The World of Wadley NBA Playoff Guide

Finally, it's here. The NBA Playoffs are upon us. The Association, which has found a way to stay at the forefront of sports news around the calendar, put together another dramatic regular season with questions in Cleveland, injuries to Western Conference titans, more triple-doubles from Russ and so much more.

The league is thriving and it's now time to enter an enticing postseason with plenty of intriguing first round matchups. What should you expect? It's tough to say with the Warriors' injuries, Cleveland's rollercoaster regular season and the unproven past of so many contenders such as the Raptors and Rockets.

Before the games tip off, here's a few things to watch...

Will we see Warriors-Cavs Part IV?
No we will not. It wouldn't be wise to write off a LeBron James-led team, but Cleveland's road looks tougher than in past years. The Indiana Pacers won't be an easy first round matchup with Victor Oladipo's emergence as an All-Star caliber player. Lance Stephenson, though ultimately unsuccessful in his efforts, is just crazy enough to push LeBron's buttons and Bankers Life Fieldhouse can be a difficult place to play when it's filled with LeBron haters. Toronto would most likely await Cleveland in the second round and the 76ers look like a formidable opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. Still, LeBron is LeBron and Cleveland will end up in the Finals.

The Warriors won't though. Injuries have plagued Golden State and they will be without Steph Curry for the first round against San Antonio. If Golden State were healthy, there is no team on the planet that could unseat them as the NBA's best, but they aren't healthy and that means James Harden and Houston will meet Cleveland in the Finals. For what it's worth, Houston will hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy.

What about the Raptors?
The Raps have turned in some disappointing playoff performances in past seasons and Brian Windhorst wrote a piece on their Game 1 woes, which they can potentially end Saturday against Washington. There's reason to believe Toronto will advance past the first round, but I struggle to believe they can beat a LeBron-led team four times. That means the No. 1 seed in the East will be out in the semifinals, adding another chapter to the franchise's disappointing playoff story.

Are the Sixers for real?
Winning 16 games in a row without one of your top two players means you are for real. Joel Embiid will return from injury and Ben Simmons looks like a superstar in the making. The Process has been a long one for Philly, but this young bunch looks primed to make a run. Some of that is due to their talent, while some of it is due to injuries to other teams. Boston doesn't pose nearly the same threat in the second round as we thought they would now that Kyrie Irving is out. Count on the Sixers to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, which will give us a Ben Simmons vs. LeBron matchup that should provide great theatre.

What's an underrated first round matchup to watch?
The Portland Trail Blazers versus the New Orleans Pelicans is a series to watch. Houston and Golden State hog the national spotlight out West, but Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard will have national stage they deserve in this series. Davis is an MVP candidate with 28.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game. Lillard has put up 27 points, 6.6 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. This one will be fun.

It's a long road to the title and it begins Saturday with Warriors-Spurs at 3 p.m. ET. See the entire playoff schedule here.

It's Okay To Not Stick To Sports

On this blog we talk about sports. You name it and we've probably touched on it, but sometimes there are current events in this world that take precedence over the games and the athletes. Here on our blog, Nate and I have sometimes ventured out (examples here, and here) beyond the borders of sports and written about those, like Carmelo Anthony, who chose to step out of the sports bubble. Sometimes there are things that are simply too important to brush to the side, although we try while escaping to sports.

Athletes, coaches and sports media figures are stepping out of the sports bubble more than ever and giving the media and fans their thoughts on the world's current issues, leaders and political debates. Check the comment or replies section after any of these opinions are given and there's the same old comeback of "stick to sports."

Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, the USWNT and a whole host of NFL and NBA players have given their opinion on Donald Trump, Black Lives Matter, race and equal pay matters. Reporters like Richard Deitsch, Seth Davis and others are willing to talk politics on their social media networks. Every time each person listed above strays from sports topics they are told to just "stick to sports."

Sports is an outlet for people. It's a place to get away from the political debates and the issues of the world we live in. For three hours, a fan's worries can just be about the bad call the umpire made or the dropped catch by their favorite wide receiver. Sports is an escape, but it seems some would like to completely forget that there is more to an athlete, coach or media member than their job. They have earned a platform and they are entitled to use it how they see fit.

These are turbulent times in our world. Political leaders in multiple countries pose a threat, violence is on the rise both at home and abroad and the divide between the American people seems to be at an all-time high. Now, more than ever, it would be great if we could just stick to sports.

But we can't. There's more to this life than just sports and there are decisions being made by our leaders that will greatly affect the trajectory of this country and this world. These are no small matters when we talk about people's freedoms, equal pay, race relations, etc. More than ever, sports figures are taking responsibility for their cities and the happenings in them. The platforms they have are massive, reaching millions of people each day. Thankfully, most choose to use them for what they believe in.

You might not agree with their opinion and that's okay. You may disagree with Colin Kaepernick kneeling for the National Anthem or you might disagree with Derrick Rose and LeBron James wearing "I Can't Breathe" shirts in warmups. That's okay. You might not understand why the US Women's National Team is asking for equal pay with their male counterparts. That's fine. But what is not fine is telling them to just stick to sports. Appreciate the fact that they are using their platform for what they see as positive change.

Can you imagine if no one used their platform for change? Why do we ask sports figures to stay in a box, but not others? If everyone confined themselves to their profession then Martin Luther King would have just been a preacher. No person in today's world thinks that MLK should have "just stuck to his day job." Chance the Rapper is very dedicated to seeing Chicago prosper and recently donated $1 million to Chicago Public Schools. No one suggested he "just stick to music."

Rather than asking these sports figures to stick to sports, we should commend them for speaking up. When young black men are being killed unjustly, we should respect the fact that men with a platform speak out. When women aren't earning equal pay, we should appreciate that some of the most influential women in the US are setting an example and enacting change. When our President is causing strong divisions among the American people and a coach says it's wrong, bravo to the coach for taking a stand.

Sticking to sports is a tired comeback to those who choose not to. It's asking sports figures to put themselves in a box and not use the platform they have been given. Don't like it? The unfollow button isn't far away. Go ahead and give it a click.

Carmelo Anthony Should Be Commended For Using His Voice

Anthony marches in Baltimore during Freddie Gray protests

You can say what you want about Carmelo Anthony as a basketball player. He is a ball hog, he won't ever lead a team to a title, he took too much money to stay in New York, he acted like a baby when he demanded a trade from Denver, etc. However, whatever your opinions are of Anthony the player, his words this past week deserve respect for Anthony the man.

