40 years later in the NBA, we have no clue who is going to win the West, but there are a couple things I have been thinking about the hotly contested conference. Let’ talk final quarter people, and if you missed my final quarter thoughts on the Eastern Conference, click here.
1. KD and Russ.
I put this topic first, so before you get worn out from reading anything else I put in the body of this post, I want you to realize that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be fine. They actually need each other.
Thunder dropped their first three games after Westbrook’s return, one of the games coming against Cleveland, and people just started flying off the handle. “He takes away from Durant”, “Doesn’t know his place”, “Stupid gunner” yada, yada, yada. Let us remember a few things about the NBA:
1. For Finals Contenders, regular season losses rarely matter. The season is a grind. It is six months long, and packed with 82 games before the playoffs start. Every once in a while a bad loss happens. Thunder lost three straight games, and it did not change the fact they are still indeed the one seed. However, in those three games, what happened? They let Russell work out his kinks, and they won the following three games. Let us not get hung up on February losses, thanks.
2. Kevin Durant didn’t get “worse” since Russell has gotten back. I have seen waaaayyyy too many people talking about how Russell takes away from Durant. And that ladies and gentleman, is bullshit. Let’s take a look a Kevin’s season averages and then compare them to the last 6 games since Russell has been back:
To me, the explanation is simple, an athlete as dynamic as Russell does nothing but take pressure off everyone else on offense. Durant got more shots, and more easy shots, since the return of his buddy Russ. Defenses can’t just 100% key in on KD anymore, because the athletic prowess of Westbrook will torch them if they turn a blind eye. A balance that is crucial for their playoff success, as documented last year when they were easily disposed by Memphis Grizzlies. Russ makes KD better. I don’t care what anyone says otherwise.
3. Take a gander back up at Durant’s stats up there. They are beautiful. To this point, they are his career’s masterpiece, and because of Durant, Thunder are the one seed. However, with the return of Russell, and the closing of the season, I would suggest Durant takes a passenger’s seat to Westbrook for the closing month and a half. Durant proved to be unstoppable this season. We all know this, and as of now, he is locked neck-and-neck in a heated MVP race. TO me though, I think it is time to choose whether he wants the MVP or playoff success.
Thunder will need Russell Westbrook to be rolling on all cylinders come May. He only played in a month or so worth of games this year and his shot is already a streaky one. At this point, while he seems to be getting acclimated just fine, I don’t think it would hurt to give him more of the reigns and really start to feel himself going into the playoffs with knowledge that Kevin Durant needs no warm up.
Westbrook was a little shaky in the first few games back, but in the last three, has looked more like himself. He averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game, over the last three and managed to post a triple-double in his last effort. They will still win games with this strategy, albeit giving Russ the main stage would easily derail Durant’s MVP campaign.
Whatever the matter, people just need to stop hating on Russell. KD and him get along, and I think with that duo healthy, this is your Western Conference team to beat.
2. Hot in Houston
Rockets are probably the league’s hottest team right now, and on Tuesday night, beat Miami Heat en route to the their 12th victory in 14 tries.
I put this topic first, so before you get worn out from reading anything else I put in the body of this post, I want you to realize that Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will be fine. They actually need each other.
Thunder dropped their first three games after Westbrook’s return, one of the games coming against Cleveland, and people just started flying off the handle. “He takes away from Durant”, “Doesn’t know his place”, “Stupid gunner” yada, yada, yada. Let us remember a few things about the NBA:
1. For Finals Contenders, regular season losses rarely matter. The season is a grind. It is six months long, and packed with 82 games before the playoffs start. Every once in a while a bad loss happens. Thunder lost three straight games, and it did not change the fact they are still indeed the one seed. However, in those three games, what happened? They let Russell work out his kinks, and they won the following three games. Let us not get hung up on February losses, thanks.
