Halftime Hype

The NBA's general managers have cast their votes. Although the current Vegas odds have the Miami Heat winning the title, 63% of the league's general managers believe the Los Angeles Lakers will follow through on a three-peat. In contrast, only a third of GMs think the Larry O'Brien trophy is headed to South Beach.

They certainly have the resources to do so. On the sidelines, the team has Phil Jackson, who was voted best coach by 39% of GMs. In the post, they have Pau Gasol, who is tied with Dirk Nowitzki after receiving 29% of the votes. Of course, there's always Kobe Bryant. 79% voted picked Bryant as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line. Furthermore, 86% of GMs say that the Black Mamba is the best shooting guard.

Bryant was also voted second-most likely to win the MVP award with 26% of the votes. Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant finished first with 67% of the executives backing him.

Other results/facts (Source: Truehoop):
* The Wizards' John Wall, this year's top overall pick, earned 68 percent of the vote as this year's likely rookie of the year. Last year's top pick, the Clippers' Blake Griffin, will also be a rookie after missing a season to injury, and received 29 percent of the vote.

* For the first time, Deron Williams (50 percent) of the Utah Jazz was voted as the top point guard in the league, overtaking the New Orleans Hornets’ Chris Paul (36 percent).

* The Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (29 percent) and Lakers’ Pau Gasol (29 percent) finished tied as the best power forward in the league, replacing the San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, who had been selected as the best at his position for the past eight years.

* The Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (96 percent) was voted as the top center.

* The Heat’s James (68 percent) was named the best small forward.

* The Lakers’ Bryant (86 percent) was voted the best shooting guard. Bryant is currently the only player to have been selected as the best at his position every year of the survey.

* Thirty-nine percent of GMs believe the Heat will be the most improved team in 2010-11 while 14 percent of general managers feel the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards would be the most improved teams.

* For the ninth consecutive season, Bryant (79 percent) was also selected by GMs as the player they most want taking the shot with the game on the line.

* Nowitzki (57 percent) was voted the top international player.

* Durant (56 percent) was voted as the top player GMs would sign to start an NBA franchise.

* The Boston Celtics (100 percent) were unanimously picked to win the Atlantic Division, Chicago Bulls (82 percent) in the Central Division and the Miami Heat (74 percent) in the Southeast Division. In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Lakers (96 percent) were predicted to win the Pacific Division, the Dallas Mavericks (71 percent) in the Southwest Division, and the Oklahoma City Thunder (63 percent) in the Northwest Division.

* The Magic’s Dwight Howard was voted best defensive player (78 percent).

* The Bulls’ Derrick Rose was voted fastest with the ball (21 percent).

* The Suns’ Steve Nash won the vote as best passer (75 percent).

* The Clippers' Griffin tied the Thunder’s Russell Westbrook as the most likely to have a breakout season (15 percent).

* The Oklahoma City Thunder were called the most fun team to watch (52 percent).

* The Celtics’ Ray Allen was voted the best pure shooter (54 percent).

* The Utah Jazz were voted the team with the best home court advantage (46 percent).

The NBA Playoffs are a long and intricate odyssey, with a fair share of superb play and clutch shots. At the heart of it, though, it's a competition searching for the best of the best, ultimately crowning a champion. That's where the NBA Finals come in. The Los Angeles Lakers are officially the best of the West, while the Boston Celtics have emerged as the Eastern Conference champions. Despite the fact that both teams faced off against each only two seasons ago - with the C's winning championship #17 - it would be foolish to compare this year's match-up to the 2008 Finals.

Significance
For one, each team has at least one significant addition since '08. The Lakers signed one of the best defenders in the NBA, Ron Artest, and the Celtics acquired a 6'11" power forward with championship experience and a jumpshot in Rasheed Wallace. Plus, Bynum was barely around in the '08 playoffs, mostly recovering from an injury. Not to be forgotten is the Celtics' Nate Robinson, who put on a show in Game 6 versus Orlando. In the process, each team also lost an influential player. Los Angeles gave up the chance to re-sign Trevor Ariza, who made game-changing plays for the Lake Show during their '09 title run, and Boston no longer has Eddie House, a streaky three point ace who greatly contributed to momentum.

