2013 Western Conference Playoff Preview

The definition of must-see TV is quite simple. The answer lies with the Western Conference first-round playoff series and all four have the makings of being great. From top to bottom there are intriguing match ups and, while there may two favorites, it does appear that this could be the Wild West with an upset thrown in at some point. Oklahoma City and San Antonio finished neck in neck in the regular season and the Denver Nuggets weren't far behind. History was made in LA, but it wasn't from the Lakers. The Clippers were the ones making all the positive headlines and secured the fourth seed, which means they have an extremely difficult match up with Memphis. As for the aforementioned Lakers, they are sitting in the seventh spot with out Kobe Bryant, but don't blow them off. Steve Nash, Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace still make a good squad. The young Warriors and Rockets teams are fresh to the playoff scene with these current rosters, but should give a good series. It's going to be a fun end to the season in the West so let's take a look at the first round.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder vs. 8. Houston Rockets
The intriguing story line in this series is the Thunder going up against their old mate James Harden. It's not likely that the Rockets win this series, but they may steal a game or two depending on how Harden plays. The Rockets have no trouble scoring the basketball (2nd in the league), but the problem lies with the defense. Houston allows a 102.5 points per game which is 28th in the league. That won't win them the series against two of the most dynamite scorers in the league in Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant and the league's third best offense. In three games this season Harden averaged 29 points against OKC, but the surrounding cast of Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons and Omer Asik must be a force all series long. If not, the Thunder will march right over Houston in dominating fashion. OKC lost in the Finals last year and it's well-recorded that teams must take their lumps before being crowned kings. The Thunder have been working towards that elusive title for a couple of years and this season looks like it might be the year. Prediction: Oklahoma City in 5

How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
OKC          105.7                              43.6                                   21.4                                      96.5
Houston      106.0                              43.4                                   23.2                                    102.5

2. San Antonio Spurs vs. 7. Los Angeles Lakers
Wouldn't it be exciting if Kobe was healthy?? Obviously it would be a totally different series and the Lakers would have a solid chance of advancing. They still have a shot, but it will be difficult without their heart and soul. Let us not forget though that Steve Nash is a two-time MVP, Dwight Howard carried a team to the Finals and a host of Lakers are champions. Still, this is the San Antonio Spurs we're talking about. Health is the key to both teams this series. Nash is expected to play in Game 1 and the Spurs expect to have everyone ready to go. If healthy there is no way a Gregg Popovich-led Spurs team loses in the first round. Tony Parker has had health concerns, but he will carry San Antonio. Tim Duncan will also be key as he will match up with Dwight Howard. If he gets Howard into foul trouble then LA has no chance. Dwight must be at his best for LA throughout the postseason as does Pau Gasol. No Kobe means it's everyone else's time to shine. Prediction: San Antonio in 6
 How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
San Antonio 103.0                              41.3                                 25.1                                      96.6
Los Angeles 102.2                              44.8                                 22.2                                    101.0

3. Denver Nuggets vs. 6. Golden State Warriors
Pay attention to this series because there are plenty of young stars that will be a joy to watch. The point guard match up of Ty Lawson and Steph Curry is the focal point of the series and the two have very contrasting styles of play. Lawson is a cat-quick floor general who can attack the rim at will while Curry is the premier deep threat in the NBA. Curry broke the record for three pointers made in a single season and he and the Warriors will be a tough game at home in Oracle Arena. The Nuggets will miss Danilo Gallinari due to injury, but Wilson Chandler is more than capable of taking on the extra burden. The inside game belongs to the Nuggets, but the backcourt match up is nearly even. This is a series that could go six or seven games, but at the end of the day the Nuggets are the better team. Prediction: Denver in 6
How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
Denver          106.1                            45.0                                   24.4                                    101.1
Golden State 101.2                            45.0                                   22.5                                    100.3

4. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies
The high-flying, exciting Lob City will have a difficult first round match up against the grind-it-out Grizzlies. It's two conflicting styles of play and a series that should be tightly contested. Chris Paul is no stranger to playoff basketball, but the Clippers are still somewhat strangers to the playoffs. Last season they were defeated in the first round, but this year could be a different story. LA has played well all season and knocked down milestone after milestone, but it's time to perform in the postseason too. Many left Memphis for dead when they traded Rudy Gay, but they have been just as good and the inside tandem of Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph could give Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan fits. That's where this series will be won -- in the post. Mike Conley has a massive assignment on Paul, but the Griz rely on their inside game. If LA can keep that in check then they will win the series. Prediction: Los Angeles in 7
How They Stack Up
                  Points                          Rebounds                            Assists                              Points Allowed
Los Angeles 101.1                              41.6                                   23.9                                      94.6
Memphis        93.6                              42.7                                   20.9                                      89.3

