Mega Finals Preview-Exercising the Demons

I’m a Heat hater.

I hate the way Dwyane Wade acted the part of general manager and convinced LeBron James and Chris Bosh to join him in Miami. I hate the way the trio held a championship celebration before a single game was even played. I hate Pat Riley because he’s a douche. I hate LeBron’s receding hairline and I hated LeBron’s narcissistic summer of self-entitlement. Everything about it was eminently hateable. Success doesn’t come easy in life, so why should it for the Heatles?

But then the season started and the Heat struggled. And struggled some more. Then they hit their groove and ripped off a 19-1 streak. Then they struggled again, and according to Eric Spoelstra, players were “crying” in the locker room. It was intoxicating; especially as my beloved Boston Celtics hadn’t lost yet to Miami and the Heat were a paltry 18-20 against playoff teams heading into April.

Deep down, I think I’m afraid. I think every fellow Heat hater across the country is afraid. Why? Because if Miami can manage to win the title with two and a half real players (yes, I am counting Chris Bosh as half a player because no one knows whether screaming, aggressive Bosh will show up, or his more Boozer-like counterpart) and a bunch of cast-offs, underperformers, and 12th men we’re all done—the decade is lost. LeBron, Wade, and Bosh will get some reinforcements—it’s inevitable. Pat Riley will pull some strings, work his magic, and lure some free agents enamored by the powerful trio tearing it up in South Beach. So if the Heat can manage to win it all in year one, when everyone was learning to play with each other, Mike Miller playing at approximately 15 percent effectiveness, Udonis Haslem injured, Joel Anthony starting at center, and AARP member Mike Bibby pretending to play defense then LeBron’s seven-title proclamation might come true after all. God forbid.

In their way stands the Dallas Mavericks. The much maligned Dallas Mavericks many predicted to bow out in the first round to the Portland Trailblazers (including me). The team led by a 32 year-old foreign power forward, a 38 year-old point guard, 33 year-old small forward, oft-injured journeyman center, and a starting two-guard once thought of as the next Jordan. Seriously. Oh, and don’t forget about the 4-foot-6 garden gnome known as J.J Barea who comes off the bench and inexplicably gives Dallas a quick twenty points in half the time. I won’t say this is a battle between the new guard and old guard, because that’s way too corny, but the contrast is stark between the Heat and Mavs.



Mavericks basketball is all about the ball movement, Miami revolves around its two best players—LeBron James and Dwyane Wade—and their ability to create for others. Dallas is ten deep while Miami has maybe, MAYBE five guys you would comfortably go to war with. The Kidd-Nowitzki-Terry triumvirate has been together for three-plus years while LeBron and Wade haven’t played with each other longer than seven months. Dallas has a beautiful offense while Miami boasts a formidable defense. The Heat’s big three has lingering crunch time questions while Dirk shines in the closing minutes. Miami is bombastic while Dallas is reserved.

And then there was 2006…when Miami beat Dallas in the Finals 4-2 after they lost the first two games of the series. You know the rest; Wade got to the line if he was sneezed on, Udonis Haslem abused Dirk Nowitzki so bad defensively a lawsuit was filed, and debated raged concerning the amount of work Pat Riley had done on his face. The consensus was that the better team lost, in part because of the officiating, but also because Nowitzki, up to the Finals, was having one of the all-time great playoff runs averaging a 28-10 and uncorking one patented “Dirk” game with 50 points on 26 shots, five three’s, and 12 boards for taste. Then he imploded against Miami, shooting 39 percent, playing passively, and exhibiting some of the worst body language I’ve ever seen. Think Kevin Durant from the Western Conference Finals only pretend he has blond hair, is white, and shoots awkward fall-away 15-footers off of one leg. That’s Dirk Nowitzki circa 2006.

Thinking about it some more, the similarities between 2006 and 2011 are eerie, aren’t they? Dirk is once again uncorking a playoff run for the ages. Just like 2006 he’s storming into the Finals on one of the better playoff runs ever. I wrote about it in an earlier post, but Dirk’s run has a chance to go down as the best ever assuming his Finals performance lives up to what he’s accomplished the past four weeks. But that’s assuming Dirk doesn’t totally fall apart like he did five years ago.

I don’t think the big German will implode again, and here’s why: He’s more physical. Did you see the way Nick Collison played him in round three? 2006 Dirk would have folded like a lawn chair. He would have bitched because of the foul calls he wasn’t getting. 2011 Dirk could care less. One play is a microcosm of all this: in game four as Dallas was in the midst of a furious comeback Dirk was very clearly bumped by Collison on the way up for a shot. Nowitzki merely adjusted his body and launched some kind of rainbow jumper from his right shoulder that looked like it was being shot from a catapult. He didn’t get the call (which he should have) but it didn’t matter. He nailed it. It didn’t even touch the rim. 2006 Dirk would give up post position just like 2011 Durant. I don’t know if Nowitzki got stronger, savvier, or toughened up but you can’t just bully him out of position anymore. He gets to exactly the spot he likes, backs you down, and then sends home a 15-footer that will rip your heart out. Could you say the same about Dirk Nowitzki five-plus years ago? I don’t think so.

Some unanswered and provoking questions heading into the Finals:

1. Can two guys beat five?

It’s been the question of the season, hasn’t it? Could LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and some warm bodies beat the Celtics, Magic, Lakers, or Spurs? So far, the answer has been yes…sort of.

Miami’s path through the postseason has been easier than anyone expected. They drew a Boston squad in round two devastated by injury and trade—with a Rondo playing at MAYBE 25 percent, and a Kevin Garnett unable to totally bring it game after game. Then they played Chicago, a team with a perimeter star defended by a bigger, totally defensively capable superstar. They didn’t have to play Orlando and Dwight Howard, nor did they draw a Lakers team rolling on all cylinders. Last year’s Lakers would have sliced right through the Heat like a hot knife through butter. Andrew Bynum would be giggling on his way to a 20-15 every night.

