Tag Archives: stephen curry

2016 NBA Playoff Predictions!

April 16, 2016 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Note: I wrote in my First Round Predictions on Twitter before any of the games began. This will become especially important when you get to Raptors-Pacers.

What a crazy NBA season. We’ve got one historic team (Golden State), one team that would be historic if it weren’t for Golden State (San Antonio), LeBron leading a dysfunctional Cavs team to 57 wins and a #1 seed, Kobe’s crazy last game and two teams with bonafide stars that everyone’s counting out (and arguably rightfully so) because of the Warriors and Spurs (Thunder and Clippers). Can you imagine counting out a team with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and being completely justified in doing so? Madness right? At least it should make predicting the playoffs easier.

Western Conference

#1 Golden State Warriors (73-9) vs. #8 Houston Rockets (41-41)

Houston is the NBA’s second biggest disappointment, but the only one that’s indefensible. While their main acquisition didn’t work out in Ty Lawson, the Rockets should have still been in contention for a position somewhere in the 3^rd-5^th seed range. And it’s embarrassing why they aren’t there. Dwight Howard just isn’t going to grow up I guess and the window of him being an elite difference maker are now long gone. He could still be a defensive force though. James Harden seemed one of the best stories in the league when he left Oklahoma City and became a star in Houston, but that good will is now gone as he’s acting like a superstar who’s yet to win anything. He’s an awful defensive player and a coach killer. What a shame all around.

Yeah, Golden State’s going to destroy them. I think one of the games will be close and the other three are double digit wins from the Warriors. Like Houston’s going to slow down Steph Curry.

Warriors in 4

#2 San Antonio Spurs (67-15) vs. #7 Memphis Grizzlies (42-40)

The league has passed Memphis by. And no Marc Gasol is just a disaster for the Grizzlies. The Spurs have been the class of the NBA as long as they weren’t facing Golden State.

Isn’t it strange that the Western Conference is the least interesting one for once?

Spurs in 4

#3 Oklahoma City Thunder (55-27) vs. #6 Dallas Mavericks (42-40)

This may be a closer series than one would expect. While Oklahoma swept the season series 4-0, the Mavericks have been playing well, winning 7 of their last 9, to get into the playoffs. Normally I wouldn’t put much stock into that, I like how they’ve been able to win games without big games from Dirk Nowitzki. They’ve also won with a collection of some of the weakest rim protectors in recent memory (David Lee? Zaza? Nowitzki?). They also have one of the league’s best coaches in Rick Carlisle. And while he hasn’t been playing great or anything, if Dirk Nowitzki gets hot I can’t count Dallas out of anything. Nowitzki’s one of the best 15 players of all time and that shouldn’t be forgotten.

Of course, Oklahoma has Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, which should render most arguments moot. Dallas’s best bet is to try to win shootouts against OKC because Durant and Westbrook are getting their points. It would help if Dallas could at least slow down Enes Kanter, as he’s had a pretty great season that’s flown under the radar.

To make the case for Dallas, just don’t forget what happened in the 2014 First Round when Dallas took San Antonio to 7 games. Sure it’s a weaker Dallas team, but I don’t like counting out elite legends and elite coaches.

Thunder in 6.

#4 Los Angeles Clippers (53-29) vs. #5 Portland Trail Blazers (44-38)

Portland’s a fun story. Damian Lillard has become a real house of fire (and somehow wasn’t selected for the All-Star game) while C.J. McCollum has locked up the Most Improved Player Award with a surprising 20 PPG season. Fun team for sure.

Clippers are stacked. Yeah, there are some glaring chemistry and teammate issues with DeAndre Jordan and Blake Griffin, but this team is way too talented to lose to Portland here. I think Lillard steals a game or two though.

