NBA Playoffs Wild, Wild West
Ranking the contenders in the NBA’s best conference
T-8. Oklahoma City Thunder/New Orleans Pelicans
It is a shame only one of these teams can make the playoffs (editor’s note: neither team had clinched a spot at the time of publication) because Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis are two of the best tickets in the NBA. It is a testament to their individual brilliance that their teams are even in the hunt in the bloodbath that is the Western Conference after injuries have riddled the Thunder and Pelicans all year. Still, the Thunder and Pelicans are as flawed as they are entertaining. Namely, Davis and Westbrook do not have the talent around them necessary to topple a top seed in the West. Also, Scott Brooks and Monty Williams are not winning any coaching duels.
7. Dallas Mavericks
One major advantage the Mavericks have going into the playoffs: Rick Carlisle is their coach, and he is very good at coaching basketball. While the Spurs eviscerated every other playoff opponent last year, the eight-seed Mavericks had a 3-2 lead on San Antonio in the first round before ultimately bowing out in the final two games. One more reason to watch out for the Mavs: Playoff Rajon Rondo is back. Last time Rondo was seen in a playoff series, he almost led the Celtics to a win over the Heat, including an insane Game 2 performance when he put up 44 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
6. Portland Trail Blazers
Before Wes Matthews’ injury, the Blazers were legitimate title contenders. Now, unless LaMarcus Aldridge morphs into Godzilla (and assuming Godzilla can ball), the Blazers are probably doomed for a first-round exit. More bad news: Matthews’ replacement Arron Afflolo looks like he will be less than 100 percent for the playoffs. But hey, C.J. McCollum has emerged as a legitimate asset down the stretch of the season. That is something.
5. Houston Rockets
Unfortunately, the injury bug decided to bite Houston at a pretty inopportune time. Just a few weeks a wrist injury ended starting point guard Patrick Beverly’s season, top backup big man Donatas Motiejunas’s sustained a back injury that ended his year as well. James Harden might have to score 45 a game for the Rockets to even win a series. And it might happen with the year he is having.
4. Memphis Grizzlies
The big concern here: Mike Conley’s nagging foot injury. Conley can hang with the best of the best when healthy, but keeping tabs on the Pauls and Currys of the world is borderline impossible with foot issues. Still, Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph are going to beat up any opposing front line, and Tony Allen is still the most annoying defender in the league. Whether Conley is healthy or not, the Grizzlies are not going to be an easy out.
3. Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Paul might have taken all the talk of Stephen Curry and Westbrook as the best point guards in the game a bit personally. Since the All-Star break, Paul has essentially been the Human Torch, averaging 21.9 points, 11.5 assists and four rebounds. Still, no matter how good Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan are, lack of depth will be a major problem for the Clips. The coach’s son plays a major bench role for L.A., and the coach’s son is Austin Rivers. That is a problem.
2. San Antonio Spurs
Well, look who it is. For three-fourths of the year it seemed like the Spurs might really be at the end of the tunnel. They were losing games they never lost in the past, veteran players were more underwhelming than usual and Kawhi Leonard was incessantly banged up. Turns out, the tunnel might really be infinite. Since losing four in a row after the All-Star break, the Spurs have ripped off 20 wins in 23 games, demolishing opponents by an average of 14.3 points per game. Gregg Popovich is an evil genius. One more thing: the Spurs are the only team to beat the Warriors twice all year.
1. Golden State Warriors
The Warriors have owned the ’14-’15 regular season. Completely owned it. There have been six teams in NBA history with a higher average margin of victory than Golden State. Only one of those six teams did not win the title (the ’71-’72 Bucks), and that was because they lost to a team with an even higher differential (the ’71-’72 Lakers). Basically, they are a wrecking crew on par with Jason Statham’s character in Furious 7 (seriously, go see Furious 7 if you have not yet). They boast the league’s best defense (allowing 101 points per 100 possessions) and the second-best offense. And if Curry’s three-pointers are not falling, odds are Klay Thompson’s are.
Well, the better odds are that both are hitting bombs from all over the court (the two combine to make 6.5 threes per game). With a 37-2 home record, and only five losses all year to West playoff teams, it is hard to see anyone beating the Warriors in a seven-game series.
Tichenor is the sports editor.