But I digress; can Miami’s “Big 3” beat the Mavericks “Big 10”? Is LeBron, Wade, and Bosh creating open looks for a bunch of lesser players enough to win an NBA championship? The way they rolled through Philadelphia, Boston, and Chicago you would think so…but…but…there’s just one thing:

2. Is Dirk Nowitzki—right now—the best player in this series?

Dirk is playing at a yet unseen level of efficiency, like ever. He’s shooting 52 percent from the field, 52 percent from deep, and 93 percent at the line. Against Oklahoma City he went 59-61 from the stripe. He’s scoring just over 28 points per game on 18 shot attempts. That is UNREAL. And everything Dallas does on the offensive end goes through Nowitzki. He opens up shots for everybody. His assist numbers might be low (2.7 a game) but if the NBA counted hockey assists, his totals would be through the roof. In fact, I think the stat guys should give Dirk half of Jason Kidd’s assists because Nowitzki opens up such gigantic passing lanes you could fit LeBron’s ego through them. And you know what I love about Dirk more than anything else? He NEVER forces anything; every shot he takes comes in the flow of the game. He’s never a ball-stopper and his passing out of the post is better than ever. In case you can’t tell, my love for Dirk Nowitzki is at an all-time high.

But still, is he playing better than LeBron James—fresh off of shutting down MVP point guard Derrick Rose on one end and hitting clutch shot after clutch shot on the other? By a hair, I’d have to say Nowitzki. So if Dallas has the best player in the series, what’s the problem? Miami has that other guy, Dwyane Wade—you may have heard of him. This takes us back to the original question, is Miami’s big three better than the Maverick’s depth? Is LeBron and Wade’s ability to create for others enough to beat Dirk and the Dirkettes?

I think it could be for one simple reason: Miami’s success and style of play is more replicable and consistent than Dallas’s. Which leads us to the next question…


3. Doesn’t the Maverick’s hot shooting have to cool off at some point?

You would think so, but through a month of basketball at the highest level it has yet to taper off. Dallas is shooting the three-ball at a 39 percent clip, and their best shooters—Nowitzki, Terry, and Peja—are shooting 52, 46, and 40 percent respectively. Considering Dallas hit from deep at a 37 percent clip during the regular season you would think a regression to the mean would be coming at some point. But here’s the kicker, throughout the playoffs Miami has been the third worst team at defending the three-point line, allowing opponents to hit 39 percent of their long-range shots.

I suggest you read this Brian Windhorst piece over at ESPN.com, because he does a fantastic job outlining Miami’s defensive strategy, and why, exactly it could come back to bite them. Windhorst says, “The Heat, meanwhile, play a style of defense designed around bringing help to the middle and leaving long-range shooters open” and, “Otherwise, though, the Heat plan to stick to their defensive style even if it means risking giving up those dangerous 3-pointers.” Miami tends to overcome that weakness with the size, speed, and athleticism of their elite wing players—meaning James and Wade. It worked against Chicago and their paltry three-point shooting but can it do the same against the best three-point shooting team in basketball?

Piggy-backing off the three-point shooting quandary, isn’t what Miami does more sustainable than what Dallas does? Meaning the Heat’s defense will be consistently terrific but will the Mavericks continue to amaze us with their long range marksmanship? LeBron and Wade are consistently brilliant because even if their mid-range games aren’t working they can drive into the paint on a whim and create something out of nothing. And if nothing else, Miami will ALWAYS have their defense to fall back on. I can’t say the same for Dallas.


4. Isn’t all the karma on the Maverick’s side…?

Seriously, that 2006 series was a travesty. Wade got more phantom calls in that one series than Derrick Rose, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant did the entire 2010-2011 regular season. And then there’s that whole thing about Dwyane Wade luring James and Bosh to Miami, possibly guilty of all kinds of tampering charges along the way. This is the first year the “Big 2.5” has been together, while Kidd, Nowitzki, and Terry have been knocked out of the postseason early each of the past three seasons. How is it fair that Bosh, Wade, and James win a title together before Nowitzki, Kidd, and Terry? Come on Basketball Gods; is there no justice in the world???


5. How improbable has the Maverick’s success been?



Let’s put this in perspective:

-Peja Stojakovic—who hasn’t played meaningful minutes in two years—is the third wheel in the most devastating shooting triumvirate of the playoffs along with Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry. And he’s even had some nifty forays into the paint and played some defense…what is this 2003?

-Jason Kidd is 38 and was playing so poorly towards the end of the season he sat out for ten days and had hip replacement surgery (I’m only kidding about one of those). So it’s particularly improbable that Kidd played terrific defense for two series in a row, knocked down at least half a dozen cold-blooded threes against Oklahoma City, and is playing his best basketball since he arrived in Dallas three years ago.

-Jose Juan Barea—all four feet of him—is contributing HUGE minutes to a Finals team. I keep thinking there’s a catch to his game, like he’s not really that good except he’s so short opponents don’t pay enough attention to him, but I couldn’t be more wrong. Barea is INCREDIBLY crafty at using the rim to lay the ball in—either going with his floater or dropping the ball in HIGH off glass. He never loses his dribble and plays that little pick-and-roll with Dirk to perfection. As a short guy, I’m so jealous…


Regardless of who wins this series, demons will be exercised. Either LeBron James will finally win his title or Dirk Nowitzki will banish the haunting memories of 2006 and take one step closer towards the pantheon of greats.

But who wins? My brain tells me to go with the Heat while my heart yearns for a Dallas title. Logic says that the Maverick’s shooting percentage will regress and that Dirk—in the midst of a flawless postseason—will falter at least once. Logic dictates Miami’s tremendous pick-and-roll defense will put a stop to J.J Barea’s reckless but effective incursions in the paint, and that LeBron James has a better chance than anyone slowing down Nowitzki.

But that’s what logic says, and basketball says screw you to logic.

Dallas in seven, barely. Nowitzki receives his well-deserved Finals MVP trophy and Mark Cuban finally spews all the trash talk and “nobody believed in us!” bullshit we know he’s been holding in.

One more year LeBron, than the decade is officially yours.

A Dark Realization

I guess they can win it. I guess LeBron and Wade and Bosh really can win the title even though James is averaging 45 minutes a night and Miami’s best guys off the bench are Mike Miller, Udonis Haslem (who hasn’t played in months) and Mario Chalmers. I guess they can win the championship even though their starting point guard couldn’t defend a refrigerator and has been decidedly un-elite at his supposed elite skill.

Damn. I feel like my life has been a lie.

Several events from last night’s game four scared the absolute hell out of me:

1. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are cyborgs:

As we dissected Miami’s chances over the summer, many of us came to one very important conclusion: Because of Miami’s lack of depth Wade and James would be forced to play HUGE minutes—more than any human should be able to handle. But we forgot one thing; LeBron James and Dwyane Wade aren’t normal basketball players—they’re basketball cyborgs.

In some ways I thing we underestimated Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. I think we forgot how good they really are. Somehow, someway, through all the drama of the decision and the greatest free agency period in league history, LeBron and Wade became underrated.