This series also has a different significance than it had two years ago. Back then, Kobe had just received the MVP award and was still trying to prove he could win a title without Shaq. Meanwhile, the Celtics were attempting to fulfill their championship prophecy, formulated the previous offseason after the acquisition of Garnett and Ray Allen. This season, Kobe & Co., who acquired championship experience, are motivated by revenge. On the other hand, the Celtics want to prove the naysayers wrong, specifically those who doubted them during the regular season.

For certain players, the Finals - or rather winning - hold a different significance. If the Celtics win it all, Rondo will be credited with leading his squad to a title. He's been a champion before, but never a leader. If the Celtics come up short, Rondo's performance in the playoffs won't be remembered outside of Beantown (and Orlando, Cleveland, and Milwaukee). Thinking about it from the other side, this may be Derek Fisher's last championship. Considering that he may retire after this season, the 2010 NBA Finals are pretty special.



Then there's the superstar, Kobe Bryant. What does this mean for him? Instead of Shaq, Kobe has Lebron in mind. The pundits and most fans have dismissed Kobe Bryant as the best player in favor of "King James." As Fanhouse's Bethlehem Shoals blogged, if Kobe wins, people will have to rethink their opinions. Is Lebron really the best? He still hasn't won a ring, and Kobe just led his squad to a championship. Imagine how Kobe, who performs at such a high rate without any motivation, will play with the "best player" debate secretly fueling him.

Analysis
Contrary to what some may say, this series - and thus, the NBA championship - could go either way. Boston boasts a unique physicality that has challenged L.A. and a productive bench, while the Lakers have Twin Towers and a former Defensive Player of the Year, as well as the best closer in the game.

The point guard match-up is definitely an advantage for the Celtics, since Rondo will always be several steps ahead of Fisher. It is imperative that Rondo use his quickness to create plays and drive, rather than utilizing his newfound jumpshot. Fisher can't keep up on a run to the basket, but he has no problem sliding his feet and contesting jumpers. The question is how often Doc Rivers will turn to Nate Robinson, who recently showcased his repertoire, and whether Phil Jackson will resort to Jordan Farmar or Sasha Vujacic as Fisher's backup. Both are quick, but neither Farmar or Vujacic have a high basketball IQ. Unfortunately for Lakers fans, Derek Fisher ought to be pretty fatigued by now. He's had to chase Russell Westbrook, Deron Williams, and Steve Nash. Phil Jackson must sub in Vujacic and Farmar for the well-being and stamina of Fisher. In spite of this disaster, Rondo should get the best of the Lakers' PGs.

Nevertheless, Kobe Bryant may end up guarding Rondo, too, with Fisher switching to Allen. In that case, Rondo will have to exploit his other options. Ultimately, if Rondo - the key to the Celtics offense - isn't effective, the Celtics don't stand a chance. Of course, that's easier said than done.

The game's greatest closer, L.A.'s Kobe, and the catalyst, Boston's Ray Allen, occupy the shooting guard positions. The only way Ray Allen can score while matched up against Kobe is with the assistance of screens. If Allen's teammates can provide a good pick, and Ray can run at the right angles, then he'll get his shots. But don't expect him to perform too well, which should really concern the Celtics. On the opposite end of the floor, Ray will have to guard Kobe, one of the most difficult defensive assignments ever. However, Ray doesn't get enough credit as a defensive player as he should. Even though Kobe sank the shot, you couldn't ask for better defense from Ray Allen on Kobe's game winner in Boston earlier this season. Kobe wins this match-up hands down.

At the 3, the Lakers' Ron Artest will defend the Celtics' Paul Pierce. Artest is undoubtedly the main difference between the unsuccessful '08 Lakers squad and this year's team. Sometimes, Ron Artest's defense can turn the game into a 5-on-4, simply by taking the opposing small forward out of the game. That said, Paul Pierce is a talented offensive player who shouldn't be underestimated (neither should his acting abilities). When he gets hot, his jumpshot is hard to stop. The disadvantage is that because of Artest's defense, Paul Pierce wouldn't be a reliable clutch player, causing the Celtics to look elsewhere during crunch time. Typically, I would say Pierce gets the advantage over Artest, because of his offense, but Artest has recently showed he can put up points too. This match-up is a tie.



