What is the deal in the Western Conference? San Antonio is falling apart, the Lakers are a league’s best 17-1 since the All-Star break, and the Nuggets are playing their best ball of the year since the Carmelo Anthony trade. Legendary coach Jerry Sloan is out in Utah as the Jazz head coach. The Mavs are the Mavs, and New Orleans and Oklahoma City are going to make the playoffs as usual. The surprise team of the year, however? The nod goes to the Memphis Grizzlies, who have put on a show for their fans in their 10th anniversary of being in the league. So how is everything going to play out as the regular season is winding to an end and the playoffs are about to begin? Which team has what it takes to make it to the finals?
The answer will ultimately come down to experience. Before we get there, this is who is not going to win and why. As good as Memphis has played, Rudy Gay is out for the remainder of the season, and will not have a go-to player when the game is on the line. Yes, Zach Randolph has become a double double machine, but he is not the answer to their problems. The Hornets and CP3 won’t pull it out in the end either. Although they have played solid defense throughout the season, good enough for 4th place overall in the NBA, they rank 22nd or worse in points, assists, and rebounds. That is not a formula for a world championship team.
The Denver Nuggets, lead by the giant two headed point guard duo of Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson, have played excellent after the Melo trade. The problem here is they don’t have the close out player that has led them to the Western Conference Finals in the past. Nene and Kenyon Martin know what it takes to get there, but they won’t be able to carry a young Nuggets team past the power houses of the West. The Dallas Mavericks are playing solid ball as usual, but they always seem to find a way to fall apart in the playoffs. After falling to the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors in the 1st round of the playoffs a few years ago, they don’t seem to have what it takes to bring home the trophy. Dirk will have to put the team on his back and carry them a long way to make a strong playoff run.
The three teams in the Western Conference who have a solid chance of bringing home the championship are the Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder have a unique superstar threesome which include Serge Ibaka, Russel Westbrook, and of course Kevin Durant. However, experience does not play into the favor of Oklahoma City. As long as the Thunder keep their team together, they will find glory in the future.
That leaves two teams, who quite arguably have been the best two teams in the league since the the turn of the century. The Spurs and Lakers both know exactly what it takes not only to get to the NBA Championship, but to be crowned champion. While the Lakers have been the best team over the past 2 weeks heading into the playoffs, the Spurs have been the worst. The Spurs “Big 3”, Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili, have fallen their last 6 contests in a row. None of the three knew what that felt like considering it has never happen while any of them have been associated with the team. The Lakers, on the other hand, are the hottest team in the NBA and reigning two time NBA Champions. Like I said, it will go down to experience, and experience is what the Lakers posses. With the likes of Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, Andrew Bynum, and Ron Artest, the Lakers are too big, too strong, and too talented not to walk home as champions.
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