The Five Tiers in the West

Through a week in the NBA season, a team can only develop so many identities. But there are five playoff teams in the West that fit identifies that rank that rank on a tier scale. Teams are sorted 1-5, regarding expectations. A 1 being the best and 5 being disappointing.

1. San Antonio Spurs
An undefeated team has to take the top spot, and who better than the Spurs? They have won the West regular season two years in a row and look primed to do it again. Tim Duncan continues to tell off Father Time and Tony Parker looks just as good as last year, hitting a game-winner against rival OKC. Kawhi Leonard looks great and the Spurs have done this without Ginobli being fully healthy. No team is more experienced or more disciplined and the Spurs have made a statement to begin the season.

2. Dallas Mavericks 
Without Dirk, Mavs fans had to have been worried to start the season. But after beating the Lakers on opening night, Dallas has surged to an impressive 3-1 record. All three wins have been blowouts too. Maybe this is just some Ewing Theory (see: Simmons, Bill) early on, but Rick Carlisle's Mavs team can beat anybody at full strength. O.J. Mayo is very talented and looks to be blossoming on a new team. Darren Collison has been aggressive this season, averaging a career-best 17 points per game. They took another blow today as Shawn Marion will miss a week, but for a team missing its star in Dirk and playing with so many new pieces, 3-1 is a great start.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder
If offseason decisions were criteria, OKC would be lower. But their play this season gets them a 3. Yes, they have the talent with Durant and Westbrook, but where's the Thunder magic? Durant's scoring is down to only 23 per-game so far, but his rebounds have been up to 14 a game. The problem has been more Westbrook's fault. He has been Westrbricking more often, only shooting 38% so far. He is taking more shots than Durant, something no Thunder fan wants to see. The brightest spot has been Kevin Martin. He has thrived in Harden's old role, averaging 20 points and shooting over 51%. Once they limit turnovers, the Thunder will be fine. No panic necessary.

4. Los Angeles Lakers
The most talked about team this year is still figuring it out. The Lake Show's only win came against the cellar-dwelling Pistons and no Laker fan will be happy until they reel off consecutive victories. Howard has looked good, but not fully healthy. Kobe and Gasol don't appear to be that much older. The problem has been the misuse of Steve Nash by coach Mike Brown. Nash is injured, so coaches will have time to figure out his role. More concerning had been the bench and Metta World Peace. Hill, Blake and Jamison need to fulfill their given minutes. World Peace looks lost at times and the Lakers may start looking for alternatives. We all know the talent is here, but the offense and defense both need to improve. Mike Brown needs to get answers fast or he may be jobless by Christmas.

5. Denver Nuggets
The low team on the totem pole is the surprisingly winless Nuggets. A tough loss vs. Miami is forgivable, but bad showings in Philly and Orlando are not. Denver was a sleeper pick in the West this year, but they have looked sluggish. McGee has given them nothing and Lawson has not started like he finished last season. They need to win their home-opener tonight vs. Detroit. The Nuggets are traditionally dominant at home and they need to hold court as they have a difficult schedule early on. Those who picked the Nuggets as a 2 or 3 seed may have exaggerated  but this is still a playoff team that is much better than 0-3.  

Lefty is Right: Harden and Jennings Win Players of the Week

     The NBA season is six days young, and the first player of the week awards have been handed out. James Harden winning it for the West surprises no one. His first week as a Rocket was nearly perfect. Brandon Jennings won it in the East, narrowly beating out stalwarts Carmelo and Bosh.
     Harden didn't need this award for his excellence to be realized. All eyes have been on him since his Rockets debut when he dropped 37 points in a win. With a career-high 45 as an encore and then (only) 24 in an overtime loss, Harden's 106 total points are the third most ever to start a season. It's hard to see him maintaining this torrid scoring pace, but it is great to see Harden be recognized as he was clearly the best player in the NBA last week. 
     Brandon Jennings only needed two games to be crowned player of the week. He lead the Bucks to an upset over the Celtics. Jennings had 21 points and 13 assists in that game. He followed that up with a clutch 13 point, 13 assist game against Cleveland that included a game-winning three as time expired. Milwaukee is 2-0 and Jennings is part of an entertaining backcourt for the upstart Bucks.

Saturday Night Thillers

Multiple NBA Games Come Down to the Wire

Heat 119, Nuggets 116

Chris Bosh dropped 40 points, his highest scoring total as a member of the Heat and Miami avoids losing two straight. Ray Allen hit six three-pointers, scoring 23. LeBron added 20, finishing one board shy of a triple-double. Denver had seven guys score double figures, with Faried and Iguodala leading the way with 22 each. Defenses never showed up for this one, as it was a 35-34 game after one quarter. The key play happened with six seconds left, Miami down three. LeBron found an open Allen, who hit a three while being fouled, converting the four-point play. Denver starts 0-3, but have not played a home game yet. George Karl's team is panicking as Denver is consistently one of the NBA's best teams at home. 

