GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS VS. HOUSTON ROCKETS
Even though GSW may go on to win the series, I don't believe they're the better team, especially when Fred VanVleet is hot. The Rockets have one of the better braintrusts, but up until recently they spent a few years losing - a lot. And my hypothesis is that if you put a team that's used to losing against one that's used to winning, the latter will likely prevail, until the former also gets used to winning.
Based on the limited sample I've seen, I would say another issue with Houston is that they need a consensus alpha. Logically, that would be Alperen Sengun, not only because he's their only allstar, but also his game is very predictable, for lack of a better word. It's almost impossible to strategize around a leader who's out there randomly chucking up threes, like Houston's other stars do. Also Sengun, imo, has the coolest name in the NBA, if, you know, the announcers would slang it right.
Draymond is still a factor, and pairing him with Jimmy Butler is increasingly appearing like a masterful move on the part of GSW. With Green, nobody can just come and pick on Steph. That kind of chippiness - the threat of instant retaliation (at the hands of Draymond) - is one of the reasons the Dubs won all those championships. Physically he isn't the most intimidating player, but I can't recall him ever backing down to anyone.
MIAMI HEAT
I think it's safe to say that the era of the Heat's dominance may really be over this time. But I mean, you never really know. Out of every team, I'm most interested to see what they do this offseason. But what I really meant to say is the era of Heat's pride and strategic dominance having now come to an end. Niggas got their asses straight-up bust, like they didn't even belong on the same court as the Cavs, like they were a CBA team or some shit. Whoever gave them the big pep talk before the game utterly failed. And going all the way back to when they first entered the NBA, like it's weird seeing them in the Playoffs yet unable to at least hang. Remember that they went all the way to the Finals as the 8th seed just a couple of years ago.
The one player on Miami I feel for the most is Bam Adebayo, like he deserves better than this output. Maybe next season, the Heat will follow my advice, make him the PC and re-construct their roster accordingly, i.e. getting more players who can defend and rebound rather than just score.
I heard one of the announcers saying some shit like 'Andrew Wiggins needs to step up and assert himself'. How many times have we heard that before? So many times that by this point, no one should even be expecting him to make a dominant impact on a consistent basis.
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cavs are a real, legitimate threat. It isn't only about them having twin towers or Donovan Mitchell or an overachieving supporting cast or being able to more or less rest during the First Round. The really scary thing for opponents is, they're out there having fun type shit. Like the players appear to generally support each other, kinda like the Grizzlies from a couple of years back. I can't say I ever heard pundits or analysts talking about it, but genuine comradery goes a long way. Then true test of mutual feelings will be when (or if) they face adversity, but I believe it's genuine. These are the kinda results you strive for when a braintrust decides to keep a core together instead of following the musical chairs trend.
I honestly can't say I ever heard of Ty Jerome before this series. Or maybe I did and, based on his name, just presumed he was Black.
De'Andre Hunter, when he was on the Hawks, always looked slow to me, like he had an old spirit in him. But he appears to be fitting in splendidly with the Cavs. Maybe he's the same ol' player, but now, seeing a nigga like winning and smiling type shit, it just feels different.
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