Are Key Injuries Threatening to Ruin the NBA Playoffs?

NBA PlayoffIt’s an inevitable problem ingrained within competitive sports.  While we would love to always see the best athletes gather for ceremonious feats of strength, the injury bug can always take away such joys.  But injuries in the NBA this season seem to be widespread and could possibly extend a long-reaching finger into the NBA playoffs, which are set to begin this weekend.  Many of the league’s top players have battled injuries this year (some have seen their seasons end early) and these problems could eventually filter seriously into some team’s title hopes.

The problem with injuries in basketball is that each team has just a handful of superstar playmakers, that when injured, leaves the team a hopeless mess.  For instance, the Oklahoma City Thunder have the second best record in the Western Conference and have their eye fully set on a trip to the NBA Finals.  Led by Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, these two key men make the Thunder a joy to watch!  But for much of the season Westbrook has been missing.  Despite Durant leading the team to a strong season on his lonesome, we saw their championship hopes ruined last year when Westbrook went down.  Let’s hope he can stay in the game this time around!

Another player currently battling an injury is Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat.  The number 2 star next to the legendary LeBron James, Wade’s hamstring gave out several weeks ago.  Although he has returned fit, we will need to see how well he can figure in when the playoffs get started.  Should he go down, the Heat’s hopes will fall squarely on James.  And while some fans may enjoy this stern test of his supernatural merits, there’s no doubt that the team’s quality would greatly suffer from the loss of a key player!

Earlier this season, several good players were injured, and their teams’ fortunes were ruined.  Such tragic occurrences happened Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and Nate Robinson.  And looking ahead to the NBA playoffs, there are several teams nervously hoping key players return in time for the season’s biggest matches like the Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala.

Injuries have become such a crucial part to the sport that the teams involved in the NBA Finals are often the ones with the healthiest crop of key stars.  When one of your big guys goes down, so do all your hopes!

Another problem related specifically to the NBA is that the playoffs and season are so incredibly long, pushing all the players to the brink in long-lasting playoff series.  With every game played, the injury risks increase as the players fight for points and rebounds.  While right now it seems that most of the key members of playoff contenders are returning to their teams and readying for the big games ahead, there are still a lot of questions over whether they are really fit enough and if they will last throughout the tournament.  Here’s to hoping for a largely injury-free 2014 NBA playoffs where we get to see the best players compete for the ultimate prize in basketball!

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King James’ Throne Being Challenged By Kevin Durant?

While everyone in the NBA has generally regarded LeBron James to be the undisputed “king” of basketball for the last 5 years, there has been another young star developing that soon might just dethrone the Miami Heat sensation.  Oklahoma City Thunder’s Kevin Durant is a beast and he’s currently the league’s top scorer.  While he is still young and reaching his peak level of playing, is the time nigh for Durant to rise up and derail James’ incredible run of NBA titles?

The rivalry was first brought up during the 2012 NBA Finals.  It was James’ first victory in the league and was a dominating one.  While Durant had the support of both James Harden and Russell Westbrook, all three of the Thunders players were in their lower 20’s.  Meanwhile the Heat were led by James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh, all of whom were in their later 20’s.  More mature and developed as players, the Heat had their way with the Thunder and won easily 4 games to 1.

But while the Heat pushed on to win a second championship last season, the Thunder experienced heartbreaking losses.  Not only did Harden depart the team, but Westbrook got hurt in the 2013 NBA playoffs, and Durant was unable to shoulder the entire burden for his team.

But now at age 25, Durant isn’t necessarily a young, inexperienced kid anymore.  He has been dealt some tough lessons in the past, but his play has continued to grow, and he is now a major threat to LeBron James’ NBA dominance.  Remember, a young LeBron once took the Cleveland Cavaliers all the way to the NBA Finals, only to get swept by the San Antonio Spurs back in 2007.  Experience is definitely a bonus in the latter stages of an NBA season.