But this postseason has proved us wrong. Watching D-Wade struggle through four quarters of basketball last night, you would not have thought he is one of the best seven or eight players in the NBA. But then overtime happened, and Wade came to life.

First, he blocked a Derrick Rose three point attempt and then he hit a twenty-footer. He drove into the lane and hit one of his patented euro-step layups. Then he blocked a Loul Deng jump shot and nailed the two clinching free throws on the other end. His fingerprints were all over the extra period—both offensively and defensively.

And LeBron? How he played 49 of 53 minutes and failed to look exhausted in his post-game interview I’ll never know.

2. Mike Miller was resurrected:

The Mike Miller we saw last night was the Mike Miller we all expected for the entire season. 12 points, nine rebounds, a steal, a block, and two three-pointers is your typical Miller game when he’s at his best. A healthy and effective Miller makes the Heat ABSOLUTELY terrifying.

3. Remember when we thought defense would be an issue?:

At least I did. Mimai doesn’t have a post defender born in the past three decades; they don’t have an elite defensive big like a Kendrick Perkins or Tyson Chandler. How would they defend that all important five feet of space in front of the basket? How could Wade and James play 40 minutes of elite defense when they would have to expend so much energy carrying the offense? HOW WAS IT POSSIBLE???

I underestimated the athletic ability of Wade and James. LeBron’s defensive performance last night was the single best 49 minutes of defense I’ve seen all season. A 6-foot-8 forward shutdown the fastest player in the NBA. A FORWARD stymied an MVP-winning POINT GUARD.

Twice in overtime and at the end of regulation Rose went for his step-back and twice LeBron didn’t budge. He knew where Rose was going before Rose knew it. I think LeBron has reached the point in his career where he can guard anyone. ANYONE. Put him on the opponent’s best scorer and he’ll frustrate him all night long.

When Wade and James came together 10 months ago THIS is what we envisioned. They’re like a hurricane on the defensive end. No one gets anything easy in transition because LeBron and Wade are feared for their chase-down blocks.

The pair averaged 3.1 steals over the season and the way they fly around on defense, disrupting passing lanes, and bothering point guards is akin to the greatest defensive backcourt the NBA has ever seen—Jordan and Pippen. It’s frightening, intoxicating, and awe-inspiring that the duo is finally jiving.

That’s all I’ve got. Beware the Miami Heat.

YOU JUST GOT DIRKED ON!

Somebody get Kevin Durant and friends some towels, because they just got Dirked on—hard.

This series isn’t over—technically speaking—but coming back from a 15 point deficit to win in overtime is a feat accomplished only once in the past 15 years of playoff basketball. Did you see Kevin Durant in his postgame conference? His body language was worse than David Kahn after he lost the lottery to a teenager. In terms of all-time heart wrenching pressers, Durant’s had to be right up there with Tracy McGrady’s tear-jerker. Most athletes after a big loss are matter-of-fact, short on patience, and snappy with the press. Not Durant…he was simply devastated. Who stole his cookie jar? Oh right, Dirk.

I’m flabbergasted by Oklahoma City’s lack of late game execution. Read this excellent take on OKC’s last play in regulation by NBAPLAYBOOK. Durant, it turns out, did exactly what he WASN’T supposed to do by flashing towards Westbrook (the ball handler in this case) rather than flaring to the corner off of a Collison screen. It results in Westbrook and Durant—Oklahoma City’s two best scorers—standing right next to each other, with five seconds on the clock, and three Mavericks planted directly between them and the hoop. What happens next as they say, is history.

It’s nice that Brooks actually decided to go with a set rather than your basic isolation play, but Durant’s massive F’ up speaks to Oklahoma City’s collective inexperience. If you follow the Celtics with any regularity you would know that Coach Doc Rivers is the MASTER of drawing up late game plays that work. Boston has won several games because of alley-oops from the inbounder to Kevin Garnett or a series of beautiful screens to spring Ray Allen free for a three-pointer. I’m mystified as to why Brooks doesn’t run catch and shoots for Durant more often in late game situations.

Assuming the Thunder do indeed fall to Dallas their offseason will feel a little longer than you would expect for a young squad on the rise. Kevin Durant needs to learn how to use screens to free himself for open shots. Russell Westbrook needs to play in “the flow” rather than jack up shots at the most inopportune times. And most of all, the coaching staff needs to figure out what the hell to do offensively. It’s strange to criticize a top ten offense, but it’s inconsistency in the postseason has been glaring. Folks will heap the blame on Westbrook, but really, doesn’t much of it lie on the shoulders of Coach Scott Brooks?

But for all of OKC’s late game struggles none of this would have happened if Dirk Nowitzki didn’t go super-nova. So far, he’s having one of the best playoff performances EVER. That’s right, EVER. He’s taken efficiency to another level. Dirk is averaging almost 29 points per game on only 18 shots. He’s shooting 52 percent from the field, 52 percent from behind the arc, and 92 percent from the free throw line. Those percentages are unheard of. If Nowitzki can keep pace with his scoring average all the way to the title, say eight more games, he’ll have scored 629 points. Now consider that he’s scored 629 points (not so far off of Jordan’s record 759) while shooting the coveted 50-40-90 (50 percent from the field, 40 percent from deep, 90 percent from the line), averaged like a kajillion points in the fourth quarter, and hit at least two what-the-f***-Dirk shots per game. That’s a lot of assumptions, but it really bangs home how impressive Dirk has been.

It’s hard to put greatness in perspective when you’re witnessing it, and with Dirk it’s happening right before our eyes. Dallas Coach Rick Carlisle has been adamant that Dirk Nowitzki is a top ten player of all time. When it’s all said and done it will be hard to disagree.

We—as the basketball watching community—rack our brains for historical precedents all the time. With our meager minds I think it’s the best way we know to put unbelievable events and feats of greatness in perspective. Even as I write this I struggle to come up with something particularly enlightening or ground breaking besides OMGDIRKNOWITZKIISABASKETBALLPHENOMSENTFROMHEAVEN.

But sometimes, we need to step back and appreciate an athlete for what he is, not who he is like. Dirk Nowitzki is his own beast entirely. I’ve never seen anyone play offense like the big German. With his seven foot tall frame I’ve never seen anyone hit such an array of shots with such a high degree of difficulty like Dirk has.

As a shooter, that “swish” that results from the ball dropping cleanly through the net is like crack-cocaine. I think Nowitzki is the most satisfied junky on the planet.

