The NBA Position Battle – The Top 5 Point Guards after the 2016 All-Star Weekend

Images from the NBA.

In this Position Battle post, we will focus on the top five point guards in the NBA after the 2016 All-Star Weekend. Not surprisingly, most of the guys on this list play in the Western Conference, and the only East playmaker isn’t even on an American team. Go figure, right?

There shouldn’t be any shockers at #s 1, 2, and 3, but some top-of-mind players may not even make the “On the bubble” list. Among these? No Kyrie, no D-Rose, TP9, and Jeff Teague. 

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on March 26, 2016 (Manila time).

The Top Five NBA Point Guards Right Now in the 2014-2015 Season

The All-Star Weekend has been etched in memory and the craziest trade deadline in recent memory has just passed. Goran Dragic got his wish to bolt Phoenix along with every other point guard the Suns had, while the Bucks did the smartest thing ever by trading away their best player for a former Rookie of the Year who hasn’t really done much since. OKC may have just become the league’s most dangerous team, while, sadly, we might have seen the last of Chris Bosh this season after he was diagnosed with a blood clot in his lungs.

It’s been a crazy past week or so in the NBA, but here we are now, with only about 27-30 games to go per team and the Playoff race reaching fever pitch. By all indications, it looks like things are going to get even crazier.

And with that backdrop, here they are – the top five point guards RIGHT NOW in the 2014-2015 NBA regular season (this is based on the Player Efficiency ratings as calculated by HoopsStats.com as of the evening of February 21, 2015 – Manila time):

#NBA2015: Who Are the Top Ten NBA Players Right Now?

The Golden State Warriors are the consensus best and hottest team right now. I mean, they’ve won 20 of their 22 games so far and, as of this writing, fifteen straight. Preseason favorite Cleveland, meanwhile, seemed to have settled into a groove until they lost to OKC a few days ago and to the Pelicans a night after that. As for the defending champion Spurs, they’ve won seven of their last ten, but remain quite inconsistent, which is why they’re perilously perched at the fifth spot out West.

The simple fact is this season has unloaded a lot of surprises already, and looking at the list of the top ten players right now wmay yield even more jaw-droppers. See for yourself.

Six of the best this season. 

Note: These rankings on simple Player Efficiency Rating (EFF) as calculated by HoopsStats.com.

The Top 10 Players in the 2014 NBA Playoffs (May 5, 2014) Part 1

The 2014 NBA Playoffs have given us, arguably, the best first round so far, what with five series going the full seven games and the lower seeded or “weaker” teams surprising fans and quashing experts’ predictions left and right. Simply put, the past few weeks of postseason action have been nothing short of awesome.

In this first of two parts, I will present five of the current Top 10 players in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. This will be based on the players’ stats for their first round games. They are ranked according to Player Efficiency for that duration of time only.

In this list, we will find the sixth till tenth-best players so far in the postseason. It’s a pretty interesting bunch, highlighted by a sweet shooting PF, two explosive PGs, a center who has come into his own, and the league’s would-be MVP.

All these guys have given us reason to feel giddy in the Playoffs.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on May 5, 2014 (Manila time).

The NBA: April 2014 Position Battle – The Top 5 Point Guards Right Now

In this Position Battle post, we will focus on the top five point guards at this point in the season. We will take into account just the players’ stats for the latest five games of their respective teams. This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each player’s production.

Neither Chris Paul nor Steph Curry is at the top of this list. Other marquee names, meanwhile, like Deron Williams, Ty Lawson, or Goran Dragic are also conspicuously absent. The young ‘uns rule, at least for now.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on April 9, 2014 (Manila time).

CP3 is the only "old hand" on this list as the young playmakers
of the Association take over.

The NBA: March 2014 Position Battle – The Top 5 Point Guards Right Now

In this Position Battle post, we will focus on the top five point guards at this point in the season. We will take into account just the players’ stats for the latest five games of their respective teams. This will, hopefully, give us a more current picture of each player’s production.

What’s very interesting in this list is that neither Chris Paul nor Steph Curry are included. Yes, maybe the two consensus best PGs on the planet aren’t among the current top five. Instead, we have a guy who’s bouncing back after being in sick bay, an All-Star snub, and a host of other great playmakers.

Note: All of the following stats are based on each player’s stats as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on March 11, 2014 (Manila time).

A lot of young 'uns in this set of top five.
(composite image by Enzo Flojo/Hoop Nut)

The NBA: April 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Point Guards Right Now

It’s great that most of the guys on this list will continue to see action in the postseason along with some other great playmakers who missed the top 5 cut like Tony Parker, Ty Lawson, Mike Conley, Jeremy Lin, and, yes, Steve Blake.

Note: All of the following stats are based on the last five games of each player’s team as computed by HoopsStats.com. They were taken on April 18, 2013 (Manila time).

5. Goran Dragic (PHX) - 15.6ppg, 3.6rpg, 11.8apg, 2.8spg, 22.0 EFF

The only guy who won’t see a lick of Playoff action, and it sucks because look at his numbers. He scores, he assists, and he steals the ball! He’s like Euro Chris Paul! Only he’s on a Phoenix team that will likely struggle well into 2015 (yes, 2015). What if he were still in Houston…

Goran Dragic was the hottest Sun in the team's
last five outings.
(image by Matt York/AP)

4. Russell Westbrook (OKC) - 26.8ppg, 5.0rpg, 5.8apg, 2.0spg, .853 FT%, 25.4 EFF

Speaking of Houston, the Rockets are going to get a lot of face time with this guy. Maybe the most athletic PG on the planet, Jet Zero is likely going to run over J-Lin in their pivotal match-up. Westbrook has been playing some of the best basketball of his young career, and we still haven’t seen him pass the ball like we think he could. But he sure can dunk.

The NBA Roundup: April 2-5, 2013

I missed covering these playdates because, well, my wife gave birth to a BOY!!! J And, well, the hospital didn’t have wifi so there. I’ll look back at action from in and around the association from Tuesday to Friday (Manila time) this week.