After a tumultuous week in America, marred by violence between African American men and white police officers in three different cities, Anthony took to Instagram to make sure his voice was heard.

“The system is Broken. Point blank period. It has been this way forever. Martin Luther King marched. Malcolm X rebelled. Muhammad Ali literally fought of US. Our anger should be towards the system. If the system doesn’t change we will continue to turn on the TVs and see the same thing. We have to put the pressure on the people in charge in order to get this thing we call JUSTICE right. A march doesn’t work. We tried that. I’ve tried that. A couple social media post/tweet doesn’t work. We’ve all tried that. That didn’t work. Shooting 11 cops and killing 5 WILL NOT work. While I don’t have a solution, and I’m pretty sure a lot of people don’t have a solution, we need to come together more than anything at this time. We need each other. These politicians have to step up and fight for change. Go to your local officials, leaders, congressman, assemblymen/assemblywoman and demand change. There’s NO more sitting back and being afraid of tackling and addressing political issues anymore. Those days are long gone. We have to step up and take charge. We can’t worry about what endorsements we gonna lose or whose going to look at us crazy. I need your voices to be heard. We can demand change. We just have to be willing to. THE TIME IS NOW. I’M all in. Take Charge. Take Action. DEMAND CHANGE. Carmelo Anthony.”

Anthony is not obligated to speak up and as Charles Barkley so eloquently put it years ago: athletes don't have to be role models. Barkley was right that they don't have to act like it, but the reality is that athletes are. Anthony's voice will be heard by many and, regardless of whether or not his play is well-liked, it will be respected by many. There's a certain section of society that Anthony's voice can go where President Obama's and other suited political figures just won't. Quite frankly, the world needs everyone to step up at a time like this because everybody could be better and do better.

Anthony's post is just words, but he is a man who has shown he's more than that in the past. He marched in Baltimore with protesters after Freddie Gray's death. And his post this time asks those who have remained silent to step up to the plate. Speaking up is not for every athlete, but we do live in a generation where some of the biggest names (Anthony, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul) are not afraid to go beyond the court. Just because they can drop 25 points whenever they want does not mean they have to step out in times of tragedy, but it is refreshing to me that they do. It shows they understand that they can make a positive difference.

A positive change is needed in this country and any athlete who will have the ears of millions, and wants to use their voice in a positive manner, will earn my respect. Anthony, despite his flaws on the court, is a role model for everyone, including his peers in the NBA. His platform can be used for good and that's exactly what he's doing. Bravo.

LeBron's Latest Title is More Special Than the Rest

LeBron James has been one of the most polarizing and publicly ridiculed athletes in the history of sports. No athlete in today's world endures more criticism or skepticism than James, even though he brought most of it on himself. You either love him or you hate him, there is no in between. But now, just hours after capturing his first title with the Cleveland Cavaliers, it's time for the hatred and disrespect of LeBron James to go by the wayside.

Ever since "The Decision", LeBron put a target on his back and became one of the biggest villains the sports world had ever seen. He was viewed as a sellout, someone who can't win on his own. He took the easy way out and became an ego that the world wanted to see fail, and fail miserably. Yet he won two championships and captured four MVPs. It was obvious that the road to the Finals went through LeBron and the Miami Heat. He truly was the King.

Redemption.

But a return home was in order. LeBron went back to Cleveland but was far from forgiven by those who weren't fans of his. He immediately created drama with the acquisition of Kevin Love, issues with not listening to former head coach David Blatt, and yet another Finals loss. It was LeBron in a nutshell. A figure that constantly has the media drooling simply because he's such a popular quote. People want to hear LeBron talk either because they adore him, or they want to use whatever he says against him when he fails.

This season was no different. Not only did the Cavs downplay the Golden State Warriors 2015 championship by saying they would have won if Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were healthy, but LeBron then came across as being incredibly bitter when he argued the definition of the MVP award after Steph Curry won his second-straight MVP. It was a bad look. LeBron started to look like the athlete whose best days were behind him, yet was unwilling to accept the fact that the NBA was on the verge of having a new face. The Warriors were taking the league by storm, breaking plenty of records along the way. It was obvious LeBron couldn't stand that.

Honestly, that's what made this championship so special not just for LeBron, but for those who have spent the last however many years hating him. We finally saw LeBron take something personally. We finally saw LeBron show emotion and a killer instinct. It was clear from the start that he took this series as a personal challenge unlike ever before. It was initially him versus Curry, but it quickly became him versus the Warriors with multiple people chipping in to spur the eventual Finals MVP.

I'll be honest, I was all set to type a blog about how LeBron was no longer King when the series was 3-1. I was ready to say that it was Steph Curry's league and that the Cavs were never going to be able to topple the Golden State giant. I've been one of the LeBron haters since that historic day in July of 2010, and I was ready to celebrate another failed trip to the Finals. Yet now, I have gained so much respect for LeBron James. The respect for his game was always there, how could you not respect what this guy can do for a team, for a city? The NBA has never seen a guy that can do the things LeBron can do. Yet it was the sense of entitlement, the ego, the flopping, the constant whining, the selfishness when dealing with personnel within the organization. It got old, it got old real quick.

LeBron repeatedly out-performed the unanimous MVP

However, LeBron was a different animal in this Finals. Trash-talking Steph Curry, stepping over Draymond Green, and literally willing his team to a victory. This was a LeBron we had rarely seen before, but one that people literally begged for all these years. The comparisons of LeBron to Michael Jordan always consisted of a statement somewhere along the lines of "Well Jordan had a killer instinct and was a better competitor." Before this Finals, there were only a handful of moments in LeBron's career where he possessed that killer mentality. Obviously last year he dragged the Cavs through the Finals by himself, but this year was different. He had flare. He had personality. He finally showed us that losing was not an option.

This is the LeBron that we have always wished he would be. An absolutely unstoppable force that wasn't going to settle for anything less than a ring. I feel sorry for the people that can't appreciate what he just accomplished. He fulfilled his promise and is now a hero in every sense of the word for the entire state of Ohio. He put on a performance for the ages that culminated in an iconic chase-down block like only LeBron James could do. Then to see the raw emotion, the tears of relief, of absolute joy, when that final buzzer sounded was special. The wait for a championship is finally over in Cleveland, and LeBron deserves all the respect in the world for delivering on his promise.

