NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Preview

By Trey Cosby

How will the West be WON?  That is a good question!  The year in the Western Conference has been a crazy one, and I don’t see any changes coming as we head into the Western Conference playoffs.  So many teams are so exceptional.  So many teams are so deep.  So many teams are so well coached.  You can literally toss a coin from No. 1 to No. 8, and any one of those teams are talented enough to win the West.  All the trades that were made in the West have benefited their desired teams greatly.  It took a while for the Suns to get it right with the implementation of Shaq, but now they are cruising along mightily and they are going to be a force as we move along through the first round.

This year in the West has been very competitive.  The Lakers are thought of by many to be the team to come out of the conference because of their significant trade to get Pau Gasol.  They have been tearing up opponents since the Gasol trade, with everybody really chasing them for the best record in the West.  When you look at the teams behind them, you might think the Lakers are just ahead of a large group of great teams.  Gasol right now is making the difference, but it remains to be seen if the Lakers can hold on to their narrow lead once the playoffs begin.  L. A. will soon be getting back the services of Andrew Bynum, and that is going to make them even tougher to beat.

Kobe Bryant is having an MVP season.  Never before has he given so much of his heart and soul to try and win a championship.  He is scoring the ball, he is rebounding the ball, he is passing the ball and he is playing suffocating defense.  At this point, Bryant is the best all-around player in the NBA.  It is amazing the things he is doing on the court this year, and his teammates are following suit.  The Laker bench is contributing like they never have before, playing unselfishly, sharing the minutes, and producing like a very cohesive unit.  No doubt, the Los Angeles Lakers are the team to beat in the West.  They will finish the season with the best record in the West, and they are as healthy as they have been all year now that Bynum is making his return.

With the parity in the West and all the teams battling so unmercifully on a nightly basis, it is very hard to pick a team that is going to challenge the Lakers for the Western Conference Title.  There is not one bad team in the entire Conference.  Now you have the very best eight going head to head in short series where the competition is going to be fierce.  Throw out the numbers from the regular season.  It is time to go to war for real. 

The New Orleans Hornets have been either the best or second best team in the West for about two months now.  They have the best point guard in basketball in Chris Paul.  Paul is averaging 21 points per game to go along with a whopping 12 assists per game.  His never-slow-down style fits perfectly with head coach Byron Scott’s run-and-gun concepts; and he makes his teammates so much better by his amazing passing abilities.  Paul’s game is geared to score points, and he makes sure he gets his teammates involved in the offense almost every night.  David West is his running mate.  West is a swift, athletic whirling dervish who can score at will.  His 20 points per game average is a dynamic compliment to the talents that Paul displays.  They work together, and they do it well.  Both of them rely on the ability of big man Tyson Chandler when they need an inside presence to score the basketball.  Chandler will be called upon to score more as we enter into the first round, so it remains to be seen if the Hornets can keep up their torrid pace.

You always have to look out for the Spurs.  San Antonio is still a mainstay when it comes to the playoffs, and it won’t surprise many if they end up meeting the Lakers for the right to play the Celtics for the World Championship.  Tim Duncan is having another stellar year.  The San Antonio defense is as good as advertised, and they are as healthy as they need to be.

Next, you have to take a look at the Phoenix Suns.  As mentioned before, they have had some trouble since the Shaq trade, but they have ironed out the kinks, and they are ready to mix it up now.  The team has made the adjustments needed to mesh with Shaq’s style, and they are running like a well-oiled machine.  Steve Nash’s leadership abilities are going to be evident as the playoffs take shape.  Nash will take his 17 points per game and 11 assists with him, so don’t be surprised if he comes out of the gate like a house of fire. If Amare Stoudemire can score close to his usual average of 25 points per game, then the Suns are going to be a formidable opponent for anyone who they might be playing as the Western Conference match-ups begin to come together.

Some of the other teams in the West might challenge the teams mentioned above.  However, the depth and speed and experience will tell the tale of the teams that will make it to the end.  When it all comes to a close, look for the Lakers vs. Celtics match-up from yesteryear to dawn the screens of worldwide viewers.  It will be a fantastic championship series!  Until next time…