Tuesday’s Best:

•        Big time teams come up big when it matters, and today Memphis, Indiana, and Utah all came up big. The Grizzlies beat the West’s top team, the Spurs, to boost their chances of finishing in the conference’s top four. Indiana, meanwhile, kept within striking distance of NYK and the East’s #2 seed with a victory over the Clippers. Lastly, Utah leaned on the dominance of Al Jefferson to turn back the Blazers anew and continue holding on to the West’s last Playoff ticket.
•        Over in Houston, Turkish big man Omer Asik unloaded 22 points and 18 rebounds for the Rockets, who are almost assured of the West’s 7^th seed.
•        Devin Harris had a great night for ATL, rattling in 25 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals while shooting a flawless 8-of-8 from the line.

Carmelo Anthony was super scorer this past
week for the Knicks.
(image by David Goldman/AP)

Tuesday’s Worst:

•        There was a point this season when the Clippers looked like the best team in the West, if not the whole Association, but that is now a forgotten time. Vinny Del Negro continued to be exasperated at his starters’ lack of effort, which has resulted in this LA squad losing 4 of its last 5 and having slid below both Denver and Memphis in the Playoff ladder.
•        The longer Rajon Rondo is out, the more Courtney Lee plays, and that’s not good for the Boston Celtics. Against Minnesota, Lee shot just 3-of-8 from the field, had no assists, and turned the ball over thrice in 25 minutes.
•        Tobias Harris has the makings of a future star, but right now he just chucks too many threes. He shot 6-of-17 overall from the field against the Rockets, including 0-of-6 from beyond the arc.

The NBA Roundup: March 31, 2013

Dallas, Utah, and the Lakers all won today to keep things complicated in the race for the eighth seed in the Western Conference. Also, Houston blasted the Clippers even without leading scorer James Harden, while Steph Curry’s shooting explosion propelled the Warriors past the Blazers.

Day’s Best:

-       Must be some curry that Steph Curry ate… haha yeah so… All right, just focus on this instead – 14-of-22 from the field including 7-of-12 from BEYOND THE ARC to finish with 39 points. For someone who’s been walking wounded for most of the season, Curry’s recent performances haven’t been too shabby.

-       Dirk Nowitzki burying a textbook three, which he thought flew flat off his release, that buried the Bulls and kept the Mavericks’ Playoff hopes alive.

-       Russell Westbrook landing a triple-double to lead OKC to its 54^th regular season win. This victory gives the Thunder a mathematical shot of still snaring the West’s top seed, but time is running out fast.

Steph Curry unloaded 39 on the hapless Blazers.
(image by Rocky Widner/Getty Images)

Day’s Worst:

-       OJ Mayo’s stats in 42 minutes of play – 4 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 12 misses out of 13 attempts from the field. Good thing Dirk won it in the end.

-       I love the Rockets, so I SHOULD love Jeremy Lin, but anytime an NBA point guard registers a 1-2 assist-to-turnover ratio, then love can easily turn to hate. 3 assists and 6 turnovers?! C’mon Linsanity, give us some sanity.

-       This is what happens when an NBA team doesn’t have a bona fide star and go-to guy – players like Beno Udrih and Tobias Harris take more than their fair share of shots and miss a ton. Against ATL? Udrih and Harris combined for 13-41 FG shooting. Good for 32%. Nice. Orlando must have a different idea of magic.

The NBA: February 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Point Guards Right Now

He probably won’t win the MVP award this season, or maybe in any season, but that will not dim the fact that Tony Parker has been the best point guard of the past week or so. Joining him on this list are four young guns who will probably figure in the “Best PG” conversation long after Parker’s time is up.

Note: All of the following stats are based on the last five games of each player’s team as computed by HoopsStats.com. Stats were retrieved on February 28, 2013 (Manila time).

5. Kemba Walker (CHA) - 22.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.2apg, 2.0spg, .494 FG%, .536 3pt%, .905 FT%, 21.4 EFF

Prior to his most recent game against the Clips, Kemba dropped a total of 99 points over four games. All but one of those games were losses, but, hey, that shouldn’t dampen the awesome production from this combo guard. He struggled from the field against CP3, but he made up for it with 4 steals and 5 rebounds. Charlotte has nothing left to lose this season, which means Kemba will probably play out the rest of the Bobcats’ games with no pressure – just the way he likes it.

4. Steph Curry (GSW) - 24.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 6.0apg, 2.2spg, .511 FG%, 23.8 EFF

Curry just scored FIFTY-FOUR points against the Knicks. That’s all we really need to know. Yes, GSW lost despite that, but one has to remember that the only guys who’ve scored more than that at the current MSG (a.k.a. Garden IV) are (you might know them) Bernard King (60 in 1984), Michael Jordan (55 back in 1995), and Kobe Bryant (61 in 2009). And don’t even get me started on his FG%. This Curry is mighty hot!

3. Ty Lawson (DEN) - 24.2ppg, 4.2rpg, 8.0apg, 24.6 EFF

The Nuggets’ 8-win and 4-loss February has pushed them to second in the Northwest and fifth in the Western Conference, and Lawson has been maybe the biggest factor in their solid play. He has scored double-digits in every February game, and scored less than 20 only twice. The former UNC Tar Heel should remain one of the best under-the-radar playmakers as the regular season enters its last quarter.

2. Russell Westbrook (OKC) - 27.2ppg, 5.2rpg, 7.0apg, .500 FG%, .615 3pt%, 24.6 EFF

For the past week or so, I haven’t heard any statement (nor read any Tweet or Facebook status) referring to Jet Zero as Westbrick. The former UCLA star has shot 47% or better from the floor in 8 of OKC’s 11 February games.  In those games, the Thunder went 6-2. Conclusion? Can Westbrook shoot this well at a consistent pace? For the season, his FG success rate is just a shade above 43%, so OKC fans should be wary of the law of averages catching up soon.

