NBA: Examining the West

We are about 20 games into this 82-game season and so far, there are a few teams that have really made a name for themselves as top contenders for the championship in the western conference and others are ready to count lottery balls.

When you look at the Western Conference, you see the Los Angeles Lakers, everyone else, and then the lottos. What is so surprising is the amount of lottery teams are in the Western Conference.

It’s safe to say that Golden State , Memphis , Sacramento , Minnesota , L.A. Clippers and Oklahoma City are not going to contend for the playoffs.

I’ve heard arguments that Golden State could be making a late season run for the playoffs and my answer to that is, no. Not the way they have been playing defense giving up about 112 ppg and allowing their opponents to shoot 46 percent. That’s not going to get it done any level.

Golden State is a talented team with players like Corey Maggette, Stephen Jackson, Monte Ellis and now Jamal Crawford. These players can take this team to the playoffs and believe it or not, compete for a championship.

But they’re missing something. The glue that sticks everything together and helps improve the chemistry, and this glue needs to come from the coach.

If Golden State is missing the glue then that would make Don Nelson the rubber that flings players around like missiles in hopes of outscoring their opponents.

Haven’t these people learned that it is defense that wins championships and not offense?

The Lakers came as close as any team I ever seen with offense as their primary attack, but in the end it was Paul Pierce smoking the cigar and for some odd reason Shaq wanted Kobe to taste his…

Anyway, that Game Six blowout should have been a wakeup call for all teams to play defense. It’s time for Golden State to do what several teams did this season and fire the head coach.

After the lotto teams we have Portland, Denver, New Orleans, Houston, Utah, Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix.

These are the teams in the middle that will be close all the way around this season. There may be one or two of these teams that spurt off on their own but none of these teams will catch up to the Lakers.

Don’t get me wrong, these teams are excellent and have their own unique touch to the game but the Lakers are just too good.

Since there were no big roster changes over the offseason and everyone basically knew the triangle offense. Phil Jackson placed a great deal of emphasize on defense and Lakers came out of the gates tearing their opponents up on defense. 

Lakers have only lost three games this season and can still chase after that 72-10 record, if they focus.