Lets Say Yea, For The NBA

With the NBA season starting to wind down...its not going out on a limb to say that we are about to be treated to one of the better versions of the NBA playoffs then we have seen in quite a while. So many teams playing at a high level right now. The East is starting to close the gap on the West...they are not there yet but the absolute dominance the West has had for quite a while, has turned into just being the superior conference. Problem with the West is that there are so many good teams there that come playoff time its going to resemble a WWE Royal Rumble. The East, which in my opinion has three (at best) NBA Championship caliber teams (Boston, Detroit, Cleveland), seems to have more cupcakes in the lower half of the seedings currently. Lets take a look at this by conference shall we? We shall.

The West: Currently the Lakers are on top followed by the Spurs, Houston, Utah, N.O., Phoenix, Dallas, and Golden State.
I am not sure what to make of the Lakers. They look fresh and are playing crisp right now and Kobe is doing is usual Kobe thing. Gasol is a great addition and Fisher is always solid. But does anybody else get the feeling that they are just headed for a first or second round exit? As nice as Gasol is.. they have no REAL presence in the post. Lamar Odom just makes me feel like I want to throw up my breakfast if the game is on the line. And they do not seem like a very physical team and that will be a needed element in the post season. I don't know and I really hope I am wrong... as good as they have been playing (9-1 over their last ten games), I just think they are headed for finish that will have Kobe soliciting trades again like a hooker at the Navy's "Fleet Week" in NYC. For the record I like Kobe..great player..but does not always make the best off court choices...that is not a Colorado reference. That brings me to the Spurs. Same story every year... invisible until about mid March, then you take a look at the standings and notice that they are the second seed..one game behind LA and winners of 8 of their last 10. They are like Ninja's..stealthy and quiet. And honest to God the most BORING basketball team on the planet to watch..2nd place goes to the Pistons. I should have more appreciation for the "Big Fundamental" and Parker, Ginobli etc., but every time I watch them play.. I inevitably start thinking about other things I need to be doing like trimming my nose hairs or re-organizing all my DVD's. But the bottom line is..they get it done. End of story and probably my favorites to come out of the West this year bc they always execute, they have experience and they don't get rattled. Ugh. Any of you that think the Suns have a shot... just no. Have you seen Shaq trying to lose 847 lbs in two weeks by being forced to run (if thats what you want to call it) the floor with Nash and Stoudamire? Thats just a weird collection of players that won't hold up..entertaining to watch though. I like New Orleans maybe to make it through the first round perhaps..but its not their time yet. Houston and Utah..whatever. I mean Houston has won nineteen straight and playing way better without Yao but I see a 2nd round bow out for them... this kind of thing can't last through the playoffs against the Spurs, Lakers etc etc (although they could be the ones to maybe cause the Lakers the earlier than expected exit if they somehow keep playing like this).Utah just not enough talent to keep up with the top seeds in a seven game playoff series. No disrespect to Deron Williams or Kirilinko. Dallas... not getting into this since every other basketball commentator and writer already has but Jason Kidd at this age does not put them over the top. Dirk is still Dirk..not as good as everyone makes him out to be. And they have less post presence than the Lakers. Good luck with all that Mark Cuban. Golden State I would like to see them make a push like they did last year but its unlikely given how they have played all year. Need to surround Baron Davis with just a little bit more stable talent but I love watching B Diddy play.

The East: This should be quite a bit shorter than the West bc it comes down to two teams really: Boston and Detroit. Cleveland is worthy of debate based on having Lebron James alone but does anybody think they are going to beat Boston or Detroit in a 7 game playoff series this year? Everyone got their knickers in a bunch bc at the deadline Cleveland got Joe Smith, Wally Scerfjhdfrjlghfdeak, and Delonte West. Big F'in deal. Those guys aren't going to make Cleveland leap frog anybody. Besides whatever cartialge is left in Wally's knees should be spent by the time the playoffs start. Joe Smith is well Joe Smith.. not bad but not great either. Delonte is nice but erratic and always has been.... If you look at the current seedings in the East its : Boston, Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando (love love love Dwight Howard), Toronto, Washington, Philadelphia, Atlanta and on the outside but lurking currently is a lifeless NJ team and a suddenly spunky Chicago Bulls squad. So that being said I don't really see many scenarios that don't include Boston and Detroit going through a 7 game war for the Eastern Conference championship. And quite honestly thats what I want to see. I want to see KG, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce and unsung hero Ranjon Rando.. in a back and forth, nail biting, cursing at the tv, pacing the living room series against Chauncey , Rasheed, Tayshaun, and Rip Hamilton. Thats what everyone who likes basketball wants to see. But everybody better beware...coming soon to dominate the Eastern Conference (even more than he is now) for the next decade if they can keep decent talent around him.. Dwight Howard. I am in awe of this guy. Just an absolute animal on the boards...and a huge presence down on the low block. Plus he can run the floor. Come to think of it.. he reminds me of Shaq when he first showed up in Orlando before his off season conditioning program consisted of.. well... getting fat and out of shape.. Fun times. Anyway...the seedings are subject to change before the end of the season and we will revisit this topic again no doubt. But strap yourselves in and hang on if you love hoops... this post season is going to be really entertaining and should be great to watch.