What NBA Play-Off Team Should You Support?

by Angry Andy

LeBron James is looking to dominate the NBA in a way we haven't seen since Michael Jordan's heyday.

April has arrived. The days are getting longer and, finally, the sun is coming out. This means a lot of things for a lot of people. But for me, it means that it’s NBA Playoff time and an end to a normal sleeping pattern for the next two months. 

Unlike the NFL playoffs, in the NBA the cream usually rises to the top. Sure there are a few upsets but with every round having a best of seven series, it’s a lot easier to split the contenders from the pretenders (I had the Baltimore Ravens 9^th out of 12 playoff teams for this years Superbowl).

In a best of seven series, team strategies change from game to game and the chances of luck to advance are greatly reduced. For example, in seven games, would you really see Baltimore beating Denver, New England or my 49ers? And yes, by the way, the Superbowl is still a sore point!

With Sky getting a deal to broadcast NBA games this season, basketball is starting to get big once again over this side of the Atlantic for arguably the first time since the Jordan era. But who are the stars of today’s era that may rival the likes of Michael Jordan and a Dennis Rodman? (ok...there is nobody, in any sport today like a Dennis Rodman!)

If you are new to the sport and are looking for a team to follow, you’ve come to the right place to get the low down on what team may suit you to root for.

MIAMI HEAT

The Heat are the reigning NBA Champions and are led by LeBron James. LBJ has had one of the most dominating years in the history of the sport. In the past year alone he has been regular season MVP, finals MVP, Olympic Gold medalist and captured that elusive first championship ring. Last year's playoffs helped re-define LBJ as a player and put him right up there with the argument that he could, one day, be better than Michael Jordan. At 27, both players won their first championship. 

Along with Dwyane Wade (2-time NBA Champion after leading the Heat to their first ever Championship in 2006), Chris Bosh and the veteran Ray Allen, the big three are clear favorites to win their second championship and to cement a dynasty in the NBA. 

The Heat recorded a 27-game win streak in the NBA this year, the second highest in history. Without capping off the season with a championship, that record would be viewed like if Arsenal’s invincibles of the 2003-04 season didn’t win the Premier League

Why you would support them: 

• LBJ's Heat are the closest thing to Jordan’s Bulls of the 90s. 
• They're reigning champions if you like backing the favorite. 
• Plus, a championship victory will arguably cement this team as one of the greatest teams ever assembled

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

A relatively new franchise, the Thunder got to the finals before losing to the Heat last year. Inexperience was a key factor in the 4-1 loss. Star player Kevin Durant - the NBA scoring champion for the last three out of six years - is a player we’ll be hearing a lot about over the next few years. He has the potential to lead his team to the Championship and the possible rematch between the Thunder and Heat have basketball enthusiasts salivating. An OKC-Heat Finals would be the equivalent of Barcelona-Real Madrid Champions League final (@AMTRick Note: Easy now Andy). 

Russell Westbrook, number 0, is a polarizing character that’s both praised and deemed overrated, in equal measure, by a lot of basketball fans. The argument against Westbrook is that he is too ball hungry and should pass off the ball more to Durant who is the star man in the team. If OKC can get this combination right in the playoffs, they’ll be a force that could go all the way.

Why you would support them: 

• A very exciting young team. 
• If they can keep this unit together, then this team will be around for a number of years more than the Miami Heat. 
• It’s very hard to imagine a player like Kevin Durant leaving OKC. The same can not be said for the Miami Heat stars who could go their separate ways at the end of next season when the Big 3 can all opt out of their contracts

LOS ANGELES LAKERS

The LA Lakers are a team a lot of people can identify with on this side of the Atlantic. Kobe Bryant has been involved in the organisation for 17 years now. However, this has been their most trying season as they have flirted with not even qualifying for the playoffs. They’ve looked abysmal at times, even changing head coaches very early into the season. What was built as a ‘dream team’ at the start of the season when they acquired Dwight Howard from the piss-poor Orlando Magic (who are @AMTRick’s favorite team and my answer to any time he mentions how poor Aston Villa, my soccer team, are) [@AMTRick Note: ...I got nothing...) and an aging Steve Nash, who you may know  from the lyrics, "Is it the truth or are you talking trash/Is your game M.V.P. like Steve Nash". (@AMTRick Note: I think that's just you pal)

