2008 Woodie Awards
Wild Wild Western Conference
Adam Gruenewald
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: Sports
While the NCAA Tournament is winding down, the literally Wild Western Conference are offering basketball fans one of the best NBA seasons in quite some time.
At last check 3.5 games separated the first seed from the sixth seed, while 2.5 games separated seventh seeded Dallas from ninth seeded Golden State with Denver sandwiched in the middle.
As confusing as this picture is, there is some consistency and important things which need to be pointed out.
Of the three teams in the race for the last two spots, Dallas and Golden State will make the playoffs because Denver cannot even pretend to play defense.
The most surprising team is the New Orleans Hornets who have the best point guard in the game, and since the trade for Bonzi Wells actually have some scorers around Chris Paul.
Paul, who put up a triple-double with five steals, is averaging 21 points, 11 assists, and almost three steals which is simply amazing.
He is one of the most unstoppable players in the league and can also play great defense.
Despite various injuries throughout the year, the Spurs find themselves in a very similar spot near the top of the standings and are primed for another run at a title.
With Pau Gasol now back for the Lakers, and the fact Lamar Odum was able to help Bryant while Gasol was out, means the Lakers may not even need Bynum.
If Bynum does return, he gives the Lakers an incredibly strong frontcourt of Bynum, Gasol, and Lamar Odum while Bryant is still the best player in the league.
One overlooked team within the packed Western Conference is the Utah Jazz. While they are dominant at home and have the second best young point guard in Deron Williams, they will probably not succeed in the playoffs because of their reliance on up and down players such as AK-47 and Mehmet Okur.
The Houston Rockets is another team which could be dangerous in the playoffs because of their stifling defense. However one expects that when coaches have preparation time they can find ways to stop T-Mac and the role players simply do not offer enough.
At last check 3.5 games separated the first seed from the sixth seed, while 2.5 games separated seventh seeded Dallas from ninth seeded Golden State with Denver sandwiched in the middle.
As confusing as this picture is, there is some consistency and important things which need to be pointed out.
Of the three teams in the race for the last two spots, Dallas and Golden State will make the playoffs because Denver cannot even pretend to play defense.
The most surprising team is the New Orleans Hornets who have the best point guard in the game, and since the trade for Bonzi Wells actually have some scorers around Chris Paul.
Paul, who put up a triple-double with five steals, is averaging 21 points, 11 assists, and almost three steals which is simply amazing.
He is one of the most unstoppable players in the league and can also play great defense.
Despite various injuries throughout the year, the Spurs find themselves in a very similar spot near the top of the standings and are primed for another run at a title.
With Pau Gasol now back for the Lakers, and the fact Lamar Odum was able to help Bryant while Gasol was out, means the Lakers may not even need Bynum.
If Bynum does return, he gives the Lakers an incredibly strong frontcourt of Bynum, Gasol, and Lamar Odum while Bryant is still the best player in the league.
One overlooked team within the packed Western Conference is the Utah Jazz. While they are dominant at home and have the second best young point guard in Deron Williams, they will probably not succeed in the playoffs because of their reliance on up and down players such as AK-47 and Mehmet Okur.
The Houston Rockets is another team which could be dangerous in the playoffs because of their stifling defense. However one expects that when coaches have preparation time they can find ways to stop T-Mac and the role players simply do not offer enough.
Be the first to comment on this story