Pacer 106, Kings 98 in 2OT

The Kings are 0-3 after losing a tough one in Indiana. Both teams shot under 40%,but the superior Pacers were able to grind out a win with a balanced scoring attack. All five starters were in double figures. The Kings were lead by sixth man Marcus Thornton and his 26 points. Not the most entertaining double OT game, but the Pacers just hit shots when it mattered, something the Kings could not do. 

Blazer 95, Rockets 85 in OT

Harden and the Rockets were knocked down to Earth finally by Lillard, Aldridge and the Blazers. The Rockets only shot 35%, but had a chance to win it in regulation. Harden had isolation, but was well defended by Wesley Matthews, taking the game into overtime. In OT, Lillard scored 8 of his 20 points and the Blazers rolled. Aldridge lead all scorers with 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds. 

Nets 107, Raptors 100

Basketball in Brooklyn is off to a nice start after the Nets christened the Barclays Center with a win over Toronto. Brook Lopez lead the way with 27 points and Deron Williams added 19 and 9 assists. Lowry and DeRozan carried the Raptors, who played tough. The momentum in the crowd was too much though. With David Stern and Jay-Z in the stands, the Nets won one for Brooklyn and the rest of the Sandy victims. 

Bucks 105, Cavs 102

The thriller of the night took place in Milwaukee, with Brandon Jennings hitting a game-winning three as time expired. Kyrie Irving lead the Cavs with 27 points, including his lay up that tied the game with .07 seconds left. The Bucks got an unexpected effort from Mike Dunleavy, scoring 29 with 12 rebounds. Monta Ellis added 23 and Jennings had 13 for Milwaukee. The Bucks lead the East in scoring last season and are a very dangerous team on nights when Ellis and Jennings are clicking. 

Harden's Tear, Lakers Winless and Carmelo wins one for NYC

     If MVP voting was today, James Harden and his beard would win. As if his 37-12 debut wasn't enough, he followed it up with a a career-high 45 points in a win over the Hawks. Harden didn't need much time to do damage in OKC. In Houston, he's getting all the minutes, but he is not taking a ton of shots. Harden plays efficient basketball and he's been the best player in this very young season. 

     

     The 0-3 Lakers have Kobe panicking and news got worse today when Steve Nash got ruled out one week with a small fracture in his leg. Against the in-city rival Clippers, Howard and Gasol played poorly and the bench failed to show up for a third straight game. It starts with defense. The Lakers have allowed opponents to shoot over 50%. Mike Brown teams are prided on defense and he needs to find a system that works with a less than perfect Howard. World Peace has looked awful this year, and the Lakers may need to bring in outside talent. But if nothing else, Kobe looks destined to make another run at a scoring title. 

     Carmelo began with a speech to an emotional Garden crowd and seconded that act with a 16-point first quarter. He finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds on the way to a blowout win over the Heat. He was helped by 19 made three-pointers. The Knicks jumped ahead via Carmelo's huge first quarter and coasted from there on the strength of three balls from Kidd, Felton and Novak. The Heat aren't panicking. New York needed this one more for their city and to set a tone for their season.    

Award Predicitons

MVP: Kevin Durant 

An MVP trophy is the next logical step for Durant. He is the league's best scorer and he will take control of the Thunder this year. In Harden's absence, he will take over fourth quarters and end any debate about Westbrook being the guy. He and LeBron will have similar seasons, but the expectations for KD are slightly lower. Voters get tired of seeing the same MVP every year (Jordan). That will allow Durant to squeak out a majority of votes. 

Challengers: LeBron James and Chris Paul

Rookie of the Year: Anthony Davis

It is completely his award to lose. He is the best rookie by a wide margin. Already the best player on a decent Hornets team, Davis will likely lead them in points, rebounds and blocks. Damian Lillard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are very talented, but Davis's ability is that of a superstar in the making. In previous years, we've seen one rookie emerge alone from a so-so draft class. This year Davis emerges in a great crop of rookies. 

Challengers: Damian Lillard and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Coach of the Year: Doug Collins

His Sixers start the year without Andrew Bynum, but Collins will hold his young team together until their star center gets healthy. Collins is one of the best coaches never to win this award and if he can coach the Sixers to a top-four seed in the East, he will be a leading candidate. 

Challengers: Tom Thibodeau and George Karl

Sixth Man of the Year: Jamal Crawford

Unlike last year with Harden having this award always won, there is no clear front runner to begin the year. Jamal Crawford won this in 2010 and he will win it again as a Clipper. With Griffin and Jordan clogging the paint, Chris Paul will find the shooters on the outside. Crawford has played his best when on winning teams and the Clippers are certainly a very good team. He scored 29 in the debut and if his scoring average his in the high teens, Crawford will take this award home.  