State of a Depressed Basketball Fan

I would like to take this opportunity to formally announce my entrance onto the Oklahoma City Thunder’s bandwagon. After a nut-crushingly brutal near-sweep at the hands of arguably my least favorite sports team ever, my Boston Celtics were knocked out in gut splattering fashion. Without a “dog in the fight” I feel the need to throw my allegiance towards someone, ANYONE besides the Heatles.

I find myself inextricably drawn to the Thunder. I would like to see the aging duo of Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd win a title after honing their craft for over a decade (and in Kidd’s case, maybe a century). I like Tom Thibadeau and Derrick Rose a hell of a lot…and the Memphis Grizzlies were quite a story; a writers dream. But something about these Oklahoma City Thunder—formally the Seattle Super Sonics—keeps drawing me back in. Something about this Western Conference title fight has kindled my great-basketball-sensors.

Here’s why I love the Thunder:

1. The Russell Westbrook-Kevin Durant dynamic…

It’s absolutely fascinating. They have no idea how to play with each other. Westbrook has all the physical talents in the world yet has no ability to harness it. He has no idea how to use his body, use his teammates, or control a ball game. I’m not saying I have any of that either, but Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd—I have seen them dominate games with four points. Russell Westbrook just doesn’t understand that yet.

Imagine you’re hanging out with a group of friends, and someone tells a joke or points out something really funny. Everyone goes with it for a while but there’s always one guy who takes it too far. He takes the joke to the point where it isn’t funny anymore. I think everyone has a friend like that in their group. That’s Russell Westbrook. He doesn’t recognize a good time to launch an 18-foot jumper or when it’s a bad time to take his man one-on-one. He seems to make the wrong decision at the worst possible time, like last night when he took his man to the hoop only to have the ball stripped just as OKC was beginning their run.

Kevin Durant, already a phenomenal player, has own faults. He seems to view screens as an insult to his scoring talents—he would much rather launch fall away 20-footers (which, admittedly, he’s way to good at). And he doesn’t have a post-up game—part of the reason both Dirk Nowitzki and Carmelo Anthony are completely unguardable.

Part of the reason the Durant-Westbrook combo is so likeable is that both young player’s flaws are painfully evident. But we can also see them growing all the time. Last night, with DeShawn Stevenson fronting Durant and playing him physically, Kevin returned the favor more than a few times. I hadn’t seen that side of him before; I’m glad it’s there.

2. The James Harden-Eric Maynor bench backcourt…



His beard says a lot, but surprisingly, there’s more to James Harden than that savage mask of manliness. Harden has been a favorite of mine since he came into the league two years ago and even more so now that he’s reaching his potential. As recently as December we wondered whether GM Sam Presti made a mistake taking Harden third overall before Stephen Curry or Tyreke Evans. I think we can close the books on that argument. Curry and Evans are fantastic NBA players, but neither is the type of passer and playmaker Harden has shown himself to be. Curry might be able to shoot the lights out but he isn’t the slasher and foul drawing machine Harden is. Evans might be a bull in the paint but he can’t match Harden’s shooting ability. Harden combines the best of both players and seems to have come into his role as Oklahoma City’s sixth man.

Eric Maynor hails from my university of choice, so of course I live vicariously through his success. When you attend a college not exactly known as a basketball star breeding ground, you’ll take anything you can get—and Maynor making a meaningful impact on a title contender is more than most expected.

And then last night happened, when Coach Scott Brooks rode Eric Maynor at point for the entire fourth quarter of a must-win playoff game. Over Russell Westbrook. Yes, that Russell Westbrook…the all-star. I think it’s more about how well Maynor was playing and less of an indictment of Westbrook. But I gotta say I like the way Eric Maynor plays point guard.

3. Serge Ibaka’s rise…

What are the chances we’ll see another Serge Ibaka story? Probably pretty low. If you didn’t know, Sergeballu LaMu Sayonga Loom Walahas Jonas Hugo Ibaka was born and lived much of his life in the Congo—the third youngest of 18 children. When Ibaka was selected with the 24th pick of the 2008 draft he spoke nary a word of English and relied on teammate Moses Ehambe to translate for him. Now, he is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Lingala—his native language. Entering the league he was a developmental prospect—a raw athletic specimen with little knowledge of the intricacies of the game. In two years he’s worked himself into becoming a starter on a title contender, averaging nearly four blocks a game and eight rebounds. He even participated in the annual dunk contest at all-star weekend this year.

I’ll say Sergeballu LaMu Sayonga Loom Walahas Jonas Hugo Ibaka’s rise has been pretty meteoric…and it isn’t finished yet.

4. Former Celtics…



Watching the Celtics during the latter half of the season I missed Kendrick Perkins’ scowling, his mean glares, and his prolific trash talking. As often as he would get caught for illegal screens he would just as often set Ray Allen free on the perimeter for wide open threes with bone-crushing picks. I missed how he would defend the paint like a blood-crazed grizzly bear protecting her children. With Perkins gone the Boston Celtics lost part of their identity…a part they have yet to recover and maybe never will.

Perkins hasn’t playing well as of late, but he still brings his mean streak and leadership to the Thunder’s young squad. Watching Perk death-glare officials, rough up Tyson Chandler, and even nail a few jumpers has been like porn for Celtics fans.

And then there’s Nate Robinson—a player I despised, not for his personality but the way he would jack up three after three like he was the spawn of Reggie Miller and Ray Allen. But for all his ills on the court Nate Robinson is arguably the best bench cheerleader of the modern era. He’s a prodigy—a joy to watch. And for that, begrudgingly, I miss him.


For everyone, myself included, the Thunder have been a hard team to figure out. Their collection of talent is prodigious. Kevin Durant is as adept with screens as David Kahn is with jokes and doesn’t even have a post game, yet he still manages to lead the league in scoring two straight years. Russell Westbrook looks like a top ten player during his best games and a bottom ten after his worst. But we all know basketball is more than just talent; it’s how the pieces fit. If the Thunder were a jigsaw puzzle, it would be pretty phenomenal—like a picture of Kim Kardashian or something, but the individual pieces wouldn’t quite fit together perfectly. It would still be sweet looking but the edges might be jagged or some of the nubs might have been snipped off. If OKC can figure out how to piece that puzzle together just right we might be talking dynasty.

So when will they figure it out? Conventional wisdom holds it takes a few years. You need to lose on the biggest stage, take your lumps, and push back harder than ever. But that’s the conventional wisdom, and if we’ve learned anything it’s that this team DEFIES the conventional wisdom. I’ve written about it before, but the Thunder are challenging our concept of championship basketball and an OKC title would be a natural evolution.

