Teams in the Western Conference are feeling crazy, nervous, and risky.
Especially the Spurs, Suns and Mavericks.
Those teams are beginning to realize they aren’t the Big Three out West anymore. The best teams in the West are the Hornets, Lakers, and Jazz.
Oh not to mention the Pistons and the Celtics are better than all three of those former Western Conference powerhouses.
*** Just a side note, can we like expand the amount of playoff teams in the west? I would love to see another Golden State/Dallas series this year, only the team playing the role of Golden State could be Portland and the team playing the role of Dallas could be Phoenix. There are like 6-10 really good teams in the West, and what like 2 good teams in the East? Fine you wanna throw Orlando and Cleveland in there? Fine, 4. But, I mean seriously, Atlanta? New Jersey? These teams aren’t playoff teams. ****
*** Another aside here, kudos to Mitch Kupchak for getting one of the best centers in the league for Kwame Brown and draft picks. Cocaine is a hell of a drug, huh Memphis? ***
Things are looking desperate for the teams who have been so good the past few years in the West. Phoenix did an equally drug induced move by trading Shawn Marion for an old, injured and washed up Shaq. The Spurs need help at point guard and think they found it in... Damon Stoudamire? The last time Might Mouse was relevant was when he was still playing for Lute Olson. Now, the Mavs just lost Josh Howard to a hurt back and it shouldn’t be long until they pull the trigger on something stupid. And even the throwing 6 players and a draft pick for Jason Kidd isn’t working out to well. By the way, the Mavs scored like 67 points against the Pistons in Detroit, and have been completely exposed ever since losing to the Warriors last year.
But, the fact is none of those teams matter (except maybe the Spurs). The new West is led by Kobe, Chris Paul, and Deron Williams. The Western Champion will be either the Lakers, Hornets, Jazz (or Spurs, NEVER leave out the defending Champs). Is it even a question that Kobe is the best player in the NBA or that Chris Paul is the best point guard in the league?
The West is also panicking because none of them seem to be able to be the Celtics (perfect against the West) or the Pistons. The rest of the East may be horrible, but the winner of the West will have to see one of those teams in the Finals. The West is good, a far superior conference over all, but no team is better than the Celtics or the Pistons.
The most amazing thing in the West is that there is 5 or 6 or even 7 teams, if you want to throw in Denver, are all very even. Such is not the case in the East. There are two clear favorites in the East. The West could be very interesting.
Now just because I picked out my favorite teams in the West, and by favorite I mean the teams I think are the best, they doesn’t mean they are the obvious favorites. The reason for that is because all the teams are so evenly balanced. Really anything could happen.
But the fact is, I don't care who they trade for. Is Jason Kidd really going to make the Mavs that much better? It will make them better certainly, but all it will do is get them to the level of the teams that are already better than them. Also, because winning the West is going to require winning 2 or more likely 3 really tough, balanced and long series against good western conference teams, Pistons and Celtic Fans should not be worried. Whoever wins the West is going to be tired and worn out. Plus the Pistons and Celtics are better teams anyway.
So Trade all you want West, nobody in your conference can beat the Pistons or Celtics regardless. They are too good, too deep and experienced.
Well it wouldn’t be a put it in stone if I didn’t make some picks. So here goes:
Phoenix will make an early exit, first or second round.
The Lakers will win the West.
The East claims the championship.
3 comments:
i agreed with most everything you said, but kobe is not the best player in the league. sure he can play, i mean he scored 81 points in a nba game. the reason the lakers have come around this year is strictly because of kupchak. granted, kobe is the one who scores and puts people in the stands, but his fellow teammates don't even have the highest respect for him. why else would they bring in an overrated point gaurd in derek fisher? he's is and has always been the team leader and stabilizer. since shaq left kobe wanted to leave as well. and through the past couple of years up to now, the lakers have a strong bench, and strong starting five for their system. and the whole time mr. bryant wanted superstars on his team, not players. kupchak finally realized kobe was a dumb ass when he wanted 20 year-old andrew bynum out of there. and my first question is..... how good were you at 20 years of age? not as good as lebron was. kobe wouldn't of taken the cav's team to the finals when he was 22-23. anyways, i know this rant is a little off topic, but i drank some hater-ade this morning then read where you said kobe is the best. kobe needs to shut the hell up and win a championship with out shaq.
I would definitely disagree with Derek. Who can compare to the skills of Kobe Bryant? First off, he's proven he's a leader and he's proven that he has changed his attitude ever since he joined Team USA. He wants to win, plain and simple. He wants a ring more than anything. THAT is why they brought in Derek Fisher (instead of the biggest waste of space Smush ParkeR) and THAT is why Mitch Kupchak grew a pair and went out to get Pau (Surprised that Jerry West allowed the Lakers to get PAu so cheap? I'm not.), and THAT is why Kobe Bryant is trying to play through a torn ligamit in his SHOOTING finger. My hater-ade is on Lebron here. I remember a few months ago when Lebron sprained his LEFT index finger, his LEFT HAND, and was out 5+ games. I cannot even begin to express how pathetic that is. Kobe TORE a ligamit on his SHOOTING hand, which is his bread and butter, and is trying to delay surgery (which was told to be essential) until AFTER the Olympics!!!!
Don't hate unless you've got proof to back it up.
-Matt
since shaq left how many championships has kobe been in? kobe said if bynum isn't traded then i want out. and now since kupchak didn't trade him, and now he's one of the better centers, kobe acts like he knew bynum would come through and now they are best buds. i'm not saying kobe isn't good, but he cries when things aren't going his way and takes all the credit when things are. if you know anything about sports then you know there is a fine line with injuries. if a player gets injured in any way and doesn't let it heal , and they hurts it worse. everyone jumps on them. if they rehab it, you lose respect. let me guess, you lost respect for LT when he sat out against the patriots? and next time you try and call out me and my facts......point them out.
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