Clippers in 6

Eastern Conference

#1 Cleveland Cavaliers (57-25) vs. #8 Detroit Pistons (44-38)

Congratulations to Detroit. They are the best 8^th seeded Eastern Conference team by record in a long time, and would actually be the 5^th seed in the West. Boy have times changed. Anyway, we could pick the reasons why the Clippers are going to beat Portland and insert them here. Yeah Cleveland has chemistry issues, but it’s not going to really matter. As a bonus, Reggie Jackson will struggle if guarded by Iman Shumpert, and Andre Drummond can get all the big 17-14 games he wants. LeBron’s too good.

Cavs in 5

#2 Toronto Raptors (56-26) vs. #7 Indiana Pacers (45-37)

My upset special of the playoffs. I was down on Toronto for the regular season and they made me eat my words there, but they don’t have a true superstar (Kyle Lowry?) and I’m not sold on Dwane Casey as a head coach. I think there are some lingering issues from last year’s playoff sweep.

As for Indiana, I believe the playoffs are about big time players making big time plays, and Paul George has come back this season and shown that he can be Indiana’s franchise player. I think he has a big series here as Indiana scores the upset.

Pacers in 6

#3 Miami Heat (48-34) vs. #6 Charlotte Hornets (48-34)

I think Miami from top to bottom is just a better team than Charlotte. Kemba Walker’s emergence has bene impressive and Charlotte has a lot of role players who’ve played well this season. But when it comes down to a close game and someone needs to make some big shots, I’ll take a past his prime Dwyane Wade any day. Heck, I’d even take Goran Dragic. Championship players like Wade usually find ways to get some playoff wins. Think Paul Pierce in Brooklyn a couple years ago (or even last year with Washington).

Unless LINSANITY strikes…of course.

Heat in 7

#4 Atlanta Hawks (48-34) vs. #5 Boston Celtics (48-34)

The Hawks are a veteran team that peaked last year. None of their guys have really stepped up from last year and it feels like the entire team regressed. They kind of feel like they are here by default.

Boston’s been an exciting team ever since they got Isaiah Thomas in the middle of last year. Hell, if they didn’t run into LeBron last year I think they could have won a playoff series. Boston is 69-38 since they got Thomas. Brad Stevens also has done an amazing job coaching Boston. I think the Celtics want this one more.

Celtics in 6

Basketball

Top 100 Greatest Basketball Players Ever: #50-#41

October 11, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#50: James Worthy

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’88)

NBA All-3rd Team: 2x (’90, ’91)

All-NBA Rookie 1^st Team: ‘83

NBA All-Star: 7x (’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ‘92)

NBA Top 10 FG%: 5x (’83,’85, ’86, ’89, ’90)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 1x (’86)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (’86)

2^nd Best Player on Two Champions: ’87 Lakers, ’88 Lakers

3^rd Best Player on One Champion: ’85 Lakers

2^nd Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’89 Lakers, ’91 Lakers

3^rd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’84 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 50th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 58^th

A really tough career to project since he was Magic’s wingman for virtually his whole career. Simmons compares Worthy to Tom Chambers, and Chambers barely made the top 100 without the help of a Magic Johnson, so there’s that. Reason why he couldn’t drop lower than the Top 50? He was “Big Game” James. In the 1984 Finals, Worthy put up games of 29 PTS on 11/12 shooting, 30 points on 14/17 and three other 50%+ FG 20 point games in a tough loss to the Celtics. He made up for that by putting up 29 on 12/22, 33 on 13/17 and 28 on 11/15 in Boston, all wins for LA, in the 1985 Finals. He opened the 1987 Finals with a 33-10-9. He finished off the Bad Boy Pistons in 1988 with a 36-16-10 in Game 7…and even dropped 40 in the deciding game when they lost the next year (with no Magic). More evidence points to Worthy being great than not.