What a great power forward match-up. Pau Gasol, and at times, Lamar Odom, against Kevin Garnett. Pau has beefed up and KG has aged, but is still effective. This is the time for Pau to prove people wrong. Two years ago, he heard it all. The Olympian was said to be "weak" and a "softy". In case you didn't catch him during the Lakers-Utah series, this is not the same Pau Gasol. Although Pau has gotten stronger, Kevin Garnett is still an intimidating and effective player. He, just like Pau, is capable of making mid-range jumpers. And at the heart of it, they're both excellent power forwards, which implies that they are good rebounders and have a dominant post presence. Two years ago, I would have given the edge to Boston. But a clash between Garnett and the new Pau Gasol is a tie, at least on paper.

The center position is really what won Boston the championship in '08. Pau was playing out of position and Perkins gave him hell. Everybody saw Perkins' excellent defense against Dwight Howard, and I wouldn't expect anything less of him against Bynum. The injury-plagued Bynum has only scored more than 13 points twice during the playoffs and that's against the likes of Nenad Kristic, Kyrlo Fesenko, and Jarron Collins. Perkins has come a long way, but still doesn't exactly stuff the stat sheet. What he does do is frustrate his opponent and hustle, which outdoes Bynum. But he also outdoes Bynum in technicals; one more T and Perkins is suspended. Regardless, Big Baby is also a good defender and is, in many ways, similar to Perkins. Nonetheless, I don't think Big Baby is as effective as Perkins. The only reason the Lakers can be optimistic is because of the height advantage. If Bynum can exploit that, expect some big games. I don't. The Celtics' centers have the advantage in this matchup.

Lastly, there's the bench. Almost any bench is better than the Lakers'. It's more than just a matter of talent. The Celtics' reserves are smart players. The Lakers' bench sometimes makes decisions that cause one to question their competence. Oh, and their defense needs a lot of work. If you're the Celtics, don't be discouraged if you're facing a double-digit defecit; the Lakers' reserves are very forgiving. In fact, they'll let you right back into a game - just to make things interesting, of course.

The Verdict
In 2008, the Celtics had home court advantage and an overwhelming advantage at the 1,3,4, and 5. Now, they barely have advantages, and slim ones at that (except for the bench). Home-court advantage is ultimately a deal breaker. According to John Schuhmann of NBA.com, "The team with the first two games at home has won 19 of the 25 Finals since the NBA switched to the 2-3-2 format in 1985. The Celtics have already won five road games in these playoffs, but the Lakers are 8-0 at home thus far at Staples Center." Plus, the Lakers have the best clutch player in the game, Kobe Bryant. My prediction: Lakers in 7.

If the Lakers were a gene, Kobe would undoubtedly be a dominant allele and the rest of the squad recessive. Without getting into a discussion of genetics, that means that #24 is masking the identity of his teammates. Translation: Kobe, like many other stars in the league, has come to be the face of his team. However, much to their discredit, the four other starters and the other influential players on the team, seem relatively nonexistent. Ok, I'll admit, on a night when your team's leader drains a winning, fade-away jumper at the buzzer, there's going to be a lot of attention given to him. Heck, he even had me, with an annoying sore throat, yelling. Although, maybe I'm just saying this because he's on my fantasy team, you can't forget Pau Gasol's 22 rebounds and 26 points on 9-15 shooting. Now that's a big deal.

It's not like the press isn't eager to speak with players other than Kobe. Just tonight, the Lakers sideline reporter interviewed Pau, not Kobe, after the buzzer. Regardless, as I logged on to FaceBook and received a more accurate consensus of people's thoughts on the game, all I saw was "Kobe" and several hundred exclamation marks. For those that watched the game, we all know that the Lakers probably would not have been able to win without Kobe's awesome late-game heroics. It could be that as a Lakers fan, I've gotten so used to #24's clutch performances, that I'm suggesting spectators pay attention to the "other" guys. Honestly, though, give the rest of the guys some credit.

Tonight may not be the best time to bring up my point. Besides Kobe and Pau, only Artest reached the 10 point mark. Then again, tonight's game wasn't the only time the other players haven't gotten their due credit. Derek Fisher also came up in crunch time against Miami, only to be shadowed by an incredibly amazing, three-pointer by Kobe - off the glass...while fading to the left. But at the end of the day, Kobe's outside jumper wouldn't haven't mattered if somebody like Fish didn't close the gap.



