NBA Playoff Notebook: Kobe and C.P. Shine

The thought of the league’s top two MVP candidates squaring off in the Western Conference finals is an intriguing one, and, judging by Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul’s performances over the weekend, it is looking more and more like a slam dunk.

Paul didn’t have astounding statistics in New Orleans’ 101-82 over San Antonio on Saturday night – a relative statement for Paul, who still finished with 17 points, 13 assists, just two turnovers and four steals. His quick, controlled aggression broke down the veteran Spurs’ defense and got all of his younger, more athletic teammates into the mix.

Lessons From the 2008 NBA Playoffs

There are lessons to be learned from this postseason, where the Denver Nuggets and Toronto Raptors were the first teams sent packing on Monday night. Individual players like Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard are putting a stamp on their team’s success better than they have at any points in their careers.

Homecourt has again been a storyline, but for different reasons in each series. It has been cause for huge momentum swings in the Boston-Atlanta, Washington-Cleveland and Phoenix-San Antonio series, but been stripped away by the Lakers, Magic and Hornets.

Agent Zero’s Other ‘Operatives’

Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas, self-proclaimed Agent Zero, has found two more futile operatives in the Wizards organization. Joining him are Agent 9, Antawn Jamison, and Agent 12, Caron Butler. The numbers represent each player’s point totals in Washington’s 116-86 blowout loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers last night. Arenas was no star, either, going 2-for-10 from the floor and scoring seven points.
 
LeBron James needed no extra motivation, but got it from Arenas, who called the Cavs “beatable” and DeShawn Stevenson, who called James “overrated.” He outscored the Wizards’ star trio 30-28 on his own on Monday night and lifted the Cavs to a commanding 2-0 series lead.

Gasol Gives Lakers Fans High Hopes

13-34.

That was the Memphis Grizzlies’ record with Pau Gasol this season. And following a 22-60 record a year ago, it was becoming painfully obvious that the Grizzlies needed to start over. Many Memphis fans wanted management to keep the former All-Star and build around him, but the team had other plans.

On February 1, the Grizzlies pulled off a stunning trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, sending Gasol to L.A. for Kwame Brown, Javaris Crittenton and two first-round draft picks. On paper, the trade looked incredibly lopsided, and that has proved to be the case. The Grizzlies finished the season with nine wins in their last 35 games, while the Lakers flourished and earned the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

NBA Playoff Preview

With the NBA playoff picture now set, there is plenty of speculating to be done. In the Eastern Conference, can anyone topple the Boston Celtics? Meanwhile, out in the Western Conference, which team will survive the brutality and make it to the NBA Finals?

Postseason Awards Watch

By Andrew Bohardt

There may still be games left in the NBA’s regular season, but it’s never too early to hand out some end-of-season hardware. We take a look at the most deserving candidates for the Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year and other postseason awards.

The Tanking Ten

By Andrew Bohardt

On the flip side of our Championship Dozen, which tracks 12 players likely to see increased opportunities down the stretch, The Tanking Ten discusses 10 players with less promising futures.