#49: Dennis Johnson

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’79)

NBA All-1^st Team: 1x (’81)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘80)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 6x (’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’87)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 3x (’84, ’85, ’86)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’85)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Win Shares: 1x (’80)

NBA Career Assists: 45^th

NBA Career Steals: 43rd

3^rd Best Player on One Champion: ’79 Sonics

Starter on Two Champions: ’84 Celtics, ’86 Celtics

2^nd Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’78 Sonics

Starter on Two Runner-Ups: ’85 Celtics, ’87 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 54th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 53rd

DJ gets the nod over Worthy for a few reasons. For one, we don’t know how Worthy’s career projects without Magic Johnson…but we do know Johnson could thrive without Bird since he did in Seattle. Also, Worthy’s main attribute was big game scoring. DJ’s was big game defense and he could score as well. Big difference. In an All-Time defensive team, DJ fits right in there with Jordan, Payton, Moncreif in the greatest defensive guards before 2000 conversation (and maybe of all time as well). He hounded Magic in the ’84 Finals and also shut down Andrew Toney (Toney gave Boston tons of trouble in the early 80s and was a big reason the Sixers made the Finals in ’83). DJ was the best guard on teams that won 47, 52, 56, 57, 46, 53, 62, 63, 67 games.

#48: Bill Walton

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’78)

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’77)

NBA All-1^st Team: 1x (’78)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘77)

NBA All-Defensive 1^st Team: 2x (’77, ‘78)

NBA All-Star: 2x (’77, ‘78)

NBA Defensive Rating Leader: 2x (’78, ’86)

NBA Top 5 Rebounds: 1x (’77)

NBA Top 10 Blocks: 2x (’77, ’78)

NBA Top 3 WS/48: 2x (’77, ’78)

NBA Top 10 Defensive Rating: 5x (’76, ’77, ’78, ’85, ’86)

Best Player on One Champion: ’77 Blazers

Sixth Man on One Champion: ’86 Celtics

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 27th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 74th

Bill Simmons’ asks whether or not you would want two and a half transcendent years and twelve other years full of injuries or fourteen quality years. He took the two and a half, a big reason why he had Walton so high up (he compared him to David Robinson) in his pyramid. At one time I agreed, but looking at it now Walton’s peak came in the messy late seventies. Theoretically the league was full of talent, but teams still weren’t able to figure out styles and such after the merger. When Walton went down in 1978 (he was so good that year he rightly won MVP after playing only 58 of 60 games anyway…Portland was 50-10 at the time) Portland went down with him, failing to even win one playoff series.

An idea of how good Walton was? He averaged 19-19-5-4 in the ’77 Finals where Portland won, including a 20-23-8-7 in the deciding game. He had pretty much no supporting cast (Mo Lucas, Bobby Gross, Lionel Hollins?) and it didn’t matter. As a bonus, he was an iconic sixth man on the ’86 Celtics. If he doesn’t get hurt, Walton probably gets into the Top 15.

#47: Stephen Curry

Resume

NBA MVP: 1x (’15)

NBA All-1^st Team: 1x (’15)

NBA All-2^nd Team: 1x (‘14)

NBA Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (‘10)

NBA All-Star: 2x (’14, ‘15)

NBA Steals Leader: 1x (’15)

NBA 3 PT FG Leader: 3x (’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA FT% Leader: 2x (’11, ’15)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’15)

NBA Top 10 Points: 3x (’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA Top 5 Assists: 4x (’10, ’13, ’14, ‘15)

NBA Top 2 Steals: 2x (’14, ’15)

NBA Top 5 WS/48: 2x (’14, ‘15)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’13, ’14, ’15)

NBA Top 10 PER: 2x (’14, ’15)

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 50^th

Best Player on One Champion: ’15 Warriors

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): Not Ranked

Obviously not ranked on Simmons or Slam due to the fact that Curry began peaking in 2014. Gets the nod over Walton because his peak took place in an extremely talented time in the NBA (won MVP over LeBron for example). It’s absolutely terrifying to watch Curry if he’s playing against your team. A League MVP, a great WS/48 season and best player on a title team status? That’s good enough for top 50.