But that’s a matter of two young stars learning to excel with each other. It’s a matter of every piece fitting seamlessly and ever player locked in completely. That’s what scares me about the Mavericks; they look locked in. Everyone’s contributing and everyone is fulfilling their role. They know what they are, and everyone knows who they are. I can’t say the same for the Thunder.

But you know what? That’s why I love em’.

As corny as it sounds Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant are on a journey of exploration and we’re along for the ride. Only time will tell where it will end—and how it will progress…

Western Finals Game 1-What did we learn?

Besides our new-found knowledge that Dirk Nowitzki is actually a divine being sent to earth to bless the masses with his prodigious basketball skills, not much actually.

Here’s what I can say with utmost certainty about Dirk NO-MISS-ski:

-Dirk no longer needs to see the basket when shooting; it is merely a luxury reserved for lesser beings.

-As far as Basketball Reference is concerned, Dirk Nowitzki is one of only two players as far back as their database goes to ever score 40 or more points on 15 or less field goals attempted and 15 or less field goals made in a playoff game.

-No one has ever taken more than 21 free throws in a single game and made every single one. Except Dirk.

-I couldn’t hit 24 straight free throws if the basket was a bathtub and the ball had a homing device.

-Dirk Nowitzki is officially unguardable. Even with Ibaka’s oven mitt in his face and not an inch of ground given, Dirk still managed that awkward 17-foot one-legged fall away.

Some other scattered game 1 thoughts…

Russell Westbrook needs to dominate the point guard matchup…

Westbrook, in four games against Dallas this season, has shot 17-59 from the floor for an average of 16 points a game. That obviously needs to be reversed if Oklahoma City has a chance of beating Jesus Dirk Nowitzki. Dallas’s zone did a superb job of not only denying Kevin Durant the ball but cutting off Westbrook’s penetration—a staple of the Thunder’s attack.

Dirk’s performance was unholy, butttttt……..

He got a bunch of ticky-tack fouls to go his way. OKC was allowed to play the Grizzlies’ big men physically in round two and they won’t seem to have that luxury against Jesus Dirk. Ibaka and Collison need to adjust so Dirk doesn’t make another two dozen trips to the line. Given time, I think they will.

Oklahoma City is FINE…

The Thunder took the Mav’s best shot and were down only six with two minutes to go. They won the transition battle 22-14, won the battle in the paint 40-36, out-rebounded Dallas, and even got to the line more despite Nowitzki practically living at the stripe. Durant dominated whoever guarded him and James Harden had a solid outing off the bench.

If Westbrook improves and OKC can cool it with the fouls I like my previous prediction of Oklahoma City in six.

Assuming Dirk can't score 60 on 10 shots, that is.

How Boston's Big Three Changed My Life

I haven’t always been a basketball fan. In fact, I haven’t been a devotee of the game for very long at all.

It all started in 2007, when three of the most talented ballers in the NBA sacrificed part of themselves to come together for one final run in the twilight of their careers. It was all so perfect. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen—they could have cared less about the numbers, the accolades, or the glory. They. Just. Wanted. To. Win.

Pre 2007 I wasn’t interested in basketball—I was a football man through and through. Basketball was always the sport on the peripheral, hiding in the background as the New England Patriots racked up titles and owned the decade.

My grandfather loved basketball, and he loved the Celtics. He used to brush his teeth before every game because he thought it was good luck. He watched the Bird era, the Russell era, the Cowens era—otherwise known as the greatest era in human history. My only regret is not growing up with my new-found passion for the game so I could enjoy the special moments watching those dreadful Celtic teams of the early 2000’s and late 90’s.

Everything changed in 2007, when Danny Ainge grew two coconut sized balls and stole Ray Allen from Seattle. He then traded nearly his whole team for Kevin Garnett. It remains the largest trade in league history. And after trading Kendrick Perkins several months ago, Ainge’s balls remain unnaturally large.

Brand me with the dreaded “band-wagoner” moniker all you want, I don’t care. Some earned their basketball-watching chops witnessing the magic of Larry Bird or Magic Johnson. Others learned how the game was played from those 1979 Portland Trailblazers or the 72 win Chicago Bulls juggernaut. I absorbed great basketball by watching Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce converge together and sacrifice personal numbers for victories. I had the pleasure of observing Garnett’s unreal help defense; Paul Pierce’s slow but sure offensive game, and Ray Allen’s buttery jump shot. I watched everyone make the right pass, everyone commit to excellent defense.

These Boston Celtics taught me basketball, and for that I am forever indebted.

As of May 12, 2011 the future of the Boston Celtics is very much in flux. Will Doc Rivers return? He said he would in the heat of the moment after a rough game five collapse. Will any of the big three retire, as old as they are? What of Jeff Green and Glen Davis—two promising young players headed towards free agency?

Boston may tweak the roster or they may decide to completely rebuild—no one knows. But I can say with confidence that the “big 3” era is slowly, reluctantly, grinding to a halt. Kevin Garnett can’t bring it every game—even with a night’s rest. Paul Pierce isn’t the offensive force he used to be. The title window isn’t shut, but Rajon Rondo’s foot is the only thing keeping it open. The cruel reality of this Miami series is that a healthy Rondo may have been the difference.

I don’t think this is farewell—I hope not—but if it is, thanks guys. Thanks for showing me how it’s done, thanks for fostering a love that will last a lifetime (cue corny Zale’s commercial). Thanks to Boston’s big three, I know how the game is supposed to be played. I can die knowing I’ve seen team basketball at its zenith.

If you’ll excuse me, I have a shrine to build.

Playoff Ponderings

This is long overdue...

Every postseason has a theme. An identity. A motif. That term paper you wrote about The Great Gatsby in 11th grade might come in handy after all. In 2008, we had the resurgence: two all-time franchises reclaiming their glory once again. In 2009, it was the year of LeBron as James grabbed his first MVP trophy and barnstormed the league to the tune of a 66-16 regular season record. Last year, it was the switch as both the Celtics and Lakers proved true greatness can manifest itself at the whim of the legendary.

This year, it’s the changing of the guard. I’m not the first person to write about it, nor will I be the last. But when searching for a thread that connects the season you can’t ignore the three greatest franchises of the decade that have been, or are very close to falling without even a sniff of the conference finals. The San Antonio Spurs lost to an eight seed, the Los Angeles Lakers were swept by the Mavericks and went out as anything but champions, and the Boston Celtics are on the precipice of defeat; down 3-1 against a team they nearly swept during the regular season. Surging towards the Finals are the Oklahoma City Thunder (with a median age of 22.4 amongst the starting unit), the Memphis Grizzlies (no starters over thirty), the Chicago Bulls (captained by the youngest basketball MVP ever), and the Miami Heat (boasting two of the five best players in the league, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, ages 29 and 26 respectively).

