The season’s too long. The players don’t try and have bad attitudes. They’re ridiculously overpaid.
NBA criticism from those who prefer the college game.
A week after an amazing finale to the 2008 NCAA tournament, the NBA offers something similar. The unpredictability that draws people to March Madness can be found in the NBA too; consider the current playoff outlook.
Los Angeles in contention for the No. 1 seed in the West, after all the speculation that Kobe was desperate for a trade? The Hornets vying for the same spot, after a tumultuous two years in which their home venue shifted between New Orleans and Oklahoma City? A team from the East claiming the league’s best record?
When Celtics GM Danny Ainge pulled off his blockbuster deal for Kevin Garnett, many pundits speculated that Boston would dominate the Eastern Conference.
But how many people said the Celtics would dominate the West?
They aren’t just racking up wins against scrub teams. The Celts boast a 25-5 record against Western Conference teams, and that includes all 15 squads. They’ve swept the Lakers, Spurs and Rockets, beating each team at home and on the road. The Big Three is primed for a deep playoff run.
And while the Eastern Conference is weak as a whole, two of the last four NBA champions have come from the lesser half of the league.
And if you don’t think the NBA has drama to rival the NCAA tournament, look to the race for No. 1 out West.
Going into Sunday’s games, the top four teams in the Western Conference were within a half game of each other, with the Lakers and Hornets tied for first. But Los Angeles’ 106-85 dispatching of San Antonio on Sunday knocked the Spurs out of contention for the top spot.
The Lakers’ win over New Orleans on Friday gives them an advantage going into possible tiebreak scenarios, but three teams could tie for the best record in the west: the Lakers, Hornets and Rockets could each finish with 57 wins, depending on Houston’s result against Denver on Sunday.
Step back and think about Los Angeles’ playoff series last season with the Phoenix Suns. The Lakers were sent home after winning only the fourth game in Los Angeles, as the Suns won the 2007 first round series 4-1. In the first round of the 2006 playoffs the Lakers had a 3-1 series lead but lost in seven games.
After being ousted for the second straight year by their Pacific division rivals, the Lakers looked like a lost cause and Kobe appeared desperate for an L.A. exit. But, revitalized by the emergence of Andrew Bynum and the later acquisition of Pau Gasol, the Lakers have reclaimed their dominance in the West. Their 36 wins against Western Conference teams is best in the NBA.
Kobe somehow hasn’t won an MVP in his career, and he’s due. Last year he garnered only two first-place votes, while Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash received 83 and 44, respectively.
Despite last year’s wilting performance in the playoffs, Kobe looks primed to bring L.A. its fourth NBA title since 2000. And if you’re watching, you might forget about how overpaid these athletes are and remember that you can’t put a price on greatness.
