The Changing of the Guard: The NBA Season In A Nutshell By Sal B
David L'Creme Jr Filed Under: Labels: NBA
Well the NBA regular season has come to a close and it's time to hand out some awards and pose some of my playoff predictions as well as make what I'm going to call "Botz's State of the Game Address". Awards are easiest so they'll come first.
MVP - Kevin Durant. Yes. I said it. LeBron is an incredible player. Probably the best in the world, but Durant's team made no significant improvement's, didn't acquire Shaq and Jamison, and doesn't play in the cookie dough soft Eastern Conference. The Thunder went from 23 wins last year to 50! this year, essentially just on the emergence of KD as an NBA superstar. I think Durant is the 4th or 5th best player in the league, but he threw this young team on his back and carried them into the playoffs while leading the league in scoring. To ME he's the MVP, above LeBron, Dwight or Kobe.
#2 LeBron
#3 Kobe
#4 Dwight
#5 D-Wade
Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard. There isn't much to be said here. Dwight is an all-time great defensive center and led the league in rebounds and blocks again. Easy call.
Coach of the Year - Scott Brooks. KD didn't do it alone, Brooks' strategy and team-first concept helped mold Durant into the best all around scorer in the game almost over night.
Rookie of the Year - Tyreke Evans. This call was hard as hell. I LOVE B.Jennings and Steph Curry but Evans joins only MJ, LeBron and Oscar as rookies to average 20-5-5. Pretty astute company. I have Curry at #2 and Jennings at 3.
Sixth Man of the Year - Jamal Crawford. The modern day Vinny "The Microwave" Johnson, Crawford can light up the score board in a hurry. He edges out Manu and Odom, who both spent quite a bit of time in the starting lineup.
Most Improved Player - Gerald Wallace. From inconsistent to All Star, Wallace finally took the next step this season and is one of the best defenders in the league.
All NBA First Team
C - Dwight Howard
F - Kevin Durant
F - LeBron James
G - Kobe Bryant
G - Dwyane Wade
All NBA Second Team
C - Tim Duncan
F - Dirk Nowitzki
F - Carmelo Anthony
G - Steve Nash
G - Deron Williams
All NBA Third Team
C - Amar'e Stoudemire
F - Pau Gasol
F - Chris Bosh
G - Joe Johnson
G - Rajon Rondo
All NBA Defensive First Team
C - Dwight Howard
F - LeBron James
F - Josh Smith
G - Kobe Bryant
G - Rajon Rondo
All NBA Defensive Second Team
C - Andrew Bogut
F - Gerald Wallace
F - Ron Artest
G - Dwyane Wade
G - Chris Paul
It was a great season in the NBA and it should lead to a fantastic postseason. The West is WIDE OPEN, but the East should be chalk all the way. Here's how I got it.
First Round
1) Cavs over 8) Bulls in 6 games.
2) Magic over 7) Bobcats in 5 games.
3) Hawks over 6) Bucks in 6 games.
4) Celtics over 5) Heat in 7 games.
1) Lakers over 8) Thunder in 6 games.
7) Spurs over 2) Mavs in 7 games.
3) Suns over 6) Blazers in 5 games.
5) Nuggets over 4) Jazz in 7 games.
Conference Semis
1) Cavs over 4) Celtics in 6 games.
2) Magic over 2) Hawks in 6 games.
1) Lakers over 5) Nuggets in 7 games.
7) Spurs over 3) Suns in 6 games.
Conference Finals
1 Cavs over 2) Magic in 7 games. (Could REALLY see Magic winning this one again. It IS gonna happen, and it WILL be a WAR.)
1) Lakers over 7) Spurs in 6 games. (This one should be a veteran battle.)
NBA Finals
Cavs/Magic Vs. Lakers.
