Take big swings
This particular trade deadline was a bit of a snoozefest, as many teams opted to continue with the status quo. But the two teams that made the biggest changes, Indiana (in a Pascal Siakam move that actually came just before the deadline) and Dallas (who acquired PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford and shipped away the cantankerous Grant Williams), were both greatly rewarded for their courage. : in the form of surprising Eastern Conference finals and NBA finals, respectively.
The Knicks are back, baby
The Garden is rocking again, just as the basketball gods intended. An avalanche of injuries ultimately ruined the party for New York’s favorite sports kids this year, but ask any Knicks fan: this team has never been more fun or loved in centuries. And ask any basketball expert: they’re damn good, too.
Luka still needs to mature a bit
The title of best player in the world was up for grabs. Nikola Jokić was handed a second-round exit at the hands of young Anthony Edwards, who some hyperbolically suggested could take over the throne if he led his team to the promised land. Luka Dončić had the same opportunity to dethrone his Serbian friend, but his tendency to lose his cool, rage at the referees and neglect defense reared its ugly head during the final. He’s extremely talented and could very well develop into the best player in the world — he certainly showed flashes during the Mavericks’ charmed playoff run — but he’s not there yet.
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The last true unifying force is within the NBA
In the polarized times we currently live in, it is rare that everyone can come together for a common purpose. But such a common force united the entire Internet this spring: no one, and I mean that no one, wants Inside the NBA to go off the air. The NBA TV rights deal is one of the most boring talking points imaginable, but if it costs us Ernie, Kenny, Shaq and Chuck (as Barkley himself recently insinuated with his retirement announcement), it will be a declaration of war.
The Suns are screwed
New owner syndrome hit the desert this year like a flaming asteroid in the form of mortgage mogul and Dan Gilbert foe Mat Ishbia. He entered the picture with no lack of enthusiasm, which in theory might have been a good thing. Except that his flashy spending and big swings probably warranted more foresight: Phoenix now has a reportedly disgruntled star pairing in Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, a $50 million player who averaged 16 points per game in the playoffs in Bradley Beal, and limited depth and future assets to speak of. Yes.
The Cavs need to shake things up
The Cavs have an embarrassment of riches: two star guards in Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, along with two star big men in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley. But it’s a bit ‘water-water-everywhere’, because they’re all on slightly different timelines and create certain redundancies. They’ve already taken the (right) step of parting ways with their head coach, but it’s time for Cleveland to shake up its roster as well. Expect at least one of Mitchell and Garland, if not Allen or Mobley as well, to be on the way this summer.
There’s nothing like a buzzer-beater
There are plenty of plays with high entertainment value on an NBA court: a thunderous dunk, an ankle-breaking spin move, a half-court hailmary. But whether it was Jamal Murray with Anthony Davis in his face at the end of Game 2 of Denver’s rematch against the Lakers in the first round, or Andrew Nembhard’s prayer for a three-point game winner for his Pacers against the Knicks in the semifinals of the conference One thing is clear: a dramatic buzzer-beater remains undefeated.
Anthony Edwards is next
There was a fleeting moment, after the Timberwolves dethroned defending champion Denver Nuggets on their high-altitude home turf in Colorado, when the NBA proletariat was ready to crown Edwards their new king. His shakiness in the following series revealed that he’s not quite ready to reign yet, but based on what he’s shown in the first few rounds of the play-offs this year, it feels inevitable that he eventually will .
Every team needs a TJ McConnell
No one would mistake him for a superstar, or even a star, but McConnell would have plenty of suitors if he were to enter the open NBA market after his stint with the Indiana Pacers this year, where he played an integral role in their Cinderella- run. to the Eastern Conference Finals (and also to the In Season Tournament Finals for that matter). A spark plug workhorse that does the dirty work: who says no?
No pipe is safe
In the age of the three-point shot, leads can evaporate quickly. But it feels like a double-digit cushion is less, well, soft than ever. Example: Defending champion Nuggets found themselves on both the winning end (against the Lakers in round one) and the losing end (against the Timberwolves in round two) of a blown 20-point lead in the second half, the latter of which occurred in highly dramatic fashion on their home floor.
