There are 30 teams in the NBA and, through the Play-In system, over two-thirds of them get to more orr less participate in the Playoffs. Whether or not that has contributed to parity, I mean you would logically think that it won't. But it's like every matchup in this year's Playoffs is an exciting one, except maybe that Boston series, as you would very much expect the Magic to get their asses firrmly bust.
ORLANDO MAGIC
I don't particularly remember reading anything positive about the Magic this whole season. Every headline was about like injuries or overcoming them, the latter in which is good thing, but.
Well surprise, after an injury-riddled season, these guys secured the 7th seed in the East. So, like who knows. But overall, being the least-popular team in the Playoffs doesn't really help your chances of pulling off an upset, besides having a similar playing style to your better-equipped adversary.
MIAMI HEAT
The Heat of course are the one organization in the entire NBA you should never sleep on. They have a winning culture, the type in which good players get a chance to shine. Besides that, I'm a big Davion Mitchell fan and wonder how he went from having a noteworthy rookie campaign to becoming a journeyman.
That said, they don't have the talent to beat the Cavs. It's time like these that you need a Jimmy Butler. But Tyler Herro, he's a beast in pretty-boy packaging. I've been calling for the Lakers to get him for the longest, but I guess they did one better with Luka.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Of course if you have teams with winning cultures, then their has to be those on the opposite end of the spectrum. That would be the Kings. On paper, they have like one of the best rosters in the league... but they're the Kings.
CHICAGO BULLS
Josh Giddey is going to have to learn to be more aggressive, like through an entire game type shit. The ball has literally been placed in his hands, no SGA to overshadow him. But, no offence, he probably can't because he's White and furthermore, from like Australia or some shit.
So with the Bulls, man, it's hard to maintain interest sometimes. Now I sorta see why some teams are insistent on like having a franchise player, someone you can at least be like, you know what I mean? At least we don't have to worry about that position anymore type shit.
ATLANTA HAWKS
More or less as expected, no one from the 2024 rookie class has stood out in terms of consistently generating national headlines. But Zaccharie Risacher may still go down in history as one of the most underwhelming number one picks ever.
It's obvious though, at least to me, that Trae Young needs those type of linky, multi-faceted, speedy players around him, sorta like Caris LaVert but like better and more of them. So at least the braintrust has a vision, I think. But it's hard to believe that just like, what?, three or four or five seasons ago, this was the most-promising young team in the East.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
The Bucks got their asses soundly bust in Game 1, as to be expected. I wonder if they wish they had Khris Middleton around now? They're about to force Dame back from an injury which, like I don't know how serious that shit is, but if ain't, you know what I'm saying, get out there and earn those zillions my nigga, because without that additional firepower your team doesn't stand a chance. Milwaukee has more or less retained their championship core, but Portis and Lopez are out their looking like anachronisms and shit.
INDIANA PACERS
So with that said, I'm not jumping on no Pacers' bandwagon. They performed as expected against the one of the worst braintrusts in the NBA. But the key to their success, imo, ultimately lies with Siakim.
DENVER NUGGETS
Sleep on Westbrook if you want. Yeah, he does dumb shit sometimes, but so what? He's a 6'10" unicorn trapped in a 6'3" body, so you should expect to do something stupid from time to time.
I still contend that the key to the Nuggets, the x-factor, is Aaron Gordon. Sometimes, besides actually being one of the older teams out there, Denver looks like they may have chemistry or trust issues or whatever you want to call it. Winning, esp against a quality team like the Clippers, may change that. Or maybe we'll see what's really what once Murray inevitably goes down.
NEW YORK KNICKS
The Knicks are over-talented, which is why they can't maximize all of their pieces. Also, I worry about Brunson's health, like how much A-list NBA production his body can take.
If they do go on to beat or even sweep Detroit, like, you know, dudes overachieved, but other times they still look like the Pistons we've all grown to ignore. Plus, New York has Josh Hart, who has like a tireless, Rodman-like energy about him and is probably the Knicks' internal MVP.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Speaking of anachronisms, with Doncic around, Lebron has now become expendable. By this point, since he's no longer sharp enough to consistently play defense in the post, you can't even say 'let him go back to the 4'. You gotta remember, as ageless as LBJ may be, his Miami Heat days were over a decade ago. So it seems like they're rather trying to force Luka down there more, which is stupid, because ultimately he's better at the 1 than even King James in his prime.
LAL has created a big hole in the middle that no one on their roster can fill and that they're going to have to spend a shitload of money to find someone who can (or gamble on a rookie). In hindsight, it would have been wiser for both squads to have rather traded Lebron for Luka.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
I would say the Twolves are borderline contenders if not for their happy-go-lucky offensive strategy. But these guys are big and relatively-sturdy at every position, if they want to field a lineup like that. Shit like that, i.e. physicality, matters, and there's no reason why they shouldn't beat the Lakers.
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