By: Alex Bustillo
@TxSportsBlog
A new little twist this NBA season and I'm loving it. What a season it's been, a shortened 72 game season with a play-in tournament to determine the final two seeds in each conference. I have something to thank COVID-19 for, finally. It hasn't been ideal for some teams, as they've struggled to keep players healthy and find a rhythm at times. In the end, it's the teams we all thought would be there, for the most part.
A few surprises in the East with the Bulls and Raptors falling off the wagon, but the impressive rise of teams like the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks. You have to love what Julius Randle has been able to accomplish this season, putting up MVP-like numbers and adding several new dimensions to his game under new coach Tom Thibodeau. The growth and maturity of Trae Young elevating the Hawks to winners of the Southeast Division, dethroning the defending Eastern Conference Champions, Miami Heat.
Some crazy storylines out West as well. NBA poster boy Zion Williamson and the Pelicans missing the postseason, the Houston Rockets and the rollercoaster that was this season, but they played really hard for new coach Stephen Silas. The scrappy Sacramento Kings who almost single-handedly pushed the 5th seed Dallas Mavericks to the Play-In tournament. How exciting was Steph Curry to watch this year??? My goodness, there's not a better shooter ever to touch a basketball; he led the league in scoring, averaging 32 points a game. We experienced the rise...and fall of the mighty Los Angeles Lakers after losing both their stars to injuries during the season, but we get to watch them have a chance to defend their title in Play-In tournament versus Steph Curry and the upstart Golden State Warriors. You can't dismiss the great season the Utah Jazz had and the impact CP3 had on the Phoenix Suns; the most fun I've had watching the Suns since they had Dan Majerle and Kevin Johnson.
The Dallas Mavericks will try to avenge their first round exit against the Los Angeles Clippers in the bubble last season, against, the Los Angeles Clippers again. Can KP stay healthy and THJ continue his hot shooting? We know what to expect from the Slovenian phenom Luka Doncic, but who else will step up for the Mavericks to get them over that first round hump? The defensive effort they demonstrated against the top teams in the league towards the end of the season will have to be duplicated in order for Dallas to get to the next level.
Will Brooklyn's Super Team put all the pieces together and advance to the Finals? Can Joel Embid and the Sixers put that Raptors Game 7 heartbreak behind them and advance to a Conference Finals? The Greek Freak and his 28 points per game; is it enough, did the Bucks add the right pieces to avenge their second round exit last season. They'll have another shot at Jimmy Butler and the Heat, this time in a first round matchup.
I could go on and on, but why do that when you can watch it all unfold. And now, home court advantage matters, we're not in the Bubble anymore. The most intriguing postseason in recent years with teams like the Suns and Jazz and Knicks and Sixers making waves, feels like the 90's again. Tune in and watch the Play-In tournament starting May 18th with 8 teams battling for 4 spots and then the start of the playoffs on May 22nd. Different look to the playoffs, but same goal, 16 wins equals the Larry O'Brien trophy.
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