For this comprehensive mid-season glimpse into the National Basketball Association, I have called upon Senior NBA Analyst Tejasvi Srivangipuram, the Stephen A. Smith of the East Bay. This piece is a collaborative effort between the two of us, aiming to bring you an entertaining and encompassing review of all 6 divisions and both conferences.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Philadelphia (20-14) 2. New York (17-18) 3. Boston (15-17) 4. Toronto (10-23) 5. New Jersey (10-25)
This division belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers. They have the most solid starting 5 in the division, with Jrue Holliday leading the way, and the always game Andre Iguodala. Assuming we see Spencer Hawes return with as much success he enjoyed earlier this season (57% FG), the 76ers should have no trouble taking this relatively weak division and positioning themselves for a first round home series and a potential upset in round two. As far as the rest of the division is concerned, the Knicks and Celtics both hold records under .500, but would make the playoffs if the season was 35 games long (don’t put that past David Stern if we see another lockout), because the Eastern Conference is top heavy and lacks depth in terms of good teams. The Knicks had a nice run with Jeremy Lin, but we all know Carmelo is the better player, and if they should make the playoffs, it will be by Melo’s hand. Boston has an average player age of 53.2 years, and that’s not including grandpa Paul Pierce, who is inexplicably allowed to bring a walker onto the court during games. Toronto and New Jersey just don’t get it; don’t be surprised to see Deron Williams take off for greener pastures soon.
Central Division
1. Chicago (27-8) 2. Indiana (21-12) 3. Cleveland (13-18) 4. Milwaukee (13-20) 5. Detroit (11-24)
Chicago’s pretty much got this one locked up, seeing as they’re winning games with Derrick Rose pretending to be hurt/resting (interestingly enough, this team is better defensively with CJ Watson running the point). They can waltz to the 2 seed (unless they really want to fight Miami for the top spot). Indiana might have the most dynamic NBA roster from top to bottom, and if David West can get back to form, they’ll be a tough team to beat in the playoffs. With Danny Granger leading the scoring attack, and Paul George and Roy Hibbert developing nicely, this team is one playmaking shooting guard away from being a real force. They have to find a way to compete with the East’s elite though, losing to Miami by 20+ each time isn’t going to cut it. Cleveland might somehow make the playoffs if Kyrie Irving continues playing the way he does (and if they get enough help from New York and Boston). It’s sad that Milwaukee’s out of it, but this team just doesn’t understand that they can’t compete by bringing in the ancient Mike Dunleavy and Stephen Jackson to solve their scoring woes (also doesn’t help that Brandon Jennings wants to leave). Even if Bogut comes back healthy, I don’t expect this team to leave the lottery this year. And Detroit is a shame, just a crying shame (and a waste of Greg Monroe). The Pistons (and players who have moved on from Detroit - I’m looking at you Chauncey) continue to deny that it is not 2004 anymore.
Southeast Division
1. Miami (27-7) 2. Orlando (22-13) 3. Atlanta (20-14) 4. Washington (7-26) 5. Charlotte (4-28)
As we mentioned, it’s Heat and Bulls, 1 and 2 in some order, and the smart bet would be on these teams playing each other in the conference finals. Wade and LeBron are unstoppable when they are on the same page, and let’s just hope (for the city of Miami’s sake) that they overcome their past playoff performances (here’s looking at you, Lebron). Orlando and Atlanta seem pretty content with the 5 and 6 seeds - both these teams know they aren’t going to win, yet don’t know what to do about it. Plus, the Magic realize that Dwight Howard is probably having wet dreams about playing in LA with Kobe in the future and have little left to attract him into a resigning with. As far as Joe Johnson is concerned, we may come to understand that his 6 year, $119 million contract may be the worst deal since the Louisiana Purchase. Atlanta is just good enough to grab one of the lower playoff spots, but not good enough to do anything with it. Washington, unfortunately for John Wall, is considered by many to be the dumbest team to ever play basketball. And Charlotte, well, let’s just be glad Michael Jordan's legacy doesn’t include his stint as a GM.
