The Spurs are the kings of making people play their way. With Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan, they are one of the best halfcourt offenses in the history of the game.
Give Parker the ball and he uses his quickness to get inside. From there, he can kick it out to Ginobili or Michael Finley, or if the forwards come after him, give it over to Duncan, one of the game's best in the low post. Or, if they keep the point guard on him, Parker can just break to the basket.
And they forced teams to play that way. Teams like the 2007 Cavs, who couldn't play that way, were swept. Teams like the Suns, who thrive on speed to make their offense work, were also eliminated.
The Mavericks didn't have a clear identity to shove down teams' throats, so they were forced to adapt. They tried to play small-ball against the Warriors, and look what they got.
They tried to play the isolation game in the 2006 Finals, and look what they got.
And now we've come to this; Dallas and Phoenix; Nash and Nowitzki; fighting for a playoff spot.
In the West, the Lakers, Hornets, Rockets and Jazz are in the playoffs. You figure the Spurs will turn it on and be just fine, and the Blazers are young enough to keep up the pace throughout the season.
That's six teams. The Nuggets are benefiting immensely from Billups' leadership, so we'll give them a spot.
Now you're down to Dallas and Phoenix; again.
Humor aside, I think the nod goes to Dallas. They are starting to come together without Josh Howard, and when he comes back, he should keep up his hot start.
Phoenix, on the other hand, seems lost. It's easy to skip that when they started 11-5, but four straight losses have the spotlight on them.
While I think Dallas now has a higher ceiling currently than the Suns, I don't necessarily think either one can win a championship in 2009.
And therein lays the rub.
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