1. Tony Parker (SAS) - 25.8ppg, 4.5rpg, 7.0apg, 1.5spg, .544 3pt%, 27.3 EFF

Will Parker be the second foreign-born point guard to win the MVP in the past 10 years? Will he follow in the trail of one Steve Nash? Nope. The way things are going, the MVP race is just really between LBJ and KD, but, hey, if stats and team performance were the only criteria, Parker would be a prime choice. The Spurs’ success this season may be attributed to TD’s resurgence and the rise in the play of guys like Danny Green, but Parker’s solid playmaking has, by far, been the real x-factor.

Tony Parker is the best PG right now. Will he also
be the first French MVP?
(image by Ben Margot/AP)

The NBA: January 2013 Position Battle – The Top 5 Point Guards Right Now

The LA Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are two of the top teams in the league right now, but does it automatically follow that their respective playmakers, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, are also the two top point guards out there? Let’s take a look. (Stats as of January 9, 2013 – Manila time; these stats are from each team’s last 5 games only)

5. Steph Curry (GSW) - 19.4ppg, 4.6rpg, 7.0apg, 1.4spg, 50.7 FG%, 55.2 3pt%, 22.4 EFF

The Warriors continue to defy expectations, going 4-1 in their last five games thanks big time to Curry’s stellar play. He’s still a little off from norming a double-double, but his shooting numbers are mind-boggling. A couple of the guys he outplayed in the last five games include Jrue Holiday and Chris Paul.

4. Russell Westbrook (OKC) - 23.4ppg, 4.0rpg, 7.8apg, 2.2spg, 47.1 3pt%, 23.0 EFF

The Thunder haven’t started 2013 as strongly as people expect. They have lost two of their first four games after the New Year, including their latest tragedy against the Washington Wizards. Still, Westbrook’s production remained near the top of the league as the former UCLA Bruin continued to tear defenses to shreds with his explosiveness and improving three-point shot.

3. Greivis Vasquez (NOH) - 17.4ppg, 5.2rpg, 10.4apg, 1.4spg, 52.1 FG%, 56.3 3pt%, 24.4 EFF

Surprise! Despite the return of Eric Gordon, Vasquez continued to impress by norming a double-double from December 29, 2012 to January 7, 2013. The Hornets have, of course, benefitted greatly, winning three of their last five contests. Some opposing PGs Vasquez was able to outplay include Jeff Teague, Jeremy Lin, and Tony Parker.

2. Jameer Nelson (ORL) - 27.3ppg, 3.7rpg, 8.0apg, 1.3spg, 44.8 3pt%, 92.9 FT%, 26.7 EFF

Well, look who returned to relevance! Nelson is norming just under 15ppg for the season, but he almost doubled that in Orlando’s last five games. That’s thanks mainly to his improved shot from beyond the arc, which is currently 9 percentage points higher than his season success rate. It’s just too bad that the Magic haven’t tasted a win since December 19.

1. Chris Paul (LAC) - 21.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 8.6apg, 2.4spg, 52.8 FG%, 92.6 FT%, 27.6 EFF

The Clips have limped through January, going 2-2 after sweeping their December assignments, but they still remain one of the league’s hottest squads thanks to the consistently brilliant play of CP3. Paul’s assists took a bit of a dip in his last five outings, but he’s picked up his scoring to make up for it. He’s definitely a shoo-in for an All-Star spot, and maybe, just maybe, present a compelling argument in the MVP conversation.

Chris Paul remains to be the best PG in the land.
(image by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)

The NBA: Position Battle: The Best Point Guards Right Now

Nope, despite finishing with 41 against the Knicks, Kyrie Irving does NOT make this list. Linsanity, Steph Curry, Deron Williams, and Kyle Lowry also miss the cut, but there is ONE guy who’ll really make you shake your head (not THAT head!).

5) Brandon Knight (DET) - 23.0ppg, 4.0rpg, 4.2apg, 1.0spg, 65.4 3pt%, 20.8 EFF

Why, yes. Now is the time to shake your head. Brandon Knight is a top 5 point guard in the NBA, at least based on his last five games. I mean, look at his 3-point shooting! Better than 65%!!! Too bad the Pistons continue to suck, losing four of their last five.

4) Russell Westbrook (OKC) - 21.2ppg, 3.2rpg, 9.0apg, 1.8spg, 21.2 EFF

Jet Zero probably won’t be in the MVP conversation this year because he’s more of a volume scorer, but one cannot deny the impact he makes on the court in each OKC game. He’s the Thunder’s number two scorer, but he’s tops in steals and assists. He’s a big part of why OKC has won its last 10 games, and he’s a big part of why they’re on top of the whole league right now.

3) Chris Paul (LAC) - 16.6ppg, 3.2rpg, 8.4apg, 2.6spg, 21.8 EFF

Averaging less than 17 points and 9 assists per game is subpar for a player like Paul, but even then he’s still the third-best PG in the league. The Clips have won 9 straight and are still firmly in control of the Pacific Division. They’re also set to sweep their Eastern road trip after what should be an easy win against the Pistons in two days. For the CP3 fans out there, don’t worry. I’m sure your idol is just humming and waiting for the right time to explode.

2) Tony Parker (SAS) - 21.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 8.0apg, 56.9 FG%, 50.0 3pt%, 92.6 FT%, 26.0 EFF

Will you look at those shooting numbers?! They’re TOO INSANE. I mean, it’s almost unfair for a playmaker to shoot much better than most big men in the league. And then still have time to dish out 8 dimes an outing. But that’s how Parker’s game has progressed through the years. He has become a well-rounded world-beater, and the Spurs, currently 2 games ahead of Memphis in the Southwest, are all too happy to have him on board.

