Heat-Mavs Can Be On NBA Finals Collision Course
Although the NBA Finals is still a month away, I think the Dallas Mavericks are solid picks to return to the championship round since their first and last stint in 2006.
The Mavs are playing their best playoff basketball thus far after sweeping the two-time reigning champions Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0. Dallas has flaunted its shooters during their semifinals series versus the Lakers.
Aside from the expected long-tom sniping of German Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs have the rejuvenated Jason Terry and Peja Stojakovic releasing those long bombs throughout the four-game Western Conference semis series against the Lakers.
I think the off-season acquisition of veteran center Tyson Chandler provided size and defensive presence for Dallas since this has been the position the Mavs appear weak for the past several years.
Meantime, the Oklahoma City Thunder evened their own Western Conference semifinals series versus the giant-slaying Memphis Grizzlies, 2-2 following their thrilling 133-123 triple-overtime decision.
I think regardless of whether the Thunder or the Grizzlies turn out to be the Mavs’ West Finals opponent, Dallas still has enough firepower to make it all the way back to the NBA Finals.
Over at the East, the Miami Heat are just a win away from reaching the conference finals following their 98-90 overtime triumph against the Boston Celtics in Game 4 in Boston’s home court. The Heat lead the series, 3-1.
Should the Heat reach the East’s conference finals, they will have to face either Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls or the fast-rising Atlanta Hawks led by high-flyers Josh Smith and Joe Johnson.
But either way, the Heat have the inside track plus the experience considering the presence of their own upgraded version of the Big Three — Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.
The Heat trio are at their prime, are competitive and definitely hungry and want to prove that they don’t just have great individual talent. But that they are capable of bringing the championship for Miami right in their first season together.
Of course, Rose, along with center Joakim Noah and the recovering Carlos Boozer can always be a threat to Miami’s chase for the championship. But the speed, the vast playoff experience as well as the momentum Miami has right now can be enough fuel for the Heat to reach the NBA Finals.
So with the rate things are going, a Mavs-Heat NBA Finals may not necessarily be a far-fetched idea.
Lakers’ Busy Off Season
Every event in life has a turning point.
To me, the turning point of the just-ended Los Angeles Lakers-Dallas Mavericks Western Conference semifinals series was Game 2 when the Lakers just simply lost team catching up the more aggressive and more focused Mavericks five. LA dropped Game 2, 81-93 at the Staples Center.
After making just two inconsequential three-point baskets in the fourth out of 20 attempts, I think Dallas coach Rick Carlisle already had a “eureka” moment from there.
He probably knew already that his team, led by German fireball Dirk Nowitzki could extinguish whatever fire the Lakers had for a third straight championship run by playing tough interior defense as well as shooting their way from beyond the arc.
And the Mavs did it in a tremendously explosive fashion, sinking 20 three point baskets in Game 4 that completed Dallas’ domination of Los Angeles via a 4-0 series sweep.
The win towed the Mavs back to the Western Conference finals since they did the trick in 2006, where they eventually reached the NBA Finals before bowing to the Miami Heat in six games.
As for the Lakers, I believe they can still be a playoff contender even after their dashed championship aspirations. But for them to get back to championship contention, there is a need for them to make some changes to address some issues in the team.
1. Speed. The semis series against the Mavs unmasked the Lakers’ weakness in speed. Derek Fisher is now 37, while their starters led by Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum along with Sixth Man of the Year awardee Lamar Odom just can’t keep pace with the Dallas’ Express offense inside and out. For them to get back to championship contention, Lakers front office will surely have to add younger and aggressive players in the roster who could help keep their starters fresh during times like these.
2. Shooters. LA just shot 19.7 percent from beyond the arc during the four-game semis series. Kobe was hitting bricks during the series and credit that to the perimeter defense designed by Dallas coach Rick Carlisle. LA didn’t have any other solid shooters off the bench to provide the spark. And with Pau Gasol just ineffective off the rebounds, the Lakers’ downfall was inevitable.
3. Solid coaching. Phil Jackson no doubt has etched his name in the NBA annals as the league’s greatest coach, having more NBA rings than his 10 fingers (he’s got 11 championship rings by the way). But since he has repeatedly said during the regular season he’s basically in his last tour of duty for the Lakers, LA will now have to find someone who could motivate and help LA get back its championship bearings.
For now, the Lakers front office are back to the drawing boards. And how well they do in making roster changes and key adjustments will determine how far they will go in Kobe’s few remaining championship runs.
No Greens & Golds In The NBA Finals?
In this same month of last year, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics were flexing their muscles in the playoffs. The Lakers were hardly challenged by the Utah Jazz in the second round of their Western Conference semifinals as they roared to a 4-0 series sweep to march back to the West’s Finals.
On the other hand, the Boston Celtics sent Lebron James home packing with Cleveland following their methodical demolition of the Cavaliers in Game 6 to advance to the East’s Finals, opposite their 2009 tormentor Orlando Magic.
Today, the Lakers and the Celtics are slowly being pushed at the edge of the Playoffs cliffs by their respective post-season opponents.
Yesterday, the Celtics looked older, slower and aging in their 91-102 loss to the surging Miami Heat before the America West Arena home floor or Lebron and Co.
On the other hand, Los Angeles, which many expected would bounce back in today’s Game 2 match up, failed miserably in its return to Staples Center. Instead of ending Game 2 with a series tied at one apiece, the Lakers played with no sense of urgency at all, bowing to the confident Dallas Mavericks, 93-81 and going down to the pit, 0-2 in the semifinals series to the horror of the LA fans.