The difference between Curry and Derrick Rose is that Curry’s MVP doesn’t really have any doubt attached to it. Yeah, you can consider James Harden, but no one actually thinks Harden was robbed. In 2011, Rose was probably the third best player in the league that year, behind LeBron and Dwight Howard. And LeBron destroyed him in the Eastern Conference Finals. Curry had so such issues (although he did luck out as opposing PGs got hurt).

#46: Ray Allen

Resume

NBA All-2nd Team: 1x (’05)

NBA All-3rd Team: 1x (‘01)

NBA Rookie 2nd Team: 1x (‘97)

NBA All-Star: 10x (’00, ’01, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ‘11)

NBA 3 PT FG Leader: 1x (‘06)

NBA Offensive Win Share Leader: 1x (’01)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’05, ‘06)

NBA Top 10 3 PT FG: 11x (’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’11)

NBA Top 10 FT%: 14x (’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 2x (’01, ’09)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (‘01)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 4x (’00, ’01, ’06, ’09)

NBA Career 3 PT FG: 1^st

NBA Career FT%: 7th

Third Best Player on One Champion: ’08 Celtics

Role Player on One Champion: ’13 Heat

Third Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’10 Celtics

Role Player on One Runner-Up: ’14 Heat

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 62nd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 79th

Pretty much Reggie Miller with a better post-season resume. Allen was very close (and probably deserved to be) the best player on a runner-up with the 2001 Bucks. He was clutch in the 2008 Finals against the Lakers. Everyone remembers the big comeback in Game 4…but somehow Allen playing all 48 minutes and closing the game out by driving past Sasha Vujacic in crunch time is forgotten. He was kinda robbed of Finals MVP in that series as well (50-50-90% shooting, 20 PPG). He hit a game winning three with no time left against Chicago in Round 1 in 2009, and also had a 51 point game later in the series. He also set a record with 8 threes in Game 2 against the Lakers in the Finals…although he fell apart later in that series. Of course he cemented his legacy as a clutch three point shooter, possibly surpassing Reggie as the best ever with his dagger of a three that saved LeBron’s legacy and the 2013 Miami Heat season. Most of that is just the late stage of his career. He was the top guy for a very good Bucks and a very good Sonics team (a Sonics team that gave the 2005 Champ Spurs a nice six game scare).

#45: Chauncey Billups

Resume

NBA Finals MVP: 1x (’04)

NBA All-2nd Team: 1x (’06)

NBA All-3rd Team: 2x (’07, ‘09)

NBA All-Defensive 2^nd Team: 2x (’05, ‘06)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ‘10)

NBA Offensive Rating Leader: 1x (’06)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 2x (’06, ’07)

NBA Top 10 FT%: 11x (’99, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10, ‘11)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 6x (’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ‘08)

NBA Top 10 Offensive Rating: 5x (’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ‘09)

NBA Career FT%: 5^th

NBA Career 3P FG: 7th

NBA Career Offensive Rating: 18^th

Best Player on One Champion: ’04 Pistons

Best Player on One Runner-Up: ’05 Pistons

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): Not Ranked

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 124th

Easily the most underrated player of all time and it’s all due to perception. So let’s get to those perceptions and debunk them.

Number 1: The starting five for the 2004 Pistons were all equal…they were a real team and that’s why they won the title. Now defensively, I give Ben Wallace all the credit in the world and he did receive some consideration for my Top 100 due to his performance on the defensive end for the 2004 and 2005 Pistons. But offensively? Rasheed Wallace was a nice mid-season addition for a Pistons team that had already made a Conference Finals the year before with Billups. All I know is in Phil Jackson’s book The Last Season, he thinks about the Finals and starts off by thinking they are a team of equals…only to come to the conclusion that Billups was the key all along. That and when Chauncey left in 2008 the entire team fell apart. Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince have done nothing of note since Chauncey left them. Not true for Chauncey…leading us too…

Number 2: Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets to the 2009 Conference Finals. Let the record show that Carmelo had the worst season of his early career in 2009 (.105 WS/48, 45% FG, 23 PPG, didn’t make the All-Star team), although he played great in the playoffs) and the Nuggets didn’t fall off at all. The Nuggets with Carmelo also made it past the first round for the first time…Chauncey had a 135 offensive rating in the playoffs. Detroit meanwhile fell out in Round 1. The difference was Chauncey.