Kevin Durant has come out guns blazing in 2014, averaging an astounding 35.9 points per game in the month of January.  His great play has found the Thunder currently atop the Western Conference standings at 43-13 (The Heat are 40-14).  There has even been a discussion that Durant could be the frontrunner for the NBA MVP this year.  While a big game by James and the Heat in a 103-81 victory over the Thunder last week did quiet these rumblings, the message clearly got home.

And while that minor victory was surely a nice ego stroke for James (though his nose got broken in the process), what matters is what happens in June, when everything is on the table.  Will James win his 3^rd straight title and begin to really begin to start the argument of his greatness compared to Michael Jordan, or will Durant finally reach his potential, win a championship, and begin a huge new rivalry between the pair?  Something tells me that the NBA is bracing up for a crash course between these two superstars and that Durant is finally going to have his say this time around.  Looking ahead to the future, this pair might be dueling it out for the next 5 years as the LeBron James – Kevin Durant rivalry seems to just be getting started!

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5 Teams Besides the Miami Heat that could Compete for NBA Title

We all know that the two-time defending NBA Champions Miami Heat and their superstar LeBron James are all poised to continue their domination over professional basketball, but where the San Antonio Spurs pushed the 2013 NBA Championship to a full 7 games, perhaps there is a team out there that could actually go on to beat the Heat.  Here are 5 such teams that just might give it a real go this year and can potentially win the title, other than the Heat:

1.  The Indiana Pacers – With the best record in basketball, the Pacers are a potentially dangerous team for the Heat.  They play great defense and have a balanced attack, with 5 players averaging more than 10 points per game.  Paul George is a rising star and would love to lead the Pacers to success.  They took Miami to 7 games last season and will be desperately looking to usurp them in 2014.  This is definitely a team to look out for that successfully frustrated the Heat is last year’s Eastern Conference Finals.  Might they beat Miami this year?

2.  Oklahoma City Thunder – This team is rated in the top 10 for both offense and defense and are led by the sensational star Kevin Durant, who went on a 12 game streak of scoring over 30 points per game.  At 25, he is ready to take that next step and win a championship.  It seems the question is quickly becoming when rather than if he will win it all.  When Russell Westbrook returns, this team should become a contender again.

3.  San Antonio Spurs – The team that simply cannot age is at it again, and nearly won it all last year save for a dramatic Ray Allen 3-pointer at the end of Game 6.  The Spurs are led by the maturity of Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker, who would simply love another shot at knocking LeBron back a peg.  They could definitely find themselves back in contention for a title and would love to get another championship together, and have not won it all since 2007.

4.  Houston Rockets – This team is a force offensively, as Dwight Howard, James Harden, Jeremy Lin, and Chandler Parsons are all effective scorers.  Yet, as a team they are quite average defensively and I simply cannot see them matching up against James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade.  They will be outscored in a shootout against top opposition.  However, the future is certainly bright in Houston and they could become a force in the Western Conference in the long term.

5.  Los Angeles Clippers – Certainly one of the most enjoyable teams to watch this season, the Clippers have finally gained control of the City of Angels (thanks in large part to Kobe Bryant’s injuries).  Behind Blake Griffin, Jamal Crawford, and Chris Paul, the Clippers are going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs this year, even though things haven’t gone well for this team in recent NBA playoffs.  Another offensive powerhouse, the Clippers may get stunted by a stern defense, but there is a definite possibility that the team could make some greatness happen!

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NBA Season Preview: It’s All About LeBron James

 As the NBA returns to competitive action, fans will be thrilled to see their basketball heroes return to the court and compete for the brilliance that only an NBA Championship can bring.  Although LeBron James and the Miami Heat are the undisputed kings of basketball after consecutive NBA titles, a series of returning stars should make the three-peat a very difficult proposition.  Here are the 5 NBA teams worth watching in the upcoming season:

1.  Chicago Bulls – Fans have been eagerly anticipating the return of Derrick Rose for months.  Just as he was reaching his peak abilities in 2012, Rose tore his ACL and has been out of action ever since.   Nevertheless, the Rose-less Bulls managed to make the NBA playoffs last season and won a series before being eliminated by the eventual champions Heat.  All eyes will be on Rose as he returns.  His play is simply incredible and he can take over games.  With a team that has proven itself in his absence, the Bulls can take on anyone, including LeBron James.

