Updated 2013 NBA Title Odds for Every Playoff Team Still Standing
Nope, no one is shocked by the final surviving teams of the postseason.
And no, it should come as no surprise how this chase for a title will likely end.
The reigning champions and favorite Miami Heat still stand, looming over a field of the mostly expected.
The San Antonio Spurs eliminated the only remaining dark horse, the Golden State Warriors.
As for the other two series—while they were less anticipated—it soon became clear the Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t compete without Russell Westbrook and the New York Knicks offense was no good without J.R. Smith.
So the No. 5 Memphis Grizzlies and No. 2 Indiana Pacers both bullied their way into their respective conference finals.
While the Grizzlies and Pacers may not qualify as “predictable,” the advancement of the nettlesome defenses is no surprise.
But as the final stages play out, could the unforeseen be given a role?
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Why Miami Heat Can Still Win 2013 NBA Title Without an Effective Dwyane Wade
The Miami Heat has got this, even without a vintage Dwyane Wade.
Bothered by a bruised right knee, Wade’s performance during the NBA playoffs has served as a harbinger of doubt. Averaging a career postseason low in minutes (32.9), points (13), shots (11.8) and free throws attempted (three) per game, Miami’s star shooting guard has had a fraction of the impact he was supposed to.
Injuries have followed Wade throughout his career and this year was no exception, but after posting 21.2 points on 52.1 percent shooting during the regular season, the Heat expected more. He put up 22.8 points per playoff game during last year’s championship run while plagued by a knee injury, so why wouldn’t they? Wade plays through his physical afflictions. It’s what he does.
And it’s still what he does. Save for Miami’s Game 4 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, he’s appeared in each of the Heat’s postseason bouts. And again, he’s logging more than 30 minutes a night. He hasn’t allowed his knee to remove him from the pursuit of a second-straight championship. Nor will he.
But he’s not Wade.
Wade’s physical grievances haven’t swallowed him whole, but they’ve limited him. He hasn’t been able to reach the rim as effortlessly as he’s known for, and Miami’s offensive efficiency has increased by nearly two points per 100 possessions with him off the floor.
On any other team, Wade’s numerical (and bodily) transgressions would stand to cripple any and all title aspirations. But not the Heat’s.
Russell Westbrook’s absence all but sealed the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s fate against the Memphis Grizzlies. J.R. Smith’s regrettable postseason left the New York Knicks embattled and unsuccessful against the Indiana Pacers. And Kobe Bryant‘s injury put the Los Angeles Lakers in a no-win situation (literally) against the San Antonio Spurs.
Miami isn’t “any other team,” though.
The Heat rely on Wade to aid in the thrashing of opponents. His offensive creativity—ever underrated playmaking abilities included—is a treasured commodity and his acute defensive sets have been an integral part of Miami’s dominance overall.
Suggesting the Heat are not better off without him is fatuous, because they’re not. Wade makes them better; he enhances their dynamic. They are, however, furnished with enough two-way firepower to successfully transcend his postseason-long limitations.
That guy you see on the court, who can do just about anything he wants to on command against anyone he pleases—that’s LeBron James, the reigning MVP and undisputed greatest player in the world. He was also brought to South Beach to contend for (and win) championships. These plans won’t be thwarted by an embattled Wade.
LeBron and the Heat are 8-1 on the postseason, and that’s with Wade topping 15 points just three times in eight tries. They rank first in playoff offensive efficiency (109.1) and first in defensive efficiency as well (93.4). They’ve already found success, without Wade being Wade.
Series victories over the mediocre-at-best Bucks and decimated Bulls won’t compare to what the Heat face in the Indiana Pacers and then potentially the San Antonio Spurs or Memphis Grizzlies, but that doesn’t matter. Miami is built for this.
James has carried a less talented group of players to the NBA Finals on his own before (see 2007 Cleveland Cavaliers) so his current case in Miami hardly poses the most daunting of tasks. With him, the Heat are above crumbling under the weight of Wade’s tribulations because they’re not Wade’s team.
Chris Bosh is a superstar in his own right, Ray Allen remains a lethal shooter and Shane Battier a renowned defender. Mario Chalmers goes hot-and-cold, but rarely shies away from “the moment”, Chris Andersen is never short on effort and Norris Cole makes the most of his minutes. Even Mike Miller can get going when given the chance. Just ask the Thunder. And then there’s Wade, who is still one of the most feared talents in the league.
Before them—all of them—there is LeBron, the ultimate catalyst.
