Recap of Spurs-Thunder and tonight's matchups

Spurs struck by Thunder
Last night the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder battled to the very end until Russell Westbrook iced the game with an and one. The Thunder now lead the series 3-2 and have any opportunity to close this series out in front of their home crowd. Kevin Durant and Westbrook have found a happy medium that is winning games against the second best team this season. On the other season I really do not know what has happened to Spurs, yes Tim Duncan is suffering through that whole father time issue but Kawhi Leonard and Lamarcus Aldridge are struggling in times where they are needed the most. The team is doing what is needed, they are keeping the Thunder under 100 points and yet they could not win last night. Maybe this whole "new regime" of the Spurs is not good enough. I think San Antonio has a very slim chance to pull this comeback and even so I do not believe they will win against the Warriors in the conference finals.
Tonight's matchups
Tonight the Miami Heat and Toronto Raptors both look to go up a game in their series and the Warriors will look to close out their series against the Portland Trail Blazers. Predictions: Toronto wins yet ANOTHER nail biter and goes up 3-2 and the Warriors will close out this series in a game that never really felt close.

Till next time, Keep on Swishing!

Frank Vogel out as Pacers head coach

Pacers move on, finally
Larry Bird, President of the Pacers, has announced today that after 6 seasons with Frank Vogel as the head coach of the Indiana Pacers he will not be returning now that his contract has ended. It is important to note that Vogel was not fired, Bird felt it woud be best that he not return. I think this makes a lot of sense because although the Pacers made the playoffs this season, they have been stuck in the "good team purgatory" where a team is good, but they are not considered a title contender. The Pacers have also seen a small decline from a solid 56-26 team two years ago to a 45-37 team this year. The Pacers only real star is Paul George and adding talent this offseason is key because Geroge is in his prime. It has also been reported that the Lakers are looking to trade for PG and this would truly set the Pacers into rebuilding mood, however I do not believe that Bird is willing to take that chance. For now, the Pacers have to go digging in the box of unemployed coaches and hope the right one comes out.

Lets talk about the Eastern Conference

So what exactly is wrong with the Eastern Conference? Analysts always seem to emphasize the fact the east is weak whenever they can. I would argue however in the west you have three contenders, one team still stuck on the border, and everyone else is background noise. In the east you have the Cavs and.....? Well I'm here trying to state that I think this year it had drastically improved with the emergence of the Raptors and of course my Celtics. Now I get it the Celtics are closer to being out of the playoffs than 2nd place but currently they're third and they earned that. And yes the raptors did get swept in the first round by the Wizards, but they didn't have Demarre Carrol then. So can anyone legitimately challenge the Cavs? Yes, the two teams I just stated, now that doesn't mean they'll win and play someone like the Warriors in the finals and lost in 4 or 5 games, but this idea that the Cavs are a shoe in just annoys me. I feel like people will look at records more than watch the team, now I've watched both these teams and they won't go away until the buzzer sounds. Come playoff team I especially think the Raptors will be making noise. 

How do you fix it?

So what's wrong with the East? Lack of talent? Poor GMs? Bad draft picks? I simply think it's just that players don't want to sign with Eastern Conference teams, and I don't know why. A big free agent this summer, Kevin Durant is gathering interest for the Warriors... Yes the Warriors! But why? Why doesn't he join a team like the Rwptors, Celtics, Heat already set up who need a piece to be in contention, and plus you're in the East? Why have to go through the Wariiors, Spurs, and Clippers? Lebron James? If that's really what you're scared of you shouldn't want to be on a contending team because eventually you will have to play him. This is a big summer for eastern teams and I hope that someone big signs or gets traded to a team looking for a piece like my celtics. Now as for teams at the bottoms like the 76ers and Nets, that is a lack of good management with the Nets trading their souls to the celtics for the next couple years and 76ers being a place to go if you wanna lose. Will it be fixed? Who knows. 

Latest NBA Headlines

Warriors

Let's talk about the Warriors and how they are demolishing everyone. Everyone seems to be so focused on this team being compared to the pace in record of the '95-'96 bulls, but to me they're just an amazing team to watch. Not only does Steph Curry makes crazy shots, but everyone in that team is incredible and whenever a big game comes up against the Cavs, Sours, or Thunder they beat them down. Do I think anyone can challenge them? No, not the way they are now but injuries and the weariness of the season can take a toll even though they haven't dealt with any of that... 

Cavs Resurgence

I personally thought Tyronn Lue was not going to contribute much to this club as they seemed more like a broken team than coaching problems. He's 10-4 now and simply destroyed the Thunder in their own building a couple days ago. Everyone believes that they are a shoe in to represent the east but I still personally believe the Raptors could win a seven game series and even my Celtics could give the, some trouble.

Spurs Wearing Down

Before the all star break the Spurs had been riddled by injuries which later affected them after with Kawhi Leonard getting hurt. The Spurs seem like a team that coach Pop can't get the best out of just yet. Kawhi Leonard hasn't exactly taken the mantle as that guy yet and Veterans are getting rested. How much should they worry going into the playoffs? That all depends on their health. Funny how I ridicule them when they're only like three games back from the Warriors.

Clippers better without Blake?

Now I'm not trying to get punched my Blake by stating that the Clippers have been better without Blake. Nobody has really been paying attention but CP3 has been revived and Deandre Jordan well he's Deandre Jordan. The team has more wins they did with Blake. How much do they need Blake for the playoffs? I don't know I still need to see what they're like when he's back.

Spurs Cavs game

This weeks spotlight in the NBA was put in tonight's Thursday night game on TNT matching up the Cleveland Cavaliers(1st in East) and the San Antonio Spurs(2nd in West). So what did we learn from this game? The Spurs are still the dominant team in the NBA. I get it the Warriors have a better record and the Cavs have Lebrom James but the Spurs are just so good defensively they are never out of the game. Looking at tonight's game I was thinking at the half that the Cavs were going to win this game narrowly, but then I looked back and thought, wow the Spurs are playing bad but they're defense is so elite they were somehow still in the game. I find it amazing how LaMarcus Aldrige can get 0 points in the first half and the Spurs still be able to win this game. Something that I noticed and thought about while watching the Cavs in the second half is, how much can Kyrie and Kevin Love step up with Lebron James in big games like this? Lebron can't win on his own in a seven game series and tonight showed me there is a reason to pause and worry about the supporting cast around Lebron. I personally believe they can win the East easily as long as these guys contribute something, now I understand the Spurs may have the best defense in the league, but hey the Cavs may have to meet these guys in the finals and Lebrons supporting cast is just as important as he is. As for the Spurs I was thoroughly impressed by the way Tony Parker stepped up and scored 24 for his team and also how Gregg Popovich can keep his team in the game mentally, but hey what else is new?

Well that's all for me Swishers! See ya tomorrow!

Update on the NBA

So here we are again from my last post and once again the NBA has flipped from that post. I'm just gonna quickly analyze what has changed from when we last met up. 

2 loss Warriors

With the Warriors starting to deal with the injury bug, albeit small, affecting Steph Curry and Draymond Green many are beginning to change their opinion on the Warriors and just how ready this team is for another championship run. I personally believe they still have Steph Curry and as long as they do have Steph they'll be ready.

Spurs Surge

How underestimated have the Spurs been not only this year but in past years and I feel like there was just absolutely no hype with this team when they're clearly should've been with the addition of David west and Lamarcus Aldridge, and now it's absolutely paying off as we all overlook the Spurs once again, they even jumped ahead the Warriors for the #1 spot in ESPN's power rankings.

Thunderstruck?

I do not know what it is about this team but I just don't like it how the thunder find ways to keep games close with average or mediocre teams when they should be closing out. Russell Westbrook is still Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant's numbers are what they should be so what is going on in the fourth quarter when KD gets overshadowed by his pal?

Wild West or Beasts of the East?

The past couple of years analysts and experts have had the sweet as the way better conference but this year we're seeing some change. Now I get it the West has tougher teams and competition causing a drop in records but hey look at the eastern conference and try and tell me it's still that pathetic conference when you have teams becoming more competitive, closer games, and better records than the West. I believe very soon enough once Lebron James fades away as the worlds best player the East will have a flow of stars coming in and with so many teams having a base or start for their franchise be ready for a shift in competitiveness.

Well that's all I have for you Swishers! I'll be back shortly to analyze some specific teams and with the trade deadline coming maybe some trade talk!

I'm back!

Welcome back everybody!!! I'm sorry for the wait but I have had to focus on so many things, but finally glad to say that pro swish is a priority of mine again. Anyway, the NBA has been amazing this season and so many surprise teams this year especially in a tightly packed East and a Wild West. This post will just be analyzing the East

The East

So who would've thought that the East would be so close this far with teams rising up and no real leader as of yet. As we stand here on December tenth, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in 1st but only 14-7 and right behind them the Charlotte Hornets, yes the Charlotte Hornets at 13-8 but that's not really saying much because there are several teams with very close to the same record. 

Impressive so far

Some of the highlight teams I have seen this year have been the Toronto Raptors. Toronto added Demarre Carroll in the offseason and although they have not really moved up in the standings from last year, they look very impressive this year. Another team is the Indiana Pacers, Paul George is making a case for MVP however Steph Curry is stealing all that shine. On top of that they have Monta Ellis at point and can support PG at any given night, look to this team to be in the top four and ready to take on the Cavaliers. Someone I believe who doesn't get enough credit is the Boston Celtics, especially Danny Ainge and Brad Stevens. Danny Ainge has found a way to trade away two Stars and reap the profits off it with an amazing hire in Brad Stevens who has found many average players and made them look above average. Although they may not be a championship team, look at this team in the rankings throughout the year. My last team has to be the New York Knicks. New York was expected to be another crap team in the East just waiting for the season to end, but then came Kristaps Porzingis. Kristaps took the hate and boos from New York when he got picked and now he's making a case for Rookie of the Year, although the Knicks may not make the playoffs, they have impressed in that they are going above expectations. 

Busts

Who's missing Paul Pierce right now? The Washington Wizards are with a below 500 record and they have one of the best backcourts in the NBA with Beal and Wall, hopefully they can improve because when they are on they are very fun to watch. The Atlanta Hawks have lost something in that they went from top team in the East to lost in the shuffle, this team needs to be able to improve because they are not a team that can handle a tough team in the playoffs. The Milwaukee Bucks look very unimpressive when they had an impressive offseason but now look like they are still on the decline and a below average team. Lastly, the Chicago Bulls. I watched them last night against my Celtics and it really only looked like Jimmy Butler and a team that doesn't look inspired enough to win, Drose is suffering from double vision and it looks like he's struggling due to it.

Well that's all I have for you today, I'll try keep posting daily and next up the West! And remember keep on Swishing!