By JOSHUA NATOLI
Sports Editor
In last week’s issue of The Chronicle Executive Editor Jackson Wang wrote a piece on the five NBA teams nobody wants to face in the playoffs. I now present to you my rendition, with a few changes.
(Pending a huge Derrick Rose comeback)
5. Indiana Pacers
Th
e Pacers have really been flying under the ra
dar this season. Roy Hibbert hasn’t been the same All-Star center from last season and star swingman Danny Granger has been injured most of the year and is out again. Even with all the mishaps and miscues this season the Pacers have emerged as a top contender in the Eastern C
onference. Paul George is starting to come into his own as an NBA star, garnering comparisons as a Tracy McGrady who can play defense. Ranking first in the entire league in rebounding (45.8) and second opponents’ points per game (89.5) don’t hurt their cause either.
4. Los Angeles Clippers
Having an absurdly deep bench makes any team a contender come June and Clippers have arguably the deepest second unit in the NBA. The combination of Chris Paul with highflyers Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan is always lethal, but with Chauncey Billups healthy for once it gives the Clippers that much needed three-point threat. Add in Jamal Crawford and Eric Bledsoe leading the second-unit charge and the Clippers are dangerous. The huge loss to the Spurs in February scares me though. Speaking of which…
3. San Antonio Spurs
But Josh, the Spurs should be number one; they’re the best team in the West right now and look unstoppable. They also looked unstoppable the past two seasons when they were bounced by the Grizzlies in the first round in 2011 and the Thunder in last year’s conference finals. The Spurs have a habit of really impressing us during the tail-end of the regular season and then falling flat-footed in the playoffs. If they can successfully transition their play now to June then they’d be a sure thing.
2. Oklahoma City Thunder
They would be number one if they kept James Harden and dumped Kendrick Perkins. Harden is exactly what this team needs right now to put them over the top. Perkins is an above-average defender, but lacks any sort of way to put the ball in the basket. There is hope for them though as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are the highest scoring duo in the NBA right now (51.9).
1. Miami Heat
Who didn’t see this one coming? The Heat have shown us this season that they are once again the odds-on favorite for another NBA title. LeBron James’ play this year has been arguably the best we’ve seen from him to date. James’ stellar field goal percentage to go along with 27 points per game has been absolutely deadly. The Heat’s acquisitions of veteran three-point specialists are what will bring the championship back to South Beach. Players like Ray Allen, Shane Battier, and Rashard Lewis are what the Heat need to
spread the floor and pick opponents apart. It has also been the key to their 17-game win streak.
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