Miami depends on each of those guys to do their job and do it well. When they don’t, the task at hand becomes more difficult, not impossible. Nothing ever is when you’re led by LeBron. Even when it’s Wade who is being unceremoniously humanized.
Remember, Wade isn’t the only player on Miami failing to meet expectations. Bosh is rebounding more (8.3), but scoring less (13.2). Battier is hitting on just 26.1 percent of his deep balls. Allen is connecting on just 37.8 percent of his after converting on nearly 42 percent for the regular season. Chalmers is shooting just 41.8 percent from the field overall. And LeBron himself is shooting just 31 percent from downtown for the playoffs, reinforcing the notion that the Heat aren’t perfect.
Yet, look where Miami is—in the Eastern Conference Finals.
With Wade reeling and a handful of his teammates following suit, the Heat have the best record of any postseason team and remain title favorites.
Which isn’t going to change. Wade can continue to average career-playoff lows in points scored, but the Heat aren’t going anywhere. Not so long as LeBron is still on the floor.
He is Miami’s end-all. That’s why Wade has willingly deferred the team to him. He’s fit to lead the Heat to a title under less than perfect circumstances
“I can achieve anything if I just make it a goal of mine,” James said (via Chris Tomasson of Fox Sports Florida). “I never made it a goal of mine [shooting 50/40/90]. If I decided to do it, I can make it happen.’’
Right now, LeBron’s goal is to win another championship, an ambition that doesn’t perish or become any less attainable with Wade playing the way he is.
*All stats in this article were compiled from Basketball-Reference and NBA.com unless otherwise noted.
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George Hill still not cleared for Pacers-Knicks Game 6
Hill participated in the team’s shootaround Saturday morning
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No. 1 pick in 2013 NBA draft still a wide-open race
Several candidates have emerged as possible top pick
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Golden State Warriors Still Believe They’ll Take Series vs. San Antonio Spurs
Bleacher Report caught up with the Golden State Warriors after their Game 5 road loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
What does Mark Jackson have to say? What do the players think about the loss? Does the team still believe they can win this series?
Watch the video above to find out!
Questions? Comments? Hit us up in the comments below!
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NBA Playoff Predictions 2013: Why the Knicks Still Have a Fighting Chance
The New York Knicks packed their bags and headed to Indianapolis after Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals feeling confident and rejuvenated.
They had just tied the series at 1-1 after winning in blowout fashion at The Garden, and things were looking up as they went to Indiana for two straight games.
After getting roughed up in Games 3 and 4 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the confidence and swagger that the Knicks possessed in Game 2 seems just about nonexistent.
The Knicks shot just 35 percent from the field in both Games 3 and 4, and below 30 percent from three-point range. It is no secret to any Knicks fan, or any basketball fan for that matter, that the Knicks do not succeed if they are not shooting the ball well.
They live and die by the three-point ball, and 27 percent and 28 percent as a team just won’t cut it against a defensively efficient Indiana squad.
Mike Woodson’s team has had to deal with plenty of distractions outside of the gym, mainly the harsh New York media who’s job it is to scrutinize every move the team makes.
The Knicks now find themselves with their backs against the wall, facing elimination as they head home for Game 5 on Thursday.
Despite their horrific performances in back-to-back games in Indiana, there is still hope for the New York Knicks, although many people are counting them out.
The Knicks will look to accomplish what the Boston Celtics were able to do to them in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, and that is to gain momentum.
The series is headed back to Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks went 31-10 this season.
If they can find a way to break out of their abominable shooting slump and defeat the Indiana Pacers on their home floor, it is a whole new series.
The Knicks saw Carmelo Anthony, Raymond Felton and J.R. Smith combine for 36 points in Game 3, and shoot a combined 37 percent from the field in Game 4.
These are some of the worst numbers that these three have put up all season, and if even just one of them can find a way to break out of his slump, the Knicks have a fighting chance.
Yes, they would still need to win two games in a row, one of them being on the road in Indiana where they haven’t won a playoff game since 1999.
But a win in Game 5 can change the entire momentum of a series, and the Knicks witnessed that first hand against the Celtics.
The Celtics were unsuccessful in their comeback attempt against the Knicks, but after winning two straight games, things began to change.
The players, the fans and the media all began to change their outlook on the series, and if the Knicks can pull off a win in Indiana in Game 6, they become the favorites again as they head home for Game 7.
Of course there are a lot of things that need to go in the Knicks favor for them to win this series, and it may seem very unlikely after their performance in the past two games, but one great game can change a series and everybody knows the Knicks are capable of winning in blowout fashion.
The New York Knicks are down 3-1 and appear as if they are out for the count, but don’t be surprised if you see them roaring back to make this a series to remember.
