With the NBA season coming to a close, there’s consensus around the league that the championship game is a lock to feature the Golden State Warriors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Two “super team” squads with arguably the top 3 players in the world (Lebron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant) being featured in one series.
However I have a different take on how the playoffs will unfold and the outcome of what the 2017 championship game will look like. Here me out, Kevin Durant is coming back from an injury and the Celtics have beaten the Cavs when Lebron was at his best. These two factors got me thinking in a different light when discussing playoff outcomes. Here’s my take.
The West has a lot of great teams led by the warriors then followed by the Spurs, Thunder, Rockets, Clippers and Jazz. The Spurs have the best odds of making it to the championship game if the Warriors don’t. San Antonio has the best two way player in the league in Kawhi Leonard and a great supporting cast around him in Pau Gasol, Lamarcus Aldridge, and an aging Tony Parker. However I just don’t see the spurs pulling it off.
The Utah jazz are just too young and lack the playoff experience the other teams have. They are one piece away from being a force to be reckon with. Give them a year and we will see them blossom.
The Clippers will be a let down once again. Chris Paul can’t do it all and down the stretch you cannot rely on Deandre Jordan to take those free throws late in the game. Blake Griffin is an injury risk and you don’t know what you will get out of him. If J.J. Redick doesn’t have his shot the Clippers are out.
The team I have going to the championship game is the Rockets, yes, small ball- three point- city. Houston doesn’t have a problem. The have a great starting five and a quality bench, a bench that the Warriors lack. James Harden has elevated his game into a playmaker, He’s not just a scorer anymore. With Lou WIlliams and Eric Gordon coming off the bench, the two players in the running for 6th man of the year, pairing them with Harden and CO. thats scary. The Rockets can beat you outside and inside giving them a unique mix that no other team has. This is why the Rockets will be representing the West come finals time.
Now onto the East. The East has some sneaky contenders outside of the Cavaliers. You got Boston, Atlanta, Toronto, among others. There’s only one team in my opinion that has what it takes to take down the reigning champions.
Toronto has a great core with Kyle Lowry, Demar Derozan, Serge Ibaka and Jonas Valanciunas, however I cannot see come crunch time Derozan and Lowry coexisting in the backcourt. Remember that Derozan is a streaky shooter in the past when it’s playoff time. Lowry wants the ball in his hands and that can be a big problem. Valanciunas and Ibaka have only been sharing the front court since January so inexperience may show in pivotal moments. The Raptors look good on paper but it may be a different outcome on the court.
I do not think Atlanta has enough to dethrone the cavs in any situation in the playoffs. Dwight Howard and Paul Millsap isn’t the dynamic duo we thought they’d be going into the season. I just don’t see the Hawks making a dent.
Which brings me to the Boston Celtics. This is the team. They will dethrone Lebron and the Cavs. Why?, Click Here.
Mock GM Sports Takeover 