In Warriors-Cavs Spat, Nobody Is Right

In an NBA Finals that have become a string of blowout games with little storylines other than the
Warriors closing in on history and LeBron James losing again, the Game 4 scuffle between James and Draymond Green gave the media what they needed. Finally, there was a new talking point and the media beat the subject of the scuffle to death yesterday, offering opinions on Green's Game 5 suspension and James' role in the matter.

Let me offer one more opinion even though you probably don't need another.

There isn't a single guy in this whole mess who is right. They are all wrong and people's judgement of the matter in baffling. Let's start with the actual play. You've seen it: James and Green get tangled up on a Green screen for Steph Curry. James pushes Green to the floor, and while he did get pushed, Green sells it with a flop as well. James, with miles of real estate around Green, looks down at the Warriors' forward and chooses to step over him. Green took exception and flung his hand up and hit James in the groin before taking another swipe at him. The two then went for a rebound and were whistled for a double foul. Some jawing occurred after the whistle and Green reportedly called James a b*tch, which resulted in an upset LeBron James.

Here's the deal: James was wrong for stepping over Green and deserved to have it upgraded by the league. Green was also wrong for swinging at James and deserves to be suspended for Game 5. Let's not forget that this isn't the first time Green has done something like this in the playoffs. He had his moment with Steven Adams in the Western Conference Finals and has been caught unnecessarily flailing his legs on other plays. Green was suspended because of his body of work. He has no one to blame but himself for missing Game 5.

James then sat at the podium in the postgame press conference and violated an unwritten rule by bringing the trash talk off the court. Let's be clear: what Green reportedly said is not right, but it is said all the time in all sports. For James to overreact the way he did both in the game and afterwards at the press conference says plenty about James, but it's nothing we haven't seen before. Nobody loves flaunting who they are more than James with his constant reminders that he's the leader of the team, best player in the game and father of three. In this case, he used the father of three schtick to help lobby for Green's punishment in the postgame presser. While it's not illegal to do what James did, it certainly didn't win him any more fans.

After the suspension was announced yesterday more jawing ensued and this time it was Klay Thompson doing the talking. Thompson questioned why James' feelings were hurt and insinuated that he was being a baby. Again, nothing wrong with what Thompson said because he was basically articulating what many fans and players thought about James. Where Thompson is wrong is the fact that he spent more than enough time complaining about a Timofey Mozgov screen in Game 3, claiming it was a dirty play. For a guy whose career is primarily based on his ability to get shots off of moving screens, he came across as a baby complaining about a screen in a blowout loss. To then turn around and question another man's toughness was weak on his part.

James wasn't quite done, stepping to the podium later and laughing at Thompson's comments. He then insisted that he "took the high road" in the entire situation. If the high road is stepping over someone then whining about a swear word in the postgame press conference then, yes, James certainly took the high road. However, I'm not sure many people would see it the way James sees it. He once again, tries to remain the holier than thou, but it's easy see right through it.

Nobody was right in this situation and everybody got what they deserved. To not understand that is to not be paying attention or to see things through the lens of a Cavs or Warriors fan.

So where does this leave us? Pretty simple: Draymond Green isn't going to play in Game 5. Everything else is just smoke and mirrors from that. Tonight, it would be shocking if James didn't come out with an extra edge and drop 40 points on the Warriors. However, his willingness to do that seems non-existent as he prefers to set up his teammates and allow the losses to pile up in the process. A change of strategy should be in order.

For Golden State, they are without their engine and their most versatile player. That could cause some issues, but it could also give Steph Curry a chance to build on his legacy. A dominating performance in the absence of a key teammate with the Finals on the line would certainly be worth adulation.

Until tonight, it's all talk and speculation and the pettiness that has transpired since the scuffle will finally end once the ball is tipped. It can't come soon enough.

LeBron Forced to Shoulder Load Once More

Down 2-0 to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers have looked like a JV squad so far against the defending champs. A series that was hyped up beforehand due to it being a rematch and the way Cleveland breezed through the Eastern Conference bracket has become a slaughter that has left fans and analysts wondering if it's already over.

As always, no one is more polarizing than James, the native son who is once again trying to bring home a championship to a city that desperately covets one. Lyndon B. Johnson was in office the last time Cleveland was crowned champions in any of the four major sports, but with a healthy Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, it seemed this might be the year for the Cavs.

Yet here we are, once again, wondering where LeBron James' running mates are. It's become a theme of LeBron's career in the playoffs: he handpicks his teammates, his teams dominate the regular season and then his sidekicks play their worst basketball in the playoffs, while James takes the scrutiny for the losses.

The 2016 Finals are just the latest example. While James shot poorly and turned the ball over seven times in Game 2, he has still averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists through the first two games. He's shooting 42 percent from the field, including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc. He leads his team in steals and blocks as well.

His Game 2 performance was a mixed bag as Golden State's defense has done a fantastic job frustrating him, and for James there is no room for error. His help has been virtually nonexistent leaving him with no choice but to take over, something he has not done yet. Irving missed all but one game of the Finals last season, and opened this year's Finals with a pair of poor-shooting performances. His 26 points led all scorers in Game 1, but he shot just 7-for-22 from the field and 1-for-4 from 3-point land. He followed it up with a 5-for-14 night, which was good for just 10 points. 

Love, whose status is uncertain for Game 3 due to a concussion, had no issues on the offensive end in Game 1. He scored 17 points and hauled in 13 rebounds, but struggled in Game 2 before exiting with the concussion. He scored five points on 2-for-7 shooting in 21 minutes of play. Where Love has struggled has been defensively as Draymond Green has carved the Cavs up, averaging a series-high 22 points.

Beyond Love and Irving, the rollercoaster ride that is J.R. Smith seems to be at a low point currently. Smith has taken only nine shots and scored only eight points in the two games so far, while Iman Shumpert has taken four shots and scored six points. What's this mean? The Cavs are relying far too heavily on 35-year-old Richard Jefferson and junkyard dog Matthew Dellavedova to score. 

James, who could fall to 2-5 all-time in the Finals with two more losses, has to see Golden State's style of play and wish he had that luxury. Golden State is up 2-0 in the series and Steph Curry and Klay Thompson have averaged 14.5 and 13 points, respectively. However, five players for the Warriors are averaging double figures and seven players are averaging nine points or more. Truly, Golden State's strength is in numbers.

