For the better part of the last decade, the Western Conference has been the hands down favourite when compared to the East. Last year’s final regular season standings led to numerous nationwide discussions about scrapping the Conferences for the post-season and just entering the Playoffs with the top 16 teams.
The league office allowed all that noise to play out and is reaping the benefits now.
Last year three of the eight Eastern Conference teams had a record of .500 or lesser, this year every Playoff team in the East has a winning record. Last year the Western Conference had only one team which had not won 50 games or more, this year only four of the eight teams have won 50 games or more.
Actually, this year, heading into the Playoffs the West might be the weaker conference as a whole. Of course, it does have the best team in league history, the 73 win Golden State Warriors but the seeds from 5-8 aren’t very competitive making the fans wait for the Conference Semis more than the first round.
Here’s a preview to all the first round match-ups in the West:
[4] Los Angeles Clippers vs [5] Portland Trailblazers
Every member of the Portland Trailblazers franchise (players, coaches, management) must be given huge props for what they have achieved this season. Despite losing four of their five starters over the summer, the Trailblazers still registered a winning season of 44-38.
Their backcourt of Damian Lillard and candidate for the Most Improved Award, CJ McCollum have been the biggest reasons behind the feel-good story in Portland.
Comparing the rosters, the Los Angeles Clippers should have this one safely in the bag. It’s more about how soon the Clippers can wrap up this series rather than whether they can.
Los Angeles forward Blake Griffin has only been able to play five games along with the team after his return from injury and based on his performances it’s difficult to ascertain if he is completely comfortable on the court and whether he has found the chemistry with his team that is needed for this team to have a deep Playoff run.
Terry Stotts, Head Coach of the Blazers, has served as an assistant under Rick Carlisle and is one of the smartest coaches in the league. For how his team has surpassed expectations, Stotts should be among the front-runners for the Coach of the Year award.
It’s Stotts sharp and smart mind along with the possibility of Portland’s backcourt exploding for one or two games that makes this contest the most interesting one to watch in the West.
Prediction: Los Angeles Clippers win in 6 games
[3] Oklahoma City Thunder vs [6] Dallas Mavericks
The most important factor in the games between these two teams is going to be the tempo of the game. For the final month or so of the regular season, the veteran squad of the Mavericks have been playing a very slow pace of basketball, limiting their turnovers and getting up a high percentage shot on almost every possession. At the same time, the Thunder are the worst team in the league when it comes to forcing turnovers.
Mastermind Rick Carlisle, Head Coach of the Dallas Mavericks, will surely pull up some defensive schemes in the slow pace game to trouble triple-double machine Russell Westbrook and try his best to reduce Westbrook’s impact on the game.
Over the course of the season, Westbrook has shown signs of not being able to efficiently contribute in the fourth quarters while playing against great defensive teams. Going up against rookie NBA Head Coach Billy Donovan, Carlisle has the upper hand in this coaching contest.
Having said that, this is the perfect opportunity for Oklahoma City to make a statement with a sweep and push themselves to the same stratosphere as the Golden State Warriors and the San Antonio Spurs.
On paper and on the court in terms of the personnel, the Thunder have a huge advantage but can they execute when it matters and seal the game? Mind you, OKC have given away 14 games (most in the league) where they lead.
Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder win in 5 games
[2] San Antonio Spurs vs [7] Memphis Grizzlies
The San Antonio Spurs are second in the league (Warriors are top) in the point differential statistic. The Spurs’ franchise record of 67 wins came at an average point margin of 10.60, showing how easily they have been able to dominate everybody in the league except the Warriors.
The Spurs offense includes a regular fodder of LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan or Boris Diaw post-ups and a superior standard ball movement. The entire team, players from 1 to 12, really set an example on the importance and beauty of teamwork in the game of basketball. San Antonio’s passing helps them surgically break down their opponent’s defence in an attempt to get the highest percentage shot in that possession.
Meanwhile the Grizzlies, who have fielded as many as 28 players (NBA record) this season due to injuries, simply lack enough NBA worthy players that can help the team hang around with the Spurs.
On the other end of the court, a slightly clueless Memphis offence will be going up against the league’s best regular season defensive team. This series should be a masterclass of the Spurs game.
Prediction: San Antonio Spurs sweep the series 4-0
[1] Golden State Warriors vs [8] Houston Rockets
After an entertaining Conference Finals series last year, these two teams progressed in opposite directions and now meet this season in the first round of the West Playoffs.
While Golden State took over the league with their record breaking 73-9 season, the Rockets disappointed with their over-reliance on James Harden and a defence that cannot be trusted against any team, let alone against the team leading the league in offensive efficiency.
As competitive as the Playoff series was last year, this season is going to be a lot different. The Warriors have become a much better and superior version of themselves while the Rockets play at a level far worse than they did last season.
Despite the undeniable monstrous disparity between the teams, this series might be a sneaky good one to watch if the likes of Stephen Curry and Harden start trading baskets over a certain duration in the game.
To sum it up, there’s nothing competitive to watch here. The disinterested and disconnected defence of the Rockets cannot be trusted against the superior offensive capability of Golden State.
On the offensive end, their over-reliance on Harden could hurt their chances once the Warriors’ start aggressively closing down the passing lanes and allowing Harden to go one on one against their team’s multiple good individual defenders.
Prediction: Golden State sweep the series 4-0