1) Rajon Rondo (BOS) - 14.2ppg, 7.2rpg, 12.8apg, 2.8spg, 1.0bpg, 53.4 FG%, 26.4

Rajon Rondo is the NBA’s best point guard. That’s not too arguable a point, but then again what’s really strange is how his team, the Boston Celtics, are languishing ahead of only Toronto in the Atlantic Division. The Cs lost three of their last five, and they have tough ones against the Bulls and Cavs to follow. Rondo’s superhuman, stat-stuffing production notwithstanding, I still don’t think Boston is a good bet in the near future.

Rajon Rondo and Tony Parker are the two top PGs
in the NBA today.
(image by Eric Gay/AP)

Honorable Mention: Steph Curry (GSW), Jrue Holiday (PHI), George Hill (IND)

The 2012 NBA Finals: LeBron Has Been Crowned

LeBron James finished off the Thunder with
a triple-double and he was named the Finals MVP
(Photo by Associated Press)

0

Kevin Durant gave it his best shot and did not give up
but the Thunder lost. Look for them to be back next year
(Photo by Associated Press)

#champs #letsgoheat
After 66 games in the shortened regular season and then 2 months of playoff basketball, the Miami Heat is the best team in the NBA. The Heat managed to win their 4th straight game in the Finals as they defeated the OKC Thunder in 5 games. The Thunder barely led in this game but they were within striking distance midway through the third quarter down by only 5 points. That was when the Heat decided to throw their best punches to deliver the knockout blow. The Heat bombarded the Thunder with a barrage of threes and drives to the hoop as the Heat went on a 27-8 rampage to end the third quarter up by 24 points. At that time, the Thunder looked beaten and demoralized. Everything was clicking for Miami while OKC labored on both ends of the floor. This was the Heat's game for the taking and the Thunder knew it. The Thunder would not recover and they hardly made a dent at the big deficit. The Thunder got blown out in the closeout game and the fourth quarter was just a formality.

#finalsMVP #ring
Was there any doubt on who the Finals MVP would be? LeBron James was unanimously chosen as the best player in the Finals. LBJ dominated the game from start to finish and he ended the Thunder's season with a triple-double: 26 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists. The King finally earned his first ring to go along with his three MVP awards. The best player in the NBA and the world was spectacular during the playoffs and he displayed his amazing talents

#HesOnFire #LightsOut
Mike Miller has been injured for the whole season. He probably has multiple ailments that impede his productivity on the court and his minutes and numbers show that. You can even see the pain and grimace on his face whenever he steps on the court. But for one night and one game, Mike Miller was money from three. He made seven treys out of eight shots in game 5 after not making any during the first four games. The Heat made 14 treys as a team which tied the NBA record in a playoffs game. No one was going to beat the Heat when they shoot from outside like that. No one.
#Big3 #theOthers
The Heat 3 played well together for their last game of the 2011-12 season. All 3 of them scored at least 20 points for the first time in the playoffs. Wonderful timing on a closeout game. James was passing the ball effectively and dominating the post while Bosh was playing good defense and making his shots. Dwyane Wade undressed Westbrook during one sequence where Wade blocked a Westbrook layup then Wade went the other way for a Eurostep layup plus a foul from Russell. The role players stepped up again as Chalmers and Battier scored over 10 points and made treys. The Heat dont win the finals without the help of the others and they played more as a team during the playoffs. They evolved during the finals and they were rhe better team. #OKC #nextyear The Thunder is a young and athletic team that will be back in the finals next year. They were inexperienced and quite possibly not ready for the big stage. They have the best scorer in the league in Kevin Durant and Westbrook is an elite player. James Harden needs to find his game again plus he needs to tone down his flopping. It has been said that the Heat learned and grew from their loss last year to Dallas and that helped them prevail this year. The same thing could happen to the Thunder and hopefully it will be the Heat and Thunder again next June. I cant wait for next season already!

The 2012 NBA Finals: Super Mario to The Rescue

Mario Chalmers deserved the hug and the game ball for coming up huge
in Game 4. He scored 12 points in the fourth quarter and finished with 12.
(Photo by Associated Press)

#ComeBack #TeamGame

There was no slow start for the Thunder in Game 4. They started strong with Westbrook hitting jumpers and  Collison getting 6 points early. They ended up with the lead in the first quarter for the first time in the finals. The biggest lead was 17 points but the Heat managed to get back in the game by going on a 16-0 run. The Heat defense woke up in the second quarter and Miami had the lead at the end of the third. Russell Westbrook was a scoring machine and Thunder offense relied on him while the Heat had more balance with James scoring 26 while Wade and Chalmers had 25 each and then Bosh chipped in 13 points and 9 rebounds. The Thunder ran so many isolation plays for Westbrook since he got to the basket with ease and he was making most of his jumpers. Still, it was not enough for the Thunder since they missed crucial shots at the end and had some mindless mistakes. Their inexperience showed and that cost them a chance to win Game 4. 

SuperMario #MrClutch

With LeBron James on the bench due to leg cramps, Super Mario unleashed his best performance in the playoffs and the finals. Mr. Clutch delivered the final 5 points for the Heat and they escaped Game 4 with a win. Chalmers scored 25 points on 9-15 shooting and he had a great 4th quarter where he scored 12 points coming from threes, floaters and daring layups. With Kevin Durant often guarding him, Super Mario was active and more aggressive with his drives to the basket. This was such a big game from Chalmers who had struggled in the finals as he came in scoring 17 combined points in the first 3 games. Extra credit to Heat rookie Norris Cole who had a productive 8 points in 7 minutes. His timely baskets allowed the Heat to get back in the game and his contribution probably ignited Chalmers' competitive spirit. Mario did not want to lose his minutes to Cole so Mr. Clutch stepped up real BIG.  