2.  Oklahoma City Thunder – After winning the Western Conference top seed last season, the Thunder’s hopes were derailed when Russell Westbrook was injured in the playoffs.  Superstar Kevin Durant wasn’t able to do it all on his lonesome, and it was really a shame.  With Westbrook back in the fold, this team should once again be contenders.  They should win a lot of games and hopefully make a serious run at the title.  Remember, Westbrook and Durant are still just 24 and 25 respectively.  They can get even better!

3.  Houston Rockets – With Dwight Howard in the mix, this team can be a dynamic force in the NBA.  Teaming up with James Harden and Jeremy Lin, the Rockets may be the surprise team in the league.  They have had excellent 3-point shooting, but now with a serious force in the middle, their offence will be dominant!  Howard will have learned some humility over his Los Angeles Lakers fiasco last season, and he should come in with a chip on his shoulder and a more hardworking team-oriented effort.  I foresee this as a great opportunity for Houston, and if they face the Lakers in the playoffs, we could be in for one enormous treat!

4.  Los Angeles Lakers – The hopes of this team fall squarely on Kobe Bryant’s ability to rebound from his injury.  With veteran players Steve Nash and Pau Gasol in support, the Lakers can beat anyone, as long as Kobe is healthy and producing.  This team could struggle early as he tries to regain his groove, but I think things will pick up later in the season.  Last season was built on title hopes but ended in disaster.  I think that experience will bring the team together and lead to greatness.  Is a title in their future, I still doubt it.

5.  Miami Heat – The reigning kings of the NBA have every reason to believe they’ll win it all again.  We all know about LeBron James, Chris Bosh, and Dwayne Wade, and about how great they are, and about how much they love each other, and frankly, it’s getting old.  But such is the way of competitive sports.  Until someone beats this team, they’ll be all smiles and fun up all the way to another championship.  But if there’s one reason for hope it’s this:  every major contender last season took on a terrible injury that ruined their season; Kobe in Los Angeles, Westbrook for the Thunder, and Rose’s absence all season for the Bulls.  The Heat had it easy last year and may grow complacent from their simple march to the title.  If another great team can avoid injury in next year’s playoffs the Heat just might be truly challenged for the NBA title.  Until then, be sure to watch the Heat this year because it will surely be professional basketball at its absolute finest!

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The 5 Top Contenders for the 2014 NBA Title

Yes, this is an extremely premature prediction regarding the potential title contenders for next year’s NBA title, but with the 2013 NBA Finals having just wrapped up and with the NBA Free Agency Period having just begun this month, why not speculate ahead as to which teams will be competing for the ultimate prize in basketball? Here are 5 teams I expect to be right in the thick of the action 10 months from now:

5. Houston Rockets – By accumulating superstar center Dwight Howard from the Los Angeles Lakers last week and by bringing in shooting guard James Harden last season, the Rockets have two star players, which is often what it takes to gain an NBA Championship. Harden is still just 23, but had his best season last year, averaging over 25 points per game. Another factor in the Rockets’ favor is their point-guard Jeremy Lin. Although he has yet to match the kind of play that brought about “Linsanity” in New York, Lin has shown moment of brilliant play and is also still developing at age 24. Although they may be too young to claim an NBA title next season, if this team develops well together, the sky is the limit down the road with a center like Howard!

 

4. Los Angeles Lakers – The team is currently in shambles having lost their prized free agent, Dwight Howard, who deserted the team after a disastrous first season. Injuries derailed the Lakers’ title hopes last year as Steve Nash missed time and Kobe Bryant was injured before the NBA Playoffs. Now in the dumps, there are two paths that the Lakers can take. They can collapse and come out terribly next year. Or, they can come out firing and re-conquer the Western Conference. I suspect the latter, considering the team still has Bryant and Nash. Although they are aging, I think the entire focus around Howard hampered the cohesiveness of this team last year, and I think that without that distraction, the Lakers will have a chance to contend with veteran maturity.

