The NBA playoffs are roughly half over and what have we learned?
OK, besides the Miami Heat being Exhibit A for why teams should always try like crazy to get into the playoffs, even if it’s just as an unlikely play-in team.
When you get past that, the most obvious bit of education is that the NBA is more level than it’s ever been.
Parity is so great that an injury here or there can make all the difference in a playoff series.
It reinforces something we’ve known for years, but sometimes forget: The best combination for success in the playoffs is having health and going on a heater at the same time.
That’s how Miami has moved into position to be in the Eastern Conference finals. They are this year’s version of the Mavericks of 2022.
And this after they had to win a do-or-die game against Chicago for the right to be the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They then got some breaks (Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton injuries) and rode Jimmy Butler’s hot streak to an upset win in the first-round series.
But there are other intriguing storylines. We have to give a nod to the Los Angeles Lakers, who had nothing but trouble in the regular season, managed to slip into the playoffs and now are in line to perhaps dethrone the champion Golden State Warriors.
And, it’s worth noting that the Denver Nuggets are acting very much like a No. 1 seed. They may have actually been underdogs in the second round against the power-built Phoenix Suns, but they have turned that into a three-game series that seems like it could go either way.
All in all, a very entertaining first two rounds of the playoffs. And I dare anybody to put a paycheck on any of these teams to win the whole thing. Truly a crapshoot from here on.
And now, on with this week’s questions:
QUESTION OF THE WEEK: We noticed last week you danced around picking a winner in the playoffs. So who’s your choice? Tom J.
BIG ED: To be honest, I averted the subject purposely. I find enough flaws in all the remaining teams to not really like any of them. At least, not so much that I think they are head and shoulders above the rest. I’m still leaning toward the winner of the Denver-Phoenix series to win the whole thing. And if you press me for one or the other, I’d side with Phoenix. But it’s close. Boston is having so much trouble with Philadelphia that I’m not sure either one will be able to hang with the West champion. The Lakers are a good story and you get the feeling this might be LeBron James’ last great run at a title as the lead dog (or co-leading dog). But give me the Suns. Just don’t crush my inbox if they crash and burn.
QUESTION: You’ve been in the business for decades. Do you have an opinion about the latest coaching carousel where it seems championship coaches are fired the moment they don’t win? Ronnie G.
BIG ED: We try to keep it PG here at the mailbag, so I’ll just say that it stinks. In the last eight seasons, five different franchises have won the championship. Only one of those teams, Golden State (four titles) has the same coach that guided them to the trophy. Mike Budenholzer won the championship in 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks. After winning only one playoff series in the last two seasons, he’s gone. Frank Vogel, Nick Nurse, Ty Lue – all gone from the teams they led to the promised land. It’s a mystery to me how so many franchises think there are better coaching options out there than the one they presently have. If you know there’s an elite leader out there, great. But if you’re planning on recycling somebody or trying to identify a potential great head coach who has risen through the assistant ranks, good luck. Maybe the Mavericks gave Rick Carlisle too much of a grace period after winning the title in 2011. But I’d rather see teams err that way than dump a guy with the shine not even worn off the trophy. And by the way, Carlisle helped oversee the restart of a new era.
QUESTION: What’s your opinion of the Mavericks now that you’ve had time to digest the season and what would be your three main areas of focus to improve on in 2023-24. Lyndon H.
BIG ED: Rebounding, rebounding and more rebounding. Actually, that may be an exaggeration, but maybe not. They need shooters and defenders, too. But if you’ve been watching the playoffs, you know how important rebounding – and in particular offensive rebounding – has been. The Miami Heat won one of their games against New York purely with their work on the boards. To put it bluntly, the Mavericks need a glass-kicker. They were outrebounded 44.7 to 38.8 on average last season. And on the offensive glass, they were the worst in the NBA, retrieving only 18 percent of their missed shots. That has to change next season. Go back to 2021-22 and they had a virtual push on the boards for the season. The Mavericks don’t have to be a super rebounding team. But they must be better.
PERKINS FOR 3: What seasoning do you use on ribs?
Big Ed: You knew I was going to include a barbecue question in here. And this is a good one. Other than some SPG on one side (that’s salt, pepper, garlic for you novices), we are partial to Bill’s on the other. It’s a Hill Country seasoning available most places in the greater San Saba area, where it is produced. But I’m always open to new tastes and ideas. My feeling is that ribs done right don’t need a whole lot of extras. I do like sauce sometimes, but having a good rack and cooking them right is more important. And hold your jokes on that last line, please.
QUESTION: Can you explain the draft lottery system and how it works? John T.
BIG ED: I could, but it would take another 20 minutes of your time reading about it. What I can tell you is that mavs.com will have a complete primer for next week’s lottery on Thursday. Be sure to check back for all the details.
Twitter: @ESefko
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