With about 12 games left before the regular season comes to an end, the race for an NBA Finals Championship is as wide open as it has been in quite some time.
Following the NBA Finals last season, many, including myself, were willing to bet anything short of their homes that there would be a rematch between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics, but a series of free agent signings this past summer and a few midseason trades have changed all of that.
Gone are the favorites out west and east because right now, there are some serious contenders in both conferences who serve as threats to the Lakers’ fourth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals and the Boston Celtics’ third trip in the last four years.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Derrick Rose, Lebron James, Manu Ginobli, Kevin Durant, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard or Amare Stoudemire.
So what makes this year so special for any team other than the Celtics or Lakers? Well, the Spurs are a league-leading 56-13, have home-court advantage in the playoffs and have found the right balance of veterans and youngsters to put together a deep playoff run.
All signs point to the road to the NBA Finals going through San Antonio, which could spell trouble for the Lakers who are 13-16 on the road in the playoffs since 2007.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, who took the Lakers to a six-game series last season, grew up and has a much tougher, meaner presence in the middle to defend the seven-foot giants in Los Angeles.
I wouldn’t expect much from the Dallas Mavericks, seeing as they’ve exited the playoffs in the first round three of the past four years. Maybe they have the west right were they want them.
When center Kendrick Perkins was traded away to the Thunder, the Celtics immediately lost their advantage. They lost their depth and interior defensive presence. This opened the doors for three other legitimate teams fighting for one spot in the NBA Finals: the Chicago Bulls, the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic.
With all five starters in the lineup, including Perkins, the Celtics never lost a playoff series. Whether they would have kept that streak alive remains unknown. The Celtics are 9-5 since trading him.
The person that makes the Chicago Bulls such a dangerous team is your future 2010-2011 NBA MVP, Derrick Rose. He makes everyone around him instantly better. The chemistry that team possesses can be scary in the playoffs, especially if they are able to hold onto the number one seed.
Last but not least are the two-and-a-half star-studded Heat. Their record against top five teams in the league is an atrocious 2-9, but my gut tells me that’s going to change quickly in the playoffs.
Lebron James is known to take his game to the next level in the playoffs, as evidenced by his career 29.3 ppg, 7.3 apg and 8.4 rpg averages, all higher than his regular season totals. If all fails, he can will his team to the Finals.
