The 2014-15 NBA season has the ripe storylines of an instant classic
Davis Rich | Co-News Editor
Desire! Drama! Destiny! Is the the NBA or Shakespeare? Three things to notice this week:
The Thunder must go through the surging Suns to sneak into the playoffs…
On Dec. 31, the Thunder beat the Suns 137-134 in overtime, led by 44 points from recently-returned MVP Kevin Durant. The Thunder drew within one and a half games of the Suns for the eighth and final spot in the Western playoffs. The new year has been kinder to Phoenix. The Suns have gone 7-3 since their loss to Oklahoma City, with impressive wins over Cleveland and Toronto, giving themselves a three and a half game cushion over the Thunder. Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic, and Markieff Morris-who erupted for 35 against the Cavs– lead a balanced scoring attack for Jeff Hornacek’s squad. Additionally, GM Ryan McDonough acquired Brandon Wright from the Celtics to bolster a Phoenix frontline that has been using young centers like Miles Plumlee and Alex Len as stopgaps for rim protection. If the Suns manage to hold off the Thunder and sneak into the playoffs, Wright’s role on defense will be crucial for Phoenix to advance.
Dallas enjoys a weak schedule so far…
The Mavericks sit at 29-13, good for the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Dallas is an offensive juggernaut, averaging 108 points per game thanks to an all-time great in Dirk Nowitzki and mid-range jumper connoisseur Monta Ellis. The Mavericks might carry the best starting five in the West when you throw in Rajon Rondo, Chandler Parsons, and Tyson Chandler. But there is a reason why the Mavericks haven’t been mentioned as a contender. The Mavericks own only two wins over current Western playoff teams, one of them coming over Memphis last night. Meanwhile, Dallas has lost at least once to every other playoff team out West. The Mavericks have benefited from a light schedule so far (tied for twenty-third in the league). Look for the Mavericks to be tested over a brutal three-week stretch from March 5 to the 27, which features six matchups with Western contenders, a date with the Cavs, and a game versus the Thunder.
The Raptors need a boost…
After starting the season 24-7, the Raptors have dropped seven of ten and fallen into the third slot in the East. Part of the slide can be attributed to Demar DeRozan’s injury (and Terrence Ross’ underwhelming play in his absence), but the Raptors are known as one of the deepest squads in the league. If Toronto is to compete with Chicago, Washington, and Atlanta atop the Eastern Conference, they need a shot in the arm. Jonas Valanciunas has emerged as a powerful young center for the Raptors. However, coach Dwayne Casey is only playing Valanciunas about 26 minutes a game, mostly in the first half (only 12 minutes per game after the break). Critics target Valanciunas’ defense, but his efficiency on the defensive end of the floor is comparable to Raptor counterparts like Amir Johnson and Patrick Patterson. Valanciunas is capable of much more offensively, as he exhibited last week against Detroit. If you extrapolate his stats over 36 minutes, Valanciunas would be averaging 17.1 points per game and nearly 12 rebounds. While 36 minutes might be a bit much, Casey should consider giving Valanciunas more minutes later in games, both to help out the team and prepare Valanciunas for the pressure of a playoff environment.
