Defense wins. It’s a mantra coaches preach over and over, but it’s often overlooked in the NBA, where the greatest players in the world sometimes score even on the best defenses.

The Memphis Grizzlies are 6-1 on the season and they get it right on defense. In what ways do they get it right on defense?

They lead the league in fewest points allowed during games.

Teams                                                                                                 Points Allowed Per Game

1. Memphis Grizzlies                                                                       86.7

2. Houston Rockets                                                                         89. 7

3. Portland Trail Blazers                                                                 91.2

4. Golden State Warriors                                                                93.8

5. New Orleans Pelicans                                                                  94.3

They lead the league in fewest assists allowed per game.

Teams                                                                                                  Assists Allowed Per Game

1. Memphis Grizzlies                                                                        16.5

2. Houston Rockets                                                                          17.3

3. Portland Trail Blazers                                                                 17.4

4. Minnesota Timberwolves                                                           18.4

5. San Antonio Spurs                                                                       19.0

They are top 6 in the league in steals per game.

Teams                                                                                                 Steals Per game

1. Milwaukee Bucks                                                                          10.3

2. Golden State Warriors                                                                10.0

3. Philadelphia 76ers                                                                       9.8

4. Washington Wizards                                                                   9.5

5. Atlanta Hawks                                                                              9.5

6. Memphis Grizzlies                                                                       9.0

Marc Gasol is a big reason why Memphis is so tough in the middle. By Augustas Didžgalvis (Own work) via Wikimedia Commons

The Grizzlies have physical defenders who keep their hands in the passing lanes and make proper rotations to stop the offensive players on their drives. Tony Allen who makes Shooting Guards fight hard for shots leads their defensive attack. Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph who play physical defense in the post anchor their defense.

Their strong defense allows them to keep games close ensuring that they have a chance to win.

Here is a clip of The Grizzlies holding the high-scoring Phoenix Suns to 91 points.

It’s safe to say, the Grizz are getting it right.

The NBA western conference is a “whole different animal” compared to the East, and for good reason. Last season, there were nine teams over .500 and one of those teams, Phoenix Suns, were 14 games above .500 and missed the playoffs. Year-in and year-out at least one very deserving Western Conference team missing the playoffs due to the elevated level of talent and play added over the years. As of now, the Larry O’Brien trophy resides in San Antonio and the West looks as if it may be back to its pure dominance that it had over the East during the early 2000’s.

Will this be the season Anthony Davis leads the Pelicans to the playoffs? By Keith Allison (Flickr: Anthony Davis) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

San Antonio Spurs: The defending champs will try to go back-to-back this season but it will be difficult with the opponents they will have to face. They are still the Spurs, though, and I have learned not to count out this team until they are actually done. The Spurs will again be a top contending team in the West and I expect them to make it back to the conference finals if not the finals again.

Los Angeles Clippers: Oh the Clippers. Just when you think they might actually break through, they let you down. A historically bad franchise finally has some hope and light in it and will look to expand upon that again. Their time to win is now as Chris Paul isn’t the youngest point-guard in the league. Adding veterans Jordan Farmar and Spencer Hawes will improve the team but my head still says they will get bounced in the second round again.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Realistically, the Thunder are so young with Durant and Westbrook that it’s scary. One of the best one-two punches we have seen in the recent NBA but they can’t seem to get the job done. Durant is the reigning MVP and needs to break through in the playoffs to be put into the same category as the greats that have won and I look for him and the Thunder to make it back at least to the conference finals again this season.

Portland Trailblazers: If the Trailblazers can stay healthy, they can do some major damage in the Western Conference and they showed a glimpse of what they could do in the postseason. They are a gritty, young team that has an unusual confidence. They look as if they will make another postseason run and you never know what could happen. Watch out for Portland.

Golden State Warriors: No matter what their record is during the season or what seed they get in the postseason, they are as scary a team as any. They can shoot the lights out and maybe having a new coach in Steve Kerr may push this team to their potential. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are the best backcourt in the league and its time for them to prove it in the playoffs.

Houston Rockets: I really liked the pickup of Trevor Ariza after Chandler Parsons left, but the reports that Dwight Howard and James Harden think of themselves as bigger than the team worries me. Even the greats realized they needed help to win and I don’t see the Rockets getting by the second round this season. This offseason could have been epic for Houston, but losing out on Chris Bosh and Carmelo Anthony was huge.