With the Celtics and the Lakers down, 0-2 in their respective semifinals series, questions linger among die-hard followers of these storied franchises in the NBA whether they could still arrange a date with destiny and face each other one more time in an epic Finals showdown.
Between the two, of course, the Celtics are much older. Their playoffs-tested veterans of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are all in their mid-30s. And questions of whether they could still keep pace with the younger, hungrier and more athletic Heat trio of James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh appear to have been answered following Miami’s Game 1 and 2 victories.
Los Angeles’ story however, is different. Majority of the Lakers players are still in their prime. Kobe Bryant is turning 33 a few months from now, while Pau Gasol is just 30, along with Lamar Odom. Andrew Bynum is just 24. Derek Fisher is the senior citizen at 36.
The main problem coach Phil Jackson has been addressing all season long has been the Lakers’ inconsistent plays. They can be an unstoppable force to contend with if the Lakers wanted to, but oftentimes throughout this 2011 season, they appear to play with no sense of purpose and urgency.
The Celtics’ age issue and Lakers’ inconsistent, apathetic plays can probably signal an end to the NBA’s most colorful league rivalry ever.
For now, the NBA Finals slots remain open for takers. The only question now is, which two teams will make history this 2011?
The Sting That Could Wake Up The Lakers
A lot has been said about the Los Angeles Lakers’ stunning 103-109 Game One Western Conference first round loss to the seventh-seeded New Orleans Hornets on Monday (Sunday night in the United States).
Pau Gasol was a non-factor in the Lakers’ series-opener, scoring a quiet eight points and hardly making any dent on the defensive end.
On the other hand, Chris Paul, the Hornets’ diminutive playmaker took advantage of the lack of speedy backcourt men from the Lakers, scattering 33 points and 14 rebounds in a herculean effort that humiliated Los Angeles before a shocked LA fans at the Staples Center.
With that kind of a psychological disturbance caused by the Hornets’ win, it’s up to the Lakers to get back strong in Game 2 at the Staples Center.
Pre-Playoffs analysts are vocal of the Lakers’ capability to score a four-game sweep over an undersized and David West-less New Orleans squad. But with that Game One loss, it only shows that the Hornets won’t just allow themselves to be a minor speed bump for Los Angeles’ three-peat aspirations.
Just a few thoughts the Lakers ought to do if they plan to finish the series early and advance to the next round:
- Put the clamps on Paul. LA team skipper Derek Fisher is definitely a step slower considering that he’s now in his mid 30s, but perhaps, somebody else from the Lakers ought to put a body on CP3 to make sure he doesn’t set the tempo of the game with his playmaking.
- Pound the ball inside. Without West in the painted area, Emeka Okafor has little help inside. Gasol, Andrew Bynum as well as NBA Sixth Man of the Year awardee Lamar Odom should start dominating the post. I still believe this series ought to give Kobe Bryant more opportunities to score from the perimeter because the Hornets will be forced to play defense more down low.
- Maintain their killer instinct. The Lakers have shown their ability to dominate – and disintegrate during the regular season. But now that they are in the Playoffs, they just simply can’t afford to play complacent basketball. Doing so could be fatal in their drive for a three-peat this season.
Photo Source: http://thestartingfive.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Could-Paul-bring-this-face-to-the-Staple-Center.jpg
Lakers-Spurs Collision In The West?
Less than 20 games to go before the end of the 2011 NBA regular season.
And it looks like the West, now minus Amare Stoudemire, Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony appear more like a playoff-ending Western Conference showdown between the reigning champions Los Angeles Lakers and the veteran squad San Antonio Spurs.
The Lakers (46-19), as many are expecting, have started to pick themselves up after racking up eight straight wins since the All-Star break. The Spurs, who absorbed a crushing 83-99 home loss to the Lakers recently, still are perched on top of the NBA leader board with their league-best 52-12 win-loss record.
Sure, Dallas still maintains a half-game lead over Los Angeles in the Western Conference standing with its 46-18 card, but with an unhealthy crew going into the homestretch of the regular season still bugging the Mavs, it appears like they might have a hard time matching up with the Lakers or the Spurs if they ever meet in the playoffs.
Caron Butler has missed a huge part of the regular season already due to a knee injury, while center Tyson Chandler has been on and off the health list this season. Shawn Marion failed to finish the the Mavs’ 93-94 road loss to the New Orleans after landing hard and probably hurting his ribs after being fouled hard by Hornets guard Marco Bellineli.
Defense has been Lakers’ staple in matching their eight-game winning streak this season. A healthy Andrew Bynum has helped the Lakers’ new-found defensive strength after posting 17, 16 and 17 boards as well as amassing a total of 12 blocks all in LA’s last three games.
With Bynum finally getting his rhythm back and realizing his huge role in the middle, the Lakers can be a dangerous foe to face come the playoffs.
The Spurs, however, remain the team to beat in the West. Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker may no longer be dominating the league as they used to, yet, their supporting cast led by George Hill, improving DeJuan Blair, Matt Bonner and Gary Neal can contribute anytime needed because of the confidence and trust they get from San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich.
Sure, Oklahoma City still has the one-two scoring punch in Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, plus the addition of Kenrick Perkins whom the Thunder acquired from the Boston Celtics just before trade deadline expired, but it remains to be seen how they could keep up with the Lakers and the Spurs.
Which team is your pick for the “best in the west”?
Photo Source: http://www.mrfierce.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/kobe-vs-manu.jpg