What looked great on paper certainly hasn't turned out this way. Although the Lakers have managed to reach the playoffs after a string of great victories, beating a good Spurs team en route, they must go through the playoffs without Kobe, who tore his achilles tendon and faces up to a year on the sidelines at age 34. Although I'm no Kobe fan, I was gutted upon hearing this news. Kobe Bryant is a fantastic player who leads his team by example. He is a warrior on the court who lets no one stand in his way of winning, not even his team mates who he’ll call out publicly if they are not playing up to the standard he is expecting them to.

With Kobe out, the reigns of the team have been passed onto Dwight Howard, which is what he must have wanted when he signed up to be a Laker last year. How Howard reacts to the pressure of being the main man in probably basketball’s biggest franchise remains to be seen. However, not many are giving this Lakers team a chance, myself included.
Having said that, the Lakers are one of the few teams that have been in playoff mode, winning their last five games in a row to get into the playoffs.

The Lakers are an aging team, who only a few years ago were on top of the mountain, have changed head coaches during this season and have been dysfunctional behind the scenes with not many people believing in their owner. They are very similar to Chelsea...last year...when they won the Champions League and nobody believed in them. And with that in mind, you can't completely rule out the Lakers

Why you would support them: 

• A team of history that is destined to be one of the top teams in the league again (@AMTRick Note: Are they? They became a great team under Jerry Buss' ownership, not Jim Buss...)
• If you’re rooting for Kobe to make a comeback next season or would like to follow the Lakers at the start or a new era (Kobe may have played his last game as a Laker) 
• If you liked how Chelsea won last year’s Champions League.

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS

Possibly the most exciting team in the league, the Clippers are led by Chris Paul, one of the best players in the league. Having finally won a playoff series for the first time in their history, after being the whipping boys of the NBA for so long, the Clippers have proved this year that they are now THE basketball team in LA today. 

The Clippers, known as Lob City, are kinda like an old Arsenal team: they try to score in style rather than getting the easy points. Hence the alley oops and monster slam dunks.

They’ll be looking to have a good run in the playoffs and will firmly believe that they are in with a chance to win it all. The Clippers also have Blake Griffin on their team...he’s the dude that slam dunked over a car. 

Why you should support them: 

• You’re always guaranteed a great game when the Clippers are playing. 
• If you liked how Man City became the Champions of England last year after years of being the second team in Manchester...without the argument of “buying the title” or billionaire owners etc. 

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

The Spurs are a fundamentally great team led by Tim Duncan (one of the last remnants of the Jordan era) and Tony Parker (he banged Eva Longoria, 'nuff said). 

The Spurs haven't had a great run in to the playoffs, but as Miami showed last year, having the best record is not necessary when it comes to the playoffs. The Spurs have been here so many times before that they know what to do when the spotlight shines bright. Plus they’ll be out to avenge their thrilling series loss against OKC in last year's playoffs. 

Spurs and Thunder will be the favorite match up to meet again in the Western Conference Finals (semi finals of the Championship essentially). Head coach Gregg Povovich is one of the best in the league and will be relishing the challenge. 

Why you should support them: 

• If you appreciate fundamentally sound basketball. 
• If you like Spurs, the Premier League, team without a player like Gareth Bale. 
• If you’re having trouble sleeping at night.

CHICAGO BULLS

The Bulls were one of the favorites heading into the playoffs last season until their star man, Derrick Rose, went down injured in the opening game of the playoffs. The Bulls never recovered from the loss. Rose was only recently cleared by doctors to make a return to the starting line up but has yet to make an appearance. Many speculate that he won't return at all this year and will start fresh next season. 

It's argued by some that, by Rose returning to the line up, he wouldn't fit into the system that has changed drastically since he left. Without a franchise player since Rose got injured, Chicago play a different style of game which may not suit their leader. That style of play has showed moderate success (though the Bulls are the only team in the league not to have a win OR loss streak of over 4 this year, showing their inconsistency), most notably seeing them end Miami Heat's 27-game winning streak. Although, let the record show that Miami comfortably defeated the Bulls this week to avenge that particular loss. 

Whether or not Rose appears in the playoffs will have a big effect on how the Bulls season culminates. For interest alone I’m hoping that the only other MVP besides LBJ in the last five years makes his return when his team needs him the most.

Why you should follow them: 

• If you like a good comeback story. 
• Like following a team of history, some dude lead this team to six championships in the 90s but I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned him yet. 

BOSTON CELTICS

Like the Chicago Bulls, the Celtics star man, Rajon Rondo, went down injured earlier in the season. However Rondo will definitely not be involved in the Celtics postseason. Look for Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, guys who won a championship in Boston in 2008, to step up as they enter the twilight of their career. 

Not many people fancy the Celtics become a serious threat after taking the Heat to seven games last year in the Eastern Conference Finals. As well as having Rondo out, three-point specialist Ray Allen left for Miami at the end of last season. Miami have fast become Boston’s bitter rivals and it's a match up that Kevin Garnett will be praying for. If Boston get through round 1, Garnett and co could get their wish. 

Why you should follow them: 

• They’re the Irish team in the NBA. 
• Possible Cinderella story.

NEW YORK KNICKS

If you watch the brilliant PTI retrospective look at LeBron's career, you’ll see the comparison’s between James and his rival, the Knicks top player Carmelo Anthony. Carmelo has truly found his stride as a Knicks player this season and has put in some phenomenal performances in becoming this year's scoring champion. The Knicks look like a team that could pose a threat in the playoffs when it comes time to prove themselves. 

A playoff atmosphere in Madison Square Garden with a team that New Yorkers are firmly behind could create a fantastic, intimidating atmosphere in MSG. The Knicks recently went on a 16-game winning streak (to put that into perspective, Jordan’s highest was 18 and the third longest streak stands at 22). They are definitely an in-form team and could be a serious threat to the Heat’s chances of repeating of they carry that momentum into the playoffs. 

Why you should support them: 

• If you like New York. 
• If you're a Liverpool fan and have seen your team suffer year after year in the Premier League when you insist that they are too big of a club to be floundering.

BROOKLYN NETS

Originally the New Jersey Nets, Brooklyn’s record (in their first season in a new home) has surprised many as they are the fourth seed in the East and could look to record a sensational playoff victory. They are in a similar position to that of the Clippers last year, in that you sense that just one playoff series win would be a massive success. You could say, after seeding higher than Boston, Chicago and Atlanta that they have already over-achieved this year.

Why should you support them: 

• They are part owned by Jay-Z. 
• They’re kinda like Fulham, a safe team but never really going to challenge. Speaking of which... 

ATLANTA HAWKS

Atlanta are the epitome of a good team that not many outside of Atlanta care about. They are consistently good in the regular season but never seem to do anything when it counts in the playoffs.

...And they haven’t done a whole helluva lot to change my mind on that this season either. They're capable of causing a first round upsey against the Pacers. However that likely means a trip to Miami. Atlanta are not getting past Miami, end of conversation.

Why should you support them: 

• If you support a team in the Scottish league that isn’t Celtic, then you'll be familiar with the feeling of knowing that they are never going to do anything then, yeah, sure...why not? You can at least enjoy the later rounds as a neutral.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

If you’re a sports fan, you may have heard something about Linsanity. That was the craze that surrounded Jeremy Lin, who came out of nowhere to become a sensation in New York last season. However, Lin and the Knicks couldn’t come to an agreement for a new contract so he found himself in Houston. He hasn’t exactly set the basketball world alight like last year. Then again, at least he is still playing, unlike his NFL counterpart last year, Tim Tebow.

For all the buzz that surrounded Jeremy Lin, he is not even the number one guy in Houston. That would be James Harden. A key player in OKC’s playoff run last year, Harden has put up great numbers for the Rockets this year and will be relishing facing his old team in the opening round. This is a team who are very capable of causing an upset during the playoffs.

Why you should support them: 

A fine beard by anyone's standards.

• James Harden’s beard; If you’re a fan of similar manly beards like Chuck Norris, or WWE’s Daniel Bryan (who, himself, is a fan of bears)

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

The Grizzles are a really good team. A side who approach greatness, but are overshadowed by more ‘star’ teams like the Clippers (who defeated Memphis in seven games in the opening round of last year’s playoffs).

The Grizzles have improved a lot since that playoff loss and look set for a first round rematch with the Clippers. With Marc Gasol making their defence near-impenetrable at times, they're the type of side who just need to go on a run of momentum to do some major damage. This could be their year to do so.

Why you should follow them: 

• Grizzlies-Clippers could be the most exciting, and unpredictable, match up of the first round. The Grizzlies could entertain their way to victory in another seven game thriller

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS

Like the Lakers, the Warriors have just about snuck into this year's playoffs and will be matched up against the Denver Nuggets who, if the NBA was Pokemon, would be like an evolved version of GSW. Led by Stephen (pronounced Stefan, for some reason) Curry, they're a very fast-paced team that can also hit three-pointers, with Curry hitting 45% of his three point attempts, establishing himself as the best three-point shooter in the game right now. On the final night of the regular season, he broke the record for nailing the most 3's in a single season. 

Not content with that accolade among his peers, Curry has dominated a lot of GSW games this year, most notably putting up 54 points in the Garden. In spite of that, the Warriors still managed to lose that game, and that sums them up really: finding unique ways to both set records and lose.

Why you should support them: 

• The upset pick! 
• A fast break, multi dimension team with a fantastic upside. 
• Could be the beginning of something even bigger for Golden State, there's plenty of room on the bandwagon. 
• Also the only team that have short sleeves on their jerseys. Try wear a sleeveless top everywhere you go in this country!

DENVER NUGGETS

In the absence of Carmelo Anthony, who moved onto the NY Knicks last year, this team should not be doing as well as they are. While Carmelo led the team by example, the Nuggets are now a true team that play for each other with no one man standing above the rest. This formula has worked well in the regular season with the third best record in the Western Conference. However, they have yet to find real success in the playoffs so far. And they'll have to do it this time without one of their best players in Danny Granger, too, who went down with a knee injury and will miss the rest of the season.

This year could be different, though, as they face Golden State in the first round. Denver will fancy their chances to get passed the Warriors and, if they get some momentum in the playoffs along with a couple of upsets elsewhere, they could be a dark horse in the later rounds

Why you should support them: 

• If you like a team that is not filled with any stars and is still successful. Kinda sucks if you ever want to get one of their jerseys but it does give you a great argument in getting your own name on the back. A good idea if you ask Caviller fans with old LeBron jerseys.

First Round Quick Picks (Best of Seven):

Miami Heat vs. Milwaukee Bucks - Miami in 4 games

New York Knicks vs. Boston Celtics - New York in 6 games

Indiana Pacers vs. Atlanta Hawks - Indiana in 6 games

Brooklyn Nets vs. Chicago Bulls - Chicago in 7 games

Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Houston Rockets - Oklahoma in 5 games

San Antonio Spurs vs. LA Lakers - San Antonio in 7 games

Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors - Denver in 5 games

Los Angeles Clippers vs. Memphis Grizzles - Clippers in 7 games

Angry Andy is a former pro-wrestler, turned radio host/podcaster, turned sports gambling addict. He's a die-hard San Francisco 49ers and Miami Heat fan, is dying hard being a Villa fan this season and his favourite film is also, unsurprisingly, Die Hard.