If youâre feeling like the NBA season isagging along, then youâve got to keep in mind the playoff match-ups that are scheduled to roll out in the spring. Every team wants to make a statement in this yearâs playoffs and these are the last matches of the regular season for several teams. By the time the playoffs roll around, weâll have several match-ups to look forward to! Here are our predictions for the entire Western Conference playoff line-up and review of the match-ups that have already occurred.
Los Angeles Lakers
They seem to get better every year, but we still believe theyâll come up short in the Western Conference playoffs this year. Remember Shaq? Heâs still in the NBA, but his game may have played-too soon at the end of his career. Dwight Howard is still the unhinged one, Kobe canât win them many games and the rest of the team (Oscar and Lamar Odom) doesnât have what it takes to make the leap.
Denver Nuggets
The one thing that Denver can get better than theyâve been playing is the defensive end. Denver plays fantastic defense but it hasnât translated when the Nuggets want to score. If Carmelo Anthony can draw double teams, Denver is a pick âem for the playoffs if they get as far as the Western Conference finals.
Dallas Mavericks
This seems to be a lot of the reason why Dallas is getting hot, going 18-6 and actually pulling the âTeam of the Yearâ off of their âBig Three.â Dirk Nowitzkiâs return is only going to help the Mavs. The question then will be can they keep it up for the whole year. A fast start could mean mogul city and playing for a playoff spot.
San Antonio Spurs
This team has the balance of talent and size to compete with anyone in the West. Tim Duncan is an all-time great, but now itâs time for Parker and Duncan to â Wake of the Slam Dunk â together. Something tells us that this young Spurs team isnât done just yet.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durantâs performance this season has brought the Thunder from laughing stock to contenders. From being the worst team in the NBA, they suddenly became a threat. And the scary part is that the Thunder isnât done . They will most likely struggle with the Miami Heat but will definitely give the Los Angeles Lakers and San Antonio Spurs tough times.
Memphis Grizzlies
Proving that they will be the surprise in the West, the Grizzlies can even things up in the playoffs. Statistically, they are the third lowest team in the West, they just play extremely hard. With OJ Mayo and Mike Conley, they can beat almost anybody. They will be a force to reckon with for the entire 2011-2012 season.
Denver Nuggets
What I like about the Nuggets is that most people donât think theyâre very good, but if you actually watch them, they can win games. Moves like the Reggie Miller trade are good for the Nuggets because they will compete in the West. Theyâll need more help from wing players like Carmelo and J.R. Smith to have a successful season.
Utah Jazz
Theyâre young and talented. Derrick Favors is just what they needed and a defender in Brandon Woods can really create a handful of opportunities for the rest of the team. Theyâll do some embarrassing thing this year in the playoffs but beyond that, theyâve got a great core of players.
Houston Rockets
Theyâre improving. This is the team we want to see making it to the Finals and have something like the Spurs. That just seems to fit the general needs of the Big 3. James Harden is a rookie that can really turn out to be a superstar.
Minnesota Timberwolves
Still a chance to win it all, but weâll just say that again for every summer now, weâll just Hispanicfullbackand hope they get it done. Kevin McHale is the best coach in basketball now (not just the NBA). Ricky Rubio is a stud. Andrew Wiggins is universally promising and the teamâs young, Western Conference bred players are all talented basketball players. Theyâll certainly beat the Spurs and will be a force in the West. Hopefully the Suns get lucky. Otherwise, they may not.