This one is gonna be intense. It'll either finally give us a Kobe-LeBron Finals, or it'll give us a rematch of last year's Championship. My heart says Lakers. They're the most talented team in the NBA with the best coach and the most Clutch player since Mike. But every intelligent part of my basketball mind says that either the Cavs or Magic, with home court and a hunger for gold would wipe us out with energy and desire. I have a strange calm surrounding me as a Laker fan, one which I've never felt before. Winning a title last year took the boulder off my back and I really and genuinely feel like if we lose, we lose. With that said, I've never been as negative about a Laker title contender. The Bench SUCKS, Kobe is physically exhausted and Bynum is hurt again. They've looked TERRIBLE since the All-Star break and have flat out GIVEN away games. The West is really gonna be a crap shoot. Anyone can beat anyone (except Portland which has seen injuries to the entire team). I think that if the Lakers survive the Western Conference bracket, they'll have played themselves into Championship form, because every team won 50 games. They're navigating a mine-field and they aren't safe anywhere. Don't sleep on Oklahoma City who have fresh legs and nothing to lose. A lucky whistle or shot here or there and we can get knocked out by OKC. They're THAT good. If we get past them we're in for a physical beat down either from Denver or Utah, both of whom want revenge for us eliminating them last year. Finally should we withstand both these battles, either Tim Duncan, Steve Nash or Dirk Nowitzki will be waiting for us in the Conference Finals. We will be tested, but I think it'd be foolish to doubt the heart of a champion, the hearts of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. It's gonna be a fun ride.
The State of the NBA
This year seems to be the point where the guard changes in the NBA. Hall of Famers like Kobe, Duncan, KG, Dirk, Nash and Shaq seem to be giving way to the next generation of legends. LeBron, Durant, Dwight, D-Wade, Melo and Deron Williams are ready to carry the baton. Shaq and KG look way past their primes and injuries have finally caught up to Kobe and Duncan (the 2 best players thus far in the post-Jordan era. They should all be back next year, but what we're witnessing is the torch being passed. The league is in great hands and the competitive balance is at perhaps an all-time high. I'm very excited to see if any of the greats of the past decade can add another ring (or a first in the case of Dirk and Nash) to their collection, or if a guy like LeBron, Melo or Dwight can finally break through and make it to the Holy Grail. its gonna be one hell of a postseason.
MVP - Kevin Durant. Yes. I said it. LeBron is an incredible player. Probably the best in the world, but Durant's team made no significant improvement's, didn't acquire Shaq and Jamison, and doesn't play in the cookie dough soft Eastern Conference. The Thunder went from 23 wins last year to 50! this year, essentially just on the emergence of KD as an NBA superstar. I think Durant is the 4th or 5th best player in the league, but he threw this young team on his back and carried them into the playoffs while leading the league in scoring. To ME he's the MVP, above LeBron, Dwight or Kobe.
#2 LeBron
#3 Kobe
#4 Dwight
#5 D-Wade
Defensive Player of the Year - Dwight Howard. There isn't much to be said here. Dwight is an all-time great defensive center and led the league in rebounds and blocks again. Easy call.
Coach of the Year - Scott Brooks. KD didn't do it alone, Brooks' strategy and team-first concept helped mold Durant into the best all around scorer in the game almost over night.
Rookie of the Year - Tyreke Evans. This call was hard as hell. I LOVE B.Jennings and Steph Curry but Evans joins only MJ, LeBron and Oscar as rookies to average 20-5-5. Pretty astute company. I have Curry at #2 and Jennings at 3.
Sixth Man of the Year - Jamal Crawford. The modern day Vinny "The Microwave" Johnson, Crawford can light up the score board in a hurry. He edges out Manu and Odom, who both spent quite a bit of time in the starting lineup.
Most Improved Player - Gerald Wallace. From inconsistent to All Star, Wallace finally took the next step this season and is one of the best defenders in the league.