Top 5 Dunks of the 2012-13 NBA Season

There is perhaps no play in the game of basketball that can get a reaction out of the crowd like a dunk. The sheer power and force alone is incredible, but then factor in the did-he-just-do-that?! element of them and that's enough to bring anybody out of their seat. What makes a dunk so special? Jason Terry is half the size of LeBron James. Brandon Knight is half the size of DeAndre Jordan. They aren't supposed to stop those two from putting down the hammer and they didn't. Still, fans went bananas and rightfully so. It's an amazing sight to see.

There have been some jaw-dropping dunks of late and it got us thinking: we need to rank these throwdowns. So that's exactly what we did. Here are the top five dunks of this season so far and there are some great ones. Obviously, only five made the list so there are some certain snubs. That's where you come in. Reply with your comment and a link to the video of the dunk you think was top-five-worthy. Until then though, check out who made our list...

5. Kobe Bryant dunks on Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace
You have to show love to Kobe Bryant this season. The Lakers obviously aren't having the kind of season that everyone thought they would, but we can always count on Kobe. He has done everything he can to try and get his team to the playoffs and that certainly looks like the direction they are headed in. Check out this play by Bryant in a game against the Brooklyn Nets. For an "old man" he showed he can still get up and he dunked on not one, but two guys. This is vintage Kobe Bryant and it's also one of the best posters of the season.

4. Blake Griffin windmills off Jamal Crawford through-the-legs alley-oop
Lob City never ceases to amaze the masses and this may be their most creative act yet. Jamal Crawford, who has never been known for his passing, is on the fast break and has a clear path to the hoop. However, rather than just doing the simple layup or dunk, Crawford gets a little fancy and goes through his legs before leaving it for Blake Griffin. Griffin has been on the receiving end of several alley-oops and he knows how to finish a dunk. On this particular play he puts the exclamation point down with an impressive windmill.

3. Harrison Barnes dunks on Nikola Pekovic
This is a dunk that has been forgotten about a little bit, but make no mistake, this is nasty. Harrison Barnes comes down the middle of the lane and gets a nice feed before dunking all over Nikola Pekovic. What makes the play even better is the reaction from the Warriors bench following the jam. Barnes goes up and Pekovic stops his momentum, but it doesn't matter...Barnes still puts Pekovic on a poster and I'm not so sure this dunk isn't worthy of the two spot for that reason. This is no Jason Terry or Brandon Knight. This is one of the strongest guys in the league and Barnes still managed to throw it down on him. Impressive.

2. LeBron James dunks on Jason Terry
Jason Terry got what was coming to him. He mouthed off before the game and then happened to be the one guy back while three Miami Heat players spun him around like a top before LeBron James destroyed him. Terry doesn't stand a chance on this play, but I will give him credit for trying to stop the play. However, when he went up in the air you just knew this wasn't going to end up well for him. Sometimes people complain that LeBron doesn't have enough "signature" plays, but to those people I say here you go. This one will be shown for a long time.

1. DeAndre Jordan catches alley-oop from Chris Paul and dunks on Brandon Knight
We already wrote about this dunk once and there is no doubt that this is the number one dunk of the season and it will take something unbelievable to top it. Near the end of the first half Jordan streaked down the middle of the lane and caught an alley-oop from Chris Paul. What happened after that was an annihilation of Brandon Knight. For whatever reason, Knight jumped and attempted to block the pass, but Jordan would have none of it. With thunderous power Jordan slammed the ball home, sending Knight crashing to the floor and sending the arena into a frenzy. It blew up social media sites and it's going to be shown for quite some time.

DeAndre Jordan Dunks All Over Brandon Knight

We don't normally do this at The World of Wadley, but there's no way to ignore DeAndre Jordan's dunk last night in the Los Angeles Clippers' win over the Detroit Pistons. Near the end of the first half Jordan streaked down the middle of the lane and caught an alley-oop from Chris Paul. What happened after that was an annihilation of Brandon Knight. For whatever reason, Knight jumped and attempted to block the pass, but Jordan would have none of it. With thunderous power Jordan slammed the ball home, sending Knight crashing to the floor and sending the arena into a frenzy.