Memphis Grizzles: Everyone always sleeps on small-market Memphis and I’m not sure why. They were one game away from defeating Oklahoma City in the first round and they played that game seven without Zach Randolph. I believe if he had played, Memphis would have advanced because they were the better team. This offseason, they signed Vince Carter, which will help scoring a little bit unless he turns back into the Toronto version of himself; then watch out NBA

New Orleans Pelicans: I am personally deeming this season the “season of Anthony Davis” assuming he can stay healthy. Davis is an absolute beast and is continuing to grow and learn. I expect the Pelicans to compete for a playoff spot this season and show people that they mean business in this league.

Dallas Mavericks: This team could either be really good or they could not be able to live up to expectations. Monta Ellis had a great season last year but he’s always had some question marks. Dirk is older and we don’t know how effective he can still be. I hope they play to their potential because after adding Chandler Parsons and Tyson Chandler they could end up being a top team in the West.

Phoenix Suns: So far Eric Bledsoe is still a free agent and they better change that fast; he is too good to not bring back. I just don’t see them contending. They overachieved last season, but I hope they can prove me wrong.

Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe is finally back and D’Antoni is out — what more could Laker fans want? Byron Scott was a good choice as the Lakers try and figure themselves out. Adding Carlos Boozer, Jeremy Lin, and draft pick Julius Randle will help the Lakers be somewhat relevant and if they can stay healthy they might be able to compete for a first round exit in the playoffs. I don’t doubt the Black Mamba and I think he can lead this team to the playoffs with an early exit. Only time will tell how he and the Lakers play though.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Losing Kevin Love hurts but it needed to be done. Adding Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett and Thaddeus Young will help this team be a little more interesting. Give this team a good three years before they actually start competing on a regular basis.

Every NBA season some surprise teams jump up and contend for the playoffs. In the West those could be the Pelicans, Lakers, and Suns.

All season long, the two-time defending champion Miami Heat have been the favorites in the NBA. The San Antonio Spurs, who lost to Miami in the Finals last season, had the best record during the regular season and have looked like a team on a mission. The Indiana Pacers, who seemed determined to overthrow their rivals in Miami started off the season hot but have slipped lately. This was supposed to be the year that some team knocked off LeBron James and the Heat and stopped them from becoming a dynasty. Thus far in the playoffs that dream seems very unlikely.

Could the NBA Finals return to the Moda Center in Portland this season? By Another Believer (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

At this point, I think the only other two teams that could give the Heat some trouble out East are the young Toronto Raptors and the veteran Brooklyn Nets, who happen to be facing each other in the first round. With the Pacers struggling to find themselves, it almost looks like a lock for the Heat to meet up with a team like the Wizards in the Eastern Conference Finals.

In other words, it’s not turning out to be as challenging as many thought for LeBron and co.

In the West, it’s a free-for-all, with some of the top teams struggling so far in the playoffs. The top-seeded Spurs are playing their in-state rival Dallas Mavericks who so far are showing the Spurs they mean some business. The two teams from the Lone Star State have split the first two games in San Antonio and Dallas could have won both games in San Antonio if not for an impressive run to end game one by the Spurs.

The second-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder with MVP Kevin Durant seemed primed for another playoff run yet find themselves down 2-1 to the gritty Memphis Grizzlies. The Houston Rockets had a lot of hype after the addition of Dwight Howard in the offseason, but they are down 0-2 to the Trail Blazers heading into one of the loudest arenas in the NBA back in Portland. The Los Angeles Clippers are the only top seeded team looking like they should taking a 2-1 lead over the Warriors including winning a game in Oakland.