Another major player that stands out in my mind is Andrew Bynum. Hours of training with arguably the best center to ever play the game, Kareem, and one of the most notable defensive players of all-time, Kurt Rambis, have finally paid off. Bynum is now a legitimate post threat, averaging about 17 points and 9 rebounds. His numbers are that much more remarkable after sustaining season-ending injuries two years in a row. Meanwhile, his game can only become more dangerous, as post-moves and a good feel for shooting from several feet out. Watch out, Dwight Howard.

Also, many forget that without Lamar Odom, the Lakers second unit has a difficult time working together. Actually, I take that back. They barely manage to mesh when Lamar is around. When he's not helping out the second five, the Lakers could very well give up a handful of potential victories.

Like I said, it may have come to a point where some Lakers fans - like myself - have become accustomed to Kobe Bryant's unprecedented greatness. In fact, it now comes as a shock if he even misses a free throw under the enormous pressure he endures night in and night out. Nevertheless, what I'm trying to say is that not just Lakers fans, but observers of the game should pay attention to the role players who make the game close enough for the stars to do their thing.

It was a little less than two years ago, when the Los Angeles Lakers traded their garbage, primarily consisting of Kwame Brown, and gave up the rights to Marc Gasol in exchange for Pau. At the time, everybody had a different opinion. Greg Poppavich even advocated for the establishment of a trade committee. Of course, Kobe Bryant - and Lakers fans - were ecstatic. After years of mediocrity and having William "Smush" Parker as starting point guard, the L.A. squad made it to the NBA Finals. Memphis' owner regretted fiving up Pau for so little. In the process, most overaggerated how lopsided the trade was in favor of the Lakers. Surely, only time would tell.

Obviously, in the short term the Lakers benefitted tremendously. Kobe's offseason complaints about that proverbial "missing piece" ceased. Mitch Kuptchak, who was one step short from having Lakers fans show up to his office with pitchforks, was praised a hero. Even the Los Angeles Times writers had nothing to criticize (cough, cough, Plaschke). For those that don't remember, the transaction was made subsequently after Bynum was injured and things were going on a crash course. The team was losing games left and right. Pau put an end to that. Oh, and did I mention that Kwame Brown - the dude with the extreme butter fingers and quite possibly the biggest draft bust in NBA history - was gone? (see video above)

The move clearly didn't help the Grizzlies out that year. For one, Marc wasn't even around at the time. Secondly, with so many guards in the mix, there was barely any space for Javaris Crittenton, a kid who showed occasional glimmers of talent with the Lakers. I doubt Aaron McKie even played. First round picks didn't exactly console Grizzlies' fans. Regardless, while Lakers fans were breathing sighs of relief at the departure of Kwame, the Grizzlies fans had adopted a total disaster. In the end, though, the main transaction for each teams involved a Gasol.

Now, it comes down to who is a better player and if he fits the needs of his team. Pau, with plenty more experience than his brother, added dynamics to a Lakers team that lacked a true center. Bynum, still developing, is lucky to have an Olympian by his side in the post. Anyway, Pau also added range, nonexistent on the L.A. squad outside of Kobe and Fish. On the other hand, Marc added a threatening post-presence to the Grizzlies, who had perimeter duties taken care of by O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, Mike Miller, and if need be, Mike Conley. Although, it's worth taking into account the position each team was in. The Grizzlies, who were undergoing a rebuilding process could afford to wait a season for Marc to emerge. In contrast, the Lakers had the clock against them after Kobe acknowledged his frustration.

What I'm trying to say is that contrary to the opinion of pundits at the time of the trade, the move was a win-win for both teams. Could the Grizzlies have gotten more from the Lakers? Absolutely. Was the deal a donation for the Lakers? Absolutely not. At the moment, Marc Gasol is averaging 14.6 points & 10.9 rebounds per game for the Griz. Right now, Pau is trying to come back from injury upon enduring season after season of international play. Prior to his preseason injury, Pau was averaging 18.9 points & 9.6 rebounds per game as a member of the Lake Show. Sure, those are better numbers than his younger brother, but all it takes is a season or two for that to change. Overall, the Lakers benefitted tremendously in the short term, but Memphis Grizzlies' fans shouldn't at all be disappointed by the "Gasol-trade."