Check out the little kids at the 13 second mark. The young fella on the right doesn't even know what to do with himself, but neither do the grown men on the Clips bench. Vinny Del Negro is trying his hardest to calm down Blake Griffin, but it's no use. Jordan's dunk turned every one into a little kid, if only for a moment. It blew up social media sites and it's going to be shown for quite some time.

For Knight, it's the second time he has become the victim of a ferocious move by an opponent. Less than a month ago he was all over Sportscenter after Kyrie Irving broke his ankles multiple times in the Rising Stars game and now his Wikipedia page has been edited to inform visitors that last night he died at the hands of Jordan. One thing is for sure: Brandon Knight won't be getting in the way of Lob City ever again.

Injuries Highlighting NBA Playoffs

A year that definitely had its fair share of action has suddenly turned into a contest. Not a contest to see who hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy, but a contest to see who can be the last man standing…literally. Injuries have plagued quite a few, if not every team that is in the playoffs. Some players have been able to come back, while others have sadly exited the season for good and will most likely not be back next season either. There have been freak accidents, as there always are, but you also have to wonder if the condensed schedule doesn’t somehow contribute to all these casualties. Playing five games in one week (with every team having to fight through a stretch of three games in three nights) can definitely take a toll on anybody regardless of age or stamina. The playoffs were looking bright at the beginning, but here’s a look at the injuries that have slowly brought down the teams that have a goal to win it all.


Derrick Rose: Easily the biggest story of the playoffs so far. The 23 year-old phenom suffered a torn ACL in the first game against the Sixers and is expected to be out at least six to nine months. Rose’s left knee buckled awkwardly on a jump stop late in the fourth quarter, sending the point guard to the ground, grimacing in pain. Some say that the Bulls will lose in the first round without Rose, others say they’ll advance to the second round only to fall to either the Hawks or Celtics. If you ask me, the Bulls have every bit of a chance to make it back to the Eastern Conference Finals. They have proved time and time again that they can win without Derrick Rose and, with the depth they have, they have more than enough players that can step up. Don’t count the Bulls out yet.

Iman Shumpert: A kid that was only really a name because of his withdrawal from the dunk contest has suddenly become a big part of the Knicks late-season run. Yet all of that came crashing down when Shumpert crumpled to the floor with, you guessed it, a torn ACL. One of the best perimeter defenders in the league will not be making an appearance for the rest of the playoffs and will be confined to the seat next to the Knicks other injured point guard Jeremy Lin. The Knicks are in deep trouble being down 0-2 and will miss Shumpert’s ability to defend. Yet with the perk of heading back to the Garden for the next three games, hopes can be high for New York fans seeing as the Heat are not a very good team on the road. None the less, it does nothing but dampen the spirit in the locker room to see two promising young players who can do nothing but watch.

Caron Butler: He’s been around the league for quite some time, but has never been a big-time name. Yet the loss of Caron Butler is one that stings just as much as any other injury. With a broken hand, the Clippers lose a reliable shooting guard who contributed twelve points a game. And with the young talent they have, Butler was able to play a leadership role on the floor. He’s not the first Clipper to be sidelined since Chauncey Billups is battling an achilles injury, but with two of the most experienced players unavailable, it’s up to Chris Paul to really take the weight on his shoulders and lead this team.

Amar’e Stoudemire: Now you can call the previous injuries freak accidents and strokes of bad luck, but Amar’e Stoudemire’s actions last night prove to be that of ignorance and instinct. After losing another battle to the Heat, Stoudemire took his anger out on the glass fire extinguisher case in the locker room. Giving the glass window a solid punch, the 29 year-old power forward lacerated his hand, resulting in a call to the paramedics as well as a hefty amount of stitches. I can understand the anger he was feeling, I’ve been there myself so I would not be justified to rip the guy for what he did. All I will say is that, when the frustration is at its peak, that’s the time to be a leader. Don’t allow your teammates to see you act in that manner. Again, I’m not saying it’s bad to be that upset because I think it shows how much he wants to win and how much he cares. But all the same, stop and think about the repercussions.