The NBA playoffs are far from over and anything can happen, but so far signs are pointing towards the Heat reaching their fourth straight NBA Finals and meeting up with any of the right Western Conference teams that clinched a postseason berth. Here is what I believe will happen over the course of the playoffs:

First Round:

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Dallas Mavericks (Spurs in 7)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 7. Memphis Grizzlies (Grizzlies in 6)

3. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 6. Golden State Warriors (Clippers in 7)

4. Houston Rockets vs. 5. Portland Trailblazers (Trailblazers in 6)

1. Indiana Pacers vs. 8. Atlanta Hawks (Pacers in 7)

2. Miami Heat vs. 7. Charlotte Bobcats (Heat in 5)

3. Toronto Raptors vs. 6. Brooklyn Nets (Nets in 6)

4. Chicago Bulls vs. 5. Washington Wizards (Wizards in 4)

Semi-Finals:

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 5. Portland Trailblazers (Trailblazers in 6)

3. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 7. Memphis Grizzlies (Clippers in 7)

1. Indiana Pacers vs. 5. Washington Wizards (Wizards in 6)

2. Miami Heat vs. 6. Brooklyn Nets (Heat in 7)

Conference Finals:

3. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. Portland Trailblazers (Trailblazers in 6)

2. Miami Heat vs. 5. Washington Wizards (Heat in 5)

NBA Finals: 2. Miami Heat vs. 5. Portland Trailblazers (TBA)

I’ll say it again — it’s never too early for NBA predictions.

Since LeBron James (or Ray Allen depending who you talk to) led the Miami Heat their second straight NBA title, the other 29 teams have been making many moves to try and compete with the defending champs. While not all teams will even be given a chance to dethrone the champs, I thoroughly believe that most teams in the league improved from a year ago, which is going to make for a great NBA season.

Even with adding Dwight Howard, James Harden and the Rockets aren’t in the top 5 in the Western Conference. By Derral Chen derivative work: Bagumba via Wikimedia Commons

1. Los Angeles Clippers: Yes, you read that correctly. The Clippers are the number one seed in the Western Conference but that doesn’t always lead to a title. The additions of Jared Dudley, JJ Redick, Daren Collison  and of course coach Doc Rivers make the Clippers, in my opinion, the best team in the West right now.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder: I think losing Kevin Martin and finding no replacement for him is going to be a huge loss for the Thunder whom basically traded away James Harden for nothing now. They still have Durant and Westbrook and nobody really wants to play those guys come playoff time, unless you’re the Miami Heat.

3. San Antonio Spurs: Meer seconds and one rebound away from another title, all the Spurs did this offseason was get even better. Marco Belinelli adds both shooting and toughness. Look for another great year from the ageless wonders.

4. Memphis Grizzles: People keep forgetting about the Grizzles and I don’t understand why. They are much like the Knicks in that sense. They made it to the Conference Finals — granted they beat a Westbook-less Thunder team — but still they are good. They play defense and Marc Gasol and Mike Conley are only going to get better.

5. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry had an incredible coming out party last season and so did the Warriors franchise. Yes they lost Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry but they added Andre Igoudala. When Harrison Barnes is coming off the bench as a 6^th man, you know that your team is in good shape. Plus they gained much needed playoff experience.

6. Houston Rockets: For the people whom may be reading this and think I am crazy for putting the Rockets so low, think again. I know that they added Dwight Howard who will pair with James Harden to make a pretty good one-two punch. Aside from them though, who else do they have? Chandler Parsons? He can play, no doubt about it, but seriously who else? As we saw last year with the Lakers, having big names but no bench doesn’t equal success. We shall see how their top two mesh but for now they are at best my 6 seed in the stacked Western Conference.

7. Denver Nuggets: Losing Igoudala is a huge blow to this up-tempo team but I’m sure new coach Brian Shaw can figure out how to make it work. They will be getting Danillo Gallinari back from his injury and added Nate Robinson and J.J. Hickson. The Nuggets have one of the most stacked frontcourts in the league but they need to learn how to win on the road, which was their downfall last season.

8. Portland Trailblazers: I really like what the Blazers have done this offseason improving their horrible bench from last season. Led by rising star Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers should make the playoffs baring any major injuries like they unfortunately have had in the past.

9. Los Angeles Lakers: People keep writing the Lakers off and I believe that will just inspire Kobe to play even better. I think that they actually got better by losing Howard because now they don’t have to worry about him wanting the ball every time down the floor and the question whether or not he will stay or leave. Adding Nick Young, Chris Kaman, Jordan Farmar and Wesley Johnson aren’t season changing moves but its good enough for them to fight for a playoff spot again.

10. Minnesota Timberwolves: The Wolves aggravate me so much because they have so much potential but never can live up to it because of constant injuries. I am done betting on them to stay healthy so I will put them at the 10^th spot in the West. The additions of Kevin Martin and rookie Shabazz Muhammad should improve the team but like I said, I am expecting some sort of injury that costs the hopes of makes the playoffs.