Number 3: Chauncey was only good because of the slow it down style of the Pistons. Of course, this makes no sense as he succeeded with the Nuggets too.

Number 4: The Pistons era was overrated because the East was bad all those years. Of course, this isn’t fair to Chauncey as others have gotten this benefit too (and he got to the Conference Finals in the West anyway). Being the best player on a team that made seven straight Conference Finals is impressive no matter what the situation. His Pistons ended the Kidd era Nets, ended the Shaq-Kobe Lakers, nearly upset Duncan at his peak and even knocked LeBron down once. Sounds good enough for me.

In addition to all of that, Chauncey has great advanced numbers and a few All-NBA teams. He’s a great player.

#44: George Gervin

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 5x (’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82)

NBA All-2nd Team: 2x (’77, ‘83)

ABA All-2^nd Team: 2x (’75, ’76)

ABA All-Rookie 1^st Team: 1x (’73)

NBA All-Star: 9x (’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84, ‘85)

ABA All-Star: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Points Leader: 4x (’78, ’79, ’80, ’82)

NBA Top 6 Points: 8x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82, ’83, ’84)

ABA Top 7 Points: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

ABA Top 10 Blocks: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 6x (’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82)

ABA Top 10 Win Shares: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 3x (’77, ’78, ’79)

ABA Top 10 WS/48: 1x (76)

NBA Top 10 PER: 6x ( ’77, ’78, ’79, ’80, ’81, ’82)

ABA Top 10 PER: 3x (’74, ’75, ’76)

NBA+ABA Career Points: 15^th

ABA Career Blocks: 9th

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 34th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 45^th

The Iceman was one of the all-time great scorers…and that’s about it. Horrible defensive player and seemingly only cared about scoring points. But he was great at it, and in the late 70s where everything was screwed up roster wise, that was good enough to be one of the best players in the league. It never got him to the Finals though as he failed to get past those Unseld-Hayes Bullets teams. And once Magic and Bird came along, Gervin was never seeing the Finals.

Recently, his record of 33 points in a quarter was broken, but it tells you just what kind of scorer he was. His peak was too good to leave out of the Top 50.

#43: Sam Jones

Resume

NBA All-2nd Team: 3x (’65, ’66, ‘67)

NBA All-Star: 5x (’62, ’64, ’65, ’66, ‘68)

NBA Top 10 Points: 2x (’65, ‘66)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 5x (’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ‘66)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 10x (’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’67, ‘68)

2^nd or 3^rd Best Player on Six Champions, Won Ten Championships Overall (’59 Celtics, ’60 Celtics, ’61 Celtics, ’62 Celtics, ’63 Celtics, ’64 Celtics, ’65 Celtics, ’66 Celtics, ’68 Celtics, ’69 Celtics)

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 33rd

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 65th

Simmons gave the nod to Jones over Gervin because of the teammate aspect, the fact that Bill Russell praises Jones as his crunch time scorer. While I can’t say I’ve seen much of Sam Jones other than some Youtube highlights, but I have seen Gervin and I know he’s a me-first guy and probably the biggest reason the Spurs didn’t win a title. So I’ll take Simmons word on this.

I’ll also provide the list of great playoff games Jones had that Simmons provided, which was more than enough to sway me.