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NCAA Basketball Scandals That We’ll Still Be Talking About in 2013-14 Season
The sad reality in college sports recently is that off-court and off-field scandals have dominated headlines throughout the offseason. They permeate the news cycle without games taking place and then hang over the respective program’s season like a black cloud.
Unfortunately, the 2013-14 campaign will be no different. There will be scandals that will be discussed throughout the year, even if they are only casually brought up by commentators during certain games.
Read on to see five scandals in particular that will be discussed during the regular season.
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Hawks still considering their coaching options (Yahoo! Sports)
ATLANTA (AP) — More than a week after getting bounced from the NBA playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks are still trying to figure out who’s going to coach them next season.
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Indiana Pacers Proving Throwback Centers Still Rule NBA Playoffs
Roy Hibbert and the Indiana Pacers dominated the New York Knicks in the paint, notching an 82-71 victory in Game 3 of the two teams’ Eastern Conference semifinals series that solidified, once and for all, the notion that old-school, fundamentally sound big men are still a devastating weapon when it comes to NBA playoff basketball.
Hibbert logged a playoff career-high 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end. He didn’t block a shot, but his presence in the lane forced more than a few misses by Knicks players who were clearly still reluctant to take him on after his equally dominant, five-block showing in Game 1.
In short, Hibbert absolutely took it to Tyson Chandler, who may have been suffering from a neck injury but still earned the Defensive Player of the Year award just last year.
And Hibbert‘s dominance against Chandler wasn’t just limited to Game 3, either. The changing of the guard (or center, in this case) has been going on all series long. In three contests thus far, the Pacers big man has outscored his Knicks counterpart 44-21, out-rebounded him 32-12 and blocked nearly twice as many shots.
I’ll come back to the significance of Hibbert‘s thrashing of Chandler later. For now, it’s important to focus on what Indiana’s big man has done to reach his current level.
There hasn’t been much doubt about Hibbert‘s defensive value for some time; he’s a beast in the paint who controls the boards and turns away shots with regularity. But after a rough start to the regular season and an overall shooting mark of just 44 percent, there were a few questions about his skills as an offensive player.
He’s answered them during the postseason, raising his field-goal shooting to just a hair under 50 percent and functioning as a reliable post-up option. Against the Knicks in Game 3, he flashed everything from a left-handed hook shot to a devastating drop step.
It may have taken a while, but Hibbert‘s workouts with Tim Duncan over the past couple of summers have clearly begun to pay off.
Looking more deeply, it’s important to note that Hibbert is also benefiting from a scheme that accentuates his specific talents. He’s a massive presence in the paint but has the ability to contest shots without fouling. So the Pacers funnel offensive players toward him at every opportunity, allowing him to influence more defensive possessions than most other centers.
On the other end, he’s lucky enough to play with a power forward like David West, whose mid-range game leaves the lane open for Hibbert to go to work when he gets the ball in the post.
A favorable environment has certainly helped Hibbert maximize his skills, but it’s not fair to label him as a simple product of a system. Through hard work and patience (not to mention a naturally gifted basketball mind), this guy has turned himself into a dominant two-way center who appears capable of leading his team even deeper into the postseason.
And he’s not alone.
Centers who share many of Hibbert‘s qualities—shot-blocking skills, command of the boards and a fundamentally sound offensive game—are all over the teams still remaining in the postseason chase.
Duncan is still doing his thing in San Antonio, Marc Gasol is leading the Memphis Grizzlies toward a series victory over last year’s Western Conference champs and Andrew Bogut has been flashing the form that made him a terror on the interior just a few short years ago.
At the same time, the NBA’s so-called “new” breed of hyper-athletic, high-flying centers have quietly dropped out of the scene. JaVale McGee, DeAndre Jordan, Dwight Howard and Larry Sanders are all gone. It’s an oversimplification to lump guys like that together, but it’s also undeniable that they lack the cerebral game and fundamental polish of the other big men that are still a part of the playoff picture.
And if you had to fit Joakim Noah into one of those two groups, his defensive work and passing acumen (four assists per game during the regular season) would clearly earn him a spot among the former collection as well.
So when Hibbert has been wearing out Chandler on both ends, he hasn’t just been winning an individual matchup; he’s been symbolizing a sea change in the NBA. Offensively limited centers who can’t impact the game on both ends are on the way out. Players like Hibbert are the next big thing.
(Note: Chandler’s not a perfect symbol for that last proposition because he’s a smart, skilled defensive player. It would have been better if Hibbert had been crushing someone like McGee or Jordan. But you get the idea.)