11. Dallas Mavericks: Dallas is a tricky one because they didn’t really get worse in the off-season but they didn’t get better either. Adding Monta Ellis doesn’t qualify in my opinion as getting better. For now they are 11^th in the West.

12. New Orleans Pelicans: Welcome to the NBA Pelicans, your 12^th best team in the Western Conference in 2014. I liked the moves to get Jrue Holiday and Tyreke Evens but this team is still too young to compete. Give it a few years and maybe New Orleans will be back in the playoffs.

13. Phoenix Suns: I really liked the trade that sent them Eric Bledsoe and Caron Butler. Bledsoe is an up-and-coming star point guard who will improve the team and Butler is a good SF to have on a roster. If Michael Beasley could stop smoking pot for once in his life, this team might be able to do something in the coming years in the West.

14. Sacramento Kings: The Kings are similar to the Magic in the East as they have a rising star in Ben McLemore, whom I believe will be ROY when it’s all said and done. They have done some good building in Sacramento but not for the present. Wait it out a few years and good things will happen in Sac-town.

15. Utah Jazz: It’s not normal that a team who was competing for a playoff spot a year ago drops to the bottom of the standings but its also not usual for a team to lose both its starting center and power forward in the same off-season and not bring anyone in to fill the holes. Trey Burke and Gordon Hayward are two good pieces for the Jazz but the rest of the team isn’t quite remarkable. Dark times again for the fans in Salt Lake City.

Could the Rangers have actually gotten better without former MVP Josh Hamilton? By Keith Allison on Flickr, via Wikimedia Commons

Ideally, on any team in any sport, there is always a “best” player. This is the face of the franchise and much responsibility is put onto that player. In recent years, we have seen many franchise’s best players leave their team to go play for another, but few have actually been successful. The two main ones that come to mind are LeBron James, who left the Cavilers to join the Heat, and Albert Pujols, who left the Cardinals to join the Angels. LeBron has had success so far with the Heat, winning a title. But Pujols and the Angels have yet to make the playoffs and aren’t playing up to their potential for the second year in a row. At the same time, two smaller market franchises have lost their face of the franchise but have actually gotten better or stayed up to the same level of play. Both the Memphis Grizzlies and Texas Rangers have done this.

The Grizzlies made a trade back in January with the Toronto Raptors, sending former all star Rudy Gay away. Gay had been their face of the franchise since 2006. The Grizzlies weren’t very relevant until 2010, when they returned to the playoffs and ended up making it to the second round despite Gay’s absence due to injury. Many questioned whether or not the Grizzlies were better off without Gay playing but that just seemed outrageous because of his unique skill set. They gave the core of Gay, Zach Randolph, Marc Gasol and Mike Conley another year to see what they could do as a healthy team and the Grizzlies ended up losing in the first round to the Los Angeles Clippers and the whispers about Gay started looming. Finally the Grizzlies decided it was best to move Rudy Gay and his huge contract and did so. In return, they got some decent pieces including Ed Davis, Tayshaun Prince and Austin Daye. The Grizzlies were looked at as crazy for this trade and were expected to drop in the Western Conference but they did the exact opposite. As of right now, the Grizzlies have reached the first Western Conference Finals in team history and are competing for the chance to represent the West in the NBA Finals.

Rudy Gay was the face of Grizzlies basketball for a long time. Not anymore. By Game Face, via Wikimedia Commons

The Texas Rangers and slugging outfielder Josh Hamilton had success over the last few years — making it to two straight World Series. But after a disappointing season in which the Rangers failed to qualify for the playoffs after a heartbreaking wild card game loss, Hamilton and the Rangers decided it was time to part ways. Hamilton, in a shocking signing, joined Albert Pujols in Anaheim as a member of the Angels. With Hamilton and Pujols in the middle of the lineup, the Angels were supposed to shred records and were a top pick to make the World Series. Thus far, though, they are at the bottom of the standings, and many of their players aren’t playing to potential. The post-Hamilton Rangers, on the other hand were viewed in the preseason as still a good team but no where close to what they were with Hamilton. Much like the Grizzlies, the Rangers have succeeded, earning the best record in baseball so far, not seeming to miss Hamilton one bit.