 

3. Los Angeles Clippers – With Blake Griffin and Chris Paul last season, the Clippers were one of the strongest teams in the NBA. Both players are young and extremely talented, bringing hope to the “other” team in LA. Now they have Doc Rivers as manager, and that makes the Clippers contenders for the 2014 NBA Championship. Rivers worked magic with the Boston Celtics and helped the team come together to win the 2008 NBA Championship. I expect him to get the best out of this team and help them contend for a title.

 

2. Oklahoma City Thunder – Kevin Durant’s hopes of avenging the 2012 NBA Finals loss were dashed in the NBA Playoffs when star teammate Russell Westbrook went down with an injury. Proving that no single NBA player can do it on his own, Durant wasn’t able to lead his team past the second round of the playoffs. However, with both players in the lineup, the Thunder was the strongest team in the Western Conference. With both players healthy and maturing well, this team should be in contention for the 2014 NBA Championship.

 

1. Miami Heat – Unfortunately for the teams listed above, the 2-time reigning NBA Champions are simply too strong for anyone other than the Heat to really challenge for an NBA Championship. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, and Chris Bosh make up by far the NBA’s strongest team, and all three players are well within their prime years. Additionally, all the fun has inspired other talented players like Ray Allen and Chris Andersen to come to South Beach and join the party. It makes for the deepest team in the league, and although once contracts expire in 2015, the future of the Heat’s “Big Three” will be in question, for the short term there is really only one team that anyone should expect to win the 2014 NBA Championship: The Miami Heat.

 

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Will the NBA Playoffs See Anyone Challenge Miami Heat?

With the NBA pundits crying foul over the fact that LeBron James wasn’t unanimously declared the league’s MVP (he missed out on just a single vote), and with the Miami Heat holding the NBA’s best record by a wide margin, is there any hope at all for the teams that wish to make a legitimate challenge on the superstar basketball team from Miami?

 

Based on recent events though, it seems the Chicago Bulls may just be the team to give the Heat a real fight. Having pulled off a dramatic game 1 victory, the Bulls have shown themselves to be capable without having their impressive star Derrick Rose in the lineup. Nate Robinson drained 27 points, scored several important 3-point shots, and basically dominated the game in the last 2 minutes. However, the NBA playoffs engage in 7 game series to ensure that the best team wins, and barring a miraculous run by the Bulls, I would still put my money on the Heat romping back to the Eastern Conference Finals and beyond.

 

One of the things that has made the path for the Heat so encouraging is the fact that so many key players on major teams have been injured. We already saw the demise of the Los Angeles Lakers when Kobe Bryant had to sit out the end of the year. Additionally, the Los Angeles Clippers suffered an injury to Blake Griffin that saw their impressive Pacific Division victory result in the team crashing out in round 1 of the NBA Playoffs.

 

Further injuries have hampered the teams still in the chase. The Oklahoma City Thunder had already absorbed the loss of James Harden this offseason, but recently saw Russell Westbrook go down with a knee injury. The point guard has been instrumental to the Thunder’s success, and now the team’s hopes lie solely on the play of Kevin Durant. Durant is a true star player, but as everyone knows in the NBA, even Michael Jordan needed Scottie Pippen to reach his full potential. Though, if Durant could propel the Thunder to a NBA Championship, the feat could be the mark of a true legend. There is a long way to go, and a potential NBA Finals rematch with the Heat would be extremely tough now without 2 of the 3 crucial players in last year’s Thunder run.

 

Perhaps the team that people should predict in the NBA Finals as a challenger to the Heat is the San Antonio Spurs. Having won several championships in the mid 2000’s, the team still has most of those stars in the lineup and have won their division for 3 straight years. Although their playoff play hasn’t been as great recently, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili could use their experience to present a serious challenge to the Heat.

 

Regardless of their opening round loss to the Bulls, I do feel that this year will be another victorious march for LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and co. The Heat is by far the most talented team in the league, and they are playing with real pride and passion. Although sports fans do love an exciting upset story, I find it real hard to visualize any team pushing the Heat to the brink this year.

 

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