Grading the contenders, pretenders in NBA Playoffs

Dixon gone as VCHS coach
April 22, 2014
Plaisance ‘excited’ after WNBA selection
April 22, 2014
Dixon gone as VCHS coach
April 22, 2014
Plaisance ‘excited’ after WNBA selection
April 22, 2014

Usually when I’m wearing red, it’s out of support for Tiger Woods – my man crush in the world of sports.


But this week, I’m wearing red to show some support for my team of choice in the world of the NBA – the Houston Rockets.

Yes, it’s playoff time in basketball, easily one of the most exciting times of the year in the sporting calendar.

This year’s 16-team bracket is sure to be one of the best in recent seasons, as a lot of storylines are swirling that peak fans interest.


Fans across the globe are wondering about the Miami Heat and their quest to win a third-straight title. Likewise, people want to know if Kevin Durant and the Thunder have enough in the tank to overcome their previous demons and make a run.

What about my Rockets? Can The Beard, James Harden, and Dwight Howard get Houston to the top?

Frankly, I have no idea the answer to any of these questions – the beauty of the coming weeks.


But to help playoff fans, I took the liberty this week to rank the 16 teams in the postseason.

Enjoy and Go Rockets!

I just need things to go a little bit better for my team this time around compared to my Game 1 shenanigans against Portland.


The Bottom of the Barrel (Teams just filling out the brackets)

16. Atlanta Hawks – Congratulations go out to the Atlanta Hawks for making the NBA Playoffs. But I’d bet my head of hair that the Hawks bow out of the first round of the playoffs – without much of a fight. These guys fought hard and even won Game 1 against Indiana, but have no chance to make a push. Frankly, they aren’t very good. I’m just being realistic. They don’t have the talent.

15. Charlotte Bobcats – The Bobcats are a nice story – a true turnaround story. But LeBron James has already proven once that he can score at will on Charlotte, dropping 60+ on the ‘Cats earlier this spring. The Heat will bounce the Cats, probably in five games or fewer.


14. Dallas Mavericks – Dirk Nowitzki may be the most underrated player in the history of the NBA. The guy is a walking legend. But the rest of the Mavs’ roster is pretty uninspiring.

13. Chicago Bulls – The Bulls are a nice story. To win close to 50 games with Derrick Rose injured and Luol Deng traded is an amazing thing. But come playoff time, the Cinderella story ends and the Bulls realize what I already know: they can’t score enough to win games.

The Prettiest Losers (Teams that are entertaining, but will fall short)


12. Portland Trailblazers – Look, I’m admittedly a huge Rockets’ fan. So obviously, I’ll slander the Blazers this week. But allegiances aside, the reality is that Portland just doesn’t have enough defensive gusto to make a postseason push. Houston bounces the Blazers in an entertaining series filled with offense.

11. Washington Wizards – My coworker Eric Besson and I disagree completely about John Wall. He thinks Wall is a very nice player. I think he’s fluff. But the more I see, the more I think I’m wrong. But with that said, Washington still is a few years away from a serious run.

10. Toronto Raptors – Gosh, it’s such an American thing to do to sleep on the 3-seeded Canadian-based team just because I haven’t seen much of them this season. But the playoffs are about names – the team with the best player usually wins. The Raptors lack star power and seem prime for an early exit.


The Sleepers (Lower seeds that can make a run)

9. Golden State Warriors – The Warriors have all of the makings of a disaster. They don’t defend, lack size and have a lame duck coach. But with Steph Curry, one always has a chance. Doesn’t he just always seem to find a way to do his best work in the playoffs?

8. Memphis Grizzlies – The Grizzlies struggled heavily with their offseason coaching change, limping to a 10-15 start to the 2013-14 season. But since that wretched start, Memphis has won 70 percent of its games. They are the team that everyone in the bracket doesn’t want to see, even as one of the last teams into the postseason.


7. Brooklyn Nets – Speaking of poor starts – the Nets were 3-10 and 10-21 at different points of the season. But Brooklyn caught a spark late and finished among the hottest teams in the East. Oh yeah, they also own a 4-0 record against Miami. Who else in the world can say that? Brooklyn won its Game 1 tilt with Toronto and will definitely be a tough out for anyone out East.

The Contenders (Teams with a legitimate shot to reach the NBA Finals)

6. Indiana Pacers – Three months ago, I would have picked the Pacers to win the NBA Championship. But since the All-Star break, the Pacers have been a shell of their former self, struggling to hold onto the No. 1 seed in the depleted Eastern Conference. A word of caution – the Pacers did lose five-of-six games to close last season, as well, so they have a track record for snoozing and then waking up in the playoffs.


5. Los Angeles Clippers – I’ve never been more wrong about a player than I was about Blake Griffin. I consistently trashed the guy every chance that I got in the past, because I didn’t think he was a legitimate NBA star. Man, was I wrong. Griffin has overtaken Chris Paul as the Clips’ brightest standout. The duo, combined with a slew of veterans, have me thinking the Clips can win the West.

4. Houston Rockets – The Rockets’ overall record isn’t indicative of how good the team actually is. For starters, they needed time to mesh Dwight Howard into its lineup. The Rockets also have battled nagging injuries throughout the back-half of the season. But now 100 percent healthy, the Rockets are a threat – possibly the most balanced team in the entire NBA. Coach Kevin McHale needs to just let his guys play now and all will be well.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder – The Thunder have so much firepower. Between Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, OKC can score more points against good defenses than anyone in the NBA. That’s a huge key in the playoffs. But I think a deteriorating Kendrick Perkins in the middle hurts OKC. That, and I still don’t believe in the chemistry between Durant and Westbrook. Again, OKC will fall short. But this year, it’ll be just a hair short.


2. Miami Heat – Call me a LeBron James hater (I own that), but I don’t think Miami can win another title. I see a team that misses Mike Miller’s shooting presence and a team that severely lacks a paint presence – especially on the defensive side of the floor. I don’t think Indiana can beat Miami – they aren’t playing well enough down the stretch. But Miami will have problems defeating any of the Western powerhouses in a seven-game series.

1. San Antonio Spurs – The Spurs came closer to winning the NBA Title last year than any other runner-up in NBA history. They were one rebound short. With that heartbreak still in their minds, I believe the Spurs break the ice and win it all this year. When they are at their best, there just is no team in the world that can match their chemistry. I think the Spurs enjoy home court advantage and soundly beat Miami in a six-game series. Tim Duncan retires on top.