Parity Basketball Continues!

Patrick: The NBA this year is awesome, y’all. I’ve never seen it this good.

Russ: Yeah, it’s piggybacking on March Madness. I can’t wait to see who makes the playoffs this year! Oowee….

Patrick: Can y’all believe that in the West, only five games separate the 4th-best and the 12thbest teams? Which means, we could have a shift of teams so ridiculous that we won’t recognize the list as we’ve seen it this season.

Donald: I’ve never seen so many teams hovering around .500 ball. 39-37, 37-38, 36-38, etc…it’s crazy.

John: Plus, these are really good teams we’re talking about—and both leagues are extremely similar. The Bulls and other teams in the East are in the same predicament as those teams out West.

Patrick: For you who may not follow as tough as we do, the teams in the West battling for a playoff spot between the 4th and the 10th spot—the last possible spot—are as follows: the Phoenix Suns, L.A. Clippers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans, L.A. Lakers, Oklahoma Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, and the Utah Jazz. The Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, and the Sacramento Kings are comfortable in the 1-2-3 spots. They could juggle a bit, but for the most part, they appear to be set.

Russ: Some really good teams won’t make it this year.

Donald: Yeah, and the thing is, we’re going to have a great Western Conference playoff season with whatever teams make it. They’re all tough.

John: You’re right, Donald. To me, the NBA is wide open, especially the West. Now, in the East, I feel a bit different. The Milwaukee Bucks are the favorite, in my eyes. Of course, this is assuming that Khris Middleton and Giannis Antetokounmpo stay healthy. The Boston Celtics have been inconsistent, the Philadelphia 76ers have Joel Embiid, but Father Time’s caught up with James Harden and, overall, the 76ers are not a very deep team. And the Cleveland Cavaliers are at least a year away.

Patrick: Now, we talk tons about the top 3 teams in the East: Bucks, Celtics and 76ers, but I must acknowledge the Cavaliers. Acquired before this season, guard Donovan Mitchell is amazing. I’ve been a huge Celtics' believer—with a big look-over to the Bucks—but this Mitchell guy is capable of leading an upset. Hopefully, the Cavaliers don’t have to play our Bulls during these playoffs. What’re you thinking about, Russ?

Russ: Well, John captured it well: that the top 3 teams— Bucks, Celtics, and Philly—are the Real McCoys. After that, we got Cleveland, the Miami Heat, Toronto Raptors, and the New York Knicks fighting to stay in the top 6—one won’t make it, but could still make the playoffs by landing in the 7-10th spot range.

Donald: I want to hear something good about the Bulls, Russ.

Russ: Okay. So, the teams who are currently in the 7-12 range— which includes our Bulls—are fighting to make the playoffs or, even better, get to the 6 spot to avoid the play-in games—

John: Excuse me, Russ. For those who don’t understand the playin games, this is where those teams who end up in the 7-10 spot have to fight hard to make the playoffs. The 7-seed plays the 8-seed—whoever wins is the 7-seed; the loser plays the winner of the 9- vs. 10-seed— and the winner of that game secures that final 10th spot.

Patrick: I can’t take it. This is just too much! Fellas, let’s go watch some NBA basketball. C’mon, Bulls!

Any comments or suggestions? Email pedwards@streetwise.org

Vendors Russell Adams, John Hagan and Donald Morris chat about the world of sports with Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards.