were not much of a test for Timmy and his boys and the rest is going to hep them quite a bit.
The Lakers, oh the Lakers. Hope you’re ready for the Dwightmare part 2 Lakers fans! The entire immediate future of the Lakers hinges upon whether they will be able to resign Dwight or not. I’d put it at 50/50 if Dwight stays or heads to Houston. Forget all this nonsense about amnestying Kobe, it will never happen, don’t be surprised at all if Bryant comes back way earlier than expected as well. I’m sure every second he isn’t playing Kobe is seething, knowing his is losing games from his storied career.
Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors sure do love them some upsets. You have to love this team. They even wheeled out David Lee for a game for nothing more than to give their crowd something to cheer for and inspire the team. Inspire them it did. Curry is turning into a star as we speak, and that is hands down the best crowd in the NBA.
Denver will have an interesting off season. They are another team in the driver’s seat, they have so many good movable contracts. The question is, will they move them? If LA falls back and the Spurs age (they inevitably will), that potentially moves the Nuggets up to the #2 spot in the west if healthy. They’re going to have a lot of decisions to make.
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls
I’m getting tired of saying the Heat are going to win a championship. That doesn’t keep it from being true though. Chicago will win a game, maybe two, in this series, but it will never be close. The Bulls are the Heat’s foil (when it’s not the Celtics), they broke the streak, they play tough and have never been intimidated by them. Oh those injuries… It’s likely to assume that the Bulls will be missing at least one player in each game this series, not even including Rose, who does need to get up off the bench and man up.
Miami in 5
New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers
The Knicks showed toughness (and remarkable immaturity) in their first series and Carmelo’s ability to be clutch, but Indiana will be too much. They have very differing styles, however, I believe the Pacers are capable of playing multiple game plans, the Knicks have one, default to Carmelo, shoot threes. Rebounding will be the key to this series in that it will become much more difficult for the Knicks. Indiana has size and an actual point guard, two things the Knicks didn’t face against Boston. It will be up to New York to adjust quickly and hope to outscore the Pacers, which they will do at least once.
Pacers in 6
Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Memphis Grizzlies
OKC just barely got game one under their belts, but I do not like their chances moving forward. Durant is a monster, but much like King Kong he will fall when facing numerous individually weaker opponents. The Grizzlies are going to throw too much at the Thunder, they have the size and they have the grittiness. It will not be easy, but the Grizzlies will advance to the Western Conference Finals.
Grizzlies in 7
San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors sure are a plucky group of underdogs, capable of anything right? Not if anything includes beating the Spurs in a seven game series. Every game of this series will be interesting, until the fourth quarter, that’s when the grind sets in. The Nuggets don’t have the pedigree and coaching that the Spurs have. San Antonio will not be caught off guard and they will not fall to a lesser team.
Spurs in 5
Well you are all set for the playoffs past, present and future. Check back as things change, and if the playoffs up until now are any example, they’re going to change more than Dennis Rodman at a bridal dress sale.
