The NBA playoffs started this weekend…and I am still bitter. I lost my beloved Seattle SuperSonics this past season so I kinda hate basketball right now. But fortunately, the newly minted Oklahoma City Thunder were the 4th worst team in the league last year, which made it a little easier to handle. Anyway, when a relationship ends, you have to move on.
Exciting: LeBron. The manchild has finally become the most dominant player in the NBA. As recently as January the Kobe v LeBron argument still had a lot of weight. The playoffs this year is LeBron’s chance to put that comparison to sleep forever. And I think he will.
Depressing: Celtics. The defending champs have lost their best player, Kevin Garnett, and their first playoff game, to the lowly Bulls. No doubt Derrick Rose is a stud, but the Celtics had no business having ANY trouble until the conference finals. That is, before KG went down. They probably get past Chicago, but without KG, Orlando is going to dunk all over them next round.
Upset: Dallas. The San Antonio Spurs are battle tested champions and they are due (it’s an off year after all). But the due date has expired. No one expects anything out of Dallas in the post season (or ever again for that matter), but this is the same team that was a 1-seed just a couple seasons ago. And without the pressure of expectation, I think they are significantly more dangerous in the first round. Don’t get me wrong though, they will fold like a cheap suit as soon as they hit the LAL buzzsaw.
Fun: Atlanta/Portland. These teams are fun to watch. Lots of speed, lots of dunks, lots of youth. It’s hard to predict their success against Wade/Yao/LeBron/Kobe, but they are definitely my favorite teams in the mix. And Brandon Roy and Joe Johnson just might have the chops to push them a ways.