For the Celtics, Lakers, and Spurs this might have indeed been “The last stand” as Phil Jackson coined his final season on LA’s bench. Boston’s three stars are ages 35, 34, and 33. If you’ve read the tea leaves it looks like Los Angeles is prepared to dissemble its current roster and restock for the future. San Antonio couldn’t beat an eight seed, and their foundation, their rock—Tim Duncan—simply didn’t have a fifth gear to switch to in the playoffs like we all thought he did. The NBA’s recent talent flux—its youth infusion—is finally catching up with the old staples that have captured our attention for the better part of a decade. Say goodbye to the Paul Pierces, Kobe Bryant’s, and Tim Duncan’s; welcome the Kevin Durant’s and Derrick Rose’s.

Now that I’ve put myself in a dark enough mood, let’s answer some of the most biting questions, let’s recap the most endearing moments, and let’s try to make sense of the best NBA postseason ever.

1. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant WILL figure this out; it’s just a matter of when…

The Jordan era Chicago Bulls basically invented the classic championship-team formula. It goes like this: 1 alpha-dog who can be relied upon at the end of close games + 1 to 2 elite players who can contribute in multiple ways + 4 to 5 role players who have one elite skill=title. Look at any championship team over the past 25 years and I guarantee it follows that formula—almost to a tee. But just like this season is a changing of the guard, it may also be the year we look back on as the conception of a new winning formula.

We all want Russell Westbrook to fit conveniently into the role of Scottie Pippen to Kevin Durant’s Jordan. We want the Thunder to fit nicely into the prototypical winning formula of basketball. But you know what? Maybe that’s not meant to be for these two. Maybe Russell and Durant will redefine what we know about the NBA and what it takes to win a championship. Maybe they’ll signal the beginning of a new era of basketball champions. It’s pretty clear that Westbrook is too good to simply defer to Durant…he’s no game manager.

Westbrook takes a prohibitive amount of shit for his perceived recklessness. Just the way he explodes to the hoop or forgoes the simple pass to charge into the paint irks people. “He’s got Kevin Durant on his team!” people say. “Why does he take 25 shots a game when he plays with the NBA’s two time scoring champ?” we wonder. But that’s Westbrook, and where would the Thunder be without his relentless drives and timely buckets?

Durant and Westbrook, LeBron and Wade—they’re changing the way we think about basketball. They’re challenging the conventional wisdom. Until now, we’ve never seen a team find success this way. The pairing of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant could prove to be unstoppable, or it could fall apart. I’m already reading comparisons to the apocalyptic Marbury-Garnett pairing of the early 2000’s. Somehow, I think they’ll figure it out.

2. You want parity? You got parity…

Throughout the season much has been devoted to the gap between small-market and big-market clubs. How can anyone compete with the Celtics, Heat, and Bulls in the east or the Lakers and Mavericks out west? The Thunder, Hawks, Grizzlies, and Blazers have something to say about that.

Oklahoma became relevant not only because they snagged a franchise player in Kevin Durant, but because GM Sam Presti has been conservative with contracts and hasn’t spent big bucks on any free agents. He’s no David Kahn. He’s built the Thunder almost solely through the draft, and consequently, the Thunder have no starters over 27. The gap is still a pressing issue in the NBA, but the Thunder, Grizz, and Blazers have laid out the blueprint on how to smartly build a championship contending team.

Unlike previous seasons, there isn’t a clear favorite. Remember how Los Angeles rolled through the postseason last year or how Boston kept on beating everyone? Every team remaining has at least one big hole. I can think of a few reasons why each team won’t win the title—and it’s maddening.

Here’s how I see it:

-Boston Celtics: Too old. Kevin Garnett can’t consistently bring it and Rajon Rondo—no matter how large his hands may be—can’t play at a high level with one arm.

-Memphis Grizzlies: Pack the paint and defend their bigs. Memphis lacks outside shooting and elite guard play so how do they cope? Oklahoma City laid out the blueprint when they destroyed the Grizzles for the first three quarters of game three.

-Chicago Bulls: Chicago lacks a second play-maker outside of Derrick Rose, and there’s a gaping, cavernous hole at the 2-guard spot. Without Rose their offense goes from pretty good to holy balls awful.

-Atlanta Hawks: An unnatural fascination with isolation plays for Joe Johnson and Jamal Crawford. Not enough ball movement.

-Dallas Mavericks: Jason Kidd is about as incapable of defending fast point guards as an oak tree. DeShawn Stevenson is starting at the 2 spot. Yes, DeShawn Stevenson. Do they have enough offensive options?

Oklahoma City Thunder: Does the Russell Westbrook-Kevin Durant dynamic work itself out like I think it will? Kendrick Perkins said himself that he’s playing at 60 percent—is that enough?

-Miami Heat: Can the Heat really win a title with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh playing well below expectations, Joel Anthony(!), and a bunch of role-players not fitting well into their roles?

3. What happened to Pau Gasol?

Rumors were swirling across the internet that a recent brake-up between Gasol and his girlfriend and a rift with Kobe Bryant was to blame for Gasol’s like-a-Bosh playoff performance. Unsurprisingly, and most unfortunately, those rumors were proven false after ESPN tracked Gasol down for comment. He blamed his lackluster ten playoff games on tired legs and some tweaks to the offense.

That “tweaks to the offense” comment is particularly interesting, as it became painfully evident that the Lakers usual beautiful triangle offense was not working. Luke Walton also had some interesting comments on the offense, saying, “It was basic this year, a lot of simple aspects of the offense, not the second and third and counter options that make it so hard to guard especially in a playoffs series, when everyone else runs sets and we know what sets they’re running, where they’re going to go.”

For those unfamiliar with the triangle concept, Tex Winter (its creator) described it like this, “It relied upon quick passing and very few play calls, so the idea was uncomplicated. Players moved the ball quickly while they moved to certain spots on the floor. Since they weren’t running plays, but instead using tendencies, the defense couldn’t anticipate their movement, and the tendencies depended on where the defense moved.”

It makes you wonder what went wrong with the Lakers after a memorable three-year run and whether simply mastering the offense and a greater commitment to defense would spur another run to a championship banner.