Hit a game winner in the Eastern Conference Finals vs. ’62 Sixers in Game 7, scored 27…Scored 35 against the ’62 Lakers in the Finals…scored 27 in Game 7 of the ’62 Finals vs. the Lakers…scored 47 against Oscar and the Royals in another Game 7…37 in Game 7 of the ’65 Sixers series…34 Points in Game 5 of the ’65 Royals series…hit a game winner in Game 4 of the ’69 Lakers series. That’s not all of them…but you get the point.

#42: Clyde Drexler

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 1x (‘92)

NBA All-2nd Team: 2x (’88, ‘91)

NBA All-3rd Team: 2x (’88, ‘95)

NBA All-Star: 10x (’86, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ’93, ’94, ’96, ‘97)

NBA Top 10 Points: 3x (’88, ’89, ‘92)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 1x (’86)

NBA Top 10 Steals: 6x (’85, ’86, ’87, ’88, ’89, ’95)

NBA Top 10 Win Shares: 6x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ‘95)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 6x (’88, ’89, ’90, ’91, ’92, ‘95)

NBA Top 10 PER: 4x (’88, ’89, ’92, ‘95)

NBA Career Points: 29th

NBA Career Steals: 7^th

2^nd Best Player on one Champion: ’95 Rockets

Best Player on Two Runner-Ups: ’90 Blazers, ’92 Blazers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 44th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 42nd

I’ll just start off with saying I agree with Michael Jordan…that Drexler was a poor man’s Michael Jordan.

It may not seem completely fair, but that’s what he was. Primarily an inside drive guy with a shaky outside shot…only Drexler wasn’t remotely a good three point shooter either. His peak in the late 80s and early 90s was impressive…he got to the Finals before Jordan did…but he failed at that level and then was destroyed by Jordan in ’92. Amazingly, he begins to decline at age 30 in 1993 in what only could be described as a player who’s confidence was destroyed.

There’s not much else to say about Drexler. He was a really good player, sometimes great, that couldn’t get his teams to the finish line. His career was swallowed up by Jordan. It goes farther than the ’92 Finals. Remember, Portland didn’t pick Jordan because they had Drexler. And of course, Drexler’s ring came in the 2^nd of Jordan’s baseball years.

And of course…there was the 1992 Finals. Poor Drexler.

#41: George Mikan

Resume

NBA All-1^st Team: 6x (’49, ’50, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’54)

NBA All-Star: 4x (’51, ’52, ’53, ’54)

NBA Points Leader: 3x (’49, ’50, ’51)

NBA Rebounds Leader: 1x (’53)

NBA PER Leader: 3x (’52, ’53, ’54)

NBA Offensive Win Share Leader: 2x (’49, ’51)

NBA Defensive Win Share Leader: 5x (’50, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’54)

NBA Win Share Leader: 3x (’49, ’50, ’51)

NBA WS/48 Leader: 1x (’53)

NBA Top 4 Points: 6x (’49, ’50, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’54)

NBA Top 10 Assists: 1x (’49)

NBA Top 3 Rebounds: 4x (’51, ’52, ’53, ‘54)

NBA Top 4 Win Shares: 6x (’49, ’50, ’51, ’52, ’53, ’54)

NBA Top 10 WS/48: 3x (’52, ’53, ‘54)

Best Player on Five Champions: ’49 Lakers, ’50 Lakers, ’52 Lakers, ’53 Lakers, ’54 Lakers

Simmons Pyramid Ranking (2010): 38th

Slam Magazine 500 Ranking (2011): 29^th

Obviously a product of his era. Once the shot clock and bigger lane came into play, Mikan was done. He absolutely dominated the early NBA and even the NBL. He was basketball’s first great player and dominated the league. That has to count for something.