Challengers: Ray Allen and Taj Gibson

Most Improved: Eric Bledsoe

Eric Bledsoe winning this award is very contingent on Vinny Del Negro starting him over Willie Green in the near future. Bledsoe is an elite athlete and will greatly benefit from playing next to Chris Paul (sound familiar). In his third year, Bledsoe seems to understand the NBA game and is talented enough to deserve more minutes. If he can get the time, Bledsoe will show just how good he can be.    

Challengers: Omer Asik and Evan Turner 

The Dazzling Debuts of Harden, Davis and Lillard; Lakers 0-2

     Whatever your opinion is on the James Harden trade, right now it's Rockets 1, Thunder 0. He certainly looked like a guy who can carry a team Wednesday night as he lead Houston with 37 points and 12 assists in route to a win over the Pistons. He looked great playing alongside Jeremy Lin and the Rockets have got to be thinking playoffs now. Harden, in his fourth season, played like the perfect combo guard. He is just as comfortable making plays as he is finishing them. An unselfish player in OKC, Harden clearly has no problem being 'the guy'. It was a great day for Harden, as his great game came hours after he signed a max deal of five years, $80 million. It's only one game, but Harden's Rockets debut couldn't have gone better.
     What better way for Anthony Davis to begin his career than play against the guy he should emulate. Tim Duncan and the Spurs got the best of Davis and the Hornets, but the 'Brow played like a top pick for sure. His 21 points and 7 boards were nice. But perhaps more impressive were the zero turnovers and perfect night at the line. Duncan wasn't about to be outdone by a rookie though. He finished up with 24 and 10, helped by strong efforts from Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard. A tough home loss for the Hornets no doubt, but they will be very competitive this year. Clearly Davis is a star in the making.
     The other strong rookie debut happened later in Portland. Damian Lillard had 23 points and 11 assists as he lead his Blazers to an upset of the Lakers. Lillard just looks like an NBA point guard, fitting the mold of Kyrie Irving. His presence energized his Blazer teammates. Aldridge, Hickson, Batum, and Matthews all played well. Highly-drafted scoring point guards have transitioned well into the NBA and Lillard looks like the newest addition to that list.
    It's not an NBA blog without one Lakers mention, so here you go. Howard played well, with 33 points, 14 boards and 15-19 from the line. Kobe went for 30 on 10-20 shooting. Gasol also had a nice game. So why is the Lake Show 0-2? Steve Nash has been non-existent, and it didn't help that he left last night's game in the 3rd with a bruised leg. He will miss valuable practice time as he recovers. But most of all, it's the bench. Lakers subs have been a let down and Mike Brown needs to scramble to find a rotation that works. A team with defensive stars such as Howard, Kobe and Peace should not allow 116 points to the Blazers. Still no need to panic, but an 0-3 start looms as the Lakers get a good Clippers team on Friday.
   

Opening Night Recap: Heat Impress, Lakers Stumble

Heat 120, Celtics 107
     Miami started off their title defense in impressive fashion, scoring 120 points and shooting at a 54% clip. LeBron dominated with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but missed most of the fourth with leg cramps. Wade had 29 points and Bosh had 17, including some big dunks and free-throws to close out the game. Ray Allen came off the bench and looked good against his former team. He had 19 points on 5 for 7 shooting.
     Boston got strong efforts from Pierce and Rondo, but their team defense struggled. The Celtic role players shot the ball well, with the exceptions of Jason Terry and Jeff Green. Terry was 2-7 with 3 turnovers in his first game as Boston's sixth man. Courtney Lee and Leandro Barbosa looked good, with Barbosa leading a late fourth quarter charge. Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass had decent games in the frontcourt, but were overwhelmed at times by Miami's speed.
     This one got chippy late after Rondo hooked Wade on a drive, receiving a flagrant 1 foul in the process. Rondo also received a technical in the first half.
      LeBron's leg cramps may be worrisome for Heat fans after he was forced to miss the end of a Finals game with the same injury last season. With the next game Friday, LeBron will have ample time to rest and should be at full strength. I guess even the world's greatest athlete can get cramps too.

Mavericks 99, Lakers 91
     A disappointing start to the Dwight Howard era no doubt. A balanced Mavs team held the Lakers to 91 points in a surprising opening night upset.
     Howard, Kobe and Gasol all had decent games, but the chemistry was off. Kobe's foot injury looked to slow him down as he never appeared in the flow of this one. The offense stopped each time he touched the ball. Howard had 19 points and 10 rebounds, but his 3-14 night at the free-throw line is very concerning moving forward. He also fouled out with two minutes to play. Nash was quiet with only 7 points and 4 assists. He did not look like a good fit in Mike Brown's offense last night.
     The Mavs, playing without Dirk Nowitzki and Chris Kaman, were lead by point gaurd Darren Collison's 17 points. Collison ran the offense and was able to make enough plays down the stretch to keep the Lakers down. Brandan Wright had 14 points on 5-5 shooting and O.J. Mayo had 12 points in his first game with the Mavs.
     With all the talent, this is a disappointment for the Lakers, but they should be fine. The kinks will take a while to fix, but they have a chance to bounce back tonight against the Blazers.