The lockout made the summer very tough on everyone involved with the NBA. Players came back out of shape, coaches couldn’t stay in contact with players, and fans were continually kept waiting to see the next “Breaking News” on SportsCenter. Yet here we are, on the first of May, and the playoffs are well underway. It’s sad to see how the fatigue has begun to catch up with some of the players, especially with the four listed above. But let’s not forget some of the injuries that I didn’t go into detail on such as LaMarcus Aldridge, Ray Allen, Brandon Roy, Al Horford, Dwight Howard, Manu Ginobli, Kobe Bryant, Rip Hamilton, Carmelo Anthony, Ricky Rubio, Stephen Curry, and so on. I know that I left out some names, but you understand the wear and tear these athletes have suffered. It’s been a rough season for everybody, but we can now appreciate in depth just how tough these teams have to be mentally and physically.

NBA Western Conference Preview

As promised here is the NBA Western Conference Preview. Almost always the stronger conference, the West will again be dominant in 2011-12 and that's because of veteran teams like the Spurs and Lakers that are experienced in the playoffs and young teams such as the Thunder and Clippers that demand viewers' attention. Also, let us not forget that the Dallas Mavericks have assembled a team that could have the potential to repeat. I would say there is no clear cut favorite out West and as many as five or six teams have a legitimate shot to represent the conference in the Finals. Here are my picks:

Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant

Predicted Order of Finish

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Dallas Mavericks

3. Los Angeles Lakers

4. Denver Nuggets

5. San Antonio Spurs

6. Los Angeles Clippers

7. Portland Trail Blazers

8. Memphis Grizzlies

9. Utah Jazz

10. Golden State Warriors

11. Minnesota Timberwolves

12. Houston Rockets

13. Phoenix Suns

14. New Orleans Hornets
15. Sacramento Kings

Teams to Watch

Dallas Mavericks: Always keep an eye on the defending champs in any sports and the Mavs are no different. They lost some pieces to the puzzle from a season ago such as J.J. Barea, Caron Butler and Tyson Chandler but they were able to add Lamar Odom, Vince Carter and Delonte West. The supporting cast is what will propel the Mavs through the playoffs. Carter, West, Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood all bring experience and multiple talents to a deep roster. Dirk Nowitzki had a fabulous playoffs and if he, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry don't show their age this year, Mark Cuban and the Mavs could be hoisting the Larry O'Brien Trophy again.

Los Angeles Clippers: This is new territory for the Clippers franchise. They are actually a hyped up team with tremendous expectations. And why not? They made the HUGE trade that brought the best point guard in the league, Chris Paul, to LA and signed two veteran role players with Finals experience in Chauncey Billups and Caron Butler. Throw in the freakishly athletic inside duo of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan and "Lob City" might be the most exciting television this season. Still, how high can expectations be for a franchise that has never been a winner? In their preseason games the Clips looked good but they aren't deep in the post and their bench is very young. Either way the Clippers are finally relevant and that will create some exciting storylines throughout the season.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Maybe the T'Wolves won't receive that much press, but mark my words, they will be a contender in a few short years. Start with Kevin Love, a double-double machine. He is the star this organization needs and he is consistent. Michael Beasley and Derrick Williams (2nd overall pick) will also be in the frontcourt. If Darko Milicic and Brad Miller can just give Minnesota steady play they will be fine. Gone is Jonny Flynn and in is Ricky Rubio at point. The T'Wolves finally got their man and America will soon find out if he is all he's hyped up to be. He and Wes Johnson will team up in the backcourt and J.J. Barea and Wayne Ellington will come off the bench. This team has serious potential but won't win quite yet due to youth. However, don't sleep on them.

Los Angeles Lakers: Everyone is down on the Lake Show after the Chris Paul trade fiasco that ended up with Lamar Odom in Dallas and Paul in the wrong locker room at the Staples Center. Now, LA will have to move on with it's core group of stars led by Kobe Bryant. Pau Gasol, who was nearly dealt to Houston, is back in a Lakers uniform and says he is fine, despite the trade rumors. LA needs Gasol to have a monster year with no Odom and little production expected from the bench. Maybe even more important will be the play of Andrew Bynum. His potential is great but his knees have to hold up for LA to play deep into the playoffs. I expect the Lakers to still be a good team but don't be surprised if they drop off a little bit.