Both the Grizzlies and Rangers management and fans have seen a lot of success after losing their face of the franchise. It is yet to be seen if the good play translates into a championship like in LeBron’s case, but they both look pretty good. Normally I wouldn’t say that losing the best player on your team is a good thing but for the Grizzlies and Rangers it just might have been true.

Predictions in sports can be just as fun as what actually happens and a lot of time many people do it. Every person has their own unique way of predicting outcomes, some go through the purity of stats or some use just the heart and will of a team or player. Either way, predictions can be a way for a fan, analyst or gambler to have and feel like they are involved with the actual games being played. As for me, I have made many predictions throughout my life, some that have come true and some that haven’t and I will be the first one to admit when I am wrong. On that note, here is my prediction for the Western Conference when the season comes to an end in April, a small breakdown of each team and some playoff predictions with a little over half the season complete:

I’m predicting Russell Westbrook and the Thunder losing to the Lakers in the NBA Finals.
By Keith Allison from Owings Mills, USA, via Wikimedia Commons

1.    San Antonio Spurs:

The Spurs have been one of the best and classiest teams in the West for years and with the core of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili still together and still playing well, you can never count out the four-time champions

2.    Oklahoma City Thunder

The reigning Western Conference champs haven’t stopped dominating the West as they did a year ago. The move to swap James Harden for Kevin Martin was a highly talked about one but I liked the trade very much. Kevin Durant is now forced to control the ball more, something I feel the Thunder need to do if they want to get better.

3.    Los Angeles Clippers

I know we are all used to seeing the Lakers around this spot but the tables have turned this year and congratulations to the Clippers for that. I think they are the team with the most depth in the NBA and can be a scary matchup come playoff time.

4.    Golden State Warriors:

In the biggest turnaround of any team this season, the Warriors make my fourth seed in the West and I believe they can do some damage. They are a great shooting team and the health of Stephen Curry has boosted them to an unusual (for them) level. Could it be possible that San Francisco and its surrounding areas can get all three major sport titles? The 49ers play in the Super Bowl this Sunday and the Giants have already won the World Series.

5.    Denver Nuggets:

18-3 at home, that’s the first stat I will throw out for the Nuggets. This is one of the best home teams in the NBA and they can be one of the most dangerous. They took the Lakers to the brink last season in the playoffs and have learned from that experience. I liked the move to bring in Andre Iguodala as he adds defense and explosiveness, which was the strength of the Nuggets before the move.

6.    Memphis Grizzlies:

This team started out hot and has cooled down since. They are the best defensive team in the NBA with only allowing 89.5 points per game and have one of the best starting lineups with Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and Mike Conley. Look for the Grizzlies to make a run or even make my predicted Clipper matchup to be the best of the first round as it was last season.

7.    Houston Rockets:

The Rockets barely missed the taste of the postseason last year. Since then, they’ve traded for all-star James Harden and point guard Jeremy Lin. This is a very young team but the leadership of Harden and Lin will guide them to the playoffs. I don’t trust Harden in the clutch, something that is so important as the star player of a team. He is a marvelous player but needs to work on that aspect of his game.

8.    Los Angeles Lakers:

Yes, I know that this team has been in the gutter of the standings all season but I believe they will turn it around but only as the eighth seed. Led by Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard the Lakers will push their ways into the playoffs and from there you never know what can happen. They dug a steep hole for themselves but this is a whole new season especially for this team.

Notable Mentions: Utah Jazz, Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks

PREDICTIONS:

First Round:

1. San Antonio Spurs vs. 8. Los Angeles Lakers: Lakers in six (upset)

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 7. Houston Rockets: Thunder in five

3. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 6. Memphis Grizzlies: Clippers in seven

4. Golden State Warriors vs. 5. Denver Nuggets: Warriors in seven

Semi Finals:

4. Golden State Warriors vs. 8. Los Angeles Lakers:

Lakers win the Pacific division showdown in five games. The Lakers size and experience are too much for the young up and coming Warrior team. The Lakers take on the Thunder in a playoff series re-match from last season.

