For years it has been known that the NBA's Western Conference has been superior compared to its Eastern Conference foes. Western Conference offers the more recent legendary NBA franchises from Kobe's Los Angeles Lakers to Tim Duncan's San Antonio Spurs. For comparisons sake simply look at the 2012-2013 Western Conference playoff teams and an argument can be made that the "Top 6" teams in the conference could have challenged the Miami Heat. Fact is the road to the 2013 NBA Finals for the Miami Heat was full of opponents missing key components to their rosters. Chicago Bulls "no Rose", Indiana Pacers "no Granger" yet the mighty Heatles struggled for a combined 8-5 record versus those opponents in the playoffs, possibly playing to the level of their competition. .
No this is not a Miami Heat bashing or ripping apart of LeBron James. This is just a statement of the facts, the Heat simply faced less than adequate opponents in the Eastern Conference this season. When you rattle off 27 straight wins and your main regular season opponents consist of the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats a sense of superiority can settle in quickly. Now the Miami Heat are embattled in a fierce standoff against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals. A battle that has the defending champions scratching their heads searching for answers. As the same tactics the Heat deployed against the Granger-less Pacers, Rose-less Bulls, incompetent Bucks, Orlando Magic and Charlotte Bobcats "geesh" simply will not work against the well dressed Spurs.
At the beginning of the 2013 season the Heatles appeared to meet the challenges presented by the New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics four of the top teams in the conference. Unfortunately these teams all had significant injuries down the stretch of the regular season and into the playoffs. While the Pacers tested Miami's resolve the truth is the conference was flawed. It was the equivalent of shopping at the Louis Vuitton Outlet finding an awesome sales deal then arriving at the house to find out one sleeve was shorter than the other. While the Miami Heat found deals against less talented and injury plagued teams this season.The lack of competition in the Eastern Conference is now coming back to bite them in the end. It's not Miami's fault they are used to shopping at the wrong places.
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The JMC Sportsbook @ Box on Twitter is filling up with questions regarding the NBA playoffs and our NBA playoff outlook for the Western Conference Finals. Here's the call and outlook according to Book of JMC Sportsbook NBA Playoffs 2012 "Hunger Games".
Like Katniss Everdeen the Oklahoma City Thunder are young yet feisty athletic phenoms coming into their own hitting their stride prior to their prime. OKC Thunder play tough interior defense with PF Serge Ibaka nicknamed "IBlocka" by NBA fans for his defensive prowess and ability to block shots in the paint. I feel he should be nicknamed "Blanka" for his monster type ability to block, grab rebounds, and command the paint but that's a different article.
The OKC Thunder are led by new "King of Clutch" Kevin Durant known for his accurate and precision type shooting "Durantula" led the NBA in points averaging 28.0 ppg during his 2011-2012 campaign. Equally important to the Thunder's success is Russell Westbrook and James Harde. Russell is a dynamic NBA All Star Point Guard and James Harden is the glue that holds this team together his "Sixth Man of the Year" play off the bench has risen the Thunder to new heights. Thunder return to the Western Conference Finals for the second consecutive season. Durant, Westbrook, Harden and company are more poised and confident than ever after defeating the NBA version of "Career Tributes" Los Angeles Lakers. Their next test? the San Antonio Spurs.
San Antonio Spurs we all know the story of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli but the real play here comes from the addition of Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard. Two young star buds that look to be the future of the Spurs. Greg Popovich the best active coach currently in the NBA has done a masterful job this season. Giving Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobli time to rest throughout the season to increase the maturation process of Green and Leonard. The two young talents have been incredible breathing new life into the Spurs organization on and off the court.
Spurs have been the best team in the NBA for two consecutive seasons posting a 2010-2011 season record of 61-21 and completing 2011-2012 season 50-16. In 2011 the Spurs playoff chances were cut short when Manu Ginobli sprained his elbow in the last game of the regular season. Fast Forward to 2012 and the Spurs are back riding a 18 game winning streak the into the Western Conference Finals.
The Call: This is totally unfair to the OKC Thunder and their new fans in Oklahoma after defeating the Lakers with last second clutch shots in the playoffs teams should automatically be advanced to the NBA Finals. Well just like in Hunger Games that's not the case because in this latest version the Spurs represent the biggest challenge the Thunder have faced in their four year existence.
