This NBA Season has become an Open for anyone to grab the top spot. In the wake of LeBron James returning to Cleveland, the Miami Heat is no longer the formidable threat that monopolized the Eastern Conference. The Cavaliers have been rejuvenated as favorites with the return of LBJ, along with All-Star PG Kyrie Irving and former Timberwolves Star Kevin Love as the third wheel. However, the transition has not been the smoothest for either of them. By LeBron's standards, he has seemed to be fairly quiet this season even though he will always be the number one option in the house that he built. Kyrie has had a tough time giving up the load that he has carried after LeBron made his exodus to South Beach. Love has had to give up being a top option, which is what he was on a sub-par team like Minnesota. The Washington Wizards acquired future Hall of Famer Paul Pierce. The Wizards have gone from a team that was on fire at the start, to a team that is crawling to make it into the postseason. In Chicago, Jimmy Butler has emerged as an All-Star player in the absence of Derrick Rose. Surprisingly, the Atlanta Hawks have emerged as the Top Threat in the East. The Hawks have modeled their game after the San Antonio Spurs. Therefore, they are considered to be the Spurs of the East. That is the best blueprint for success. Just ask Greg Popovich and Tim Duncan. Atlanta has not had this kind of exposure since the days of the Dominique Wilkins Administration back in the 80's. Then again, they also had solid success in the Mutombo Era, but never anything spectacular. Even in the Dominique Era, the Hawks were the whipping boys of Bird's Celtics, Zeke's Bad Boys, and Jordan's Bulls. The Hawks are actually favorites over the former Southeast Juggernaut the Miami Heat. Yes, that is right. The same Miami team that made the Finals four years in a row, with the Three Headed Monster of LeBron, Wade and Bosh. With Chris Bosh sidelined for the rest of the season with blood clot issues, Miami still manages to make the second half of the top 8 teams in the Eastern Conference. However, the Heat would pose as a nice challenge for ATL in the Playoffs. For now, the Hawks are flying high above the rest of the pack.
There has also been a Power Shift in the Western Conference. With reigning MVP Kevin Durant sidelined for the season with a foot injury, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been fighting for their lives for a playoff spot. Durant has been crowned as the heir to LeBron's throne as far as the Top Player of his Era, and this has changed the landscape of the NBA in a major way. Meanwhile, his sidekick Russell Westbrook has gone from being Robin to playing more like Nightwing as he has recorded a string of games with Triple Doubles. Russell is deep on the hunt for the MVP Award with the Centerpiece of the Franchise on the sidelines as a result of foot surgery. I applaud Russell for carrying the weight, but it is not the same. There have been people who have gone on record to say that Durant should be traded. Really?! That is insane. People that say that are stuck with Prisoner of the Moment Syndrome. Why would Oklahoma City trade their league MVP, just because he is out for an injury? Injuries happen all of the time, it is part of the game. KD is the REIGNING MVP, yet people want to view him as a has been. With the right rehabilitation, Durant can come back in even stronger fashion. However, there are fans here in Washington, DC that have been campaigning for Kevin to return home when his contract expires in 2016. During the Wizards vs. Thunder game at the Verizon Center, fans had signs that said "KD for DC 2016". With Durant's injury, the Thunder have given up the reigns as the biggest threat to San Antonio. The Dallas Mavericks acquired All-Star PG Rajon Rondo from the Boston Celtics through a trade. Dallas continues to remain in contenders, although the Mavericks have had some struggles with adjustments in the beginning. James Harden is the league leader in scoring as he carries an injury ridden Houston Rockets team (27.6 PPG). The Second and Third Wheels to Kevin Durant have risen to become two of the top three MVP Candidates this season.
Through it all, the Golden State Warriors have become the most formidable team in the Western Conference this year. Durant's injury has opened up the floor for not only Russell Westbrook and James Harden, but Stephen Curry as well. Curry has become a Super Nova this season, as he has set the record for the Most Three Pointers Made in a Single Season. Curry shoots fireballs like he was Super Mario. Teammate Klay Thompson has become his Luigi, as they have been labeled as the "Splash Bros", a tribute to Super Smash Bros. The Warriors are the toast of the West, as Curry and Thompson have been assassins from Downtown. Stephen has become the Three Point Champion as well. Curry is the leader of the best team in the West, as he leads the Warriors to an NBA-best 63-wins. In a Conference with the likes of the Spurs, the Clippers, and Blazers to name a few, that is very impressive for a predominantly outside shooting team. Granted, this is not the Wild West of Yesteryear, but this is still acceptable by today's standards. Harden may be the scoring champion, and Westbrook may be a Triple Double Machine. However, Curry has the best case in my eyes. He is the best leader and decision maker of the three. He carries himself with great poise, with a strong IQ. Westbrook may be a better defender, but Curry is a better leader for his team as it shows. Steph is not the kind of player that you can clearly point out cases where he has cost his teams the game. His efficiency speaks for itself. Stephen Curry is very precise and polished. He is rewriting the record books, and redefining three-point shooting for his generation. You can find more consistency in Curry than Harden and Westbrook. No offense to them at all. Curry makes Run-TMC very proud. David Lee makes a great third man, which has also called them "Dub TLC" (Thompson, Lee, Curry). Veteran Andre Iguodala has been very valuable providing his experience to this great team. Momentum is highly in Curry's favor, as with other MVP's in History. You can often just feel whenever a player is going to win MVP. This season, Stephen Curry is that guy for me. Golden State has never been this dominant over the rest of the NBA. During the Wilt Era, they were mostly in the East fighting with the Celtics. With Rick Barry, the Warriors were a step behind the Lakers or Bucks. When Golden State won the NBA Finals in 1975, they were the underdog!! Eighth Place in the West. The rest is history. In the 80's, they were just a notch on the Lakers belt. During the 90's, they took the backseat to Houston, San Antonio, Utah, etc. Today, Golden State has gone to the top of the class. The Playoffs are a different story. For now, the Warriors have made themselves known. The Splash Bros are looking forward to delivering their own Melee in the Playoffs.
No comments:
Post a Comment