#cramps #backpain

Midway in the fourth quarter, LeBron slipped to the floor without any contact and he got up slowly. On the next trip, he made a bank shot but he limped after the basket. He collapsed to the floor and he was grimacing in pain. He had to be removed from the game because he was unable to move properly. At first, I thought he sprained his ankle or pulled a muscle. Either injury could have been a serious setback for the Heat. Luckily, it was just a leg cramp for LeBron and he should be ready for Game 5. James almost got a triple-double and he missed it by one rebound. Meanwhile, Dwyane Wade hurt his lower back in the 2nd quarter when Serge Ibaka blocked his shot and then they collided. Wade hit the floor hard with his tailbone and he was on the floor and in pain. He was not removed from the game and he was able to continue. The Heat got lucky that nothing major bothered Wade and he still ended up playing 42 minutes. 

Russell Westbrook had a magnificent game with 43 points but his foul
at the end  prevented the Thunder from getting the chance to tie the game.
(Photo by Associated Press)

#Russell #AllBeardNoBrain

Westbrook played superb and he kept the Thunder in the game. He almost got them the win with his 43 points on 20-32 shooting. Russell was on fire and he was making difficult shots with ease and his jumper was on target last night. The Heat could not stop him and his foul after the jumpball was not the reason the Thunder lost. It was a stupid foul and that could be due to a misunderstanding among the Thunder players and their coach. In fact, Westbrook kept them in the game since James Harden was a no-show for the 2nd straight game. The Beard came up with 8 points on 2-10 shooting and he had 4 turnovers. Most of his shots were open looks and he simply did not make them. Things were so bad for Harden offensively that he missed a non-contested layup on a fast break. On defense, Harden was getting pounded by LeBron in the post or by Wade in the perimeter. The Thunder only had their Big 2 last night and it was not enough to upset the Heat who had contributions from everyone. 

#OneMoreWin #LetsGoHeat

The Heat is in good shape to win their second title in 6 years. No team has won in the finals after being down 3-1 and only 8 teams have won a series in the playoffs after being down 3-1. The history is on the Heat's side but nothing is guaranteed especially against the OKC Thunder who is very capable of coming back and winning the series. The Thunder won 4 straight against the Spurs and winning 3 straight versus the Heat is not an impossible task. The Heat is also capable of losing 3 straight games in the finals since that happened to them last year when Dallas beat them 4-2 after the Heat had a 2-1 advantage. The hardest game to finish is the closeout game and this will be the toughest of them all. The Heat cannot relax now and they need to be calm and poised to overcome all the punches that the Thunder will deliver in Game 5. A loss on Thursday brings back the series to OKC and that would give the Thunder confidence that they can still win the series. The Heat definitely dont want that. 

#Tweet of the Night

J.A. Adande ‏@jadande

Chalmers has GOTS to go to the podium tonight. #podiumgame

#KeyStats

• Westbrook's 43 points is his playoff career-high, same with Chalmers and his 25 points
• Wade made 2-3 three-point shots, his first two of the finals
• Heat finally made jumpers: 10-26 from downtown
• Heat won the rebounding battle for the 3rd straight time, all resulting in wins
• Heat is 8-0 after trailing in a series
• Heat is 3-1 in closeout games
• Thunder is 4-6 on the road

The 2012 NBA Finals: The Heat Steals Game 2

Chris Bosh was inserted into the starting lineup
and he came up big with a double-double
(Photo by the Associated Press)

 #SlowStart #NoComeback
For the second straight game, the Heat was able to start strong early as they built a commanding 17-point lead in the first half. The game started with the Heat up 18-2 and they led for the whole game. The Thunder made their expected run and was able to come as close as 2 points but Durant missed his tying jumper in the last 10 seconds. The Thunder lost at home for the first time in the playoffs and the series shifts to Miami for the next 3 games. There was no comeback for OKC in Game 2 as the Heat 3 and Battier came up big all game long to keep the Thunder at bay. No lead is safe when Durant and Westbrook are on your team. KD erupted in the 4th quarter again to score 16 points but his team fell a little short on their comeback bid. The Heat was lucky to escape with a win because the Thunder was right there at the end.

#Heat3 #Battier
Chris Bosh started for the Heat and he produced great numbers with 16 points and 15 rebounds. He had a double-double by halftime. Bosh also did not settle for perimeter shots as he attacked the paint more (got blocked more too) and he was more active on defense. Dwyane Wade played better overall and he was more aggressive at the start as he had 11 points in the first half. Wade did not get outplayed by Westbrook and that resulted in a Heat win. LeBron James still scored his 32 points but the help from the others and the additional rest allowed him to make clutch free throws at the end. Meanwhile, Shane Battier was on fire from downtown again. He made five treys and had 17 points for the 2nd straight game. Battier also played decent defense as he guarded every position.

Shane Battier made 5 treys and played good defense
until Kevin Durant exploded in the fourth quarter
(Photo by Getty Images)

#missedcall #clutch

Miami was fortunate that Kevin Durant missed his tying jumper with the score at 98-96. The Heat was luckier that no foul call was called on LeBron. Most people believe that it was a controversial missed call by the referees. When I was watching that play in real time, I did not see LeBron bump/hit KD as he made his move towards the hoop. On the replay, there was some contact from James but it was more incidental and the bump hardly had an effect on Durant's jumper. The shot was very make-able for KD and he missed it. Maybe the referees wanted to make it up for the Heat because Durant escaped an offensive foul call for his 6th foul earlier in the game. James was perfect at the line, going 12-12 and he made a tough bank shot too. LBJ was clutch tonight and so was Durant with his 16 points. Even D-Wade made clutch plays with a fadeaway and nice assist to Bosh but Wade had a crucial turnover that led to a Durant trey.

#efficiency #shotsfired

Russell Westbrook had another great game when you look at his stats. He had 27 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists with just 2 turnovers. The bad part about his game was his shot selection and floor leadership. Russ jacked up 26 shots and made only 10. It was not a very efficient game for him because his other teammates should have shot the ball more compared to him. Durant was on fire in the fourth but he took 22 shots while James Harden took 11 shots for 21 points. Westbrook started slowly again in the 1st half, just like Game 1 and he was erratic with his handling of the plays and he took difficult shots that were not falling. In contrast, Dwyane Wade had a more controlled game and was more efficient, thus a Heat victory. The main match-up is Durant vs LeBron but the Wade vs Westbrook competition might be the more important. 

