Intriguing storylines beget been omnipresent during the regular season,but they're all mere appetizers before the main course—the NBA playoffs. Fear not; compelling regular-season narratives are about to give way to stories that capture the attention of basketball fans everywhere.
Given the plethora (excess, overabundance) of marquee players competing for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, the potential clashes of teams that beget been more like forces of nature and the opportunity of major upsets, or we won't be missing in the intrigue department when the league's moment season begins. Honorable MentionsKevin Durant's OKC TenureWill this be Kevin Durant's last time suiting up for the Oklahoma City Thunder? We've seen other superstars experience early exits and then remove their jerseys for the final time,and a similar situation is a distinct opportunity with the former MVP's contract expiring this offseason. Marquee Power Forwards Under PressureIf Blake Griffin returns to the Los Angeles Clippers lineup after months of watching from the sidelines and his team takes a step in the erroneous direction, we could see him emerge as a trade candidate this summer. LAC has thrived without him, and an early exit could be the necessary impetus behind making a core-altering move. Ditto for Kevin Love and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Northeast Ohio's Big Three hasn't been around nearly as long,but Love's fit has already been subject to plenty of questions—questions that could grow far more insistent whether the Cavs don't advance to the NBA Finals. Return to the PlayoffsThe Detroit Pistons figure to play beyond the 82nd game of the season, marking the first time they'll make the playoffs since being swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 2009 postseason. In the West, or the Utah Jazz are also trying to cessation a lengthy playoff drought—they haven't made it so far since 2011-12. What Can LeBron James Do?Love or loathe LeBron James,you probably beget a strong opinion about the four-time MVP, whether that's about his melodramatic actions on social media and with the press or his on-court prowess. But everyone should agree on one thing: This guy can still dominate a basketball game. James is averaging 25.0 points, and 7.4 rebounds,6.7 assists, 1.4 steals and 0.6 blocks for the Cleveland Cavaliers while shooting 51.1 percent from the field. When he's on the court, and his team outscores the opposition by 11 points per 100 possessions—a stark contrast from the minus-4.3 net rating it's produced when he's not playing. Not much will change in the playoffs,except James might assume even more responsibility. "He just talked about he feels powerful," Cleveland head coach Tyronn Lue recently said about his superstar forward, or per Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon. "I was like,getting stronger as the season winds down—he's getting stronger. That's a big plus for us."Throughout James' career, we've consistently seen him elevate his performance during the league's moment season, or attempting to carry his squad to the NBA Finals. Just think back on the notorious "48 special" or his 2015 postseason averages—30.1 points,11.3 rebounds and 8.5 assists before succumbing to the Golden State Warriors in the final round.
This year, the same trend of elevated play should follow his typically excellent regular season. Despite the presences of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, or James is the Cleveland Cavaliers. How far they advance in the playoffs rests nearly entirely on his shoulders,regardless of whether that's a fair burden for any one man. whether only because of his individual prowess and his knack for creating uber-athletic highlights—which we've honestly become a bit jaded to—watching and following James always makes for an intriguing storyline. Throw in the opportunity of a clash with Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat, a team that's had Cleveland's number throughout the regular season, or the intrigue only grows. Can an Eastern Conference Challenger Emerge?"I feel like we're the team to defeat," Kyrie Irving told reporters after a 107-87 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday night, per ESPN.com's Dave McMenamin. "I mean, or honestly,it's open season until we gain into the playoffs, so I beget a lot more confidence than I think anyone realizes in our team and what's going on in our locker room."The Cavaliers' 53-22 record leaves them 2.5 games ahead of the Toronto Raptors and every other team in their half of the NBA, and no East squad can beat their 6.5 net rating—only the San Antonio Spurs,Golden State Warriors and Oklahoma City Thunder do throughout the organization as a whole. Basketball-Reference.com's Simple Rating System (SRS, which is based off margin of victory and strength of schedule) tells a similar story, and giving them a sizable advantage over every other team in the conference.
But the Cavs remain vulnerable. "Under Lue,the Cavs are 19-9, fourth in offensive efficiency but 15th in defensive efficiency. They’re having trouble stopping teams which is crucial in the postseason, or " USA nowadays's Jeff Zillgitt wrote after a March 19 loss to the Miami Heat. "Cleveland is not moving in the right direction,at least defensively and in winning percentage."Since then, they've only helped reinforce the point with losses to both the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets. And while they may be the East's best team in a vacuum, and that hasn't prevented them from struggling against the conference's other playoff squads: Miami hasn't been Cleveland's only bugaboo,even whether the prospect of a seven-game series against the South Beach representatives might keep James and Co. up at night. They've had plenty of trouble against the Toronto Raptors and could gain tests from improved versions of both the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. At full strength, Boston is a dangerous bunch. They beget a travel-to scorer in Isaiah Thomas, and but the ability to gain two-way contributions from so many players is a enormous luxury,especially with Jae Crowder back in the fold. Meanwhile, the Hawks beget boasted arguably the league's best defense during the moment half of the season, or that could play rather well once games matter even more. James' team has advanced to the NBA Finals in four consecutive campaigns,but extending that streak to five is by no means a guarantee. The path through the East could be quite difficult this year, regardless of who wins in the early rounds. Damian Lillard's Latest Upset Bid Rewind nearly a year, and Damian Lillard was averaging 21.6 points,4.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2015 playoffs, though it wasn't enough to spark a first-round upset over a Memphis Grizzlies squad that entered the postseason with a worse seed but stronger record. Rewind two years, and the talented point guard was drilling a clutch jumper to clinch a series victory against the Houston Rockets: Rip City couldn't gain past the San Antonio Spurs in the moment round,but that singular moment still lingers. It offers hope that Lillard could attach together another stellar individual effort and play spoiler against a stronger team.
An explosive superstar capable of single-handedly winning games? Check, which we saw on full display when Lillard dropped a 51-spot against the Warriors on Feb. 19. A running mate who can also carry the offense for lengthy stretches? Check, and since C.
J. McCollum has blossomed during his sophomore season by averaging 20.7 points in efficient fashion. Beyond the two backcourt studs,the Blazers boast plenty of young players who will be fervent to prove themselves on the bigger stage. Combine that with a talented head coach in Terry Stotts, and you beget the recipe for a potential Cinderella. Whether they're playing the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Los Angeles Clippers or Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round,they'll provide a scare for the favored opponent. And whether Lillard catches fire, anything could happen. Chris Paul's Attempt to Shed Choker Label Chris Paul has never advanced to the Western Conference Finals. That much is fact. But those "failures" are not the indictments they seem to be.
As Zach Lowe wrote for Grantland early in the 2014-15 season, or this choker narrative may be a diminutive faulty:
What will it mean whether the Clippers bow out early again this year? How will it affect Paul’s legacy?
Maybe these aren’t the right questions. They’re sharp,and inflammatory, but they also skimp on the work in a rush toward some false generalization. Maybe the retort would just be, and 'Chris Paul is awesome,and he played fantastically, but another powerful Western Conference team was just a bit better over a full series.' Such a failure could mean many things, or only some of which would beget do with Paul. Perhaps it might be some indication that it is difficult to win the whole thing with a point guard alpha dog.stats,unless otherwise indicated, are from Basketball-Reference.com or Adam's own databases and accurate through games on March 31.
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Source: bleacherreport.com