NBA: the National Bat-shit crazy Association

Ten things NO ONE expected to happen in these playoffs:

1. Peja Stojakovic playing a crucial role on a title contender: Dallas needed a stone-cold shooter to space the floor for Dirk and Terry. Beyond all comprehension, Stojakovic is playing that role to a tee. Let’s not forget, this is the same guy who was once waived by the Raptors, traded to the Pacers for Ron Artest after the Brawl, and was once traded for the draft rights to Andrew Betts. If you don’t know who Andrew Betts is, it’s okay, because I don’t either.

2. Mike Miller scoring fewer points than Joel Anthony: Joel Anthony, through the playoffs has scored 41 points. Miller has scored three. Excuse me?

3. Marc Gasol being the best Gasol: Marc’s averages during the Oklahoma City series: 19 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 1.5 steals. Pau’s averages during the Dallas series: 13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.5 steals. Aren’t brotherly rivalries great?!

4. J.J Berea gave a post-game sideline interview: Yes, yes he did.

5. Rajon Rondo cemented his status as the most badass, balls-out, hardcore mother f’'er in the league: Recall this (#6) story from 2008, when the Celtics won the championship. Rondo suffered a bone bruise in game three of the Finals that was so painful he could barely move. But, he played. And then his arm bent the wrong way after he awkwardly landed on it in game 3 against the Heat and he continued to play—and make a difference. A Chuck Norris-ian effort.

6. Shaq making little difference: I’m just kidding, everyone expected a hobbled Shaq to make about as much difference on the court as a limbless Rajon Rondo would. I will now dive into a bathtub of sulfuric acid.

7. The Hawks contending: It looked like they quit on their coach a month ago. Now they’re in a tight battle with the Chicago Bulls for a crack at the conference finals. Their playbook consists of Joe Johnson—Jamal Crawford Iso’s and Jeff Teague floaters, but still. Pretty impressive.

8. Carlos Boozer becoming many, many people’s least favorite basketball player on Earth: It may be the spray-on beard, it may be the way he screams like a crazed wildebeest after every rebound, every bucket, or anything that ever happens on the court, or it may be the way he wears a towel on his head on the bench, but Carlos Boozer has become America’s least favorite basketball player. LeBron James, you have been spared.

9. Jeff Teague’s improbably great play: Not only is his face the size of a volleyball, Teague has played better than Atlanta’s injured starting point guard, Kirk Hinrich. The man has scored 17 points a game against Chicago and has hit approximately 456 floaters in the lane. Seriously, no one in the league can shoot a floater quite like Jeff Teague. He’s the FREAKING MASTER.

10. TWO Laker cheap shots in the deciding game four, none of which were made by Ron Artest: Two of the most mellow guys you’ll ever hear of off the court out-crazied Ron Artest. I have no explanation for Andrew Bynum’s recent slew of dangerous shots, but I would surmise the Kardashians nefarious influence has poisoned Lamar Odom. Quick, TRADE HIM.

FEARLESS PREDICTIONS

Simply because I enjoy embarrassing myself, here’s how I think the rest of the playoffs play out. Considering I picked Kansas to win the big dance, approach with caution.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume Miami takes care of Boston (that sound you hear is the toilet as I attempt to flush my head down it), Chicago beats Atlanta (not-that-big of an assumption), and Oklahoma City beats Memphis ( a kind of big assumption). If any of that doesn’t happen my predictions immediately go to shit, but whatever. Let the meaningless conjecturing commence!

Conference Finals

Oklahoma City Thunder OVER Dallas Mavericks in 6

Weird, I know. My reasoning boils down to the matchups. Here’s the way I see it:

1. Serge Ibaka vs. Dirk Nowitzki: There’s no way Ibaka can lock him down, but he can at least hope to contain him. Ibaka is precisely the type of long, athletic defender Nowitzki historically has some difficulty with. Considering the Mavs are on a streak of proving the pundits wrong, maybe I’m the next victim, but Serge should fare better than the corpse of Pau Gasol. Of that, I’m certain. Kind of.

2. Kevin Durant vs. whoever: Here’s where Dallas REALLY misses Caron Butler—a very capable defender. Shawn Marion is the likely matchup (BLEGH), or the Mavs will dust off Corey Brewer, thus destroying the offense. Either way, Dallas loses.

3. Russell Westbrook vs. Jason Kidd: Oh God. Kidd has had the great fortune of defending Andre Miller (age 35), Derek Fisher (36), and Kobe Bryant (whose first-step is gone) the first two rounds. Now he’s drawn Russell Westbrook, EXACTLY the type of guard he can’t deal with. This could get ugly.

4. James Harden vs. either Jason Terry or DeShawn Stevenson: Harden can defend both and has the size advantage on Terry to either take him into the post or shoot over. Plus, he’s a very capable defender.

I’d love to see Dirk win a title as much as anyone, but I think Oklahoma City has matchup advantages across the line-up. Mark Cuban will now bathe himself in liquid nitrogen.

Miami Heat OVER Chicago Bulls in 7

I don’t want to believe the Heat can win a title in a season this competitive with two and a half guys. But I think they can, and I think they’ll beat the Chicago Bulls. When Kyle Korver is on the floor, Chicago’s offense is better. Unfortunately, Korver couldn’t defend George Washington. Dwyane Wade will do everything short of stick Korver’s head on a totem pole and eat his heart for lunch if he gets the chance. But if Korver doesn’t get minutes, Chicago’s offense will suffer, especially against a defense the caliber of Miami’s. Quite a conundrum for Coach Tom Thibodeau—and against Atlanta he’s chosen the Keith Bogans, Ronnie Brewer duo over Korver. Either way, Chicago loses.

Finals

Oklahoma City Thunder OVER Miami Heat in 7

Two of the more unconventional teams in the NBA go head-to-head—I like it. Here’s my greatest fear about Oklahoma City: they’re just not ready. Talent-wise, I think they’re totally there, but we just don’t know if this is the year they can put it all together. If the Westbrook-Durant dynamic doesn’t work itself out than the Thunder haven’t got a chance. But like Wade and LeBron have figured it out, I think Durant and Westbrook will do the same.

I’ll doubt Wade and LeBron’s title chances until they’re bathed in confetti and bear-hugging Pat Riley at mid-court just because this Miami squad violates every basketball principle I’ve ever learned. Like: you need 8-9 legitimate players to win, and you need a clearly defined alpha-dog/crunch time scorer, and you need an elite post presence, and if your third best player is terrified of a raucous crowd because he’s never played in a remotely important game in his entire life you’re probably screwed.