#Tweet of the Night

J.A. Adande ‏@jadande

Kevin Durant: "I just missed the shot." *drops mic*

#KeyStats

• Ibaka had 5 blocks in Game 2 after getting zero in Game 1
• Thunder are 9-1 at home and 4-3 on the road
• Westbrook is 20-50 while Durant is 24-42 in two games
• Battier is 9-13 in treys in two games
• Second time the Thunder never led in a game for the whole season
• Bosh has 7 offensive rebounds

The 2012 NBA Finals: Keys to Game 2

Dwayne Wade needs to at least match the productivity and
effectiveness of Russell Westbrook for the Heat to steal Game 2
(Photo by Getty Images)

The Heat is down 0-1 to the Thunder in the NBA Finals. Game 2 is on Thursday night and for the Heat to have a chance to tie the series, they need to make major adjustments. Here are the keys for the Heat:

• Get Dwyane Wade involved early and often. D-Wade has to have a bigger impact on both sides of the court. The Heat cannot have Westbrook outplay Wade again and expect to win Game 2. Coach Spo should run more pick and rolls with Wade and Bosh/Haslem or assign post plays for him. Wade should eliminate isolation plays without using screens.
• Manage the rotations better. Erik Spoelstra needs to give his starters more rest since they cant match the pace that the Thunder will set if their players are tired. The Heat bench must contribute a few minutes of rest for Wade and James. Chris Bosh must be inserted in the starting lineup to get him involved and focused as early as possible. He should be ready to play more than 34 minutes. 
• Put LeBron on Durant more often. Kevin Durant exploded in the 4th quarter because he got favorable match-ups against smaller and weaker defenders. James was able to harass KD into 10 turnovers during a regular season game so he certainly has the skills to slow down Durant. LBJ could get tired on defense so the rest of the Heat need to pick it up offensively. 
• Grab the rebound then run. The Heat was out-rebounded and they were pummeled into a 24-4 deficit in fast break points. They need to get the rebound first before having the chance to run. The Thunder will probably always have the advantage in transition points but if the Heat can narrow the deficit, then that's a big plus for Miami.  

LeBron James needs to be more efficient on offense and he
needs to be on Durant more. Playing defense on Collison helps too.
(Photo by REUTERS) 

The Thunder has the opportunity to go 2-0 and be halfway to the NBA trophy. They started slow in the first half but managed to comeback in the second half. If they can build a lead on the Heat early, it could be over for the Heat. Here are the keys for the Thunder:

• Get Harden going. The third banana of their Big 3 only played 22 minutes due to foul trouble and managed just 5 points. The other role players picked up the slack with Collision and Sefolosha scoring 17 points between them. Still, the Thunder cant expect them to have the same impact offensively. If Harden plays more and scores more, the Thunder will be unstoppable. 
• Make Durant take more shots. KD had an efficient game as he shot 12-20 and got his 36 points within the confines of their offense. Westbrook still took more shots and hijacked their offense a few times by shooting immediately without ball movement. 
• Run and gun. The Thunder is the only team capable of providing more highlights and exciting plays versus the Heat. They dominated Miami in transition and owned the paint battle. The Thunder should continue to force the action and set the pace. If the Heat can slow them down, the Thunder will settle for jumpers which can help the Heat bounce back in Game 2
• Contest the three-point shooters. Battier and Chalmers made 6 treys for the Heat early which led to a halftime lead for Miami. OKC must improve their closeouts and rotations to pressure the shooters into hurried and contested shots. Missed shots will allow the Thunder to attack in transition more

The 2012 NBA Finals: Thunder Strikes First

Kevin Durant exploded for 17 points in the 4th quarter as
the Thunder dominated the Heat in the second half
(Photo by Getty Images)

 #ComebackKids #KidClutch
The Thunder is still perfect at home in the playoffs with a 9-0 record and they have won their 5th straight game. They look unbeatable right now. They spotted the Heat a 13-point lead in the first half until they took over after intermission to outscore the Heat by 18 points. The Thunder has constantly shown us that no lead is safe at home and they proved it again in Game 1. The Heat lead for three quarters until Kid Clutch took over in the 4th quarter and erupted for 17 of his 36 points. The Heat scored 21 in the 4th and had 40 points in the 2nd half while Westbrook and Durant had 41. LeBron and Wade used to do that in the previous rounds but the Thunder just showed us that they could simply do the same to the Heat. Just imagine if the Thunder got a lead early, does the Heat have enough energy and firepower to come back? On a positive note, the Heat still has another chance to steal a game in OKC. If they lose that one too, then this series could be over.

#Rondo2.0 #YoungWade
Russell Westbrook almost had a triple-double. He had 27 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds with only 2 turnovers. He gave the Heat problems similar to what Rondo did in the last round. The main difference with Westbrook was his overall athleticism and strong drives to the hoop. Russ also has a better jumper and free-throw shooting than Rondo. Russ totally outplayed Dwyane Wade who had modest numbers (19 pts, 8 assists and 4 rebs) but the Heat needs more from Wade to win. Westbrook continually attacked the paint and he was able to beat Wade off the dribble consistently. Meanwhile, Wade has continued to struggle with his jumper and he forced threes that were not even close. Westbrook had an easier time with his penetrations while Wade seemed passive and lacked the aggression. Wade just found out how hard it was to guard the 2006 version of himself.