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 3. Los Angeles Clippers:

The Thunder win this exciting and back-n-fourth playoff series in seven games. The Thunder make it to their third consecutive conference finals and look to go back to the NBA Finals but standing in their way is the 32-time conference champion Los Angeles Lakers

Conference Finals:

2. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8 Los Angeles Lakers:

This is where it gets interesting since I believe these are the two best teams in the Western Conference despite the difference in records. This will be a physical and fast-paced series, which favors the Thunder but I can’t count out Kobe and company. The Lakers match-up very well against the Thunder. If the Lakers can even mildly contain Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrok, they can win as they did the other night. I look for this to be the best series of the Western playoffs with the Lakers coming out on top in this hard fought and mentally draining seven game series.

2013 Western Conference Champions: 8. Los Angeles Lakers

I’m not saying the Lakers will win the NBA title but I do believe they will make it back to the NBA Finals after what seemed like a hopeless season. It won’t be easy as the West is scary-good, but Kobe Bryant is in search of another ring and won’t be denied by the likes of anyone in the West. I’m sticking with my pre-season pick, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Durant has been brilliant, averaging 32.0 points in the series on 68.5% shooting. Last night the oft’ quiet star, played with an abandon necessary to drive his team to victory. A dunk late in the first quarter with his team down nine, swung the momentum back in the Thunder’s favor.

Durant’s teammates have been the same. Last night Jeff Harden continued his maturation into  the Thunder’s third option offensively,contributing 23 points and is now averaging 17.5 points per game in the series, 13.2 in the postseason.  Eric Maynor chipped in 13,  and the bench as a whole scored 50.

But where was Russel Westbrook?

The intangibles rest in Westbrook’s physique and explosive speed. The twenty two year old former UCLA Bruin, has garnered praise all year for his quick maturation into a perennial point guard. His feisty fear-none mentality, and lengthy 6’5 size, have placed his name among the elite point guards with Derick Rose, Chris Paul, Rajon Rondo, and Steve Nash.

So where was he?

Benched late in the third quarter after another ridiculous turnover, Westbrook blabbed the rest of the game while his Thunder went +7 without him. His backup Eric Maynor, a four year starter at Virginia Commonwealth, played poised and far beyond Westbrook’s years: swinging the ball, running Scott Brooks half-court set schemes, and solid defense.

Maynor did what he had to do to win a ballgame. Things are not pretty in the postseason with the slowness of half-court basketball and the physicality of the defensive sets. It seems Westbrook has not figured this out yet. As great as he has been all season and as explosive here in the postseason (23.6 pts, 6.7 ast, 5.4 reb), the natural shoot first–pass second two guard, is better fit as a scorer for now.

Maynor clearly benefited from four years of college basketball, including three straight years in the March tournament. The twentieth pick in the 2008 draft, Maynor has a comfortability at the point guard position–something Westbrook, a one and done collegiate athlete is lacking.

In a closeout game against Denver in the first round, Westbrook shot 30 times to Durant’s 18 and the Thunder lost. Game four of a three overtime round two loss to the Grizzlies, Westbrook shot 33 times to Durant’s 20, and in a game six collapse, Westbrook took 22 to Durant’s 14.

The pattern is simple, get Durant the ball. Westbrook is better fit as the Robin to Durant’s Batman, but is aloof to this reality. It will be a interesting postseason for both OKC and Westbrook to see how their relationship either builds or begins to fragment.

And if fragmented, there is always Chris Paul (hmmmmm….).

Ratings thus far into the playoffs already confirm that more people are paying attention to the evoking moments. They are up 26% from this point last year. These numbers and the overall viewership speaks to how competitive these playoffs truly are.

Eight-seeded Memphis beat top-seeded San Antonio in the first round and are giving the fourth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder a run for their money, taking a 2-1 series lead into game 4 of the semis last night. The Thunder fought back by outlasting Memphis in a triple-overtime thriller to even the series at two.

Dallas has to be the favorite remaining in the West. This is due the week or more of rest they will benefit from given the Oklahoma City and Memphis series continuing for at least two more games. Their advantage may be even more tangible because of the big-game experience edge they will hold over whoever they will end up facing off with in the Western Conference Finals – the Thunder or the Grizzlies.