Meanwhile, James will either need his supporting cast to step up or he will need to take over like he did in last season's Finals. If it's the latter, Golden State will no doubt be crowned champions. They are overwhelmingly a better team top to bottom and it will take more than just LeBron James to take them down. 

The first two games beg the question: has any superstar before been hung out to dry by his teammates as much as LeBron James? James' career will have him in the conversation of the all-time greats, but his teammates' shortcomings, and what it's cost him, in the playoffs will inevitably be his shortcoming in that conversation. 

Curry Can Cement Status With Finals Win

Steph Curry's meteoric rise to the top of the NBA is almost complete. The kid from Davidson who
captured the nation's attention during a 2008 NCAA Tournament run fought through a host of ankle injuries early in his NBA career and became just the tenth player in league history to win back-to-back MVP awards this season.

He led the Golden State Warriors to the 2015 NBA title, shattering shooting records in the process. For an encore, he's led the Warriors to the regular-season wins record at 73-9, while shattering those same shooting records again. Curry hit 286 3-pointers last season and then knocked down 402 this year. He elevated his scoring average by 6.3 points per game and averaged more rebounds and steals than a year ago. He shot more 3-pointers and two-point field goals than last season, but still shot a higher percentage this season. For all of that, he was voted the first ever unanimous MVP in NBA history.

Many think he's the league's best player and why not? The numbers paint a picture of somebody who will go down in history as one of the game's greatest, but there's still one other man vying for that title. As long as LeBron James is in the league, he will always be in the conversation. At 31 years old and in his 13th NBA season, James can put up 25/7/7 any given night. He's been widely considered the league's best player for years, but that title is slipping away with every late-game dagger from Curry.

Curry's Warriors defeated James' Cavaliers in six games during last year's Finals, but if Curry is to cement his status as the league's best then he will need to defeat James again this year. The Cavs limped through the Finals last season with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving sitting due to injuries. J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert were exceptionally bad, shooting 31 and 25 percent in the series, respectively.

Curry was his usual self, averaging 26/5/6, while James gave us a performance for the ages, putting the team on his back and averaging 36/13/9. This season it's the Cavs who look unstoppable, advancing the Finals with a 12-2 playoff record. With the exception of an 0-2 trip to Toronto in the conference finals, Cleveland has mowed down any and all opposition. Love and Irving are healthy and playing well, while Tyronn Lue has made this Cavs team his own.

Golden State has battled the championship-or-bust expectations, a Curry knee injury and the Oklahoma City Thunder on its way to the Finals. The Warriors have lost five games in the playoffs, which seems alarming after their rampage through the regular season (fun fact: if they lose the Finals to Cleveland, they will have as many playoff losses as regular season losses. Puts that regular season in perspective a bit).

Despite the long road to the Finals and the Cavs' dominance, Golden State has Curry, Klay Thompson and a host of role players who give them quality minutes. Any team that can shoot like Golden State can win any game. For Curry, a win would mean back-to-back titles to go along with back-to-back MVPs. The only other point guard to accomplish that feat? Magic Johnson.

By defeating James two years in a row, Curry would thoroughly announce to the world that he is the game's greatest, but he would also carve out a spot in the NBA history books with a win. It's the game within the game, and it's a game that will surely not disappoint.

Jordan vs. LeBron Needs to Be Laid to Rest

It's the argument that keeps NBA fans awake at night and fuels social media conversations. It's the debate that seems to never have a right answer because bias and pride will never concede. It's the question that continually swirls through the heads of not just Cleveland Cavaliers and Chicago Bulls fans, but the basketball faithful across the world. That question, quite simply, is "Who's better: Jordan or LeBron?" To me, as a self-proclaimed educated NBA fan, it really shouldn't be an argument. The answer is Jordan and, quite frankly, I don't care who you bring up to combat MJ, there really is no argument.

Jordan's greatness will not be matched any time soon

Let's get the obvious statistics out of the way right off the bat. Michael Jordan went six for six in his Finals appearances while LeBron is now two for six. And for those that want to disregard this year's Finals loss on account of health issues for the Cavs, he would still be three rings behind Jordan and would still be .500 in his Finals appearances assuming Cleveland wins with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving. And if you want to disregard this year's Finals entirely, he's two for five in the Finals, still three behind Jordan. For now, it's as simple as Jordan taking down Hall of Famer after Hall of Famer en route to a perfect six for six in the Finals.

Now let's get away from the team aspect and look at the individual stats. Michael Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game for his career. No one has ever averaged more points in a career than Jordan did, and LeBron currently sits at 27.3 points per game. Now, LeBron has the edge in rebounds (7.1) and assists (6.9), so there's no arguing there and we'll stay away from the "Well LeBron's much bigger than Jordan so he should have more rebounds" argument too. It is what is is.

Going beyond that, individual accolades is where Jordan absolutely dominates LeBron. Both players won Rookie of the Year, but LeBron currently trails Jordan in the MVP honors by one, as Jordan ended his career with five and LeBron has four to his name at this point in time. Jordan also trumps LeBron in Finals MVP trophies with six while LeBron has two. Continuing with the offensive-oriented accomplishments, MJ claimed TEN scoring titles in his career. LeBron? He currently has ONE.

James' career has been great, but not great enough to match MJ's

Moving towards a more defense-oriented argument, all of these accomplishments led to Jordan's nomination to the First Team All-NBA ten times. LeBron on the other hand, has currently been named First Team All-NBA nine times, but has a chance to pass Jordan in that column. However, Jordan was named First Team All-Defensive nine times while LeBron has only made the cut five times. Jordan also captured a Defensive Player of the Year trophy once while LeBron has never won the honor and has finished second in the voting twice. Despite only winning DPOY once, Jordan led the league in steals three times while LeBron has never even finished second in steals per game.

At the end of the day, it seems obvious. Jordan has five MVPs, LeBron has four. Jordan has six Finals MVPs, LeBron has two. Jordan has a Defensive Player of the Year award, LeBron doesn't. Jordan has ten scoring titles, LeBron has one. Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game for his career, LeBron's averaging 27.3. It's not bias, it's not favoritism, it's not the dislike of LeBron. It's common sense and it's facts. And if you want to reference Jordan's records that LeBron is breaking, or how he may pass him on the All-Time scoring list someday, just remember that LeBron just finished his 12th season while Jordan played 15, one of which he only played in 18 games before breaking his foot, and one in which he only played in 17 games because he returned from retirement. So in all, Jordan really played about 13.25 seasons and will STILL have LeBron in almost every category by the time they're both retired.

