10 Things: Playoff Preview (Part 1)

Back folks. After my annual month-long vacation of college basketball I think it's time to be reacquainted with the NBA. With about five games left in the season let's see what we should anticipate as the playoffs near. 

10. The Power of the Unibrow: With the playoffs on its way, it also allows fans from cities like Charlotte and Washington to celebrate the ending of a tumultuous season and look forward to the most exciting part of their year, the draft lottery. In what could be the strongest draft in years, many teams (including the Warriors) have given up on the season in hopes of adding more ping pong balls in the sweepstakes for the next franchise player. The list of studs in the draft this year include Anthony Davis, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Thomas Robinson, Jeremy Lamb, Bradley Beal, and many more. Although everyone will be wanting the magical unibrow, only one team will be lucky enough to acquire his powers. The rest of the teams shouldn't worry however cause quality players will be available across the board. Besides the popular names going to losing teams, the Playoff teams will also benefit from this draft, being able to draft guys like Terrence Jones, Moe Harkless, and Dion Waiters in the mid-late 1st round. For loyal fans of losing NBA franchises, the draft lottery will be their postseason celebration. Help is on its way.

9. The Magic Show: The television show that has been the Orlando Magic this season would fall in a genre of drama/mystery/comedy/everything. As a non-Magic fan, I personally enjoy it a lot. The reason? The Magic kind of deserve it because they did this to themselves and I absolutely hate Dwight Howard cause he is a big softie, and has always been. They've employed one of the worst GM's in basketball for the last six years and by babying the second coming of LeBron, he's ruined the future of the franchise. They had it coming for them and as the playoffs near, it doesn't surprise me that it's beginning to all implode on them now. The Magic could very well be a serious threat in these playoffs,  but with the chemistry of the team in shambles, competing seems far from reality.  

If for some reason however, the Magic do get a motivated Howard, there is a chance they can make some noise. As we've learned in past seasons, the three ball can change the course of an entire series and the Magic possess that type of ammunition to do it.¹ This improbable run most-likely won't happen as all signs point to a first-round exit and the end of an era of Magic basketball which started out so promising. Dwight not only cost one of the better coaches in the league his job, but he also turned what could be a very dangerous team in the playoffs to a complete joke. When their season is officially over, there will be many changes in the front office (Otis Smith out, SVG out)² while Dwight potentially holds the franchise hostage for at least another half of a season. Sorry Magic fans.

8. Big City Big Dreams: As the playoff race currently stands, the New York Knicks are two games ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and barring a major collapse (which is possible with this team), they'll earn the right to play the Bulls or the Heat in the 1st round. The Knicks' season has been a roller coaster starting with their slow start followed by the rise of Linsanity, then falling into a slump with Melo and the firing of Mike D'Antoni and now the ride is rising back up with Woodsonanity. In a lockout-shortened season, this current Knicks' team has created enough story lines to make up for two or three seasons. Being a sports franchise in the Big Apple means added pressure from fans to succeed and even if they make the playoffs falling short in the first round will be considered a disappointment regradless of all the problems they've overcome to get in. Their potential first round match-up with the Bulls should be very entertaining as we got a little preview last Sunday of what to expect in the series and although they've been winless against the Heat, they should make it an interesting series. While the Knicks still have a lot of issues to address as they enter the playoffs like Amare Soudemire's health, who will run the offense for them, and whether or not Mike Woodson can motivate these guys well enough to compete, the Knicks will certainly be a tough out. They match up well with the Bulls and Heat, and when they have a superstar in Carmelo, an all-star in Amare, deep threats in Landry, JR, and Novakane, a wildcard big-stage performer in B Diddy,³ and a defensive stalwart in Iman Shumpert to lock down wings, the Knicks will have a chance to pull off an upset. It's unlikely to happen, but with a team from the big city with big dreams and potential, anything is possible.          

7. Sleep Is the Cousin of Death: Every season there is a team that surprises and overachieves come playoff time. Last season's sleeper was the Memphis Grizzlies, and this season they will be that sleeper team making noise again. While the West is wide open and the winner of the conference will be dependent on luck and match-ups, the Grizzlies will be the team no one wants to play. Besides their one weakness, outside shooting, the Grizzlies are scary and a match-up nightmare for any team. With Zach Randolph returning not too long ago from an injury and Rudy Gay healthy for this year's run, the Grizzlies are legitimate contenders in the West regardless of their playoff seeding (currently 5th). The one issue they will have is building chemistry with a complete roster for once, and figuring out the roles of each player. Will Zach Randolph be the focus like last year? Or will Rudy Gay now be the go-to-guy down the stretch? Will Marc Gasol have a smaller role now that Z-Bo is back? Can Mike Conley and Tony Allen be a disruptive backcourt for other teams and will OJ Mayo finally have a breakout playoff run that at least I expect of him? Regardless of these questions, the Grizzlies' issues are something all teams would love to have. Given that they haven't been able to be consistent all year, the playoffs would be a perfect time for everything to finally come together for these guys now that they're healthy, and no team wants to sleep on them if and when that happens.  

6. Kiss the Ring: A champion is a champion until proven otherwise. This will hold true for the Mavericks as they come into these playoffs ready to defend their crown. While they are looking at a tough matchup with the Lakers in the first round, who swept them in the season series, the Mavs have beat the Lakers in the playoffs before. They won't fear them, and they certainly can beat them again this season. The Mavs haven't had a smooth season whatsoever with players coming into the year out of shape (Dirk), injuries (Delonte, Brendan Haywood), and failed roster adjustments (Lamar Odom). Yet the Mavericks are getting healthy now, Dirk is back to all-star form, and the rest of the roster is adjusting nicely to their roles.⁴ We've seen Dirk carry his team through the playoffs before and with timely three point shooting from Vinsanity? Jet, J-Kidd, and whoever else wants to be a part of the shooting party, it wouldn't surprise me if the Mavs are back in the Finals this year. They know how to win when it matters and until a team eliminates them, you can never discredit the heart of a champion.

Footnotes:

¹ According to a couple experts, this Magic team very-much looks like the team from 2009 that shot their way to the finals, which remember upset the LeBron-led Cavs that were supposed to be beat everyone that year. They have J-Rich, Ryan Anderson, JJ Redick, and Hedo. The only difference this season is the lack of chemistry between the players with Dwight and SVG. They do however have a favorable match-up against the Pacers in the first round and in round 2 against the Heat, no one on the Heat will be able to defend Dwight which means 20-20 possibilities every game. Mix that with Jameer Nelson finally waking up this season and J-Rich and Ryan Anderson catching heat from three and they can definitely pull off an upset. It’s possible.

² Stan Van Gundy will be fine however. He’ll get a job where he’s respected but unfortunately lose it again because of another diva center…probably. He’s an unlucky dude.

³ Who am I kidding? Baron’s washed up and it hurts so much to see it. RIP.

⁴ Hello Brandan Wright, welcome to the NBA.