Breaking Down The 2008 NBA Playoff Teams

I was very busy during the past few days and I know I was late to publish this article regarding the exciting 2008 NBA Playoff. Finally this weekend, I managed to find a spare time to make this blog.

After a gruesome 82 games, we’re about to break down the top Eight Eastern and Western Conference teams that survive through the tight NBA Season.

Since, I’m a LA Laker Fan. I will make this article even but expect to save the best for last.

Eastern Conference

#8 Atlanta
A young team, (most we’re in their early 20’s) that had the chance to play in an NBA playoff for their first time is an Honor. It’s a good addition to their experience and skills, especially if you have to face the Boston Celtics in the first round. If the champion-hungry Celtics beat them, I have to make the most of it.

The only question is, “what happen to the leadership of Mike Bibby?”

I’ve seen this guy played against the Lakers in several playoff matches and I know his a “killer in the court”. Did he run out of gas? Or I think his quite intimidated with the younger and faster Rondo.

I think Bibby is the 3rd blunder trade this season.

#7 Philadelphia
Philly made a lot of improvement with its young and new players since the Iverson trade and they made it work. Now this is the two Andre’s team (Miller/Iguodala).

With their hard work and dedication, this underdog team might gate away the first round against the overconfident Pistons. (Let’s see…)

#6 Toronto
Even though I’m a Filipino-Canadian, Sorry to say that I am NOT a Toronto Raptors’ fan or a Steve Nash’s Fan. Canadian’s are good at Hockey ey! yes we know and I support them but this is the NBA. It’s a different world.

Even from the start, I know that the Raptors are not a contender, until the time they provide a lot of supporting cast surrounding Chris Bosh. I mean the Raptors during Vince’s time are more a menace than the present Toronto Raptor Team today.

They are lucky enough to get in the playoff because the Eastern teams are not as that competitive as the Western Counterparts.

This Endangered Raptors will soon be extinct if they don’t play hard against the Magic in round one.

#5 Washington
I think this team is better off without Agent 0.

The Wizards played very well in the season with Butler and Jamison taking in charge and even beat the star-studded Celtics 3X! Now they’re having the worst game against the Cavs.

I wish they were dead last in the 8 seed and let’s see what happen.

#4 Cleveland
If Anti-Lakers call Bryant a “ball hog”, what do you call Lebron?

It’s not being selfish; it’s being a leader to take shots when no one in the team can make those shots. It’s better to be “Ball Hog” than your team is down to 10 or 20 points.

Cavs fan should hope that Lebron never runs out of energy when they face any of the Magic three (Magic, Pistons or Celtics).

#3 Orlando
For me, I think Dwight Howard is the best Center in the NBA today since Yao was injured. The team has improved a lot and became one of the best team in the East.

With Turkoglus’ improvement and Lewis supporting cast, I hope Superman never runs with a Kryptonite when they face the Cavs, Pistons or Celtics.

#2 Detroit
They had been doing this since their last championship ring in 2004 and they are still solid up to now. I believed the guard tandem of Billups-Hamilton are one of the best in the NBA today.

The only issues are they better regain their perception and lessen their arrogance or Philly might steal Round 1 for them.

#1 Boston
The glory and pride of Boston are back again, thanks to Garnett-Pierce-Allen. A blockbuster trade transforms Boston from an underdog to a powerful championship team. Whoever wins the Western Conference playoff has their hands full against this one.

Boston already holds the most NBA wins, 16 and only 14 for the Lakers. It will be 17 if they win this season and it’s hard to catch-up with that.

Western Conference

#8 Denver
For me, Nuggets are the most disappointing team in the western conference playoff.

You got the 3rd and the 4th high scoring players in your team (Iverson/Anthony) and your dead last in the playoff seed. Unfortunately for them, they are now facing a team who has the capable of winning a western conference playoff.

They better learn good defense or they’ll be fishing early this summer.