After Miami took game 4 from the Celtics in Boston in a overtime victory on Monday evening, the favorite in the East has to be the Heat. What amazes me even more than the Heat being able to find their glue so quickly in these playoffs, is the fact that no one is calling out Dwayne Wade for his malicious, wrestling-style, arm-hook take down of Rajon Rondo in game 3, causing him to dislocate his elbow. I believe this cheap play by Wade ranks up there right underneath Odom and Bynum’s flagrant displays. While Wade’s maneuver was not entirely as blatant, it was indeed obviously just as calculated as far as the ‘heat’ of the moment was concerned.

The Atlanta Hawks are working over the Chicago Bulls and are pushing the series in complete over-achievement. The Hawks taking game 4 in Atlanta to tie the series at two was somewhat unexpected. However, if Joe Johnson and Josh Smith can continue exploiting their mismatches, anything can happen, as I see this series going to the edge of a tightly-contested game 7. This series lasting the length that it could bodes well for the Heat, the same as it does the Mavericks out West, and is the key reason why I believe Miami is the favorite out of the East.

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From this point forward anything can happen, and this is why people are watching these NBA playoffs more than they have been in recent years due to the dominance of one supreme team. I hope this evokes much more Fansmanship within the NBA, as a recent Sports Illustrated fan poll ranked the NBA as the average fan’s 5th favorite sport, behind: NFL Football, College Football, Major League Baseball and Nascar.

My NBA Finals pick: Dallas over Miami in 6. It may be wishful thinking, and picking with my heart and not my brain, as the Heat look close to unbeatable thus far – but I’m sticking with it and going down with the Western Conference ship if it happens to take on too much water come June.

Stay tuned.

Prior to the 2002 Super Bowl, the Rams were 14-point favorites. Everyone talked about how the Rams’ offense was unstoppable. The Patriots set a precedent for team unity by following the Rams individual player introductions by being introduced as a team. They proceeded to grit out a 3-point win for the first of their multiple Super Bowls during the decade. It’s hard to imagine the Patriots as an underdog, but prior to the 2002 Super Bowl they were. And the pundits were wrong.

Also in 2002, the second round of the NBA Playoffs provided a match-up that the pundits and even Las Vegas were drooling over. The two most high-powered and entertaining offenses in the NBA that year were matched-up in what was sure to be a high-scoring series. Because they hoped to see a long series between two fun-to-watch teams, pundits predicted a close matchup.

Side note: While in Las Vegas for my 21st birthday, I put 20 bucks on the “under” in Game 1 of the series. Everyone thought the series would be really high-scoring, and it ended up being so. Game 1, however, was not. My 20 bucks on the under was one of the only sports bets I’ve ever made. Betting against the prevailing wisdom is good to do sometimes.

This morning, ESPN’s NBA experts were talking about how great the upcoming series between Memphis and Oklahoma City would be. They said that the Grizzlies have a great chance to win the series and hyped the series more than any second round series during the past few years.

This is another case of the pundits being wrong. I am picking the Thunder in 5 games. Much like the Mavs-Blazers first-round series, the games will be fun to watch, but the series will never be really in question.

Other predictions:

Lakers over Mavs in Six games.

Heat over Celtics in Six games.

Bulls over Hawks in Five games.

In the Western Conference, the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies went into the Alamo and took it to the top-seeded Spurs something fearsome in game one of their series. The Spurs were fortunate enough to even the series in game two, but Memphis came out with reckless abandonment in game three, to take a 2-1 series lead, headed by Zach Randolph’s 25 points, which included a clutch 3-pointer as time was expiring. Randolph had made a total of 8 3-pointers out of 43 attempts all season. Game four last night saw a virtual repeat of game three, as the underdog Grizzlies rode a second-half wave to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series. Back to San Antonio the squads go, but the conclusion may already be foretold. Hold the ball and cry to the gods, Dikembe, we might very well be in for an epic upset once again.

The seventh-seeded New Orleans Hornets have more than surprised the second-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, They have hung in the series quite effectively, tying it at 2 games-apiece with game 5 back in Los Angeles tonight. The Lakers need a remedy to combat the virus that is the pick-and-roll penetration of Chris Paul. Look for Los Angeles to employ some sort of quasi-zone defense to affront this issue, and end up getting over, not only tonight, but back in Nola for game six, and eventually wrapping up the series and advancing. Kobe’s ankle issues could run the series to seven, but Bryant has always played through injuries such as this, and even given his advancing age, I see the Lakers lighting a fire and burning this series out in anticipation of the Dallas/Portland winner.