Basketball

RDT’s 2015 NBA Finals Prediction

June 5, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers @ #1 Golden State Warriors

It’s interesting that one of the biggest reasons LeBron James went to Cleveland was the expectation of an improved supporting cast than he had in that last year in Miami (young Kyrie Irving over past his prime Dwyane Wade, and at worst Chris Bosh and Kevin Love would cancel one another out, although Love was regarded as superior), and yet, here we are. LeBron has carried this Cavs team throughout these playoffs. It’s not Irving or Love’s fault; both have been injured. Kevin Love had a disappointing year…for him. He was still quite capable of being a third banana. Kyrie Irving had been fantastic before injuries caught up to him. Throughout the Chicago series Irving played a role I expected Steve Nash to play for the Lakers when their big four was expected to go to the NBA Finals, which was a dangerous spot off shooter that could make a play anywhere on the court. Of course, Irving is far more capable of that. Kyrie’s health is almost as important as LeBron in this equation. Yes the Cavs have acquired some parts during the year that have helped immensely in Iman Shumpert, Timofrey Mozgov and J.R. Smith. Yes, J.R. Smith can win a game himself. Yes Tristan Thompson has become quite an underrated player who the Cavs might be better off with than Love. I just think the Warriors are too good.

I originally thought Golden State in five. I also saw everyone else seems to have the same prediction. Jalen Rose just said on commentary as much. But I mean, just look at LeBron these playoffs. His shot hasn’t been falling at all…and he’s STILL unstoppable. LeBron just finished the Eastern Conference Finals with a 30-11-9 average and his shot didn’t fall at all. Say what you want about the Hawks, I called them the worst 60 win team ever, but they were still a 60 win team. Cleveland also got by Chicago, which were quite a good team (they are probably the 90’s Knicks to LeBron’s Jordan). LeBron James is having one of the all-time sick playoff runs, easy opponents or not. Again, the Cavs have dominated with two of their signature players on the bench for a lot of the playoffs, sporting a 15-2 overall record. That’s why I don’t think it’s Warriors in five anymore.

The Warriors are absolutely stacked. They have a guy who went off for 37 in a quarter in Klay Thompson. They have crazy depth with Andre Iguodala, Shaun Livingston and Andrew Bogut. They have multiple players that can at least hinder and slow down LeBron in Draymond Green and Iguodala. The team is so good they bench a guy like David Lee, who offensively could still be a 17-8 guy today. Oh, and they have the league MVP, a guy who just dropped 30 a game and nearly shot 50-50-80%s in the Western Conference Finals in Stephen Curry. I don’t know if Shumpert, one of the best perimeter defenders in the league can handle him. I don’t think a hobbled Irving can do it. And LeBron may be able to, but it will be exhausting and may affect his offensive play. Golden State has lost three games TOTAL at Oracle Arena this season (46-3).

LeBron James has been a combo of Iverson, Magic and Jordan in these playoffs. But It’s just not going to be enough. Golden State is stacked beyond stacked.

But LeBron will keep them in it.

Warriors in 7

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RDT’s 2015 NBA Playoff Predictions: The Conference Finals

May 19, 2015 rdtworldofsport@gmail.com

Woo I made it before Game 1 tonight!

First question I have to ask, why the heck is Warriors-Rockets the first series starting? Cleveland and Atlanta were done for what seems like weeks ago. Why should Houston have to just come back in two days?

Anyway, I posted my predictions on Twitter again in case I was late, but I’m not late this time! Then Grantland’s Zach Lowe copied me! (Or has no idea what RDTWorldofSport is, I give it a 50-50 chance).

An interesting tidbit about these Conference Finals: while the NBA is the most anti-parity league in basketball (we have a #1 seed against a #2 on each side, for example) this is the first playoffs in what feels like forever where none of these four teams really felt like true Championship contenders before the season began, other than possibly Cleveland. LeBron’s return to the Cavs got them here, fine. But the Hawks? Where did that come from? The Rockets looked like a two man team without enough depth to make it far, and it looked like they were who we thought they were until Josh Smith decided to realize his potential ten years into his career for a quarter and a half and led the Rockets to a stunning Game 6 comeback. The Warriors were a fun team to pick, but fun usually means “really good team that gets beat by the Spurs in the playoffs”. Instead, Stephen Curry owned the league, Klay Thompson made the rumors he’d be traded for Kevin Love look foolish and Andrew Bogut and Draymond Green led a great defense to create the clear title favorite at this point. Just some crazy stuff.

