Layout of the Wild West
- Zach
- Mar 8, 2018
- 3 min read
The Warriors are in the midst of another dominant season, but for once have a close conference competitor in the Rockets. Who will claim the regular season crown? Who will slip in and out of the top 8?
In many fans' opinions the first picture depicts the Western playoff picture- just as it has since Steve Kerr took over in 2014. Most expect Steph and the Warriors to look back and laugh at any so called rivals to the throne and ride off to the NBA Finals as the number one seed unchallenged. Beyond that the media generally hasn't really cared about the Western playoff setting. But as you know Beantown Sports Talk isn't the regular media and we know there's more to the West than the Warriors.
Who's the head honcho in the Wild West?
The answer is in the facts and the facts are simple. The Rockets are an astonishing 34 and 1 when their big three of Chris Paul, James Harden, and Clint Capela all play. While the Warriors are obviously an extremely dominant team and may only trail the Rockets by one game at the end of the season, but the Warriors' success simply doesn't match that of this Rockets core. Thinking logically, the Rockets big three is the ideal big three led by the NBA's leading scorer in James Harden, who is hands down the most versatile scoring threat currently as he's able to make it rain from three, has an array of finishing moves, and gets to the line with ease. He has the most 3 pointers made to this point in the season, the most free throws attempted per game at 10.0, and a clutch time offensive rating of 145.5, and atop all that scoring prowess he's also one of the most elite passers in the NBA, slotting in at 3rd with 8.9 APG. He is accompanied in the backcourt by NBA veteran and all-time playmaking great Chris Paul, who's right behind Harden in assists per game with 8.1 at 4th in the league, as well as a solid 18.8 PPG. Throw in the league leader in pick and roll buckets per game in Clint Capela, the premium P&R and lob target, and you have the formula for the ultimate elite three: an elite playmaking scorer, an elite scoring playmaker, one of the most dominant bigs in the league, which along with a supporting cast of shooters is literally unstoppable. This is not to say the Warriors have declined, nor that they will go down without a fight, but more to say Mike D'Antoni has formed the perfect offensive unit that's in prime position to knock Steve Kerr down a peg.
How will the rest of the West play out?
This is where it gets crazy because the current 10th seed, Utah, is only 4.5 games back from the current 3rd seed, Portland. We'll focus on who's hot rather than who's not to piece together how the playoff picture will play out. First off the hot ones, the literal trailblazers in the West right now include the actual Trailblazers, currently in 3rd and riding a 9 game winning streak, the Pelicans who are one place back and also on a 9 game winning streak, and the Utah Jazz who have won 15 games and lost only 2 since January 24. The Trailblazers are hotter than ever, as is their star guard Damian Lillard, who's averaged an astronomical 31.6 PPG since the All Star Break compared to 26.1 beforehand. The Pelicans have rode a near identical, but much more impressive due to the loss of DeMarcus Cousins to an achilles injury, surge as Anthony Davis has similarly averaged 35.8 PPG, 14.8 RPG, and 3.0 BPG since the break, compared to his pre-break 27.4 PPG, 10,7 RPG, and 2.1 BPG. The best story in the league has resided in the unforeseen rise of 13th overall pick Donovan Mitchell, and with his rise that of the Jazz as well. Donovan Mitchell has averaged over 20 PPG since December and has provided an offensive spark to the 4th rated defense in the league. Overall with moderate schedules, we can expect to see all three of these teams continue their dominance, and considering the close race from 3-10, we could see the Jazz have a major climb in the playoff ladder.
The Final Verdict:
1. Rockets
2. Warriors
3. Trailblazers
4. Pelicans
5. Jazz
6. Timberwolves
7. Spurs
8. Thunder
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