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For the last six years, a LeBron James-led team has represented the East in the NBA Finals. Over the last eight years, only once has the top-seeded team in the East made it to the NBA Finals and that was last year. If that stat proves anything, it is that the regular season means nothing. Somewhere in between disappointing finishes for James early in his career he made the decision to conserve and coast in the regular season. Do enough to secure one of the top-two seeds and turn it on when it counts. Unfortunately for the rest of the mere mortal NBA, no one else can do it, which leads to a lot of frustration.
Let’s take a look at the levels of frustration after one week of basketball in the Eastern Conference.
Toddler Frustration, a.k.a. “It’s Not Fair!”
Indiana
In four of the last six years, the final thing Indiana Pacer fans have seen is LeBron James sending their beloved team home. To make it even worse, Indiana has been in the playoffs five out of the last six years, meaning James has ended the season for the Pacers 80% of the time during James’ run. All that’s missing is James entering Bankers Life Fieldhouse with a sickle and a black hood. Combine that with Paul George most definitely leaving after this season, and your best player now having the unique distinction of once trying to blow in James’ ear to distract him and you gotta ask yourself Indiana, what’s the point?
In the words of the two Daves from the seminal film PCU, “Just give up man.”
Toronto
I wrote about this in the initial preview; The Raptors are now 1-11 all-time in playoff Game ones and have lost each of their last nine, including the first game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in last year’s Eastern Conference Finals. In Toronto’s brief 22-year history, the Raptors have been in the playoffs nine times, including this year. They’ve been out in the first round twice. Fans of Toronto have watched three Hall of Famers battle in the playoffs (Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Chris Bosh) but none of them have been able to lead the Raptors to anything short of sadness.
This current state of Raptors looks to be more of the same. They have one of the best executives in the league, Masai Ujiri. Though the cornerstones of the organization, Demar Derozen and Kyle Lowry have proven to be inconsistent in the playoffs and unable to lead this team to any form of sustained success in the playoffs despite dominating the regular season. The Raptors have averaged 51 wins the past four seasons, but even the most avid fan can see the writing on the wall.
Older Sibling Frustration, a.k.a. “What About Us?!”
Chicago
Chicago surprised a lot of people by taking the first two games in Boston and leading the best-of-seven series against the East’s top seed. Rajon Rondo was playing as good as he ever played in Boston. Jimmy Butler was looking unstoppable at times, despite Fred Hoiberg trying to run him into the ground as if he were playing whack-a-mole and Butler was the mole. Even Dwyane Wade showed flashes of…well, The Flash of old. Then Rondo went down, and everything has been coming apart at the seams.
Yet, much like Atlanta, see below . . . Does anyone really care?
The Chicago Cubs just won its first World Series title since 1908. Most of the people in Chicago don’t even know it’s April, let alone the Bulls are in the playoffs. Who knows when the celebration will die down and the people of Chicago will stop reveling. What we do know is no one really cares about the Bulls, although when they do win it gives Chicagoans a legitimate reason to continue celebrating. Forget 1908, the new streak might be how long can the Windy City continue to party.
Teenage Frustration, a.k.a. “It’s Whatever”
Washington
John Wall is super nice. He is having one of those major leaps that happen every year when a player goes from good to great. You can now, without hesitation say he is the best point guard in the East.
Having said that, the Wizards should count their magical wands that they share the district with the Capitals. Seven out of the last 10 years, the Washington hockey team has finished first in their division. Yet the Caps have nary a conference finals appearance to show for it. Which is to say, whatever the Wizards do, it’s nothing compared to what the Capitals have put their fans through. So congrats, Washington Wizards you could underachieve for a decade and still not impress a city starving for Alex Ovechkin to finally hoist a cup, any cup. Somebody give him a coffee mug or something.
Atlanta
What have we learned in the past week from watching the Hawks battle with the Wizards in the first round of the playoffs? That whatever window Dwight Howard had as one of the elite big men in the game has long been closed. He can’t even average a double-double against Marcin Gortat! Yet the Hawks are still battling and have the series knotted up at two. This seems to be more a testament to coach Mike Budenholzer and a young Wizards team going through some growing pains.