In no way am I saying LeBron will not go down as one of the greatest players ever. In terms of physical dominance he will go down as one of the best. And yes, he has a different build/style of play than Jordan, but there's no way LeBron will boast the accolades that Jordan did. It's not a debate, it's not an argument, it's not a discussion, Michael Jordan is the best and always will be.

With Series Loss to Cavs, Bulls Season Ends Sooner Than Planned

They finally had it all together. They brought in their star rookie, they signed a 2-time NBA champion, and they had their MVP back to health. Everything was in front of them. Literally everything. And yet, the Eastern Conference Finals will not feature the Chicago Bulls. Why? It's quite simple really: the Chicago Bulls just didn't want a successful season bad enough. Were there individuals on the team that had high expectations? Sure. After all, Jimmy Butler played the best defensive series against LeBron James of anyone to ever guard the future Hall of Famer. Heck, every player in that locker room continually stressed their belief that this team could be great. And in all honesty, it could have been. It SHOULD have been. But the thing about great teams is that they're made through their play on the court, not by the names listed on the roster.

One of the many things that is so hard to believe about this enigma of a team is that they won over 50 games and can still be considered a failure. Is that "f" word too strong? Not really. Take a look at this season and what has transpired over the last 8-9 months: big-time wins over Golden State, San Antonio, Cleveland, and Oklahoma City. Horrific losses to the likes of Detroit, Utah, Charlotte, and the Los Angeles Lakers. If bipolar doesn't describe this year's team, then let me know if there is a more applicable word. The series of events can only bring up two simple, one-word questions: "Why?" and "How?"

Butler's ascension is one of the few highlights for the Bulls this year

This team had a 2-time champion and future Hall of Famer (Pau Gasol), a former (and now healthy) MVP (Derrick Rose), the reigning Defensive Player of the Year (Joakim Noah), a perennial 6th Man of the Year contender (Taj Gibson), the runner-up for Rookie of the Year (Nikola Mirotic), and this year's Most Improved Player (Jimmy Butler). All of these players, with a steady and more-often-than-not productive bench were under the influence of the former Coach of the Year Tom Thibodeau. With that lineup, with that talent, with that depth, this team was a failure. And honestly, we now are forced to wonder how much they really care.


This is not about saying the Bulls had a horrible season and this is not to say that locker room is full of quitters. But when the lights were on, and the stage was set, this Bulls team never figured it out. Why? They waited three years for their point guard to be healthy. They got rid of seasoned veterans so that they could develop their young stars and they had arguably one of the best off-seasons in the league. Everything they worked for and everything Tom Thibodeau dedicated his time to building was ruined this season. The intensity and will to shock the world was gone, the defensive and hard-nosed identity vanished, and the sense of urgency never appeared present when it was needed most. To make it all worse, the players knew they lacked these things all year. If you read any articles or followed this team at all, every loss would be followed by quotes like "We didn't have the intensity tonight. They outplayed us." or "Our defense is not what it used to be and that needs to change." Okay, so it's not like the long-scoring droughts or losses where the opposing team scores over 100 points were sprung on them all of the sudden. This team knew what it had to do to be great and they never felt the need to execute. That is why this team was a failure.

I will give all the credit in the world to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Cleveland Cavaliers. While the Bucks were ran out of their own gym in Game 6, they were never once intimidated by the Bulls. They saw their weaknesses and did everything they could to expose them. The Cavaliers on the other hand, were a different story entirely. It's no secret that any team led by LeBron James is an automatic title contender, yet this team was without Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving was not his All-Star self due to a number of injuries. On top of that, LeBron did not have an exceptional series minus Game 5. Jimmy Butler took LeBron out of almost every game, as far as scoring is concerned, and forced him into a couple poor shooting nights. Jimmy Butler did his job, and yet his teammates let players such as Iman Shumpert, Tristan Thompson, and Matthew Dellevadova out-work them.

The Cavs "Big Three" was not made up of James, Love, and Irving. It was made up of the three aforementioned players that came into the series knowing they would have to shoulder the load with Love being out, JR Smith serving a 2-game suspension, and Irving playing through injury. And to their credit, they showed out. But to look at this team of mediocre bench players that were thrown into the fire, and to look at the team the Bulls trotted out to contest them, it goes to show just how soft this Bulls team was. Again, the Cavs role players were phenomenal this series. But they shouldn't have been, not if the Bulls played like a typical Thibs team used to play.

Thibodeau will likely be fired in the coming weeks

So now it's over. It's finally over. There are no more nights of guessing which team would show up to play. There are no more injury reports to be released before tip-off. There are no more meaningless post-game quotes about needing to play harder. It's over, and to some extent that's a good feeling. It wasn't fun to watch this team under-perform and appear not to care. There is no reason this team could not have won 62-65 games with the lineup and coaching they had. In some regards this team had more to it than the 2011 team that won 66 games and went to the Eastern Conference Finals. But that 2011 team had an identity and they had a purpose. They knew they needed to perform every single night to chase that championship dream. They wanted to be great. The 2014-2015 Bulls did not want it bad enough, and it showed on an almost-nightly basis.

While it's sad to see a team not recognize its potential, it's even more aggravating that this is the way the Thibodeau era will most likely come to a close. Everything Thibs stood for, everything he built, is now gone. The players lost their fire, and with the rough relationship between Thibs and the front office, it appears that he will be gone very soon. And while Thibodeau is a top three coach in the NBA, I'm excited for him to coach for a new team. He deserves better from both a front office and from a team. He weathered the storm through all of the injuries and all of the doubt these past few years and still managed to make the Bulls a tough out in the playoffs. He had total buy-in from each and every player and gave the Bulls their best chances at a title since Michael Jordan left. Thibs did his part, he made this team, and yet he will be shown the door with nothing to show for it. Bulls fans will remember his successes, but the league and history will not. This team should have been the best in the East, but they weren't. The team that should have been the Incredibulls quickly became the Laughabulls when that final buzzer sounded in the Madhouse last night.

LeBron's Latest Foray into Free Agency Much Better

A lot has changed for LeBron James in the last four years. On July 8, 2010 James made the worst mistake of his career, announcing his decision to leave Cleveland for Miami with the slimy Jim Gray as host on what was dubbed The Decision. Televised on ESPN, The Decision set off jersey-burning in Cleveland and has guaranteed that James will be booed mercilessly in every city that he spurned.