I hoped and prayed my Boston Celtics would be that indomitable force to knock them on their ass and send LeBron back to south beach in tears.

Oklahoma City, you’re all I have left.

Playoff Player Rankings III

Every Wednesday I’ll compile a list of the top eight playoff performers from eighth to first. When the Finals are decided I’ll pick my MVP for the postseason; an award I absolutely think should exist in addition to Finals MVP.

So I was two days late, sue me. I hate when real life gets in the way.

487. Shaquille O’Neal: You earn the 487th spot when you injure yourself running up the court.

8. Derrick Rose: After a monster two games to lead off the Indiana series Rose’s shooting percentage has plummeted to a meek 38 percent. As Jeff Fogle notes in his excellent piece for Hoopdata, Rose, since his ankle sprain in the first quarter of game four, has simply not been getting to the foul line. Since getting to the stripe 49 (!) times in the first three games of round one Rose has managed only 17 attempts since (four games). Considering Rose is the driving force of everything the Bulls do, it’s no wonder they’ve struggled in the postseason. But despite all that Rose is still scoring 27 points a game and has handed out double-digit times three times in the playoffs.

And you watched his MVP speech, right?

7. Serge Ibaka: We know he’s athletic in the same scary way that Shawn Kemp was, but did you see the defense he played on Zach Randolph the other night? Instead of giving Randolph space to get his face-up jumper off with ease, Ibaka bodied him and forced Randolph to either put the ball on the floor or work a lot harder to get his shot off. If Ibaka continues to stymie Z-Bo we can safely name Serge Ibaka the MVP of round two.


6. Rajon Rondo: I’ve been watching Rondo since he came into the league, and I’ve yet to figure him out. When he’s doing his thing he’s sneaking into the paint for rebounds he shouldn’t have been able to reach, he’s driving to the basket and either finishing or dishing out to a shooter, he’s stealing balls and bothering the other point guard. When Rondo is on point he has complete control of the flow and tempo of the game. He’s the conductor while his teammates are merely the instruments that realize his masterpiece.

We’ve seen Beethoven Rondo in the first 25 or so games of the season, and against the Knicks. He made an encore performance against the Spurs, but that’s it. After two months of disengaged and sleep-walking Rondo we delightfully imagined the Rondo that averaged a triple-double against the Bulls in the 2009 postseason would show up for his curtain call. He sure did against the Knicks and Tony Douglas, but not yet against Mike Bibby and the Heat. His stat line may have looked pretty in game two, but he most definitely did not control the game. That honor belongs to LeBron James. Boston has two advantages in round two: Kevin Garnett over Chris Bosh and Rajon Rondo over Mike Bibby. Garnett has looked like a small child while the corpse of Mike Bibby is barely being out-played by Rondo.

I’m giving Rajon the benefit of the doubt because of his brilliant first round, but if he doesn’t start to run his team more like Richter and less like my Middle School band director then Boston’s cooked.

I’m out of bad music analogies, I swear.

5. Zach Randolph: So Memphis ran through the Spurs like a hot knife through butter and…and…and Zach Randolph was undeniably the best player on the floor. Up until a game two stinker Randolph was the best player on the floor against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It’s unclear if OKC figured out how to defend the Grizz or they just had a bad game, but Z-Bo being the best player on the floor for seven of eight playoff games is nothing short of miraculous. Let’s remember that Randolph has a longgggggg laundry list of misconduct. It includes: Stealing a pair of pants and getting in legal trouble for battery—all while in high school. He was cited for underage drinking in 2002 and was caught lying to police in 2004 after his brother shot three people in a nightclub. He’s flipped the middle finger to booing fans at games and he once through his headband at a referee. He broke a teammate’s eye-socket after he punched him in the face. He once asked for time off after a death in the family and spent the night at a Portland strip-club while his teammates were playing a game across town. And that’s only half of it—Henry Abbot of TrueHoop has the rest. But you get the idea; it’s pretty crazy that Zach Randolph is the best player on a really solid playoff team.

There’s something totally endearing about this team of cast-offs, under-achievers, and overpaid slackers—and a Memphis title, no matter how improbable, is definitely possible. I’m worried the Thunder will pack the paint and force Memphis to make outside shots, but that requires someone to hold off Randolph’s thunderous, loping drives.

4. Chris Paul: I’ve heard some folks say that based on what J.J Barea is doing to the Lakers; we may need to reevaluate how impressive Paul’s series actually was. I disagree; the Lakers were simply not engaged in their game two thumping at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks. Your guess is as good as mine as to why Los Angeles wasn’t putting forth the effort in a very important playoff game, but J.J Barea’s largest obstacle last night wasn’t Andrew Bynum or Pau Gasol, but the air molecules in front of him. Let’s not forget Paul was playing with the likes of Aaron Gray, Emeka Okafor, and Trevor Ariza.

3. LeWade Dwyane-James: Mostly because they’re taking equal slices from the Boston Celtics evisceration pie, but also because the thought of a science experiment combining LeBron James and Dwyane Wade into one basketball player makes me giggle uncontrollably. I also wanted to save room on the list for other guys doing exceptional things on the basketball court, so if this bothers you I dare you to watch this multiple times in a row. DO IT.

But really, how can you say one is playing better than the other? In game one it was Wade vanquishing his “Celtics curse” and going off for 38 points and making Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett look like overmatched children. If you didn’t try to imitate Wade’s viscous euro-step in your driveway for at least 30 minutes you’re lying. And in game two is was LeBron scoring 36 (24 in the second half) and drilling two three-pointers mid-way through the third quarter that stifled Boston’s inevitable run.

2. Dirk Nowitzki: I implore you read this great little piece about Dirk’s step-back jumper because it encapsulates so perfectly how freaking impossible it should be and how damn easy he makes it look. I think that in ten years we’ll be talking about Dirk’s 15-foot step back jumper in the same revered tone reserved for Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s “sky-hook” or Hakeem’s dream shake. It’s definitely in the pantheon of most feared shots ever.

1. Kevin Durant: The man is scoring 32 points a game on twenty attempts. I’ll repeat that: the man is scoring 32 points a game on twenty attempts. And that’s with Russell Westbrook channeling his inner teen-wolf and firing up wild-haymakers despite his paltry 36 percent shooting mark from 16-23 feet and his 33 percent shooting from behind the arc for the season. And did you see Durant’s 41 point masterpiece to close out the Nuggets in game five—in which he scored 16 points in the last five minutes? That’s the kind of demonstrative, take-no-prisoners, get-the-f***-out-of-my-way Durant we’ve all been waiting for.