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PREDICTION
1. Miami
2. Chicago
3. Indiana
4. Philadelphia
5. Orlando
6. Atlanta
7. Boston
8. Cleveland
Not much change from where we are now. We like Cleveland more than New York, but it could be a highly-contested race for the eight seed, with the reward being a date with Miami.
Western Conference
Northwest Division
1. Oklahoma City (27-7) 2. Portland (18-16) 3. Denver (18-17) 4. Minnesota (17-17) 5. Utah (15-17)
Oklahoma City is the cream of the Western Conference crop, and should have little issue wrapping up this division (in which they already have a 9 game lead) and a top seed, probably the highest. Durant and Westbrook make up an incredibly potent duo to rival any other in the league. Portland and Denver have both had some bad luck, but should come back strong down the stretch and find spots in the postseason. LaMarcus Aldridge is having the best year for a power forward in the West. He has put the Trailblazers on his back and kept them afloat when they could easily be under .500. The Nuggets are feisty and will be able to stick around in the long stretch. And any team who starts Timofey Mozgov deserves a postseason series. In Soviet Russia, playoffs make you. Utah and Minnesota, both in the building process, simply don’t have the depth and experience to keep up with the stronger teams, but could be contenders in the next few years given the right pieces.
Pacific Divisions
1. LA Clippers (20-11) 2. LA Lakers (20-14) 3. Golden State (13-17) 4. Phoenix (14-20) 5. Sacramento (11-22)
As bipolar as the Lakers have been thus far, their schedule treats them quite fairly over the next couple months and this is about the time when they started ramping it up last year. They could certainly do with a few small roster moves (read: either Rasheed Wallace, Michael Beasley, or Gilbert Arenas) and maybe they could have someone who isn't just completing 2nd grade draw up plays to get Pau the ball. Also, we are still waiting for Andrew Bynum's knee ligaments to explode spontaneously after an ordinary rebound, so there's always that. As exciting as the Lob City Clippers have been, they lack the experience (and leadership?) that the Lakers have enjoyed for so long. Don’t get it twisted, the Clippers have completed an about-face in 2012 and are almost certainly headed for the playoffs as a top 5 seed, but the only bit of leadership and experience they may have had, vanished when Chauncey Billups tore his Achilles. Even though they hold a 1.5 lead over the Lakers at this juncture, we find it hard to imagine this group of highflying youngsters staving off their always present older brother. The Warriors just can’t win a close game, which is a shame, but Mark Jackson’s been keeping his hand up (and man up) for a lot longer than expected. The rest of the division is just sad. It’s a shame that Phoenix can’t get Steve Nash a team, because the man can still play. The fact that they haven’t rewarded his loyalty is downright deplorable. Sacramento has lacked discipline since Adelman left, and the Maloofs just aren’t in it to win it anymore. Best case scenario is that some Bay Area Baron (and we don’t mean Davis) buys the team and gets them a new arena in either Sacramento or San Jose.
Southest Division
1. San Antonio (24-10) 2. Dallas (21-13) 3. Houston (20-14) 4. Memphis (19-15) 5. New Orleans (8-25)
Thanks to the best scouting and talent development in the history of the NBA (and it’s not even close), the Spurs have managed to not only stay competitive, but also dominate most the West. They have the second best record, and it doesn't appear that they will even need Duncan and Parker that much down the stretch, what with the bench of capable backups they have assembled. Dallas is another team that shouldn’t be overlooked, so expect them to stay in the top 4 throughout the season (as they always seem to be hanging around right on the edge of everyone's expectations). We don’t like Houston and Memphis, and think that their impressive performances (given Houston’s lack of star talent and Z-Bo’s injury woes) will not be enough. There is not room for both these teams in the postseason. And the New Orleans David Sterns? Well, this is what you get for trading CP3 for a bunch of untrained (and injury prone) babies in diapers, and a bag of Funions (easily the MVP of that trade). Good luck selling that team now.
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PREDICTION
1. Oklahoma City
2. San Antonio
3. LA Lakers
4. Dallas
5. LA Clippers
6. Portland
7. Denver
8. Houston
There's a little bit of movement here. As we discussed, we expect the Lakers to overtake the Clippers in the Pacific. And we think of the 4 teams contending for the last 3 spots, Portland is the most talented and Memphis will fall just short of Denver and Houston.
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