With the NBA season more than two months old, we can begin to see a clearer picture of the teams that are built to contend and those that are not.
The Western Conference has been particularly interesting, with teams like Golden State Warriors and Memphis Grizzlies forcing themselves into the conversation and the star-studded LA Lakers going completely off the rails.
But in this crowded playoff picture, two teams have established themselves as being clearly above the rest: Los Angeles Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Thunder’s success has been due to several factors. The surprising trade of James Harden on the eve of the season’s start left the defending Western Conference champions without the reigning Sixth Man of the Year.
But veteran Kevin Martin has filled in seamlessly, and the Oklahoma City offense hasn’t missed a step. In Houston and Sacramento, Martin was always counted on to be a primary option as a scorer, with varying degrees of success.
However, his skillset is tailor-made for the role Harden played as sixth man and third scoring option behind Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.
Martin has been lethal as a catch-and-shoot option, particularly from beyond the arc. He’s shooting 43.6 percent from three-point range, by a considerable distance the highest clip of his nine-year NBA career.
Durant, already an MVP candidate and the clear-cut second-best player in the league, is even better this year.
His efficiency is off the charts, and he is on pace for a 50-40-90 season (currently shooting 51.7 percent from the field, 41.4 percent from three-point range, and 90.3 percent from the foul line). He’s also improved as a facilitator, averaging a career-high 4.3 assists per game.
Just as integral to the Thunder’s continued success has been the noticeable improvement of Serge Ibaka, whom the Thunder controversially decided to retain at Harden’s expense. So far, he’s making them look pretty smart.
The Congolese big man has grown much more consistent at both ends of the floor and diversified his offensive arsenal.
The high-flying Clippers are just as star-studded as the Thunder, boasting the best point guard in the NBA in Chris Paul and one of the most exciting, dynamic big men in the game in Blake Griffin.
Griffin has been particularly impressive this season, shedding his reputation as a dunks-only showman by displaying improved defence and an increased mid-range game on offense.
But the Clippers’ success isn’t only due to their stars. They boast one of the deepest teams in the league, arguably the deepest.
Former Sixth Man of the Year Jamal Crawford, coming off a disappointing 2011-12 season in Portland, has fit in perfectly, leading the second unit’s offensive attack.
The notoriously streaky Crawford has benefitted greatly from playing alongside Paul, a virtuosic floor general who specializes in finding teammates in the right spots on the floor to be effective.
Several other new acquisitions are making strong impacts as well.
Matt Barnes has proven a perfect fit as a backup wing, serving as a defensive enforcer and knocking down threes.
Former Clipper Lamar Odom started off the year looking like a repeat of his train-wreck of a season in Dallas, but he’s slowly rounding into form and becoming a valuable contributor.
Third-year guard Eric Bledsoe and centre DeAndre Jordan have also taken major steps forward in their games, making good on the potential they displayed earlier in their careers.
Amazingly, two of the most reliable, dependable names on the Clippers’ roster, Chauncey Billups and Grant Hill, have barely played or not played at all. All indications are that once those two veterans get healthy, the Clippers will only get better.
It remains to be seen who will come out on top in the Western Conference but, as of right now, the Clippers and Thunder appear to be the heavy favourites.
The Clippers have a slight edge as of right now, showing the ability to blow out teams on a night-to-night basis. But the Thunder haven’t lost a step since losing Harden, leading to one of the more exciting budding rivalries in recent memory.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
If people can lose their job, and clubs can face massive payouts, due to the behaviour of coaches, it will drastically change the way sporting teams in Australia will be run.
A Serbian, a Canadian, a Slovenian and a Greek fellow walked into a bar … Well, they’ve actually walked into the NBA and now…
Nikola Jokic has scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead defending NBA champions Denver past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers…
There will undoubtedly be upset results here and there in the NBA playoffs but there’s an overwhelming sense of fait accompli that Boston will…
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Steph Curry is headed to the games for the…
The only realistic threat to Boston’s chances of strolling through the Eastern Conference is a team that could still end up in the play-in…
