There are under 20 games left for each team in the NBA so this last section of the season will be filled with playoff talk. There is a lot going on, so let's take a look at the best story lines headed into the playoffs.

Will Derrick Rose return?

 

He has to right? How can a guy be dubbed to be this massive competitor yet not come back for the playoffs? I know he and the Bulls want him to be 100% before he comes back seeing as to how he's only 24 years old and already has an MVP trophy under his belt. But he has said himself he feels mostly fine just needs to build confidence in his legs again. Apparently his hamstrings have been flaring up after workouts sometimes. I just can't imagine a season goes by without us seeing him once. But every day that goes by without Derrick Rose feels more and more like he won't be back.

 

The Bulls are sitting 5^th in the East and only four games back of the Pacers for the division. With Rose back they could catch Indiana, though that should be and clearly is the least of their worries. If the playoffs started tonight the Bulls would draw the Nets win round one, someone I think they could beat without Rose. But then... Miami. Good night Chicago. But with 19 games left there is still time to get Rose integrated back into the offense. Remember, Rose is not someone you can just pop back in the lineup and then everything's perfect again. He completely changes their offense. That means different roles and strategies from the other players and coaches.

 

To me right now it sort of feels, like he will miss the remainder of the regular season, and I think he misses the first round of the playoffs. But I think the Bulls sack up on defense and win that series anyway. Then you draw Miami, a team you absolutely can not beat without Rose. So why not drop him in here, if he is feeling up for it? I really think this might happen and I really think Miami could get shocked. I hope it doesn't take that long to get him back into a Bulls uniform, but that may be the only way Miami loses a playoff series this year.

 

Will Miami get to 33 straight wins?

 

Speaking of Miami they have earned their 19^th straight win last night, an impressive feat to say the least. I would like it to be known that nineteen straight wins does not happen by accident, but I am going to rip them anyway. Their schedule has been relatively easy over that stretch because they play in the East. There is no way they would have won 19 in a row if they played in the West. There is just no competition. They might as well be playing college teams that is how big the talent gap is. With Lebron finally playing like Lebron should, they have dominated obviously, that is what he should do. He is that much bigger, faster, stronger, and better than everyone else. But I feel like he should have a 19 game win streak in a season ten times out ten when competition is this weak, and when you have another superstar to stand beside you. Nine out of the nineteen were against non playoff teams and I would argue another two were against teams in the East that are playoff teams but would not make it in the West.

 

That being said, their schedule is about to get a whole lot more difficult. They have all but wrapped up the East already so rest becomes a possibility that will interfere with it if they can get by all the road games in their near future. They start with the second night of a back to back that just tipped @ Philly. Then there is @Mil, @Tor, @Bos (Tor and Bos back to back), @ Cle, vs Det, vs Cha, @ Orl (Cha and Orl back to back), @ Chi, @ NO, and @ SA. That takes us through March and would get them to 30 straight. Then they would need to kick off April with wins vs NY, @ Cha and vs Phi (Cha and Phi back to back), in order to tie the '71-'72 Lakers streak and then home for Milwaukee to break it.

 

No they are not getting to 33, let alone 34. Even thought another nine of them would be vs non playoff teams. If they don't succumb to a huge Jrue Holiday game on night two of a back to back tonight I think they get to at least 22 before they visit Boston and if they make it through that one, @ Chi or @ SA will knock them off. But that does mean this thing could get close to 30. I do hope they really try to go for the record, it would make for a fun finish to the year.

 

Will the Knicks win the Atlantic division?

 

They lead the Nets by two games and the Celtics by five but they are hurting right now. But they have some games in hand. Four on the Nets and two on the Celtics. But that could spell trouble for the Knicks. They have a whopping 21 games left on their plate and their health is not getting much better. They have five back to backs left and twelve games against current playoff teams.

 

I do not think they have the depth or talent to find their early season hot streak. They FAR overachieved to begin the year and now it's time they give it back. The problem is that the Celtics are not trying to win the division, they are trying to get healthy and stay rested, and the Nets are the Nets they aren't going to step up and take it. This could get ugly as the year winds down. I'm going to play the odds and say the Knicks lose the division, but it is really a toss up between the three teams.

 

Who will win the West?

 

The Spurs hold a 1.5 game lead over the Thunder, who have one game in hand, as of now. That win the other night was rather large. Without Tony Parker for at least another couple weeks, 1.5 games is the slimmest of margins, especially when there is another meeting between the two left on the schedule. Here is the tough news for Spurs fans. Of their fifteen remaining games, twelve are vs current playoff teams. Conversely only eight of the Thunder's remaining sixteen are vs playoff teams.

 

That to me, spells a top seed for the Thunder. Not to mention the Spurs will probably rest some guys along the way to ensure they are healthy and well rested for the start of the playoffs. The Thunder are just too young and feisty to not take it from the vets.

 

 

Can the Grizzlies catch the Spurs in the Southwest division?

 

As I was just saying the Spurs are in some trouble as far as getting the top seed, and in this case getting their division wrapped up. Memphis is 4.5 back, but they are playing great ball as of late and with the absence of Parker and the Spurs need to be rested for the playoffs this could get close. I think Memphis makes a serious run but comes up just short. The Spurs have enough talent, coaching, and experience to get it done

 

Where will the Lakers end up?

 

Right now they sit eighth in the West. One half game ahead of the Jazz, and one half game behind the Rockets. Unfortunately, both of those teams have the game in hand on the Lakers and the Jazz own the tiebreaker with the Lakers and the Rockets currently lead the season series 2-1, with one game remaining...the final game of the season. It could come down to just that. Houston plays eleven of eighteen at home with only eight vs current playoff teams oh and they have three games left with Phoenix. Utah plays ten of eighteen at home and again eight vs current playoff teams. The Lakers play only eight of their remaining seventeen at home with nine vs playoff teams. They do not have much going for them. But they have Kobe Bryant and if Kobe Bryant fails to take the Lakers to the playoffs with Dwight Howard on his team then his legacy deserves to take a hit.

 

I am sticking with my prediction earlier in the season. They are not going to make it. I think they lose that final game against Houston and end up losing on a tiebreaker.

 

 

mlz

Wednesday, March 13, 2013