Now in 2014, James has two rings on his fingers, two more MVP awards (which brings the overall count to four), is the undisputed best player in the league and has taken the Heat to four straight Finals. But free agency has come calling again and James is still undecided on his future. Twitter has never been more abuzz with speculation and poor reporting. The need to "get the scoop" has usually-credible journalists losing some of that credibility every day.

Some people are mad at James. Make a decision and keep us from waiting any longer, they say. His every move is followed and documented by a basketball paparazzi. Everybody and their mother seems to be a source these days and that includes the Akron police force. Akron's finest set the Twitter nation in motion the other day, telling reporters that they were asked to station a few men outside James' home and expect a 3:30 announcement. That announcment never came, but Clevelanders came out in droves to park their cars in front of James' home. What were they waiting for? Who knows -- James was in Las Vegas at his annual basketball camp.

People seem to be growing angry at James for not announcing his decision. He is made out to be the villain again if he chooses against Cleveland. Yet there is no need for animosity towards LeBron this summer. He has done everything right.

Amid all the tweets, all the speculation, all the propaganda put out by ESPN, remember this: LeBron James has not said a word. He has not led any fan base on nor has he really given any team hope. If you have hope of James returning to Cleveland then it wasn't he who gave it to you. It was ESPN and the rest of the basketball reporting world.

I don't particularly like LeBron James. I appreciate his greatness and understand I will probably never watch another player with his set of skills and size. I don't think he's the greatest player ever and I don't think he ever will be. However, I do appreciate his maturity in this case and it clearly shows he has learned from his mistakes.

Chris Sheridan, Frank Isola and whoever else can keep on giving false reports from their "sources." LeBron is entitled to make a decision when he sees fit and he has handled it correctly. Why don't we all get off the guy's back and slow down with the Twitter reports.

Stop calling this "Decision 2.0" because James has never called it that. ESPN has. The network has employed all the best gossip journalism tactics and has set up James to be the villain once more. However, be smart enough to really look at the situation and see that LeBron James has handled this round of free agency with much more maturity than he did last time. He shouldn't be the villain this time.

So don't make him one.

Bulls, Pacers, and Suns Headline 2014 Awards Finalists

The regular season is quickly drawing to a close as sixteen teams continue to battle for playoff position. The year has been full of drama both good and bad and the anticipation for the postseason is mounting each and every day. And while the postseason will take about two and a half months by itself, these past six months have given us a hint of the players that are most deserving of the individual honors presented each year. Here's a look at the finalists for this year's MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Most Improved, 6th Man of the Year, and Coach of the Year.

MVP

Kevin Durant: At this point in the season, how could you go against KD? He's posted numbers that are rivaled only by some of the best to ever play the game and is currently on a streak of scoring 25 points in a game for 38 straight games. The person he's chasing in order to break the record? Michael Jordan's mark of 40 straight games. Not exactly bad company to be in. On top of Durant's ridiculous and consistent output, his efforts have helped him average 32.2 points per game while grabbing 7.5 rebounds per game and dishing out 5.7 assists per game. Not to mention Durant is shooting 51% from the field, 41% from three point range, and 87% from the charity stripe. Even without Russell Westbrook being on the floor this season, Durant managed to keep the Thunder atop the Western Conference standings and has proved to be the best player in the league this year.

LeBron James: There won't be a season that goes by that LeBron James won't be in the top three in the MVP race. This year is no different. James is attempting to capture his fifth MVP award in the past six seasons (with Chicago's Derrick Rose stealing the crown in 2011) and has once again put up the same ridiculous numbers he always has. With 26.7 points per game, 6.9 boards per game, and 6.6 assists per game, LeBron once again has the Heat holding on to the number one seed in the East. While Durant has occupied the spotlight for much of the season, it's no secret that LeBron James has had his eye-opening performances as well. Who could forget his 61-point performance this past month? ESPN certainly couldn't, it managed to be a topic of conversation on Sportscenter for a solid week. Nonetheless, it was an impressive performance and arguably one of the best individual performances of the season. LeBron will fall short of the MVP award this season, but it took a historic season from Durant to dethrone the King.

Blake Griffin: Wait...what? Blake Griffin is a legitimate MVP candidate? Believe it. This season Griffin has gone from just a freak athlete to a freak athlete with an all-around game. The alley-oops and put-back dunks will always be what people see in the highlights, but Griffin's improvements in his jump shot and ball handling have not received the attention they deserve. The Los Angeles Clippers' power forward is pouring in 24 points per game and snagging just under 10 rebounds as well and while the individual stats are nice, Griffin has helped this team become a legitimate contender in the West, not just a highlight reel for Sportscenter. He won't win the MVP award, but Blake Griffin has definitely established himself as one of the most dominant all-around players in the league.

Joakim Noah: The Chicago Bulls season seemed all but lost to those outside of the Bulls' fan base after starting point guard and former MVP Derrick Rose went down with yet another knee injury. Throw that in with the Luol Deng trade and the Bulls were seemingly done for the year. However, no one could have predicted that Joakim Noah would emerge as a deserving MVP candidate. While the addition of DJ Augustin and the overall play of the rest of the team is something nothing short of admirable, Joakim Noah has been the driving force behind a well-balanced attack for the Bulls. He has earned the title as the most dynamic center in the game and is the best passing big man the league has to offer. Noah is currently averaging 12.5 points per game while reeling in 11.1 rebounds per game. He is tied with Kevin Durant for second place in terms of most triple-doubles this season with three though he has flirted with that achievement numerous times. If the award was truly based off of how valuable a player is to his team, Noah would have to be the recipient if not barely falling short behind Durant. Yet with the award being based off statistics, Noah's MVP campaign will not be complete this season.

Defensive Player of the Year:

Joakim Noah: The fact that Noah is top four for two awards is a testament to his improvement this season. He is the anchor of a stifling Bulls defense that is currently second in the league for fewest points against on average with only allowing 91.9 points a game. Might I add the Indiana Pacers are first with 91.8 points against per game, merely .1 of a point difference. With that in mind, Noah has averaged 1.5 blocks per game and has taken on the best in the league on the defensive side of the ball. Not many 6'11 centers can be isolated against LeBron James on the three point line and get a stop not once, but twice as Noah did just a few weeks ago when the Heat visited the United Center. When all is said and done and the dust has settled, Joakim Noah has earned this year's Defensive Player of the Year award.

