In my previous piece, I looked at some of the pressing issues of some of the NBA’s most pertinent teams (as well as our local Raptors). However, given that there are more than 4 teams in the NBA I have decided to look at a few more.
CHICAGO BULLS-When will Derrick Rose be Back?
Currently the Bulls sit at 35-29 which is good for 5th place in the Eastern Conference. Although their record is not fantastic, it is remarkable considering they have been forced to play without former MVP Derrick Rose for the entire season. It is tough for any team to compensate for 21 points and 7 assists a game, but in the case of the Bulls it is especially difficult because their entire team game is built around Rose as he is both their lead scorer and facilitator. Without him you think they would be totally lost (like they were in the playoffs last year), but somehow this group has pulled together and are a remarkable 14 games over .500.
While the Bulls have some talented players, Boozer is incredibly inconsistent (especially when it matters) and both Noah and Deng are defense first guys. The offensive spark the Bulls are supposed to rely on from game-to-game is supposed to come from Rose, only he is not there. And while I get that an ACL injury is no joke, Derrick Rose by Derrick Rose’s own admission is healthy enough to play basketball. In fact, Derrick Rose has been good to go from some time now, only he isn’t on the court.
Only Derrick Rose knows the real reason he is healthy yet refuses to play, but if the comments made by his manager and brother made towards Bulls management over their decision not to pursue any meaningful deals are any indication, the reason seems to be totally dubious. However, this vengefully motive aside, another perhaps more frightening reason Rose is not on the court is perhaps that he is just plain scarred. Rose has not only indicated that he is physically fine, but amazingly also indicated he is mentally conflicted and terrified of getting hurt again. I may not know everything there is to know about basketball, but no franchise player and no former MVP should be talking this way, and if he is I would be worried if I was affiliated with this organization.
Therefore, Bulls fans you should officially be terrified because even if Rose does come back this year, his lost confidence in both himself and his frustrations with the organization are a toxic enough mix to kill any deep playoff hopes.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS- Is this team for real?
The real question should maybe be can this team contend for a championship? The reason for the change being that the Clippers are for real, in that they are a young and talented team with a great record, but do they posses all they need to contend for a title this year? The pros for the Clippers again are that they are young, that they are talented and of course that they have the best point guard in the NBA in Chirs Paul leading their team on the court. Furthermore, their front court leapers of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan make them one of the most entertaining and most hyped teams in the league. Unfortunately, for the Clippers however, they not only seem to lose too many games they should be winning, but that they seem far too one dimensional in that no one in their front court can shoot decently 5 feet from the basket or make free throws. Even more troubling for the Clippers is that Chris Paul is the absolute heart of this team and if he goes down at any point this team is lost.
As such, because of the significance of the aforementioned strikes, I do not believe that we are going to see any conference finals let alone NBA finals out of the Clippers this year. However, with a couple of tweaks via some key veteran signings, a SG or SF who can shoot, and especially a decent back-up for Chris Paul, this team could take the next step very soon.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS- Just how good is this team?
The short answer is excellent. The long answer, more descriptive.
Many people seem to forget that during various points of the Spurs playoff run last season, that a lot of people were calling them the greatest playoff team ever (YES THIS HAPPENED). In fact, the Spurs looked so good that it appeared they were poised to steamroll an injury plagued Heat team in the NBA finals. The problem for the Spurs was the Oklahoma City Thunder. After the first game, the Thunder came storming back in this series (no pun intended), and although they were youthful, they seemed to have answers to all of the wily veteran moves the Spurs could throw at them. Unfortunately, for the Thunder and Lebron-haters everywhere, youthful exuberance was fleeting and the Heat were able to thoroughly dominate the Thunder in the finals. But the question you have to ask yourself is what if the Spurs had matched up with the Heat, would the result have been so one sided? My honest belief is no and I think that series would have gone seven games. It was therefore a very tough pill to swallow if you affiliations with the Spurs.
The past is the past however, and if you fast-forward to this season, the Spurs are right back to where they usually are; flying under the radar, atop the standings and, Tony Parker’s ankle injury aside, are pretty healthy. I have not seen any reason to believe that this Spurs team is not as good as the one from last year, and if anything, they are more determined than ever to win a title.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER- Is this the year they take the final step?
As previously mentioned, the Thunder did something truly amazing when they came back to knock of the Spurs in the conference finals. In that last game of the series it looked like nothing was going to stop the Thunder and they were at least going to give the Heat all they could handle. Unfortunately, as LeBron James could have told every member of this team, being a young gun in the NBA finals is not an easy thing to cope with. You are hit with a pressure not seen all season and likely that you have not faced in your entire career (which was certainly the case for the Thunder’s big three). And while Kevin Durant remained a semblance of the Kevin Durant we all know and love, James Harden completely imploded and when the core of your team is made up of jump shooters and this happens, you have got serious problems.
However, just like San Antonio, the past is the past and the Thunder have looked great all season. And while they may have lost James Harden, things have not been terrible as Kevin Matrin has quietly stepped in to fill the shooting void (plus, if he can remain consistent in the playoffs and not implode the way Harden did the decision to deal Harden might prove to be the right one). Other bright spots for the Spurs include Durant continuing to being Durant, the Derrick Fisher signing (I always like the move to sign a championship seasoned veteran close to the playoffs) and Serge Ibalka playing up to the expectations the Thunder had when they kept him and dumped Harden. Unfortunately, for the Thunder their two biggest tests remain in tact (i.e. the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs) so for them to win it all this year would be very difficult. Furthermore, if the Lakers continue their hot streak that would mean another likely hurdle to jump over.
Therefore, even though they have the tools to make the Finals I do not believe that this is the year they take the final step in winning a championship. I do absolutely believe this team will get there, but likely not this season.