Here's my exhort as I explained it to Israel Sports Radio Producer and CEO Ari Louis and Raphael Gellar in Jerusalem. Manu Ginobli is the original James Harden they cancel each other out. Russell Westbrook and Tony Parker are equal parts slight edge to Tony Parker then you examine Tim Duncan vs. Kevin Durant all the stars equal each other out with very slight advantages. Now your left with the Spurs bench and counter pieces against the Thunder's spare parts and you have a 4-2 Spurs Series in San Antonio's quest to an NBA Finals Championship in 2012. Sorry Miami- Greg Popvich and David Stern "President Snow" would like to thank everyone for playing.
With a month left until the NBA playoffs we take a look at the top five teams that have a chance to make a significant impact towards the NBA Finals. Plus a look at our true NBA playoff dark horse.
1.) San Antonio Spurs: Overall San Antonio has the coaching, talent and youthfulness to make a deep playoff run. Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, Stephen Jackson, De Juan Blair, Kawhli Leonard, and Danny Green are just a few names who lead Greg Popovich's talent latent team.
Problem: Defense is not the same defense fans are accustomed to in San Antonio. Greg Popovich and the Spurs are relying more on their offense this season versus their defense and Duncan is entering his twilight years.
2.) Miami Heat: How can you deny LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh. Miami Heat have been the odd on favorites to win the NBA Finals since losing an heart breaker last season in the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks. LeBron James is the heavy favorite to win league MVP posting some of the best all around numbers in league history w/ 28 pts, 8 rebs, 7 ast, 2 stls and 1 block . Miami Heat's BIG 3 has been exciting to watch this season averaging over 100 pts.
Problem: Defensively the Miami Heat are vulnerable against larger more aggressive teams in the post. Joel Anthony has become an offensive liability. The addition of Ronnie Turiaf should help boaster the paint for the Miami Heat but the team currently has no answer in the middle.
3.) Oklahoma City Thunder: Should probably be ranked #2 on this list if Kevin Durant and company played in the Eastern Conference they would be odd on favorites to represent the conference. Russell Westbrook receives a lot of unwarranted attention for his play but OKC coaching staff and fans love the point guard. Sixth man of the year James Harden is playing like an all star averaging 16 pts, 4 rebs and 3 ast.
Problem: Turnovers have been an Achilles heel for the Thunder 15.3% of their possessions end in turnovers which is hurting their assists as well. A team with the likes Westbrook should not fail in assists and turnovers.
4.) Chicago Bulls: Carlos Boozer and Luol Deng lead a balanced attack on both offense and defense for Da Bulls!. Boozer who was struggling last season has rebounded and has become a vocal leader for the Chicago Bulls. Chicago's defense is tops in the NBA allowing only 89.1 pts per contest and the Bulls control the defensive and offensive glass with a combined total of 55 rebs per game. Bulls regular season record of 40-11 is #1 in the NBA.
Problem: Derrick Rose 2010-2011 NBA MVP has been hampered by a bad groin injury. While the Bulls have managed to stay consistent without Rose during the season the playoffs are a different ball game. The Bulls playoff potential rest on the health of Rose.
5.) Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe, Kobe and more Kobe his leading the NBA in scoring 28.9 pts per game.. Unfortunately The Lakers have been shaky all year but yet manage to be excellent at Staples Center where they are 20-4. Los Angeles traded away two mainstays in Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom changing the landscape of the basketball team. The addition of Ramon Sessions should help at the point guard position, finally a player that can handle the ball outside of the hands of Kobe Bryant. Bynum has been playing at an All Star level and his confidence in the post has increased.
Problem: Kobe, Kobe and more Kobe. Sometimes his offensive struggles can be harmful to the flow of the game which is why Mike Brown pulled the chair on him recently against the Memphis Grizzlies. Kobe has to trust his teammates more. The Lakers are terrible on the road this season playing below .500 away from Staples.
Dark Horse:
Indiana Pacers and Orlando Magic: Orlando Magic dark horse but possibly not daring enough the Indiana Pacers on the other hand represent everything a dark horse should be young, athletic and no one believes them yet.
Dark Horse checklist:
Possible NBA Superstar- Danny Granger check.
Point Guard: Darren Collison check.
Inside outside game: Collison, Roy Hibbert and David West check.
Bench: Sixth Man George Hill and Tyler Hansbrough check mate...