2. Kevin Durant didn’t get “worse” since Russell has gotten back. I have seen waaaayyyy too many people talking about how Russell takes away from Durant. And that ladies and gentleman, is bullshit. Let’s take a look a Kevin’s season averages and then compare them to the last 6 games since Russell has been back:
| | PPG | RPG | APG | Shot Attempts |
| Season Averages | 31.6 | 7.7 | 6.7 | 19.2 |
| Averages from last 6 gms w/ Russ | 34.1 | 7.0 | 6.1 | 22.6 |
So what do you see there? I see a dude that has shot and scored more, while keeping his distributing and rebounding numbers constant, since his teammate and top 10 player, Westbrook has been back. Also, in the six games, Durant scored 42 points twice and 37 points another time. His offensive numbers have not taken a “hit”.
To me, the explanation is simple, an athlete as dynamic as Russell does nothing but take pressure off everyone else on offense. Durant got more shots, and more easy shots, since the return of his buddy Russ. Defenses can’t just 100% key in on KD anymore, because the athletic prowess of Westbrook will torch them if they turn a blind eye. A balance that is crucial for their playoff success, as documented last year when they were easily disposed by Memphis Grizzlies. Russ makes KD better. I don’t care what anyone says otherwise.
3. Take a gander back up at Durant’s stats up there. They are beautiful. To this point, they are his career’s masterpiece, and because of Durant, Thunder are the one seed. However, with the return of Russell, and the closing of the season, I would suggest Durant takes a passenger’s seat to Westbrook for the closing month and a half. Durant proved to be unstoppable this season. We all know this, and as of now, he is locked neck-and-neck in a heated MVP race. TO me though, I think it is time to choose whether he wants the MVP or playoff success.
Thunder will need Russell Westbrook to be rolling on all cylinders come May. He only played in a month or so worth of games this year and his shot is already a streaky one. At this point, while he seems to be getting acclimated just fine, I don’t think it would hurt to give him more of the reigns and really start to feel himself going into the playoffs with knowledge that Kevin Durant needs no warm up.
Westbrook was a little shaky in the first few games back, but in the last three, has looked more like himself. He averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game, over the last three and managed to post a triple-double in his last effort. They will still win games with this strategy, albeit giving Russ the main stage would easily derail Durant’s MVP campaign.
Whatever the matter, people just need to stop hating on Russell. KD and him get along, and I think with that duo healthy, this is your Western Conference team to beat.
2. Hot in Houston
Rockets are probably the league’s hottest team right now, and on Tuesday night, beat Miami Heat en route to the their 12th victory in 14 tries.
“Yeah, ahh, Houston, we have lift off.”
Before they beat Miami on Tuesday, I had compiled stats from the previous last 13 games and what I found was a very efficient Dwight Howard. The man has been a monster, and seems to have found his old ways. In the aforementioned stretch, he scored 22.2 points per game, pulled down 12.1 rebounds per game as well as swatting an average of two shots as well.
The 22.3 points is three above his season average of 19.0, and his muscular shoulders don’t appear to be getting weaker. To help aid him, has been who else, but the Beard also known as James Harden.
And take it from me, beards are in.
Harden has been a monster in that same stretch, and last week, he took home Western Conference Player of the Week. Over the last 14 games he averaged 27.1 points to go along with 5.9 assists per game and shot 40% from downtown. He also has shot 113 free throws, and made 99 of them.
Behind Harden and Howard, the Rockets are now the West’s three seed, and in the last month, they have beaten the Spurs, Suns, Mavericks, Wizards, and now Heat over the course of their last 14 games. They are rolling, and if Patrick Beverly and Jeremy Lin can somehow not completely fall apart in the playoffs, this could be a team that is competing into June.
3. Blinded by the Light!!
What a story in Phoenix. Before the season, the media labeled this team as a rebuilding project, a team that would not compete for years. Instead, the Suns are extremely efficient, pick-n-rolling, offensive masters. It has been fun to watch.
First credit has to be given to Jeff Hornacek, for coming into a challenging role as a rookie head coach, and getting his talent in situations where they can succeed. The Morris twins had been all but written off, but this year they have been fantastic hustle players. Same goes to Channing Frye and PJ Tucker, neither are incredible individual players, but they are specialists (Frye 3-point, Tucker hustle), and Hornacek used them that way.
