NBA: Which Western Conference Teams Will Be In The 2014 NBA Playoffs?
From top to bottom, the Western Conference is the most unforgiving conference in the association. Now the question is, who is going to conquer the rest and it make to the 2014 NBA Playoffs?
Oklahoma City Thunder
As it turns out, OKC actually needs Russell Westbrook to continue taking tons of wild shots. (Flickr.com photo by Keith Allison)
Oklahoma City’s hopes of competing for an NBA title came crashing down just as Russell Westbrook’s knee buckled. Without a reliable running mate, Kevin Durant was left to play essentially 1-on-5 on offense and OKC was bounced out of the playoffs by Memphis. That’s when everyone found out how valuable Russell Westbrook is.
In 2013-14, the Oklahoma City Thunder will have a healthy Westbrook back alongside Durant, Serge Ibaka, Kendrick Perkins and Thabo Sefolosha in the starting lineup, but without the scoring of Kevin Martin, who skipped town for Minnesota.
Nonetheless, I fully expect them to make a run for the championship or at least have a deep playoff run.
Coach Scott Brooks has established himself as one of the premier coaches in the association, leading such a young team to great heights and improving year upon year.
He was a tough, scrappy player who didn’t back down from a challenge and having players with such an attitude a la Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collins or Thabo Sefolosha as well as talent has led to very successful coaching career so far. Although I’m sure having hardworking stars hasn’t hurt one bit.
San Antonio Spurs
Following a heart-breaking defeat to the Miami Heat in this year’s NBA Finals, San Antonio could very well be hungrier than ever for NBA supremacy.
The already elderly core of Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili is still intact; however they will be another year older with some extra mileage and battle scars so naturally, people will be somewhat skeptical. Then again, it wouldn’t be the first time the Spurs defied Father Time and had a strong season.
Younger players such as Danny Green and Tiago Splitter have slowly but surely been taking the load off the older folks and the passing of the torch is seemingly well on its way as Kawhi Leonard has continued to improve.
Gregg Popovich is still going to be screaming his head off at every play and players are still going to get a verbal lashing. But most importantly, the San Antonio Spurs are still going to be an elite team and I expect nothing less than a 50-win season (their 15th straight) and championship contention.
Plus Pop being awkward in interviews of course.
Memphis Grizzlies
Memphis was perhaps the surprise team of the playoffs last season as they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals, albeit by beating a weakened Oklahoma City club.
Nevertheless, they did have a strong run based primarily on defense and post play from Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. And this year, along with some good play from the point guard spot by Mike Conley, that will be recipe for success.
However they will have to address the lack of outside shooting because in the projected starting line-up (Conley, Randolph, Gasol, Tayshaun Prince and Tony Allen), the only person that can shoot relatively well is Conley. Then again, even he doesn’t jack up many, attempting 2.7 3-point shots per game for his career–3.7 last year.
Memphis will also have a new head coach as former assistant coach David Joerger replaces his old boss, Lionel Hollins, after the he and the team couldn’t come to a contract agreement.
The move could do some damage to the team’s hopes of success going forward, but the fact that Joerger was part of the coaching crew that made it to the conference finals may help ease the transition.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets were arguably the biggest winners during this offseason’s frenzy, sweeping up superstar center Dwight Howard.
Having already acquired James Harden (who blossomed into a superstar) last year, Houston is now perhaps a championship contender.
However, the main issue now will be chemistry. How will the James Harden work with another star hogging the ball? Will Dwight Howard and Omer Asik be able to co-exist? How is Kevin McHale going to make sure everyone is getting enough touches with the likes of Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons?
Los Angeles Clippers
L.A. is another contender for biggest offseason winner. The Clippers re-signed Chris Paul to a five-year, $105 million contract as well as signing coach Doc Rivers and shooter J.J. Redick, among others.
Doc Rivers will be an upgrade from former coach Vinny Del Negro, but not because Del Negro wasn’t a good coach–far from it, after all he molded the Clippers into a top-five defensive unit. Rather, it was because Rivers is a championship caliber coach and the best in the business – at least according to his contract.
Also, the fact that Del Negro’s Clippers were bounced out of the playoffs by Memphis, despite being ahead 2-0, probably didn’t help.
Even though they lost Eric Bledsoe, the Clippers will continue to grow and make some noise in the West, especially if DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin continue to improve.
Golden State Warriors
Last season, Golden State had one of the best offensive units in NBA, ranking seventh in points per game with an average of 101.2. However, their biggest problem was that they had trouble preventing the opposition from scoring, allowing 100.3 point per game, which was 19th in the NBA.
The acquisition of Andre Iguodala, who is renowned for his perimeter defense, should go a ways into helping on that front as he can corral, or at least slow down, the opposition’s best player.
The move also helps fill the void left by the departure of Jarrett Jack as the sixth man as it gives coach Mark Jackson the option to either place Klay Thompson or Harrison Barnes–most likely the latter–into that role. Plus, Iguodala is a player that can create for others if needs be, meaning Stephen Curry and Thompson can continue to concentrate on making 3s while A.I. facilitates.
I doubt the Warriors will be a championship contender but they are way too good to miss out on the postseason.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota was primed for playoff contention in 2012-13 until injuries derailed all their hopes.
Kevin Love, Brandon Roy and Chase Budinger may as well not have played, as the trio combined for just 46 games. Ricky Rubio, on the other hand, was coming off an ACL injury that ended his rookie campaign while Nikola Pekovic and Andrei Kirilenko missed chunks of the season.
Talk about an injury bug.
Now that the T-Wolves have added Kevin Martin and Corey Brewer to a–hopefully–healthy core group, as the 2013-14 season approaches expectations are high. I’m thinking: Ricky Rubio will lead the league in assists. Kevin Love will reclaim top spot as the power forward alpha dog. Nikola Pekovic (and his fat new contract) will continue to be a beast and the Minnesota Timberwolves will make it to the NBA playoffs in the meat grinder that is the Western Conference.
Who knows, maybe Derrick Williams will prove he was worth the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
Los Angeles Lakers
If you’re a Lakers fan, then this summer has been a nightmare. Dwight Howard decided against the history and glamour of the purple and gold, the team had no cap room to sign anyone of worth and the noisy neighbors that used to be a laughing stock are now looking down on you.
To rub salt into the wound, Mike D’Antoni is still the head coach and your star player is out for the foreseeable future. It just keeps getting worse and worse, doesn’t it?
Nevertheless Laker Nation, have faith. After all, this is Kobe Bryant’s team we’re talking about here, the man lives to defy doubters. Hell, we all thought Father Time was catching up to him and he only went and finished third in scoring.
Although it might be a big ask for a 35-year-old going into his 18th season and coming off an injury that has ruined most careers, I believe that if the L.A. Lakers can stay within touching distance then the Mamba can carry them to a playoff berth.
Just missed the cut: Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Denver Nuggets
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