Players to Watch

Paul (center) with new teammates Griffin and Billups

Chris Paul: The man who has caused the most commotion this offseason will finally be able to just play ball on Christmas Day. He should have a terrific year, benefitting from the athleticism of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan along with the veteran play of Chauncey Billups. CP3 is the best point guard in the league and continues to prove it. This year he could put up his best numbers yet and people are expecting something great from him in LA.

Kevin Durant: Here is my pick for the MVP this season. The Durantula has emerged as the best scorer in the NBA and he should lead his team to a Western Conference championship for the first time. He has talented teammates at every position which allows him to do his thing without double teams coming his way every night. He has already been a scoring champion and I expect he will be again this season. With his size and his ability to shoot he may be the hardest to guard in the NBA.

Kobe Bryant: For the first time in a long time Kobe Bryant isn't the most talked about basketball player in Los Angeles, California. People seem to have pushed the Lakers and Bryant to the side for Chris Paul and the Clippers but don't forget about Kobe. He is the best player in the league and for those who say he is too old to be the "old Kobe" why don't you check his numbers from last season. His 25, 5, 4 averages match his career numbers and indicates that we haven't seen the last of Kobe.

Western Conference Rookies to Watch
Derrick Williams, forward, Minnesota Timberwolves (2nd overall pick)

Enes Kanter, forward, Utah Jazz (3rd overall)

Jimmer Fredette, guard, Sacramento Kings (10th overall)

The West is always deep and this year is no different. I will predict the Oklahoma City Thunder to defeat the Dallas Mavericks for the Western crown but, in reality, there are six teams that have the potential to play in the Finals. It all starts tomorrow and the NBA is right in saying that we should expect BIG things.

Clips Dominate Lakers, But It's Only the Preseason

Finally the NBA season has started. It’s been a rough summer and fall for fans, players, and coaches as the lockout continually plagued the league. Yet now the preseason games have started and we’ve had a taste of what this shortened 66-game season will be like. CP3 looks to hang the Clippers’ first banner, Rip Hamilton will play alongside the reigning MVP in Chicago, and Lamar Odom will be leaving LA and teaming up with Dirk and the Mavs.

There’s been plenty of offseason excitement and a lot of hypothetical talk about how each team will perform in the coming season, but the preseason is always a time of frustration for me. The media affects the world more than any other aspect today. When it comes to sports, the minute a team that should be one of the best plays a mediocre game, sportswriters everywhere begin to say that that certain team isn’t what it used to be. It’s one game and a preseason one at that. Take last night’s Lakers/Clippers game; the Lakers have to adjust to a new coach, six new players on the roster, and their best player dealing with a divorce. Not exactly ideal conditions to start your year, especially when Mike Brown is now walking the sideline. Phil Jackson left a legacy that few if any coaches have. To replace him with a man that has not enjoyed even a tenth of his success, much less had any time to gel with his new players, and expect a win right away is senseless.

The lockout held teams from playing together and learning each other’s styles. The first few minutes of last nights’ Lakers/Clippers game was purely a run-and-gun, street ball-esque game. There was little organization on offense and it was easy to see that the players were not yet comfortable with one another. That’s exactly why the NBA has preseason games, they’re considered a tune-up for when it really matters beginning on Christmas day. However, the media is constantly looking to nit-pick every little fault and blows the whole situation way out of proportion.

In no way am I attempting to make an excuse for anyone, but there comes a point in time where you can’t take everything so seriously. The season is long for a reason and if you watch sports at all you know that anything can happen. Each day, each game is different. If we were to make our predictions based on preseason games, the St. Louis Rams would be playing in the Super Bowl this year after enjoying a 4-0 preseason record.

My point is this, it’s the first week that the players have been in a game environment since June at the latest, don’t jump to conclusions on any team. The Lakers are the Lakers, regardless of who’s on the court; Kobe is one of the best leaders and executers the NBA has to offer and won’t suffer through a losing season. For those of you saying that “Kobe’s lost his touch” or “It sucks Kobe’s gotta go out like this”, just be patient. Would I pick the Lakers to win the Finals this year? No. It’s somewhat of a rebuilding year; they’ve got a lot of spots to fill and a lot of guys need to take more responsibility and step up. However, the media needs to chill out with the talk of the Clippers suddenly owning LA. It’s one game. There are still 66 real ones left to be played.