Gerald Green has literally flown back on to the radar. Getting his first opportunity to start ever, and Green impressed in a major way. Averaging 15 points per game and shooting a steady 38% from downtown, Green fought his way off the bench. He had never started more then 28 games in his career, and this year he already started 42. It has been a long and rocky road for Green. So to see him achieve success serves as a great reminder that if you stick around and keep working hard, good things happen.
However, the main difference in the Desert has been the additions of Eric Bledsoe, and the emergence of Goran Dragic. Bledsoe, unfortunately had a meniscus injury and missed significant time, but the rumor is he has been practicing a little and could be something like two weeks away from a return. We should learn not to rush these guys, but I will be keeping an eye on this situation moving forward. For the season, he averaged 18 points 5.8 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game. With long arms and being as athletic as he is, he quickly became a matchup problem for his NBA foes. Hopefully he can bounce back quickly.
Meanwhile, Dragic has been an absolute monster. Averaging 20.6 points per contest, while shooting 51% and doling over six assists to boot. He has been the battery pack for the Suns, and it seems everything he is setting a new career high in something. He also expanded his three point shooting, and for the season is hitting from range at a 41% clip. Easily a career high, and the first time he has topped 40% from deep. He has been a real firecracker.
What is funny is before the season, Phoenix prepared for a very long season. And had been stock-piling draft picks for the upcoming draft. Aside from their own picks, they also have Minnesota, Washington, and Indiana’s first round pick. As well as, the Lakers 2015 first round pick.
While a lot of the picks are protected, so they might not get them this year, all of them will be filtered to Phoenix at some point in time. The Lakers one is particularly hilarious because they are a team that needs all the help they can get, and they gave away three first round picks to get Steve Nash’s old body.
Basically, Suns are a competitive team, with a lot of draft day assets, and a good coach. Moving forward, this is a team worth watching.
4. The Unfair West.
In the Eastern Conference blog, I talked a little bit on tanking, and why it is a problem. Something needs to be changed, we know that, and Bill Simmons just posted a column that goes a little more in-depth if you are interested. Today, I have another suggestion that could make the NBA a better product.
Looking at the standings, it is an understatement in saying that the Western Conference is just superior to the East. The West is a fucking war zone compared to the East, aka “The Land of Patty Cakes”.
Only Indiana Pacers and Miami Heat would be good enough record wise to make the playoffs in the vaunted Western Conference. Toronto Raptors and Chicago Bulls would both be in the hunt for the post season, but they also would also be on the outside looking in.
Take a look at the current NBA standing by Conference.
Eastern Conference
1. Indiana Pacers 46-15
2. Miami Heat 43-15
3. Toronto Raptors 33-26
4. Chicago Bulls 34-27
5. Washington Wizards 32-29
6. Brooklyn Nets 30-29
7. Charlotte Bobcats 28-33
8. Atlanta Hawks 26-33
9. Detroit Pistons 24-37
10. Cleveland Cavaliers 24-38
Absolute Shambles: New York Knicks
2. Miami Heat 43-15
3. Toronto Raptors 33-26
4. Chicago Bulls 34-27
5. Washington Wizards 32-29
6. Brooklyn Nets 30-29
7. Charlotte Bobcats 28-33
8. Atlanta Hawks 26-33
9. Detroit Pistons 24-37
10. Cleveland Cavaliers 24-38
Absolute Shambles: New York Knicks
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 45-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 44-16
3. Houston Rockets 42-19
4. Portland Trail Blazers 42-19
5. Los Angeles Clippers 42-20
6. Golden State Warriors 38-24
7. Phoenix Suns 35-24
8. Dallas Mavericks 36-26
9. Memphis Grizzlies 34-26
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 30-30
11. Denver Nuggets 26-34
12. New Orleans 24-37
As you can see basically the entire Western Conference would be in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff seed. Meanwhile, teams like Minnesota and Memphis would be three to six seeds in the East are regulated to 82-game seasons, while the Heat pounds a weak franchise like the Charlotte Bobcats in the post season.
