NBA Playoffs

It is not to often that the NBA playoffs are as fascinating as they have been this year. I especially enjoyed the last round of games that concluded yesterday with Orlando's trouncing of Cleveland which really made the whole picture complete. Consider this; When was the last time the semifinals featured the best four players in the league leading each of the four best teams in the NBA? I certainly can't think of an occasion. What made it even better was that all four were absolutely at the top of their game, and I will give a few examples of each:

1. Carmelo Anthony- Carmelo was slowed a bit in the conference finals, but was still able to emerge and justify his status as one of the best players in the league. Even with a tough Lakers defense geared at stopping him, and a though Game 6 'Melo averaged 27 points for the series while providing valuable leadership on the floor. As much as this season was about Chauncey Billups' leading the Nuggets back into relevance in the NBA make no mistake, this was Carmelo's team in the playoffs.
2. Dwight Howard- The Orlando big man came to play in the conference finals and was obviously a force that no one on the Cavs could deal with. He shot 64% from the floor in the conference finals, and grabbed 12.8 rebounds per game. All the while the Cavs threw everything they had at him including double and triple teams. Dwight also averaged 38 minutes a game, which is a lot for a big man. It is amazing to think that Dwight is able to do this without the help of a solid #2 taking the pressure off him like the other playoff teams have (No, Hedo Turkoglu is not a solid #2).
3. LeBron James- Jerry West recently anointed him the best player in basketball, and said that he could turn out to be the best ever. Who am I to argue with The Logo, but here are a few stats to support it. LeBron averaged 41.2 points per game in the conference finals, yes 41.2. How good is 41.2 ppg in the conference finals? Number two behind guess who; That's right The Logo himself who averaged 46.3 in 1964. What is even more impressive is that he also averaged greater than 8 assists and 8 boards per game as well. No talk of LeBron would be complete without discussing his defense as well. The NBA's defensive player of the year is the equivalent of Deion Sanders in his prime as an NFLer, teams just don't go at him. He shuts down the entire side of the court he is on. LeBron is possibly the best player in NBA history at blocking shots from behind, a play when made that san turn momentum every bit as quickly as one of his amazing dunks.
4. Kobe Bryant- First let me say that I am a Laker's fan who can't stand Kobe. I don't like how he ran Shaq out of town. I don't like how he then ran Phil out of town. I don't like how for years he was all about himself, and not about winning. I wish he would pass out of double teams instead of shooting out of them. I don't like seeing him whine and cry to officials about the fould he takes while throwing his bony elbows at the opponent (although I did like seeing him give Artest a few shiners in the last series). Really I think my next blog could be about why I don't like Kobe. All that said his is a fantastic basketball player, and a singular talent in the NBA. Now that he is passing the ball and trying to get his teammates involved you may expect his stats to go down, but he still averaged 34 PPG in the conference finals, and played 42 minutes per game. What was really impressive though is his seemingly changed attitude (notice I said seemingly?). Kobe averaged 5.8 assists per game this round, up from his average during the season by a full assist. In an interview during one game this series he even described himself as a "decoy," and he meant it in a posistve way. If this continues maybe he can prove he can do it without Shaq then rap about it in a club; "Shaq tell me how my @#$ tastes!" Oh, and when singing LeBron's praises Jerry West added the caveat that if he were to have one player take the last shot it would still be Kobe. Can you say "Ice"?

I can only hope that the Finals are as good as the semis, and I can certainly see them being that good. Several questions need to be answered: The Lakers have the size to match up with Dwight unlike the Cavs did, but can Gasol be that physical and can Bynum show up? Can the Magic contain Kobe and make someone else try to beat them? How will the Lakers stop Turkoglu...perhaps with a focused Lamar Odom? Will Stan van Gundy stop being the most overrated coach in the league, put some Xs and Os down and manage his team instead of letting his team manage him, or will Phil go zen on him and make him forget to give the ball to Dwight in the paint...again? Oh so many questions and our answers will come in just a few days. In case you are curious, which you probably aren't I like the Lakers in 6. Kobe is his usual self but Lamar finally focuses his talent like we have been waiting on for years and becomes the hero for the Lakers. Like last year when the Lakers were without Bynum the Magic are missing the player that will get them over the hump in Jameer Nelson. Also sorry Dwayne Wade, you are exclusively an offensive threat, you lack a physical element to your game and therefore I rate you as the fifth best player in the NBA with honorable mentions going to Tony Parker, Chris Paul, and Brandon Roy.