The third-seeded Dallas Mavericks melted down during game four on Saturday, blowing a 23-point, second-half lead en-route to allowing the Blazers to execute one of the greatest comebacks in NBA playoff history. Amidst a Brandon Roy 24-point performance, one in which he scored 18 points in the fourth quarter alone, Dallas wilted under the feverish pressure the Rose Garden puts on its visiting opponents. Game five back in Dallas saw the Mavericks man-up, behind the veteran Dirk Nowitzki’s 25 points and 8 rebounds, as the Mavs took a 3-2 series lead.

The Oklahoma City Thunder, who have been tabbed as the team that nobody wants to encounter in this year’s Western Conference playoff scene, have all but dominated the fifth-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first three games of the series. The three-headed monster of point-scorer Russell Westbrook, MVP-canidate Kevin Durant and defensive stalwart Kendrick Perkins have proven to be too much for Denver. The question here is not regarding this matchup, but rather whether or not Oklahoma City will prove as too much to any potential opponent for the remainder of the Western Conference tournament. Denver showed a glimmer of hope last night in a game four win, albeit with their collective backs against the wall, as Ty Lawson poured in 27 in a desperate effort, but expect the Thunder to close this mismatch out in five back home.

Top-seed Chicago is a popular pick in the Eastern Conference. However, a lot of “nay-sayers,” such as myself, believe that the greatness that is the Bulls relies entirely too much on one player. MVP-to-be Derrick Rose has shown an amount of vulnerability in the Bulls’ first round series versus the Indiana Pacers. Hired thugs such as Jeff Foster and Tyler Hansborough have beaten up the head of the snake, which has reaped some benefits for the Pacers, while not in victory, in the first three games. During game four, in which this tactic was imposed, the strategy proved positive. Now holding a 3-1 series lead, Chicago heads back home with a game five victory in their sights. While Indiana has a limited chance to last in this series, they have given future oppenents of the Bulls a gameplan on how to slow down the on-going trend of Rose. Look for Orlando or Atlanta in the next round, or Miami or Boston in the Eastern Conference Finals to employ the same schemes that Indiana has shown to help them strike an upset over the top seed.

The second-seeded star power of the Miami Heat have come out on fire versus the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. The Doug Collins-aimed Sixers came into the series with visions of upset dancing in their heads. These dreams quickly turned into a nightmare. There seemed to be more Wade to LeBron alley-oops than there were solid possessions by Philly. That being said, the Sixers didn’t lay down after a three games to none deficit, as they exuded their pride in a game four win, in which they finished the game on a 10-0 run resulting in victory. The series shifts back to Miami for game five Wednesday. While Miami will eventually advance, the lack of their ability to hit a shot in the clutch could prove as a vital hitch in future rounds.

Things were being said about the Celtics coming into the playoffs, most notably referring to how they could be over the hill, or that New York could cause them some issues. I don’t know why. Yes, Chauncey Billups was absent from this series, if you want to call it that, and Amare Stoudamire gave a half-hearted effort due to nagging injuries, but how closely the Knicks played Boston in the first three games should have reaped them at least one victory. Turns out it didn’t. Even Carmelo’s 42 in game two couldn’t salvage a “W.” The chowds ended up sweeping the Knicks on Sunday afternoon, but the Knicks are still, without a doubt, a work in process. The dominance of the Celtics shouldn’t be garnered as a true measuring stick because of this fact. Boston easily advanced to the next round, but New York will be a force to be reckoned with in years to come, given Carmelo, Amare, and their big-market money.

Pundits swore up and down that Orlando was the the squad to take out the supposed, over-hyped Chicago Bulls in the second round, but this foregone conclusion has absorbed a wrench in the works. The Hawks managed to steal one in Orlando, and have held court for both games back in Atlanta, to take a 3-1 series lead heading back to Disneyworld for game five. It seems upon the eventual, first-round defeat, the “Stan Van Jeremy, master-of-panic” regime should be reevaluated. Top-seed Chicago will have a much easier time with Atlanta than they will with Orlando and the threat that Dwight Howard presents. The Bulls may have just dodged a bullet if Atlanta wins out. Game five tips-off early today.

Enjoy, and check back in, because these NBA playoffs have shown us all that “seeds” mean little and desire reigns ultimate.