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As much as we enjoy the drama and grind during the course of the 82 game regular season, the intensity of the Playoffs is something everyone at the start of the season wishes they could fast forward to. The All-Star Weekend has passed, so has the trade deadline and now that time of the year is almost here where we see each potential post-season team trying to garner some momentum before the Playoffs commence on the 19th of April.
So what’s most interesting about the final month of the regular season you ask? Well most seasons the top 5-6 spots for the Playoffs are secure about two to three weeks prior to the beginning of the post-season but it’s the dog fight down at the bottom for the remaining two or three spots which makes each game for these teams fighting for those spots to the post-season extremely crucial. While the dog fight goes on for the next three weeks here’s how last season’s champions and runners up are currently faring.
The San Antonio Spurs, a team that has made it to 15 consecutive Playoffs, are currently on a 10 game win streak as they make their yearly late season push for the top spot in the West which they currently hold by a margin of 1.5 games. Meanwhile in the East, the Miami Heat, the 2-time defending champions, are trying to find their way out a recent slump which has seen them lose five games in their last six.
But we aren’t here to discuss the last two-three weeks of the regular season, so getting back to what the title suggests, why do the results from this season’s Playoffs seemingly one of the most important in recent times?
LeBron James and this summer’s “The Decision”
LeBron James
No matter how many free agents or the level of talent available on the free agency market, none will be higher than King James when he is out there. We might not see the highly criticized, “The Decision”, once again this summer but his free agency will certainly be the most covered this summer.
Although many feel there is no debate here since James is most probably to suit up in a Heat jersey once again, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers seem to be the top contenders to land James if he is to leave the Heat. However none of these franchises either have the talent on their roster or the cap space to present an invitation to ‘the King’ which will make him consider leaving South Beach.
Cap space issues and a few aging role players might not see the Heat be the same team they have been over the last three-four years. So whether the Heat can make it four Finals appearances in a row, for the first time since Larry Bird and the Celtics achieved it in the 80s, would be a huge factor in his decision to leave or stay.
Carmelo Anthony and the rest of the lot
Carmelo Anthony
Among the rest of the lot Anthony is the next big name after James to grab attention this summer with his free agent status. Although Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh are free agents as well, neither of their decisions would impact a franchise as much as Anthony’s decision will impact the Knicks’ future.
Knicks owner James Dolan has not shied away from shelling out the big dollars to bring high IQ basketball players to team up with the cornerstone of his franchise, Anthony.
However given the team’s miserable performance this season, Anthony has not been satisfied, and is currently staying mum on the decision regarding his free agency this summer.
Guaranteed contracts till 2015, no draft picks till 2016 and absolutely no cap space for a max player this summer, the Knicks were literally all in for and with Anthony, but with wins hard to come by he doesn’t seem to be sharing the same sentiments.
The NBA-ready and much hyped draft class of 2014
A huge reason behind the massive impact of this season’s Playoffs are the lottery picks at stake in this year’s Draft, said to be one of the deepest pools of young talent in recent times with multiple players touted to be future stars, for the teams who just miss out on the Playoffs. The victims of the dog fight for the last few Playoff spots would benefit with high draft picks to help their future.
At present Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker of Kansas State and Duke respectively are said to be the top prospects for the first two picks at this year’s draft but as mentioned earlier the entire draft class is said to be one of the most talented and NBA-ready lot in recent times. So they do not lack in talent and all teams missing the Playoffs will be paying key attention to the play of all possible entries in search of their missing pieces.
