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The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the 2013-14 NBA Season

By FanSided User

Feb 12, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons small forward Josh Smith (6) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Earl Clark (6) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 12, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons small forward Josh Smith (6) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers small forward Earl Clark (6) during the second quarter at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Good

LBJ vs. The Slim Reaper

The battle for the MVP is somewhat of a crapshoot, as the winner of the award doesn’t always jive with what the player proves in the postseason (and we all know the truth comes out in the playoffs). This season, I hope we see a repeat of what happened in 1995. In ’95, David Robinson took home the MVP award, but in the postseason, he was outperformed by the previous year’s winner, Hakeem Olajuwon (poor Robinson was given the award before Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals against the Rockets, which totally lit a flame under The Dream’s backside). Let’s say Durant takes home the MVP this season, and the Thunder get spanked by LeBron and the Heat in the Finals. Now that’s what I call drama (damn you, TNT). There’s no guarantee that we’ll see a Miami-OKC Finals, but if we do, all the talk will be about the loser of the award trying to prove the voters wrong. Even if you’re not a fan of either team, you’re going to enjoy watching the world’s two-best players go head to head, right? If you don’t you should switch to soccer.

Jeff Hornacek and the Phoenix Suns

No one had the Suns doing anything but tanking this season, and anyone who says otherwise is lying. When I say no one saw this coming, I really mean no one. Jeff Hornacek has come in and changed the culture in Phoenix, with Goran Dragic serving as their lone star. Hornacek has made his entire team comfortable offensively and disciplined defensively, turning a group of outcasts into a Western Conference playoff contender. Miles Plumlee has come out of nowhere to become their defensive anchor, and even with top-five pick Alex Len failing to contribute (I think he’s a bust) and Eric Bledsoe missing significant time with a knee injury, the Suns are ten games above .500. Hornacek looks like one of those rare coaches that can actually make a difference, and even though I think Phoenix will narrowly miss the playoffs, the team’s success is a perfect example as to why tanking is useless. Who would you rather be, the lottery-bound Milwaukee Bucks, who will probably claim a top-three pick, or the Suns (even if they miss the playoffs)? If you said the Bucks you’re probably from Milwaukee or Greece.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard

A lot of people had Portland outside of the playoff race looking in going into the season (I had them 7th in the West), but no one saw them as a top-four seed. Aldridge has completely flipped the switch, turning into an ultra-competitive, physical big man, who also has the ability to make fade-away 18 footers with ease. Meanwhile, Lillard has become an elite NBA point guard with a flare for the dramatic, great poise, and a deadly outside jumper. Neither player has seen a dramatic increase in statistical output, but that’s the beauty of it: Numbers are only there to guide you, the win column is what matters. That being said, I don’t think they get out of the first round (losing the 4-5 matchup to the Los Angeles Clippers), but that just goes to show how tough the West is.