LeBron may have missed his last best chance
Speaking of the aforementioned 20-point lead against the Denver Nuggets, which represented one of many “what if” moments for the Los Angeles Lakers this season. Head coach Darvin Ham understandably ended the season as Darvin Spam (canned ham, get it? Sorry), after taking the helm following a disappointing first-round exit. But it wasn’t all his fault: the Lakers’ front office didn’t make the aggressive deadline moves that proved fruitful for the Western Conference champion Mavericks. LeBron James had a sensational and wonderfully healthy 21st campaign, but now that he’s turning 40 this year, the what if this year might, in retrospect, turn out to be more profound.
Look in a bar, if you can
You’re under no obligation to participate, but it’s easy to forget how enhanced the playoff viewing experience can be when you’re surrounded by passionate, rowdy and possibly on the verge of mental collapse fellow fans. Of course, nothing beats being there in person, but hearing a Mike Breen “BANG!” echoing through a shoddy television speaker system while someone spills a bit of beer on your shoulder is a real close second.
East and West need balance
Boston was the best team all year and deserved champions. But their Eastern dominance shed light on an NBA problem that has existed for years and may be at the height of its nuisance: Not all conferences are created equal. Sure, there are some good teams at the top of the East that have struggled with injuries, but the bottom half of the conference is clearly horrible. The West, on the other hand, had teams with almost 50 wins that missed the playoffs entirely. Expansion, or some form of realignment, cannot come soon enough.
The young people are there
While I remain steadfast in my assertion that the old guard is not quite dead, it is clear that the next generation will not wait for seats to open up before taking the reins. Whether it was Luka, Ant, Shai or Tatum and Brown, it’s clear that Gen-Z hoopers aren’t content with waiting longer for their turn.
Only in moderation
I’m not saying that the reason the Timberwolves ultimately got their asses kicked by the Dallas Mavericks in Minnesota’s first Western Conference Finals in two decades is karmically because they were in charge of the Anthony Edwards Finals. instant classic “Bring Ya Ass” quote in the ground, but I won’t not say that too. When even the local sheriff’s department (Yes really) jumps on the bandwagon, it’s safe to say the bit has run its course, and then some.
No award is more controversial than DPOY
Whether it was the reaction to Luka Dončić’s flambéing of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in the conference finals, or the indisputable truth that emerged that the Boston Celtics were in fact doing just fine without the ‘soul of the team” and former DPOY Marcus Smart, it has been a rough few months for current and former Defensive Players of the Year. And our collective inability to agree on what qualifies someone to receive the award only seems to be growing.
Jokić is still the best player in the world
“Is Luka the best player in the world? Is it an ant?” As mentioned earlier, we as NBA proletariat had a lot of fun speculating on who would take the crown from Jokić after the Serbian enigma was knocked out prematurely in the second round and his path to defending his championship title was cut short. But the longer the playoffs went on, the more warts appeared on his competition, and one truth (for now, at least) came to light: it’s still Jokić.
We’re ready for a good NBA Finals
No shade (okay, maybe just a little) to the Boston Celtics or the Denver Nuggets, but aside from the supposed experience of superfans of those teams, the last two NBA Finals were a crushing bore. Sure, we may have been spoiled in recent years by years of high-octane rematches between Steph and LeBron, but the NBA can certainly do better than this.
The era of the Big Three is dead
Remember when in the not-so-distant past every team clamored for a Big Three, trying to bring together big names like Voltron at any cost? Yes, those days are over. Kaput. There isn’t even a unanimous consensus on which of the championship-winning Celtics is the greatest two was actually the best player in the series, and neither plays in the top five in the league. A few stars at the top of the roster are still essential, but depth is king. Long live the role player!
Good things take time
If there has to be one overall, all-encompassing thesis that we can take home with us from this year’s playoffs, it should definitely be this one. Nearly every team that has achieved any level of success this postseason has endured at least a year (if not several) of doubts about its core. Whether it’s Dallas’ Luka and Kyrie who missed the playoffs entirely last year, Minnesota’s written-off Towns and Gobert super-sized lineup, or perhaps most notable of all, Boston’s Tatum and Brown duo: a duo whose breakup is speculated annually which finally got over the Sisyphean hump this year. Not all successes happen overnight.