Where will amazing happen this NBA season?
Top NBA teams of the 2014 playoffs
“…In the NBA, everyone has a plan…‘till they get hit on the mouth!”, NBA Insider, “…win or go home is not just some catchy slogan!,”
These are the top NBA teams of the 2014 playoffs,
The Spurs have a bright future ahead of them with Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green.
With Tony Parker leading them and Greg Popovich as head coach, the Spurs will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the Western Conference.
Tim Duncan is a warrior and The Big Fundamental has earned the right to retire on his own terms. The Spurs played possum last season well into the NBA finals, but this same strategy will not work the second time around. Popovich might have overplayed this hand. The Spurs, however did need to rest their aging Big Three. Specially Manu Ginobili.
Ginobili played horrible in the NBA Finals last season, Popovich continued to send him out there out of loyalty, but it was painful to watch Ginobili make turnover after turnover. He was just a shell of his old self and took minutes away from Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green and Gary Neal.
San Antonio looks prime for an early playoff exit.
The Pacers are loaded with talent. There’s absolutely no reason for them not to be in the NBA Finals soon, that being said…they’re a reminder of those great Cleveland Cavalier teams from the 1990's, with Mark Price, Ron Harper, Larry Nance, Brad Daugherty, Craig Ehlo and John Hot Rod Williams. Those teams could never win a playoff series versus Michael Jordan and his Chicago Bulls. The Indiana Pacers seem to be on that same slippery slope, they just do not have an answer for LeBron James.
Is just not enough for Paul George to match LeBron James’ output.
The former NBA Darlings window of opportunity looks close. Trading James Harden was a terrible decision on their part. The Miami Heat has the hardware to prove that there’s a way to keep three stars in one team. If their decision was based only on finances, then Serge Ibaka should had been the one to go, not James Harden.
Rim Protectors are nice to have, but a somewhat obsolete necessity in today’s NBA. With all due respect to all NBA centers out there, Michael Jordan won six titles with just serviceable centers. The Thunder gambled and lost big on this decision.
If Russell Westbrook is injured at any point, Kevin Durant will once again become a mark-man.
OKC and Kevin Durant, need Russell Westbrook to 1) stay healthy and 2) play well in these playoffs.
The Nets were exposed as a soft team by an undermanned Chicago Bulls team,
which could not spell the word quit even if you gave them all four letters.
Enter Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, battle tested veterans.
The Nets glaring weakness is at the head coach position, Jason Kidd has no playoff experience whatsoever. Even surrounded by veteran players and assistants, coaching in the NBA is tough enough as it is.
Kevin Garnett, has also earned-on merit-the right to retire on his own terms. Garnett was drafted directly out High School into the NBA and when he played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, he restructured his contract on multiple occasions in order to allow them to sign players which could help win a title, but all the help the Timberwolves ever provided him was Wally Szczerbiak.
Kevin Garnett wasted the prime years of his basketball career playing for that franchise.
The Warriors are talented and the Splash Brothers might be very well the new version of Show Time!
Is just uncomfortable to hear their head coach, Mark Jackson, start almost every press conference with the “…back, in my day..” speech.
Mark Jackson and his young team do not seem ready for Prime Time!
The Clippers are now the best team in Los Angeles.
But with the title of best team in Los Angeles also comes great responsibility. The Los Angeles Lakers have won sixteen NBA titles and even-though the Lakers have struggle this last two seasons, they will be coming back for their crown.
In the meantime Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and company have all the necessary skills to make some serious noise in the Western Conference playoffs.
Pat Riley stroke gold when he signed Ray Allen and Chris The Birdman Anderson, these last two seasons. Riley is a modern day Red Auerbach, but as 2014 free agency approaches this summer, Miami will have to once again back up the Brinks’ Truck and pay top salary in order to remain relevant.
LeBron James is the heart and soul of the Miami Heat. Without him they would not had won back to back titles. Their success depends on James.
Resigning him and bringing in another free agent star player is a must.
Dwayne Wade is directly responsible for bringing three NBA titles to South Beach, but he can’t leap over tall buildings anymore and Chris Bosh is just not enough help for LeBron James. The task ahead for Pat Riley looks clear. Riley has to lure in another superstar player to Miami. A cut in talent well above Ray Allen and Chris Anderson.
The acquisition of James Harden has turn out great for Houston and Dwight Howard will continue to flourish in the Center-Friendly franchise.
Their weakness is defense. These defensive shortcomings are a problem which has to be addressed in order for the Rockets to be serious a contender.
The Bulls played with second and at one point third stringers during the playoffs last season. By an overwhelming consensus—that was the most valiant effort anyone has seen in the NBA since Willis Reed limped his way out of a Madison Square Garden tunnel.
But their reward for this valiant effort last season never materialized.
The Bulls will use their amnesty option on Carlos Boozer after the playoffs and will look to relieve themselves of Derrick Rose too. Is just impossible to put a positive spin on back to back season ending knee injuries.
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