#7 Dallas
If Atlanta has the 3rd blunder trade this season, Dallas won the 1st place blunder trade!

Having Jason Kidd in the team didn’t work out fine. Instead it cost them a lot, a chance to play again in the Championship (present tense and future tense).

They should have convince the Hornets to trade Chris Paul instead of Kidd (no matter how much are the cost).

#6 Phoenix
If Dallas won the 1st place blunder trade, Phoenix won the 2nd place.

The Suns are “numero uno” in the Western Conference in the beginning of the season for a very long time since they trade Marion and Banks to grandpa Shaq.

What happen? They lost their momentum.

Yes trade Marion, if it’s inevitable. But get player(s) that are beneficiary in a long run.

But so far, the good thing that I like in the Suns are their training staffs, they cured Nash back pain, Hill’s problematic injury, and Shaq’s ailing hips. Wish the Lakers have that too in LA.

#5 Houston
No Yao, No Alston and an injured T-Mac pose a bigger problem. T-Mac plays in Houston are like a “deja vu“ back in Orlando.

I think the lucky 22-game winning streak run out.

“Houston we’ve got a problem!”

#4 Utah
The tandem of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer brings back the Stockton-Malone Era in Utah. Who needs AK-47 now?!

The only missing links in this team are experiences and a will to win away from Salt Lake.

#3 San Antonio
The Spurs are the only team in the West that is a threat for me. They have the experiences and weapons to do that and they have been doing it since 1999-2000 conference that won them 4 NBA championships. They got the same coach (Popovich) and the same players; the leadership of Duncan, the quickness of Parker, the supporting cast of Ginobili, and dirty old defense of Bowen.

They didn’t made any surprising trade this season just the usual players and role-players.

Hope father time never overtake them down.

#2 New Orleans
At the start of this season, no one expect that the Hornets will one day go up to the top of the Western Conference race. No one expect that Chris Paul will be a tough candidate for MVP. No one also expect that Byron Scott will coach and lead an underdog team in the playoff. No one will ever know too that David West will someday become an instant All-Star this season. The Hornets prove them all wrong. Even experiences prove them wrong.

If they haven’t loss two straight games before the end of this season, they will be on the top seed in the West (that was a close one for the Lakers!)

It will not be a surprise if the Hornets or the Spurs reach the third round of the west playoff.

#1 LA Lakers
What more can I say with my favorite team?

First of all, just like what I said in my introduction; I want to be even in this article so let’s begin with the down side of the Lakers shall we.

The Lakers has the worst training staff in the NBA! With all the injuries inside the team why don’t those players heal so fast! Compare to the Suns, they did a great overhaul job with their players. Even Shaq plays like a 20 year old rookie. What happen to the eight weeks knee injury of Andrew Bynum that became a “never ending” story? Yes I know we “can” survive the playoff but what will happen in the Finals if we still don’t have Ariza and especially Bynum or worst another injury might occur?

Experience is not the issue here our foremost weakness is injuries.

Back in October, I don’t expect that the NBA season will end the Lakers on the top seed of the Western Conference Playoff.

Enough said with the trade tantrums of Kobe, the havoc parking lot video interview against Bynum, the sudden “never ending long knee injury”, the broken “Pinky” and “I will wait after the Olympics” incident.

With all the controversies and injuries plagues inside the Lakers, we become the No.1 in the west. It will be all the way Home-court advantage for Game 1 and 2 for us (except for the Finals).

Truly what set us from tipping off the power in our side was the unanticipated Gasol trade. I’m terribly sorry for Memphis (especially to Kwame Brown), but the only thing that I can think of right now is “Life is Unfair”.

Before the NBA season started last year, the Lakers had an orientation with the staffs and the players at Hawaii. The Zen master asked every player to introduce and tell something about himself. When it’s Kobe’s turn to speak he said:

“Hi, my name is Kobe Bryant and I want to win a Championship.”

I believe this is our time, our year and our chance. I hope we don’t blow it.