Roy Hibbert: The 7'2 center for the Indiana Pacers has improved every year he  has been in the league and has certainly played a major role in the Pacers' success up to this point. Even though he may be a better rim protector than Joakim Noah, Hibbert's defensive presence is not as effective. Hibbert does average 2.3 blocks per game but his defensive rebound average is only 4.2 per game as opposed to Joakim Noah's 6 a game. Again, Hibbert may have the advantage when playing defense in the paint because of his bigger frame, but Joakim Noah is more versatile and has the statistics to prove it. By no means is Hibbert not deserving of the award, but this year the trophy will not belong to him.

Paul George: It's telling that the Pacers have two players that have made the final four candidates. This year we have seen Paul George emerge as one of the best two-way players in the league, if not the best. George has the task of essentially guarding the opposing team's best player night in and night out and has already shown us that he can hang with the league's elite. He has been as big a part of the Pacers' league-leading 91.8 points against per game as Hibbert has and he even averages more defensive rebounds per game than the Indiana big man (5.2). The 23 year-old is also playing with active hands as he is averaging nearly 2 steals per game. There is no doubt that George has evolved into an elite defender and it is definitely justifiable that he will end the season as a contender for the honor.

Andre Iguodala: The Golden State forward has flown under the radar in this year's race simply because his team has not received the attention of the once-dominant Pacers or the ailing Chicago Bulls. Nonetheless, Andre Iguodala has been a force on the defensive side of the ball. Much like George he is averaging more defensive rebounds per game than the 7'2 center Hibbert with 4.6 per game and is right on George's heels in the steals column with 1.7 per game. Iguodala has been a major acquisition to the Warriors' defense and has helped keep opponents to 99 points per game on average which is currently 8th of the league's 30 teams. There's no doubt Iguodala is one of the better defenders the league has to offer, but "Andre Iguodala" and "Defensive Player of the Year" won't be synonymous at the conclusion of this season.

Rookie of the Year

Michael Carter-Williams: The former Syracuse guard stormed into the league posing a triple-double threat on nearly a nightly basis to begin the season. That was also when the Sixers still seemed to be  a playoff team. Now, Carter-Williams has come down to earth and his team has gone even lower than that. And while the Rookie of the Year is an individual award, the success of the team has to factor into the equation, and that is exactly what will keep MCW from walking away with the award. He has put up great numbers for his rookie campaign averaging 16.5 points per game, 6.3 assists per game, and 2 steals while being the center piece of what will hopefully be a better Sixers team in the future. It's sad to see Carter-Williams play such great basketball for such a downtrodden team, which is why it is sad to see the lack of success in Philadelphia be the determining factor in Carter-Williams missing out on this award.

Victor Oladipo: Orlando is not much better than Philadelphia which may make the team's success not as much of a factor as I perceive it to be. However, Oladipo has come in and produced in every way right from the start averaging 14 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Not bad for an undersized rookie shooting guard. It is incredibly tough to choose between Carter-Williams and Oladipo but I believe Oladipo will walk away with the Rookie of the Year honors because he has put on a better all-around performance. This has ultimately led to more success for his team, even if that means his team has won 21 games as opposed to Philadelphia's 16.

Tim Hardaway: It's unfair that Hardaway's rookie campaign has been lost among the underachieving season of the New York Knicks. Between Carmelo Anthony's upcoming free agency, Mike Woodson's job security (or lack there of), Phil Jackson's hiring, and JR Smith's antics, it's easy for a rookie like Hardaway to get lost in all of that. But don't be fooled, even though the Knicks have suffered this season, they have a bright spot in the former Michigan guard. Hardaway has managed to average 10 points a game and just under one assist off the bench. Not bad numbers for a rookie, all things considered. Not to mention Carter-Williams and Oladipo have had the luxury of being consistent starters. Hardaway doesn't have the numbers to trump the two aforementioned players, but his ceiling is high.

Trey Burke: The fact that Trey Burke missed a large chunk of the season and is still a top four candidate speaks to how weak this draft class was. Nonetheless, Burke has still managed to put together a nice rookie campaign which has included a game-winning three in the month of March. Sound familiar Michigan fans? Burke is currently averaging 12.5 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting a respectable 89% from the free throw line. The sad thing is that Burke's absence for the first few months of the season will ultimately keep him from winning Rookie of the Year. But one can only imagine what he will be like when he sees a full season of action next year. The Jazz are a young bunch, but with Burke at the helm they might just be alright down the road.

Most Improved
Markieff Morris: The former Kansas star has had a breakout season this year and has helped put the Phoenix Suns in position to contend for a playoff spot. Morris headlines a young Phoenix squad and has enjoyed personal success averaging nearly 14 points and 6 rebounds a game while shooting 49% from the field. His points per game average has increased by nearly six points and his rebounding average is up one more rebound from the previous year. Think one rebound isn't that big of a deal? Ask the San Antonio Spurs how it would have felt to grab one more rebound in the last seconds of game six of last year's NBA Finals. Morris really has been a pleasant surprise for the Suns organization and if the improvement continues, he may just be a very, very valuable asset to Phoenix in the future.

Gerald Green: Much like Blake Griffin, Green used to be known solely for his highlight reel dunks. And while the constant replaying of the dunks these two players put down is perfectly justifiable, Green, like Griffin, has shown that he has more in his arsenal than just an explosive vertical. Green seemed to only take up roster space during his days in Boston, Houston, Minnesota, Dallas, New Jersey, and Indiana. The fact that he is 28 and has played on seven teams in what is now a seven year career shows that his production was never quite there. Yet here we are in April and Green is on a Suns team that is flirting with a playoff berth. He is averaging 15.5 points per game which more than doubles his average from the previous season (7.0 points per game in Indiana). Not only has his scoring average gone up but so has his rebounding (2.4 in Indiana to 3.2 in Phoenix) and his free throw percentage (80% in Indiana to 85% in Phoenix). Morris and Green both have the Suns looking at a bright future, but neither Phoenix player will be in possession of the Most Improved Player award this season.