How, though, can you really expect Atlanta fans to be really excited only two months after being up 28-3 in the third quarter of the Super Bowl. If I’m a fan of Atlanta, I’m taking the year off from sports and really investing heavily in Atlanta’s rebirth in the arts. The TV show Atlanta and the rap group Migos should tide you over until you are ready to wade back into the waters of devastation and heartbreak, a.k.a. Atlanta sports.
Boston
Listen, kids. Uncle Wai is going to tell you a story about the good old days. There once was a time in Boston sports where the only good thing to speak about was the Celtics. The Red Sox used to be under this spell called the Curse of the Bambino. Basically, this voodoo witchcraft used to always show up at the worst possible time causing immense heartbreak to Red Sox nation to the tune of 86 straight years without a title. At the same time, the Patriots were terrible and were known for one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in NFL history. The Bruins were in a drought of their own, not having won a title since 1972. Things getting so bad on the ice, Boston traded its best player, Ray Bourque so he could chase a Stanley Cup championship because the execs in Boston knew it wasn’t going to happen. The only thing the city had was the Celtics. The C’s won titles in the 60s, 70s, and 80s keeping that city afloat during the winter and summer while the other franchises were pulling them down like cement loafers.
Now the tides have turned. The Patriots play for the Super Bowl, in what seems like, every year. The Bruins won Stanley’s Cup 6 years ago. The Red Sox smashed that curse and have won three world series titles in the last dozen years.
What I’m trying to say is, if it were possible to be tired of winning, Boston would be facing major win fatigue right now. Which is to say, the Celtics, in this year’s playoffs, with a top five head coach but not a top ten player is what we like to call, playing with house money. No one can know the emotional toll Isaiah Thomas has had to burden since losing his sister before game one. Or how trivial the game of basketball may seem after such a tragic event. But the Celtics are getting major minutes from Gerald Green! The cupcake-candle-blowing 12-year veteran has been everywhere from the D-League to Russia to China and is now one of the people Boston has depended on to get points when needed.
The best thing to happen to Boston is also the worst thing to happen to Chicago. Since the injury to Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo, the Celtics have taken advantage and will probably move on. The Celtics are a very flawed team, and still need to grab another stud to make a serious run, but who cares…amirite, Boston?
Intern Frustration, a.k.a. “This Sucks but I’m Paying My Dues”
Have you seen Giannis Antetokounmpo play yet? If you haven’t, shame on you! The man is a legit human highlight reel, the likes of which we’ve seen twice; Vince Carter and the literal human highlight film Dominique Wilkins. Every time he touches the ball, no matter if he’s home in Milwaukee or visiting Toronto, the atmosphere in the arena changes dramatically as thousands of spectators at the same time hold their collective breath. Do you think Milwaukee expects to win the championship this year? No way!
They do, however, have the most exciting young basketball player in the NBA. Better than Kristaps Porzingas, Karl Anthony Towns, and Anthony Davis rolled into one. So should Bucks fan be disappointed that this season will end with a loss, sure. Know this, build around this young man, and like the GOAT Michael Jordan once said, “the ceiling is the roof.”
Boss Frustration, a.k.a. “What Frustration? I’m Rich B*&$%!”
What did we learn in Cleveland’s sweep of the Pacers? The regular season is an anomaly. The Cavs go as James goes. When it’s time to turn on the switch, they turn on not only the switch but the backup generator, the lanterns and all the flashlights with extra batteries just in case.
Much like the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland fans are probably still reveling over last year’s title, rising from a 1-3 deficit. It had been over 60 years since the last title reached Cleveland so it is to be expected. If I’m a Cleveland fan, though, I’d be very wary of my chances of a repeat title.
Defense wins championships and Cleveland last year was a top ten team in defensive efficiency. This year, the Cavs barely make the top 20. They sure didn’t look like a stalwart defensive squad against the Pacers. They just had more ballers.
But like they say, “to be the boss, you have to beat the boss.” And all roads lead towards Cleveland.
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More on the NBA Playoffs 2017 here on GMP:
Your No Nonsense, Nonsensical Guide to the NBA Playoffs Part 1- Western Conference
Your No Nonsense, Nonsensical Guide to the NBA Playoffs Part II – Eastern Conference
NBA Playoffs, Western Conference, Week 2
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Photo credits: Getty Images