With the NBA All-Star break and its record-breaking game (108,713 served) in the rear-view mirror, we can focus on the second half of the season, which tips off Tuesday. Plenty of plots are emerging as several contenders try to unseat the Lakers as NBA champs.
One of the most significant storylines is whether Cleveland is the destination of All-Star forward Amar’e Stoudemire, whom the Suns are trying to trade. With or without Stoudemire, the Cavs, owners of the league’s best record, are the frontrunners for the crown. Adding Stoudemire to their mix would significantly enhance their chances.
But there are other clubs with legitimate shots at the title. We offer our two cents on the eight contenders — four in the East and four in the West — and which ones have the best opportunities to win it all. We start with the beasts in the East.
1. Cleveland: The Cavs already have swept the Lakers in their season series and have fared better than anyone despite playing stretches without Mo Williams and Delonte West because of injuries. If they acquire Stoudemire, they would become a heavy favorite to win the East and beat the Lakers, who most believe will come out the West, for the championship. Regardless, it’s difficult not seeing the Cavs make a trip to the Finals. Imagine Shaq returning to L.A. and trying to get LeBron his first ring in a showdown with the Lakers.
2. Atlanta: The Hawks have been flying as high as any club except the Cavs and they should continue in the second half. They’ve already swept Boston in their four meetings and we believe they have the best shot of any club to stop the Cavs’ title bid. Jamal Crawford, whom the Warriors gift-wrapped to Atlanta in a lopsided off-season deal, has been the major reason for the Hawks’ rise. He’s averaged 17 points coming off the bench and he’s a cinch for the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year award.
3. Boston: Age and injuries have hurt the Celtics and many doubt they’ll recover. Boston also has been dangling Ray Allen as trade bait, so a deal could either enhance or hurt its run. Much depends on forward Kevin Garnett remaining healthy and returning to prominence as one of the league’s top defenders. If he doesn’t, we could see the C’s being eliminated in the conference semis, where they might have to face the Cavs or Magic.
4. Orlando: Dwight Howard hasn’t played his best this season as foul trouble and the Magic’s frequent habit of becoming a jump-shooting team in the clutch instead of using their best asset has cost them. Speaking of assets (or the lack of), Vince Carter hasn’t been enough of one and Magic fans are longing for the departed Hedo Turkoglu, who bolted to Toronto as a free agent when the club traded for Carter. Add the hysterics and sometimes-questionable strategy of Stan Van Gundy into the equation and we don’t see Orlando getting past the semis.
The best of the West:
1. L.A.: Early on, practically everyone and their mama crowned the Lakers. There also was the insane talk of them beating the Bulls’ record for regular-season victories. But that nonsense has been silenced by injuries and the Lakers occasionally falling asleep at the wheel. And with the Nuggets drilling them twice this season, it isn’t guaranteed they’ll take the West as many have predicted. Health is the major factor for the Lakers. Kobe Bryant has all sorts of ailments though he has fought through them for the most part. Though he missed the last three games (and the All-Star Game) because of an ankle injury, the Lakers were able to prevail in all three, including a key win in Utah before the break. In another statement game, the Lakers host the C’s on Thursday.
2. Denver: It's no secret that the Nuggets are the biggest threat to the Lakers’ repeat bid. Recently, George Karl even went as far as saying they had the Lakers’ number and knew the secret in beating them. The Nuggets backed up his talk with an impressive 126-113 victory in L.A. earlier this month without Carmelo Anthony. In November, they pounded the Lakers with a 26-point blowout in Denver. Mental health issues will be the biggest test for Denver’s cast of characters. But if Chauncey Billups can keep the meltdowns to a minimum, the Nuggets are a good bet to advance to the Western Conference Finals and possibly a trip to the NBA Finals. In a possible preview of the Finals, Denver visits Cleveland on Thursday.
3. Dallas: With the Wizards being their new best friends and giving them Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood, the Mavericks have elevated themselves into the West’s upper echelon. Butler provides them another much-needed scorer and a good defender, while Haywood gives them bulk in the middle and some additional offense, both of which could benefit the Mavs against Denver and L.A. Much will depend on how quickly the Mavs mesh and whether the new additions make Dallas a better club defensively.
4. San Antonio, Utah or Oklahoma City: Don’t be surprised if the latter slips into the No. 4 spot. Kevin Durant and the Thunder might be a surprise to many, but not to us. Their ability to close games this season— games they frequently lost last season — has given them a substantial boost. They've got talent, too. They are two back of the Jazz (32-19) in the Northwest Division, but their 30-21 mark is identical to the Spurs, who have appeared a step slow all season. The Richard Jefferson experiment has been a failure so far, but the Spurs’ brass is preaching patience. It rings hollow on our ears. The Jazz, who had a nine-game winning streak snapped by the Lakers in its last game before the break, would be the favorite to clinch the fourth spot based on experience. But the trade winds could blow through Utah, too, with the Jazz desperately trying to deal forward Carlos Boozer. Depending whom they get in exchange, dealing Boozer now could hurt them down the stretch.
Read more of Forrest Lee at Blak4rest.com.
