Bringing Back the Blog for the Playoffs

It's been a while since I've posted but I thought I would break the slump with some quick thoughts about the NBA and the upcoming playoffs.

-The national media loves to play up the significance of not being in the 8th spot in the west so you can avoid the Lakers. Funny how the three teams "hoping" to stay out of playoff cellar have beaten the Lakers pretty soundly over the past month. Both the Blazers and the Spurs won in LA without their best players and the OKC ball club once lead LA by 41 points while cruising to victory. Maybe the question should be how can the Lakers cause the Suns to bomb to the 8 seed?

-Speaking of the Lakers, they've lost 6 out of the past 9 games. While this is not terrible news since they have clinched the #1 seed out West but getting ready mentally for the playoffs should not be underestimated especially with the insane depth of the Western Conferences playoff pool. Not to say that this team can just "turn it on" at a moments notice but you can't ignore their recent performance.

-Has anyone noticed how the Eastern Conference has not been good as a whole for about 20 years? And the current teams at the top seem to have more dumb luck on their side then front office know-how. Cleveland and Orlando have built off no-doubt #1 picks in El BJ and Dwight Howard and Boston is handed gift trades with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The only front office that put in any hard work to build a decent team is the Atlanta Hawks and then they still screwed up a whole decade of top 5 lottery picks.

-Conversely, how tough is the Western Conference? 7 games separate the top 8 teams and if Atlanta and Boston played in the West they could miss the playoffs. Don't forget that the Celtics and Hawks get to load up on cupcakes like New Jersey, Washington, Philly, New York, Indiana, Detroit, Toronto and Chicago. Think, one of those cupcake teams will make the playoffs in the East.

-Jerry Sloan should be the winner of the NBA's Coach of the Year award but unfortunately for Jazz fans it will probably go to Larry Brown or Scott Skiles. You know, two coaches that were fired by their last employer. How's that 20+ year career treating you Jerry? I doubt he would complain.

-I don't like that the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award will be given by default to Dwight Howard. Problem is, I can't think of anyone else to give it to. You know, the more I think about it, does anyone play defense in this league anymore? At least defense that produces stats.

-Beavers415