CONGRATS TO THE LAKERS (I GUESS)
I thought it was kinda cheesy the way the Lakers celebrated after beating the Grizzlies, because I doubt it would've been possible if Steven Adams and Brandon Clarke weren't hurt. It's almost like one boxer throwing a wild celebration after beating another who everyone knows is injured. In fact in boxing, if an opponent is dealing with a major injury, then the match has to be postponed or called off. But basketball is a team game, so you have to compensate.
I do understand how the celebration was a bit extra because first of all, LAL won the series in front of their home crowd, and secondly, it's like they've developed a personal beef with the Griz. As far as Memphis goes, I would say better luck next year, but that's like the same thing I said when they lost to the Warriors last season. And it's like, these injuries are a bitch.
I always like to point out that back in the old days, the playoffs weren't like this when you had so many key players injured. I remember some playoffs were like no star was too injured not to play. But today's NBA is different. Some of these dudes are diesel like football players, but they aren't actually stronger than the previous generation.
But that said, there are a couple of things that made me happy about the Lakers' victory. That would be seeing D'Angelo "Brasco" Russell finally getting some flowers and also AD looking happy for like the first time in months. I always believed that the LAL would be unstoppable if they played the right way, with both AD and Lebron attacking the post, which is reportedly what they did in that final game. But Davis does not look as formidable as back in the day, and the reason he was to dominate in Game 6 looked more like it was because he was noticeably taller than everyone else.
THE KINGS STRIKE BACK
I like the Kings, but they're another team that looks woefully thin upfront. That doesn't really matter much against Golden State, a team that has prided itself on being smaller, faster and better shooters. I'm still not counting the Dubs out, yet I also retain the belief that they would be more formidable if they let younger, faster guys start, even if they aren't as talented, and then bring Steph (not Draymond) off the bench. Curry can still score his ass off, but the way the lineup is currently structured is like if he runs out of gas and if Klay or Poole aren't hot, then the Warriors really can't do shit.
Maybe they'll utilize that strategy next season. But right now they look really vulnerable, and unlike the Lakers' aged core, they don't have a plethora of proven youth to lean back on. But that's the kinda risk you run when you insist on giving the older guys most of the minutes. And if they do go on to lose in the 1st Round, it'll be interesting to see how the team is structured into the future considering that most of their dough is going to Steph + Klay, both of whom should arguably be coming off the bench.
FREE KUMINGA
One player I hope will not be with the Dubs next season is Jonathan Kuminga, because the way he's been relegated to the bench, it's like they don't even deserve him anymore. It's always been my fantasy that he would end up on the Grizzlies sooner rather than later, but I don't know how realistic that is considering that he's still on a rookie contract and like can't really demand a trade unless he's really got some cojones. Remember that the Warriors also recently traded away James Wiseman for like no immediate return. That's the kinda shit that's going to come back and haunt them as the Splash Bros. age, and hopefully Draymond will leave town also.
JIMMY BUTLER'S ALL THE RAGE
I didn't see much of the Heat v. Bucks series, but I do remember stating before the plyaoffs that the latter probably wouldn't even be a playoff team without Giannis, and I think now that has been more or less proven. I was also reading today that Mike Budenholzer's brother died, in a car crash, during the series, which sorta reminded me of what Isaiah Thomas went through a few years back. So the Bucks were definitely distracted. And I also found it interesting that the way Grayson Allen ended the series was slightly reminiscent of what Butler did against the Celtics last year. But that's why I always say that in the NBA, you win some, and you lose some. And you have to be able to take the losses and hope that the next season the pendulum swings in your favor, like it seems to be doing Butler at the moment, though I would personally pick the Knicks over the Heat.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE - CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
And speaking of the Knicks, wow. I know that anything is possible, but I never would've imagined, if they were to beat the Cavs, that they would have been able to do it so dominantly. Cleveland isn't panicking, which is a good sign, because they definitely have a nice, compatible squad. But it'll be real interesting to see what moves they pull off this offseason. Draymond, anyone?
NEW YORK KNICKS, CONTENDERS?
I don't believe I ever called the Knicks contenders, but I did say that their roster really isn't lacking anything, and that was even before they got Josh Hart. Even losing Game 1 against the Heat can be attributed to Julius Randle not being around. But man, how about those Heat? Their showing why you can never sleep on a team filled with veteran allstar-level players playing for an organization that knows how to win basketball games without always having to rely on being more talented or healthier than the opposing squad.
DENVER BUSTS PHOENIX'S ASS
Game 1 between the Nuggets and Suns was never really close. And speaking of organizations that knows how to win and build competitive rosters, you have to give to Denver also, because it's been like 20 years since they've been garbage. Even back when Andre Igoudala was the team's alpha, they were winning like 50 games a season.
So now, I kinda wish I had stuck to the same prediction I made the two seasons before this one, that Denver will win the championship if healthy. But still, you know what I'm saying? Fukaround and Murray or Porter Jr. slips on a banana peel or some shit, and boom, hopes dashed.
As for the Suns, I still believe they have not only the most-talented starting five in the league but also one that is naturally compatible, so long as neither KD or Booker is chuckin when on the floor together. But now I see they've taken one step forward, two steps backwards, as the homey used to say.
Between last season in this season, they got KD, one of best scorers in history, but lost three starters basically. And this isn't like back in the days when the Warriors did the same thing to get Durant. So there's likely going to have to be another player or two outside of the Big 4 to give the Suns a chance, because Denver not only has its own Big 4 but also a number of quality role players, including Bruce Brown, who has become one of my favorites.
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