Top Story Lines To Follow During These Weird NBA Playoffs
The Bubble in Orlando
The NBA like the NHL has decided to go with a bubble format to deal with the global pandemic. The 16 teams left in the playoffs are in Orlando, living together on the Walt Disney resorts campus. It’s unfortunate that the teams that fought for home court advantage won’t get the chance to play in front of their fans. Some of these teams, the deeper they go, won’t get to see their families or sleep in their own beds for months at a time. Yes, you can play the “they make millions of dollars and can suck it up” card, but we must remember just because they are professional athletes doesn’t mean they won’t miss their families or get home sick. So far though the NBA has done a phenomenal job with testing and keeping everyone safe. Other then the Lou Williams chicken wing incident, you will have to listen to the pod to get my thoughts on that, it has gone very well have and there have been no positive tests so far. The strangest part must be that after a tough loss you can run into your opponent getting something to eat at one of the restaurants around campus. Being an NBA fan, I am impressed with the action the NBA has taken and the action the players and coaches and staff have taken to make the season a success. Keep an eye out on the bubble situation and how it unfolds the longer the players are in it.
Battle for LA
The battle for Los Angeles, assuming it happens, could be the most intriguing series of these 2020 playoffs.
On one side we have arguably the greatest player in NBA history and the all-time leading scorer in the playoffs in LeBron James. Playing alongside James is possibly his best teammate of all time in Anthony Davis. The Lakers haven’t made the playoffs since 2013 when Kobe Bryant was still the focal point of the purple and gold. If the Lakers can reach the finals and beat whoever comes out of the east, it would be their 17th championship, which would tie Boston for most all time. On the other end the Clippers are the deepest they have ever been, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are an all-star duo. Kawhi is possibly the most dynamic playoff performer we have in the game other than the King. This year is the best shot in their 50-year history to make it to the Western Conference Finals (WCF). Most are expecting these two dynamic teams to meet in the WCF. A lot of smart NBA minds are picking the Clippers to reach and win the finals. They are incredibly deep and defensively minded. But the team that shares Staples Center has two players on their roster in James and AD that are almost impossible to guard. If these two teams meet in the WCF it will be one for the ages and one all NBA fans should be excited about.
Giannis and his quest for a ring: Does a ring guarantee he stays in Wisconsin?
Giannis Antetokounmpo is the best player currently in the NBA. He won the MVP last year and he is the favorite to the win it again in this crazy COVID year. He has led his team to the best record in the NBA, the Bucks are the best defensive team in the league. They are the favorites to come out of the East and face either one of those Los Angeles Teams. Giannis has a very good supporting cast, widely underrated Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe, the Lopez twins, and the young bucks (pun intended) Pat Connaughton and Donte DiVincenzo. Those guys have a great shot to help keep Giannis in Milwaukee. Giannis is a free agent in 2021. There are other big names free agents like 3 of those guys I talked about in the segment before this, Kawhi, Bron, and PG13. But you could say Giannis is the best player in that bunch and he is the youngest one. There have already been some rumors and tampering going on with some of the Golden State Warriors vying for his talents. The real question is does Giannis want to team up with another superstar or try to be “the guy” in Milwaukee. The other problem is how many teams can really afford him? For me, there are only a couple of teams that really make sense. Both LA teams make sense for a bigger market and for Giannis to market himself even more. For me the Lakers are the more likely destination, his brother is already in the organization and teaming up with an aging LeBron and AD would make the Lakers title contenders for years to come. He and AD could be the most dynamic front court in NBA history. Miami and Jimmy Butler are another option. The Knicks and their seemingly forever search for a star to play in Madison Square Garden are another top choice. My pick, he stays in Wisconsin and tries to lead the Bucks to their first championship since the Big O and Kareem led them to their one and only championship in 1971.
Houston we might have a problem
The Houston Rockets are trying to change the NBA landscape after watching the Warriors change the NBA forever during the mid-2010’s. After the Rockets traded away Clint Capela, they went with a small ball lineup all the time. They do still have a 7-footer in Tyson Chandler but he’s pushing 40 and isn’t the reliable force he once was. They are playing PJ Tucker at center at only 6’ 5” for a lot of minutes. James Harden and Russell Westbrook are probably the most dynamic back court in the NBA right now. The guys in Portland and a healthy Klay and Steph might have something to say about that though. But can the Rockets really win a playoff series against the likes of the Lakers and Anthony Davis, Javel McGee, and Dwight Howard. How do they deal with one of the most versatile big men in the game, Denver’s Nikola Jokic? In my opinion they don’t. If Harden has some off nights and Westbrook can’t stay healthy, the Rockets will not go deep into these playoffs and may have to rethink their innovative strategy.
Can any other teams give the big 3 a run at a title?
For most people in the NBA there are three main title contenders: The two Los Angeles Teams and the Giannis led Bucks. In my opinion there are only two other teams in the east with a shot, the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics. Both teams are deep and have guys that can defend and can score. For the Raptors, this whole year has been how to survive without Kawhi Leonard. Well they proved us all wrong, they didn’t need him apparently. They have the same record as they did last year and, if anything, are a better defensive team without him. The Celtics brought in Kemba Walker this off season to take control on this team and someone did, although his name is Jayson Tatum. Tatum is already a superstar and the face of the franchise. I think the Raptors have a very good shot at returning to the finals and repeating as champions. The Celtics did lose a key player to injury in Gordon Hayward. Hayward might not be the top offensive option, like he was in Utah, but he is a very capable NBA player and a loss for the Celtics. Out of those two I am siding with the Raptors to have a better shot. The western conference is a whole different story. All 8 teams have superstars on their squad. Jokic in Denver, Mitchell in Utah, Harden and Westbrook in Houston, Chris Paul in OKC, Doncic in Dallas, and Dame and CJ in Portland. The two LA teams are the best bets to come out of the west, but I can honestly see any of these teams going on a run that leads them to the Finals. One thing is for certain, whichever team comes out of the West will be battle tested, will they have enough left to take on the East Champion?