Eastern Conference Finals

#2 Cleveland Cavaliers @ #1 Atlanta Hawks

How the Cavs got here: Well, they convinced LeBron to come home. They got pretty lucky with #1 Overall picks, hitting Kyrie Irving in 2012, missing on Anthony Bennett and nailing Andrew Wiggins. They sent Wiggins and Bennett to Minnesota for Love, and while Love actually had a good (not by his standards) season, it’s debatable whether that’s been a good idea long term. They also got Mozgov, JR Smith and Iman Shumpert at the trade deadline, giving the Cavs decent depth. Obviously they key has been LeBron.

How the Hawks got here: To be honest, I have no idea. Kyle Korver was dealt to Atlanta a few years ago for cash. Paul Millsap had always been pretty underrated but a solid hand that Utah didn’t bother with and let walk. Al Horford was the #3 Overall pick right behind Greg Oden and Kevin Durant. Jeff Teague was another Hawks draft pick who upped his percentages enough to go from an average player at best to good player. DeMarre Carrol is a former late 1^st round pick of Memphis who bounced around before finally finding a place in Atlanta.

The Hawks are probably the worst 60 win NBA team in the history of the league. Unsurprisingly, they fell apart down the stretch after a really hot start. Brooklyn was a mess themselves and yet put up a fight, Washington was a secretly a mess themselves, only Toronto was in worse shape so suddenly they looked a lot better than they were (I picked Atlanta in 4 there, but I wasn’t underrating Washington, I was overrating Atlanta). This a poor man’s Spurs’ team at best and I still have no reason to believe in them.

You know who I believe in? LeBron James. I’ve still yet to see a reason why a LeBron lead team won’t win the East. Sure, he’s not the LeBron of a few years ago, but he’s still the best player in the league. And he has enough weapons around him in Smith and Irving to make sure the Cavs can score enough. Yeah, the Hawks probably win Game 1 and go up 2-1, but we know the story by now.

Cavs in 6

Western Conference Finals

#2 Houston Rockets @ #1 Golden State Warriors

How the Rockets got here: Stockpiling assets and landing deals for stars! That’s how James Harden and Dwight Howard got here. Then, take a chance on some troubled stars, like Josh Smith. Then, some of your younger guys work out, like Terrence Jones, and you’re good! Remember, the Rockets got very little for the Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady departures, yet it hasn’t mattered one bit.

How the Warriors got here: Landed Stephen Curry #7 in the 2009 NBA Draft. PGs taken higher: Tyreke Evans, Jonny Flynn and Ricky Rubio. The secretly great Andrew Bogut-Monta Ellis trade. Landing Klay Thompson at #11 in the 2011 NBA Draft, right after Jimmer Fredette and Kemba Walker were selected. Finding Draymond Green in the 2^nd round in 2012.

The Rockets are obviously lucky to be here. After their shocking Game 6 victory that justified the Josh Smith signing and a solid Game 7 win, they now face a team that hasn’t slowed down one bit. The Warriors, unlike the Hawks, have decisively taken care of business in each of their two series thus far. The Pelicans bring Anthony Davis to take on the Warriors, no problem, Warriors sweep. Memphis gives Golden State a tough time early on, Coach Steve Kerr makes the adjustment regarding Tony Allen Golden State cruises to three straight victories.

There’s really no reason to think Golden State isn’t the far better team here. Can’t wait to see Jason Terry chase Curry around for 30 minutes a night. Patrick Beverly would have been a great help.

Harden probably gets one 10 for 28 with 20 free throw games made in their to steal one.

Warriors in 5

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RDT’s 2015 NBA Playoff Predictions: The Conference Finals

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