So what can be done? Logistically, only one move really makes since, and that would be moving a team like…gulp… Milwaukee, to Seattle, allowing them join the West, while simultaneously letting at least one of the eastern Western Conference teams (Minnesota, Memphis or New Orleans) move into the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, that moves really only satisfies one franchise, and devastates all Milwaukee Bucks fans. So my other suggestion would be, why not play out the regular season, but just take the best 16 teams record wise for the playoffs, instead of the best eight from each conference and set up an NCAA tournament style seeding and bracket.
Using this system the playoff seedings would end up looking like this:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 45-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 44-16
3. Houston Rockets 42-19
4. Portland Trail Blazers 42-19
5. Los Angeles Clippers 42-20
6. Golden State Warriors 38-24
7. Phoenix Suns 35-24
8. Dallas Mavericks 36-26
9. Memphis Grizzlies 34-26
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 30-30
11. Denver Nuggets 26-34
12. New Orleans 24-37
As you can see basically the entire Western Conference would be in the hunt for an Eastern Conference playoff seed. Meanwhile, teams like Minnesota and Memphis would be three to six seeds in the East are regulated to 82-game seasons, while the Heat pounds a weak franchise like the Charlotte Bobcats in the post season.
So what can be done? Logistically, only one move really makes since, and that would be moving a team like…gulp… Milwaukee, to Seattle, allowing them join the West, while simultaneously letting at least one of the eastern Western Conference teams (Minnesota, Memphis or New Orleans) move into the Eastern Conference.
Unfortunately, that moves really only satisfies one franchise, and devastates all Milwaukee Bucks fans. So my other suggestion would be, why not play out the regular season, but just take the best 16 teams record wise for the playoffs, instead of the best eight from each conference and set up an NCAA tournament style seeding and bracket.
Using this system the playoff seedings would end up looking like this:
1. Oklahoma City 46-15
2. Indiana 46-15
3. Miami 43-15
4. San Antonio 44-16
5. Houston 42-19
6. Portland 42-19
7. LA Clippers 40-20
8. Golden State 38-24
9. Phoenix 35-25
10. Dallas 36-26
11. Memphis 34-26
12. Toronto 33-26
13. Chicago 34-27
14. Washington 32-29
15. Brooklyn 30-29
16. Minnesota 30-30
2. Indiana 46-15
3. Miami 43-15
4. San Antonio 44-16
5. Houston 42-19
6. Portland 42-19
7. LA Clippers 40-20
8. Golden State 38-24
9. Phoenix 35-25
10. Dallas 36-26
11. Memphis 34-26
12. Toronto 33-26
13. Chicago 34-27
14. Washington 32-29
15. Brooklyn 30-29
16. Minnesota 30-30
With this format, just eliminated slums like Atlanta and Charlotte from the playoffs. Added good teams like Memphis and Minnesota, and created the possibility for entertaining cross conference playoff rivalries.
Houston could be battling Miami in an unprecedented second round match up. We could watch a first round coaching battle of Pop vs Thibs. In future years, you could possibly watch the Heat play the Pacers in the finals or Harden going back to OKC to try and beat his old cronies for the title.
I think that this format could be fun. And who says no to simply letting all the best regular season teams (instead of just some of them) get a chance to play for a championship? This is something that needs to be thought about in great depth, because I don’t really feel like watching the Hawks vs. Pacers first round matchup, and honestly, I would love for K Love to finally get in the playoffs.
I think that this format could be fun. And who says no to simply letting all the best regular season teams (instead of just some of them) get a chance to play for a championship? This is something that needs to be thought about in great depth, because I don’t really feel like watching the Hawks vs. Pacers first round matchup, and honestly, I would love for K Love to finally get in the playoffs.
He deserves to get in there once during his time in Minnesota.
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