#BIG3 
The battle of Big 3s was a lopsided win for the Thunder. The Young 3 had 68 points, 16 rebounds and 18 assists while the Heat 3 had 59 points, 18 rebounds and 12 assists. James Harden didnt play much (22 mins) and only scored 5 points but Durant and Westbrook combined for 63 points. Kevin Durant was scoring with ease and his jumper was money especially in the 4th quarter. In contrast, D-Wade's jumpers looked horrible and most of them werent even close. LeBron James had troubles with his jump shot too and so was Chris Bosh. Durant just toyed with the defense of Battier and he killed Wade whenever a switch occurred. The Heat need to double team Durant next time or they need to have James on him early and often. Fatigue will be a major factor for James if he guards Durant often so coach Spo has to tweak his rotations and defense for Game 2. Ultimately, LeBron needs help offensively so that he can provide more on defense. Wade and Bosh need to step up their scoring because they cannot afford three more losses to the Thunder.

Russell Westbrook almost had a triple-double as the Big 2
of the Thunder outplayed the Big 2 of the  Heat
(Photo by Getty Images)

#rotationproblems #runNgun

Heat coach Spoelstra decided to use mainly 6 guys against the Thunder while coach Brooks went with 8 players at least playing 21 minutes each. That strategy worked wonders for the Thunder as the Heat players were gassed and stormed off the court by the younger, fresher and quicker Thunder. The Thunder had 6 days of rest while the Heat had only 2 yet Coach Spo played his main guys big minutes and that did not work in their favor. The Thunder dominated the transition chances and fast break points with a 24-4 advantage. That's a very surprising stat since the turnovers were fairly even (11-10 OKC). Hustle plays and loose balls were constantly won by the Thunder. Heat players were caught standing around after missed shots and being slow on their rotations, both byproducts of fatigue. Coach Spo needs to find a way to get his  main players some rest or the Heat will never win one game in this series.  

#FrontlineBattle #SoftBosh

The Heat needs Chris Bosh to be a major contributor for them to be competitive and have a chance to win. Bosh was a non-factor in Game 1. He managed only 10 points and 5 rebounds in 34 minutes plus he has fallen in love with the threes (1-3) and the perimeter game. He barely posted up and he hardly attacked the paint. He was not able to give the Heat a different look in their offense. To make matters worse, Bosh got outplayed by Nick Collison who had 10 points and 8 rebounds in just 21 minutes. Bosh was slow in his rotations and he was ineffective on defense. Even Serge Ibaka had similar numbers to Bosh with 10 points, 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. The Heat needed Bosh to score and rebound more than the other forwards/centers of the Thunder and Bosh needs to improve in Game 2. 

#Tweet of the Night

Sekou Smith ‏@SekouSmithNBA

Thunder roasted Heat in the second half behind Durant and Westbrook. They combined for 41 points. The Heat scored 40. Heat got Thundered Up!

#KeyStats 

• Westbrook had 18 points in the 2nd half, Durant had 23
• Thunder out-rebounded the Heat 43-35
• Thunder with 56-40 edge in points in the paint
• Battier's 17 points is his highest in the playoffs
• Chris Bosh did not start in Game 1

The 2012 NBA Finals: Five Reasons the Thunder Will Win

Can Russell Westbrook learn to defer more to Kevin Durant in
the Finals? Or will Russ take more shots than KD?

1. Momentum. This is a list of teams Oklahoma City beat: the defending champion Dallas Mavericks, the LA LAkers (2009-2010 champs), and the San Antonio Spurs (the 2003, 2005, & 2007 titlists). OKC swept the aging Mavs. They let Kobe & Co. win just one game. They stopped the Spurs' winning run and showed them the door in 6 games. Unlike Miami, which went 1-2 against Indiana and 2-3 against Boston, Oklahoma hasn't really looked vulnerable throughout these Playoffs, except going down 0-2 in the Conference Finals. And how did they respond? They beat the team with the league's best record four straight times. Yes, the Thunder are ready to win four more.
2. Home Court. The fact of the matter is the Thunder are 8-0 at home in the 2012 Playoffs. And since four of the next seven games (and there will be seven games) will be played in OKC, this will be a big advantage. I think Miami is strong enough to steal one in Oklahoma City, but I also think the Thunder will steal one in Florida, too. Net? OKC still has more games at home, and they will really take advantage
3. Frontline Depth. Here is where the Playoff numbers are a little deceptive. The Heat frontline (Bosh, Haslem, & Anthony) score about 23 points and grab 17 rebounds per game. In contrast, the Thunder frontcourt (Ibaka, Perkins, & Collison) average just about 18 points and 15 boards. In a series with LBJ, D-Wade, KD, and Jet Zero, however, both teams' frontlines need not do heavy lifting on the offensive end. The key is defense, which is where OKC blows Miami away. OKC's frontcourt trio blocks a little over 5 shots a game, while Miami rejects just about 2. And look at the quality of players OKC's bigs have contained: Dirk Nowizki, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, and Tim Duncan. 
4. Free Throws. The Miami Heat have gotten to the line about 28 times a game in the Playoffs. They make about 72% of their shots. The Thunder get to the line about 25 times, but they are successful more than 83% of the time. This means two things: 1) Miami's interior D has to be a bit more mindful of going after every OKC drive because the Thunder have proven they're better at making those free throws, and 2) OKC's bigs can go after Miami's drives and inside stabs a bit more aggressively since Miami isn't as good in converting their charities.
5. Championship Experience. One one hand, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem were there when Miami won its only title in 2006. On the other hand, Derek Fisher has won the big one five times. Kendrick Perkins did it with Boston in 2008. That's 6 titles. And about 9 total Finals appearances between those two guys alone. They've already displayed the kind of experience and toughness that can appropriately balance the youthful energy of Durant, Westbrook, and Harden. They'll continue it against Miami.
   
   X-Factor: James Harden. Ibaka and Bosh should balance each one out. Same with Wade and Westbrook. Of course, LBJ and KD will duke it out as well. The key is Harden. The closest Miami's got to a fourth reliable scorer is Mario Chalmers, and he's been on-and-off so far. If Harden gets off in a big way, and does it for at least four games, then Miami's in deep trouble.
   
