Who's gonna make the Playoffs?
This offseason has had us see multiple NBA team's attempting to tank for next year's Super Draft 2013, also known as the riggin for Wiggins tactic. We have also witnessed playoff teams either turning themselves into title contenders, desperately trying to stay ones, attempt to return without committing much money to the future, or purposely get worse for the draft fallen out of the hunt completely. In each conference the first six playoff teams are pretty obvious in many fans and writers minds alike. The common consensus, one i completely agree with is the Heat, Pacers, Bulls, Nets, Knicks, and Wizards (or Hawks depending on the person) in some order in the east (p.s. this order is what the standings will be year end IMHO). Meanwhile in the extremely deep as always west it is almost impossible to predict what the conference standings will be at year end. On the other hand, baring serious injuries to star players, there's no denying that it will consist of some combination of the Clippers, Rockets, Spurs, Warriors, Grizzlies, and Thunder. This leaves two seeds left in each conference up to debate. Who will end up there at season's end is anyone's guess, and since I'm anyone, here's mine.
Western Conference: Trial Blazers and TWolves
Between the Laker's and Nugget's corpses, Mavericks, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, and maybe even the Jazz, its gonna be one hell of a battle for a chance to be swept in the first round. Lets start with saying the Jazz have a very outside chance since this would be breaking on essentially their entire starting lineup breaking out. The chance of Alec Burks, Gordon Heyward, Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, and Trey Burke all solid NBA starter is pretty low but not entirely outside the realm of possibility.
Meanwhile the Lakers put all their chips in on Dwight Howard, a forty year old Steve Nash, playing a thirty four year old Kobe Bryant until he literally fell apart, and assuming Paul Gasol and really everyone in general would manage to fit into Mike D'antoni's disaster system (not to mention no bench). Looking back on it, its really not to surprising it didn't all work out. Although I'd be easily convinced that another coach...coff coff Phil Jackson... excuse me I have a terrible case of hindsight, would have been able to make all the pieces fit together. Listen the team was plagued by injuries all year not helping their trouble meshing together and in another universe we are talking about the NBA Champion Lakers and how Dwight Howard is ready to take the Laker Torch from NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant (In another world there's a Laker super team juggernaut winning multiple titles with CP3, D12, and the Black Mamba but that's a story for another time). Meanwhile this offseason they've replace Howard by getting rid of the man formerly known as Ron Artest, adding Swaggy P and Chris Kaman, and bringing back Jordan Farmar. So obviously thats a title contender right there right once Kobe come's back opening nigh after spending the offseason taking steroids, deer antler spray, enriched vampire blood, and injecting his children's platelets into his knees. Not so fast... what's that Steve Nash and Pau Gasol's dead bodies can at least drag them to an 8th seed? Not a chance! This team's defense is gonna be atrocious, their bench will be horrendous once again unless Wesley Johnson sum how fulfills his top 4 pick selection. There's no possible way I see this team making the playoffs and they looks to be mediocre to awful in every category. I already covered the Nuggets in my last article but honestly the J.J. Hickson and Timothy Mozgov signings make no sense especially in combination. In a conference this deep I'm not confident in replacing Iggy and Galinari's production with Nate Robinson, Randy Foye, the fore mentioned players, and the Village Idiot finally breaking out. That leaves Dalls, Portland, and Minnesota.
I've applauded the Trial Blazers offseason already and they've improved themselves even more with their Mo Williams dirt cheap signing. I think they have the best chance out of all these teams of grabbing a seed personally (though as we'll get to Kevin Love and company are very close). They won't play very good defense but their competition looks to be just as bad if not worse so I don't see this dragging them out of the playoff race much. With the addition of Robin Lopez they have a very solid starting lineup that should average eighty point on its own easily. They're bench will also score plenty with tons of three point and scoring options and potential breakout players in C.J. Mcollum and to a lesser extent Thomas Robinson.
Meanwhile the Timberwolves have assembled a similar core after resigning Nikola Pekovic and Chase Budinger and signing Kevin Martin and Corey Brewer. While their offense is going to be hard to beat, their defense is lacking practically any plus defenders past Rubio and Brewer (who are by no means stoppers). That's not to say Portland's defense is much better its more excluding Lillard who was a rookie mind you, their starting five are at least decent defenders, while Kevin Love, Pekovic, and especially Kevin Martin are big minuses. Their bench is also gonna be pretty decent as well though with Shved, Barea, Brewer, Muhammad, Dieng, and Derrick WIlliams providing production. None of those guys really stand out considering two are lottery busts and the rest aren't exactly sixth men of the year caliber players. Compared to the Mavericks I say its close, but I'd give it to the Twolves for the 8th seed. While Rubio and Calderon aren't too far apart, (Calderon is a master on offense but a horrible defender, Rubio great playmaker and capable defender but he can't score easily), Kevin Martin and Monta Ellis cancel each other out , Shawn Marion and Budinger might be a toss up, I have to say I think Kevin Love when healthy is a notch above Dirk at this point in their careers. I'd take Rubio and Love over Calderon and Dirk any day in 2013 and I think thats the difference. Plus Perkovic is a better than Dalembert and the Mavericks don't have a bench that seems to be any better than the Wolves. Therefore I present the seventh and eighth seeds in the 2013-2014 Wester Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers and Minnesota Timberwolves.
Eastern Conference Pt.2 tomorrow
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