Anyhow, it’s interesting to note that in a league where hybrid forwards like Carmelo Anthony and jump-shooting centers like Chris Bosh are all the rage, towering pillars of fundamental skill and defensive intimidation still have an important place.
In fact, based on what’s been happening during these playoffs, there’s an argument to be made that other than superstar talents like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, an imposing center with actual basketball skill is the most important piece of the puzzle.
That actually makes a lot of sense if you think about it. With NBA defenses becoming more and more sophisticated, centers can’t simply get by as glorified alley-oop receivers. Nowadays, as aggressive schemes force the ball out of guards’ hands, centers are often the recipients of those passes at the elbow. Just imagine how hard it’d be to ask someone like McGee or Howard to make a decision with the ball in that area of the floor.
Some guys excel in that role, though. Ask the Grizzlies how glad they are to have the ridiculously skilled Gasol handling that job.
And that’s to say nothing of the defensive responsibilities those big men have in the new trapping, shifting, overload schemes the NBA’s very best defensive teams are employing. You can’t run or jump your way to an understanding of solid positioning and good help rotations. Those things come about with practice and study.
Big men with high basketball I.Q.s and two-way skills are starting to make a comeback, and guys like Hibbert are at the forefront of that movement.
*All stats via NBA.com unless otherwise indicated.
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Phil Jackson’s in-Game Twitter Posts Prove He Still Has Zest for NBA Job
If you’re not following Phil Jackson on Twitter and are interested in getting a firsthand look at how an NBA coach’s mind works, head on over to the social media site (@PhilJackson11, a clever play on his career-record 11 NBA titles) and click the “Follow” button.
With rumors swirling about the Zen Master preparing for a potential return to the Association, you won’t have to look any further than his Twitter timeline to discredit rumors that Phil doesn’t have a zest for an NBA job anymore.
In fact, it seems to be anything but.
Jackson, the 11-time NBA championship coach who won all of his rings alongside Kobe Bryant in Los Angeles and Michael Jordan in Chicago, was first mentioned to have interest in returning to the league in late April, when ESPN reported that he was “itching” to get back on the sidelines or grab an executive role.
His Twitter handle would confirm those rumors.
Watching the San Antonio Spurs take on the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, Jackson proved that he’s just as tech savvy as he is transcendent, doing a live tweet-along (not really) with some of the events of San Antonio’s 102-92 win.
Here’s a few select ones from one of the greatest coaches in NBA history (@PhilJackson11):
A brief look inside the mind of Jackson reveals two things: One, the Zen Master is indeed ready to bring his wealth of knowledge about how to win NBA games back to the league, and two, that we should pay no attention to him turning down the Brooklyn Nets earlier in the week (h/t USA Today).
A more accurate gauge of why this is the right time for Jackson to return to the league might be found in the anecdotal evidence about his retirement from the game, his absence from the sidelines for the last two seasons, and yes, the fact that Jackson is feeding us with some of his inner thoughts during the 2013 NBA playoffs.
For starters, the news about prostate cancer had to throw Jackson for a loop. He found out prior to the 2011 postseason and revealed the news to team captains Bryant and Derek Fisher as the Lakers were battling it out with the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (h/t Yahoo! Sports).
He took the next season off, and appeared poised to return to the Lakers after Mike Brown was fired to start this season, but the “handshake deal” fell apart and the Lakers ended up giving the job to Mike D’Antoni.
Now, news that he is dying to return has shocked the NBA coaching circuit yet again. Five teams currently have head coaching vacancies, and that number could increase if the Los Angeles Clippers decide to part ways with Vinny Del Negro in the coming weeks.
Some feel that Jackson is waiting on the Seattle/Sacramento situation (h/t Marc Stein of ESPN) to work itself out before fully committing to a team either in a head coaching role or as a front office executive. Jackson is said to have “hit it off” with the Seattle investment group and might take on the role of team president if a deal to Seattle ever became official.
With 1,155 career wins, a .704 winning percentage and two of the biggest separate dynasties in NBA history, Jackson has a love for the game that just couldn’t convince those in positions of power to admit he was done with the NBA for good. Whenever a coaching vacancy is open, Jackson’s name is always high on the list.
All signs point to Jackson making his return to basketball very, very soon. Two years off appears to be long enough for the Zen Master to get some R&R with fiance Jeanie Buss, and rumors of his involvement with NBA officials all over the map point to signs that Jackson is nearing a decision.
His Twitter account points to it even more.
Follow Ethan Grant on Twitter, if you can find time for both him and Phil Jackson:
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