   Key Match-Up: LeBron James vs Kevin Durant. There are a host of big names in this series, but it's a no-brainer to pick this match-up as the one most people will focus on. LBJ is the regular season MVP, but I believe that whoever gets the Finals MVP plum will also lead his team to the title. Wade and Westbrook both have fair chances of winning, too, but the smart bet is either on James or Durant.
   
   Prediction: Thunder in 7. The 2-3-2 format is tough, especially for the higher-seeded team. There's a ton of pressure on OKC to win both home games early on so they have enough of a buffer in case things get tough in Miami. And they will get tough. I think the Thunder will take a 2-0 lead, Miami will win 2 of 3 at home and win Game 6, but, eventually, I think Oklahoma City will pull through in Game 7.
   
   Ultimately, I think Kevin Durant will get his first ring before LeBron James does. (Written by Enzo Flojo @hoopnut)

 Will the Thunder raise the Larry O'Brien trophy in two weeks?
At hoopnut, we think they will win in 7 games.

The 2012 NBA Finals: Five Reasons the Heat Will Win

Best head-to-head match-up in ages?
The 3-time MVP vs the 3-time scoring champion.

We wont get Kobe-LeBron this year in the NBA Finals (probably never) BUT we got something much better in LeBron vs Durant. This could be a match-up that could happen in the next couple of years. The two best players in the world going against each other in the biggest stage in basketball. Im so excited for this one! The OKC Thunder are slight favorites and they have home court advantage. The Miami Heat can surely win this series and here are five reasons why:

1. Defense. Basketball coaches and analysts say that defense wins championships. The Heat plays excellent defense and they are the best defensive team in the playoffs. They got to the Finals by limiting their opponents to 88 points per game and have a +8 average winning margin. Defense has been their identity since last year and also in the regular season (top 5). In contrast, the Thunder is a decent defensive team but they are more known for their offensive firepower. The Thunder gave up almost 96 points per game in the playoffs and 97 during the regular season (17th in NBA). 
2. Turnovers. The Thunder is averaging less turnovers in the playoffs compared to the regular season where they were the worst. They have been more secure with the ball in the playoffs and part of that can be attributed to the type of defense they have faced. The Heat is the best team in forcing and generating turnovers from their opponents. The Heat were tops in that department for the whole year and the playoffs. They have superb perimeter defenders in James and Wade plus excellent man-to-man defenders in Haslem and Battier. If the Heat can frustrate the Thunder into mindless mistakes, we all know what the Heat does to fast break opportunities. 
3. Penetration. The Heat have the best combo when it comes to attacking the rim (see Wade photo). Their drives and penetration will force the Thunder to send help and leave the Heat shooters open. Those shooters are more than capable when left open (Battier, Miller, Chalmers and Bosh). Another scenario is the early foul trouble that could befall Ibaka and Perkins when they defend the hoop from Wade and James. The outside shooting that Bosh provides will hinder his defender from collapsing to the paint quickly and easily. The slow rotations could result into whistles that favor the Heat





Remember this dunk? This happened in 2011. Will there
be more of this in the 2012 NBA Finals? I sure hope so.

4. Post Offense. The Heat can utilize post-ups and low post sets from their Big 3 while the Thunder do not have any threats from the post. James can out-muscle his defender and the Thunder might double team him which opens up lanes for more drives from Wade and shots for their shooters. Wade can also play in the post when against Harden or Westbrook and that could result in fouls from the Thunder. Meanwhile, Bosh is the most effective post player the Heat has and just the threat of him posting-up every now and then should give the Thunder some problems in their defensive coverage. Should the put Perkins on Bosh when he posts-up? Or Ibaka when there are the threats of a jumper and drive? 
5. Better Big 3. Both teams have arguably the best Big 3s in the NBA. The Heat has the advantage of having a better and more polished Big 3 than the Thunder. With Chris Bosh Bosh feeling better and performing well (he was making treys in Game 7), the Heat 3 have a better offensive repertoire and their skill sets mesh better on the court. Defensively, they are a better bunch than the Thunder with Wade being the best blocking guard in the game and LeBron the best two-way player. The Heat 3 have more experience in the Finals and that could result in playing with more poise and calm under the pressure. The Heat 3 can have an impact in the game without the ball in their hands while the Thunder 3 (especially Westbrook) need the ball in their hands to have an impact in the game. 

X-Factors: Battier vs. Sefolosha. Both guys are superb defenders and they will each have a chance to guard the best players on the other team. Battier has the advantage from the perimeter while Thabo has more of an inside game. Ultimately, the player who makes more baskets and gets more offensive fouls could dictate who stays on the floor more and helps their team win.

Key Match-up: Bosh/Haslem vs. Perkins/Collison/Ibaka. LeBron and Durant will probably cancel each other out. The same could be said between Wade vs. Westbrook while Harden can own the whole Heat bench. That leaves Bosh to compensate for the production of Harden. If the Thunder Bigs can negate the impact of Bosh, the Heat will have a hard time winning the series. The Heat needs Bosh and occasionally Haslem, to outplay the Thunder front court because the back court matchups already belong to the Thunder.

Prediction: Thunder in 7. On paper, the Thunder is a better team right now. They dominated the Western Conference and got to the Finals in 3 fewer games than the Heat. The Thunder are young, fast and well-rested and with their loud crowd in OKC, they could bombard the Heat early and often. Still, the Thunder relies too much on jumpers and if those dont start falling, they could be pressured into forcing the action and committing turnovers which the Heat will feast on. Close games help the Thunder with Kid Clutch able to make clutch shots. This series could end on the final shot of Game 7 and the Thunder have arguably the best clutch shooter in the game.  

Fan Pick: Heat in 6. Last year, I picked the Heat to win in 6 vs. the Mavericks. On paper, the Heat was better but the Mavs still won. The same thing could happen this year. Stranger things have happened.