NBA Storylines
I’ve been ignoring it due to March Madness, but the NBA is finishing up its regular season, which means the playoffs will be starting soon. I am in a weird spot when it comes to enjoying the NBA. I think a combination of how the media covers it, as well as how it can sometimes be unwatchable, has alienated me a little bit. That is a lot to unpack, and I certainly didn’t do it justice in those short few sentences. It is certainly a blog post for another time.
With that being said, here is a blog post about some NBA storylines with the playoffs so close.
The Favorites for the Larry O’Brien Trophy
Around the end of February, if you had asked me who I thought would be playing in the NBA Finals this May/June, I would have told you that the Nuggets and Cavs would be the teams. I no longer believe that.
Boston Celtics
The Celtics have been unstoppable recently. They are currently finishing off the Grizzlies as I write this blog post. They have a record of 56-15, are on a nine-game winning streak, and could very well win 60 games this year. They truly have no weaknesses. A starting lineup of Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Kristaps Porzingis is unreal, and they have seemingly unlimited options off the bench. I think they will plow through the East come playoffs.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Thunder are the team to beat out West. Like the Celtics, they have unlimited options. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will likely win MVP, and while I think Jokic should get it, Shai has a great case. SGA is currently averaging prime Jordan and Kobe numbers, and he has an elite supporting cast. The Thunder have a record of 62-12 and are on a nine-game winning streak. I don’t think they will get through the playoffs with the same ease that the Celtics might, just because the West is tougher than the East, but I do think they will be playing in the Finals against the Celtics.
The Teams That Will Disappoint
New York Knicks
It pains me to say it, but unfortunately, I think the Knicks will disappoint New York this summer. I believe they have a ceiling that reaches the Eastern Conference Finals, but I also think they have a floor that says first-round exit, especially if they face a team like the Pistons or Bucks.
Jalen Brunson has been dealing with an injury that has limited the Knicks' success, and center Karl-Anthony Towns has also shown his flaws when it comes to defense.
I also think that teams like the Pistons may produce an upset in the playoffs because I believe in this version of Detroit Basketball. They are tough, physical, and still play great basketball—something I appreciate greatly. The Knicks have those same characteristics, but they just might disappoint us.
Los Angeles Lakers
Shannon Sharpe won’t like this take, but I think the Purple and Gold will fall short of expectations. They currently sit at fourth in the West with a record of 45-29. LeBron James has dealt with injuries, and Luka Dončić can only do so much with the supporting cast that the Lakers have. Yes, Austin Reaves is tuff, but Luka and Reaves alone aren’t enough.
The Western Conference is incredibly competitive, and there are better teams than the Los Angeles Lakers. I could see the Lakers making it to the Western Conference Finals, which is no small feat. However, when you have a team with Luka Dončić and LeBron James, making the WCF is still falling short of expectations.
A Final Random Storyline
This final section is just an appreciation paragraph for one of my favorite players, Cade Cunningham. Cunningham became one of my favorite players when he entered the NBA in 2021. He was a player who, along with Jalen Green, I desperately wanted to see succeed. So far throughout his career, he has dealt with injuries and bust allegations.
When the Pistons won only 14 games last year, there was still optimism around him, but many questioned if the Pistons should stay committed to him. I believed in him then, just as I believed in him during his rookie year. This season, Cade brought Detroit Basketball back to its former glory, reminiscent of the Chauncey Billups–Ben Wallace Pistons of the 2000s and the legendary Isiah Thomas-led Pistons of the 1980s.
Cade became an All-Star this year, and he likely will (and should) make an All-NBA team. It’s good to see your favorite player shed the bust allegations, and I think it’s great that Detroit Basketball has risen back to its former glory. I believe Detroit in the playoffs this May will be fun to watch.