Lance Stephenson: It's hard to turn away the guy who is leading the league in triple-doubles. Throughout the Pacers' season it has shown that when Lance Stephenson is on his game, so are the Pacers. He has worked his way into a starting role and has shown hints of maturity, though they are few and far between. However, Stephenson's 14 points, 4.6 assists, and 7.3 rebounds per game is nothing short of impressive. Every one of his averages, with the exception of blocks and steals, has gone up since the previous season and even though he is not often talked about by the media because of the attention Paul George and Roy Hibbert attract, it's no secret that Stephenson is a major contributor to the success in Indy this season. Sadly, Stephenson will fall just short of this year's Most Improved.

DeMarcus Cousins: Things are looking up in Sacramento and "Boogie" Cousins is in the middle of it. The one-and-done from Kentucky has worked his way into the discussion of being a top 5 center in the league and has become a force on both sides of the ball. He now averages 22.3 points and 11.7 rebounds per game and has increased his average in literally every column this season. Despite a questionable attitude, Cousins may just be the best up-and-coming big man in the NBA. Averaging a double-double by a considerable margin is deserving of praise and that is part of the reason Cousins will win this year's Most Improved Player award.

6th Man of the Year
Markieff Morris: If you weren't a believer in the evolution of Morris' game, perhaps the fact that he is a final candidate for two awards will sway you. The Suns are the current eight seed in a jam-packed and deep Western Conference and their bench is a big reason why they are in that situation. Again, the Suns are young, but Morris' growth has powered Phoenix because his production does not leave any holes between his role off the bench and that of a starting power forward. He is a consistent and attention-drawing threat on both sides of the ball and has logged meaningful minutes for head coach Jeff Hornacek this year. The Suns have been impressive many a time this season and Morris has had himself a solid year, but much like the Most Improved honors, the former Kansas Jayhawk will miss out on receiving this honor.

Jamal Crawford: It took a season or two, but the Clippers now look like a legitimate contender in the West. And while Lob City is now coming into it's own, Jamal Crawford has been consistent for much, if not all of his career. This season is no different as Crawford has provided his usual spark off the bench as he is averaging 18.6 points per game. His ability to come off the bench and prove to be a game-changer has the Clippers looking at a three seed for the playoffs. Not to mention the fact that his scoring average has increased by two points per game. There is no doubt that Jamal Crawford's scoring is a valuable asset to Doc River's bench, but sadly the numbers speak to only the offensive side of the ball which will cost Crawford the 6th Man award.

Manu Ginobili:Is there a more consistent role player in the league? The Spurs have been fortunate to have a player like Manu Ginobili for the past twelve seasons as he has averaged double figures in points per game every season except his rookie season in which he averaged 7.6. Ginobili has also increased his scoring from 11.8 points per game last year to 12.3 this season. However, there has been a slight regression in his rebounding and assists which could hurt him when the votes are tallied up. Nonetheless, Ginobili is still getting the job done at the age of 36 and will surely play a monumental part in the Spurs quest to return to the Finals. With that in mind, Ginobili will have to produce without the 6th Man award in his possession.

Taj Gibson: The Chicago Bulls' sixth man has been a big contributor to their unlikely regular season success. Logging more fourth quarter minutes than the starter Carlos Boozer more often than not, Gibson's production and defense has warranted other teams' attention and the media's recognition. Averaging 13.3 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, the former USC Trojan is more than deserving of this year's 6th Man of the Year honors. He has improved or maintained last season's averages in every category, namely his scoring (8.0 points per game last season) and his free throw percentage (68% last season to 74% this season). Amidst the posterizing dunks and rim-protecting blocks is an evolved Taj Gibson that will bring home the hardware when the 6th Man of the Year is announced.

Coach of the Year
Steve Clifford: The Charlotte Bobcats used to be the laughing stock of the NBA and while they aren't exactly a powerhouse, they are noticeably better than years past. First-year NBA coach Steve Clifford took the job in Charlotte and has the Bobcats in position to be the seven seed in the playoffs while being just two games under .500. At 36-38, Clifford is looking like he will coach the Bobcats to their best season in the team's history and has already won 15 more games than last year and 29 more than in 2012. The Bobcats are young and still have experience to gain, but with the way Clifford has run the team up to this point, they just may become a consistent playoff team in the near future. Sadly, a sub-.500 team just doesn't warrant Coach of the Year honors.

Jeff Hornacek: Also a first-year NBA Coach, Jeff Hornacek has his Phoenix Suns looking at a playoff berth and has plenty of young talent to play the spoiler for a higher seed. Just one year after the Suns finished 25-57, Hornacek has turned the organization around and has accumulated a much improved record of 44-30 at press time. The Suns are currently tied with Memphis for the seven seed but looking ahead, the Suns are in a great spot to build in the future with Hornacek in charge. He has done a great job of making an immediate impact and enjoying more success than the past few seasons, but much like his players Gerald Green and Markieff Morris, Hornacek will not be awarded the honor he has been nominated for.

Tom Thibodeau: The Chicago Bulls have been a tough team since Thibs got there and instilled a passion to play defense. Yet who in the NBA has dealt with more season-changing injuries than Thibodeau? No one. The Bulls have been without their superstar Derrick Rose the past two seasons and have still managed to be a top four team in the East while being at least ten games over .500. Not to mention Thibs also lost Luol Deng in a trade earlier this season that caused for even more of a roster shake-up. But here we are in April and the Bulls are tied for the three seed in the East. Thibs has kept the Bulls focused and hungry in the midst of plenty of injuries. Few coaches in the league can do what Tom Thibodeau can do but when it's all said and done, Thibs will have to wait to claim his second Coach of the Year award.

Gregg Popovich: A mastermind in his own right, Gregg Popovich once again has the Spurs not only playing well, but playing better than anyone in the league. Nearing a 20-game win streak, the Spurs are poised to make another run to the Finals with a perfectly balanced roster. Aside from the personnel, however, is the way that Pop manages his team. During this win streak, Kawhi Leonard leads the team in minutes played per game at just over 30. 30 minutes per game is the highest? That means a guy who is on the bench for about a quarter and a half is leading the team in logged minutes? Don't question it, just enjoy it. Popovich knows how to run a team and even with the aging Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili he has once again helped his future Hall of Famers defy Father Time on their way to the best record in the NBA. Unless another team comes up big, there's no stopping this Spurs team from returning to the Finals. Gregg Popovich is without a doubt this year's Coach of the Year. 

The Starters Awards are scheduled for Monday April 7th at 6 PM Eastern Time on NBA TV.