All NBA First Team
C - Dwight Howard
F - Kevin Durant
F - LeBron James
G - Kobe Bryant
G - Dwyane Wade
All NBA Second Team
C - Tim Duncan
F - Dirk Nowitzki
F - Carmelo Anthony
G - Steve Nash
G - Deron Williams
All NBA Third Team
C - Amar'e Stoudemire
F - Pau Gasol
F - Chris Bosh
G - Joe Johnson
G - Rajon Rondo
All NBA Defensive First Team
C - Dwight Howard
F - LeBron James
F - Josh Smith
G - Kobe Bryant
G - Rajon Rondo
All NBA Defensive Second Team
C - Andrew Bogut
F - Gerald Wallace
F - Ron Artest
G - Dwyane Wade
G - Chris Paul
It was a great season in the NBA and it should lead to a fantastic postseason. The West is WIDE OPEN, but the East should be chalk all the way. Here's how I got it.
First Round
1) Cavs over 8) Bulls in 6 games.
2) Magic over 7) Bobcats in 5 games.
3) Hawks over 6) Bucks in 6 games.
4) Celtics over 5) Heat in 7 games.
1) Lakers over 8) Thunder in 6 games.
7) Spurs over 2) Mavs in 7 games.
3) Suns over 6) Blazers in 5 games.
5) Nuggets over 4) Jazz in 7 games.
Conference Semis
1) Cavs over 4) Celtics in 6 games.
2) Magic over 2) Hawks in 6 games.
1) Lakers over 5) Nuggets in 7 games.
7) Spurs over 3) Suns in 6 games.
Conference Finals
1 Cavs over 2) Magic in 7 games. (Could REALLY see Magic winning this one again. It IS gonna happen, and it WILL be a WAR.)
1) Lakers over 7) Spurs in 6 games. (This one should be a veteran battle.)
NBA Finals
Cavs/Magic Vs. Lakers.
This one is gonna be intense. It'll either finally give us a Kobe-LeBron Finals, or it'll give us a rematch of last year's Championship. My heart says Lakers. They're the most talented team in the NBA with the best coach and the most Clutch player since Mike. But every intelligent part of my basketball mind says that either the Cavs or Magic, with home court and a hunger for gold would wipe us out with energy and desire. I have a strange calm surrounding me as a Laker fan, one which I've never felt before. Winning a title last year took the boulder off my back and I really and genuinely feel like if we lose, we lose. With that said, I've never been as negative about a Laker title contender. The Bench SUCKS, Kobe is physically exhausted and Bynum is hurt again. They've looked TERRIBLE since the All-Star break and have flat out GIVEN away games. The West is really gonna be a crap shoot. Anyone can beat anyone (except Portland which has seen injuries to the entire team). I think that if the Lakers survive the Western Conference bracket, they'll have played themselves into Championship form, because every team won 50 games. They're navigating a mine-field and they aren't safe anywhere. Don't sleep on Oklahoma City who have fresh legs and nothing to lose. A lucky whistle or shot here or there and we can get knocked out by OKC. They're THAT good. If we get past them we're in for a physical beat down either from Denver or Utah, both of whom want revenge for us eliminating them last year. Finally should we withstand both these battles, either Tim Duncan, Steve Nash or Dirk Nowitzki will be waiting for us in the Conference Finals. We will be tested, but I think it'd be foolish to doubt the heart of a champion, the hearts of Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. It's gonna be a fun ride.
The State of the NBA
This year seems to be the point where the guard changes in the NBA. Hall of Famers like Kobe, Duncan, KG, Dirk, Nash and Shaq seem to be giving way to the next generation of legends. LeBron, Durant, Dwight, D-Wade, Melo and Deron Williams are ready to carry the baton. Shaq and KG look way past their primes and injuries have finally caught up to Kobe and Duncan (the 2 best players thus far in the post-Jordan era. They should all be back next year, but what we're witnessing is the torch being passed. The league is in great hands and the competitive balance is at perhaps an all-time high. I'm very excited to see if any of the greats of the past decade can add another ring (or a first in the case of Dirk and Nash) to their collection, or if a guy like LeBron, Melo or Dwight can finally break through and make it to the Holy Grail. its gonna be one hell of a postseason.
