Sam Greenwood/Getty ImagesWelcome to The Shot Clock, a semi-regular commentary on the state of the NBA. Enjoy! 24. The month of March belongs to college basketball, but don't let that minimize the significance of this month to the NBA season. Everyone has about 20 games left, and the playoffs are only a month and a half away.The importance of March is all about finding out who the playoff contenders and pretenders are, and for evaluating who the league's MVP will be.23. About that MVP race, is LeBron James already a lock? The numbers are there (averaging 29.9 points/7.1 rebounds/8.5 assists) and he's the best player on the best team in the NBA. Who can catch him? 22. Well how about Kevin Durant? The Durantula is averaging a 30/8/3 and has transformed the Oakland Raiders jersey
Thunder from a bottom-dweller to a legit playoff team in the Western Conference. He doesn't have the national exposure of LeBron just yet, but his streak of 29 games at 25-plus points put him in a well-earned spotlight.21. Don't forget about Kobe Bryant. Yeah, he missed a few games in February, but he's the best player on the best team in the West. The numbers are still there (28/5/5), and oh yeah, he's hit five game-winners this season. 20. But let's be honest, the award is LeBron's to lose right now. For the next few weeks, the King might need to carry the load even more as the Cavs are down two centers now, with Shaquille O'Neal out for the rest of the regular season.No one expects the Cavaliers to fall apart without Shaq for 25 games, but will the Big Fella be ready come playoff time? Will Cleveland even need him until they play Orlando? 19. Speaking of Big Z, the Mavericks were reportedly told that Ilgauskas will be coming back to Cleveland at the end of the month. Big Z is drawing interest from a number of teams, including the Nuggets, but with Shaq down, the Cavaliers may need him more than ever. Potentially losing him to another contender could be a big blow to the Cavs title hopes. 18. With Cleveland a couple men down at the moment, is there anyone in the East who can catch the Cavs for home-court advantage?Boston and Atlanta are probably too far back now, but if Orlando is ever going to make a move, now is the time. The Magic are six games behind the Cavaliers at the moment, but may feel confident that they can beat Cleveland without home-court, just as they did in last year's East Finals. 17. It feels like a long time ago that Boston was sitting at 26-9 and just as much a favorite to come out of the East as Cleveland or Orlando.Since then, a 10-12 swoon has dropped the Celtics into fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The C's may have hit rock bottom with a home loss to the woeful New Jersey Nets this past Saturday.Suddenly, Boston looks old and battered, and perhaps just waiting, or hoping, for everything to click in the playoffs. 16. Can Boston turn it on, or at least turn it around, in time for the playoffs? Barring a disaster, they should get out of the first round in the East just fine. But an Eastern Conference semis matchup against most likely either Cleveland or Orlando is a daunting task for this Boston team.Consider that Boston lost to Orlando last year despite having home-court advantage in Game Seven; two years ago, they had to survive a tough seven-game series against a much inferior Cleveland team. Quite simply, the Celtics just don't match up well with the top teams in the East. 15. Enough of the top half of the East, let's talk about the bottom half and who will make and miss the playoffs.Toronto and Chicago should get in, and that leaves three teamsMilwaukee, Charlotte, and Miamifighting for two spots.Right now, I think a healthy Wade gets Miami in, and Charlotte slips in over Milwaukee to serve as Cleveland's sacrificial lamb, uh I mean, first-round opponent. 14. Good news for Miami. Dwyane Wade is back and healthy at the moment for the fast-fading Heat. He played 37 minutes the other night in a loss at Orlando, and will once again have to carry the load to get the Heat into the playoffs.13. Even with a healthy Wade, what chance does Miami have to make any noise in the playoffs? The answer...not much. Let's face it, the Heat are not a quality basketball team. Philadelphia Eagles jersey
They lack any real offensive firepower to complement Wade, and the ability to win consistently at home (14-14 on the season). Not a great combination come playoff time.12. Another offensively challenged team in the East race is the Charlotte Bobcats. But don't tell that to the duo of Stephen Jackson (21/5/4) and Gerald Wallace (19/11/2) who have quietly put up nice numbers all season. The early season deal in acquiring Captain Jack for Vladimir Radmanovic and Raja Bell has to be one of the best moves of the season. 11. But even with Charlotte's modest success this year, the most coverage the franchise has received all year came when Michael Jordan recently bought the team. This has nothing to do with anything, but I love the fact that one of his first acts as owner was to attend a practice and challenge Gerald Henderson to a game of HORSE. It's always fun to have Michael around. 10. We're down to 10 here on The Shot Clock, and what better time to discuss the New Jersey Nets' quest to win 10 games this season?The Nets are now up to 6-53 with their best win of the season on Saturday at Boston. A 4-19 finish will get the Nets to 10 wins, which is easier said than done for this team. Strangely enough, the Nets are so bad that they have stayed relevant because they are trying not to become history. 9. On the other hand, who is the league's most irrelevant team? Indiana? Detroit? Minnesota? Right now, I would say Indiana since they have not been good, or even exciting, in years. 8. One team that has been mostly irrelevant all season on the court is Washington, but unfortunately, off-the-court matters have brought the Wizards into the national spotlight.A rare bright spot in a lost season for the Wizards has been the recent amazing play of Andray Blatche. In his last five games, Blatche has averaged 27/12/4 and two blocks per game. It's nice to see him at least making the most of his opportunity to play.7. But back to the teams who matterwho will end up missing the playoffs in the West?While I think there may be some fluctuation in seeding position before the end of the season, I think the eight teams that are in right now will be the eight that qualify in April. Of the three outsiders, I am more confident in New Orleans to slide into the playoffs than I am in either Memphis or Houston.6. If you look at the Western Conference standings, you will notice how the Spurs are teetering in the seventh spot currently, a far cry from where we usually see San Antonio in March and April. The Spurs are still a quality team and will not bow out easily in the first round, but the offseason acquisition of Richard Jefferson has not exactly worked out, and the team looks flat-out old sometimes. 5. Someone who all-of-a-sudden doesn't look so old is 36-year-old Dallas point guard Jason Kidd. He's not the triple-double machine he used to be, but his 19/16/17 line in Atlanta on Friday was one of the best performances by any one of any age this season. 4. Will the resurgent Kidd help lead the Mavericks past the Lakers in the playoffs? I'm not sure yet, but Dallas does have a few positive things going for itself. A resurgent Kidd is one of them.Dirk Nowitzki is still one of the best players in basketball, and the Caron Butler trade added some needed depth. But Dallas needs to show that they can go into the Staples Center in Los Angeles (and I don't mean against the Clippers) and battle with the best before we call them a title contender just yet. 3. Well, if Dallas can't do it, how about Utah? Does anyone believe in the Jazz? Do the Jazz even believe in the Jazz?Instead of buying at the deadline to try and improve their already-impressive team, Utah acted like a seller instead and gave Ronnie Brewer away. Utah is only a game behind Denver for second in the West, and are a very talented and well-coached team. But just like Dallas, Utah needs to prove they can win a few big games on the road before they can be labeled a true titlePittsburgh Steelers jersey
contender. 2. So does that leave Denver as the only true threat to the Los Angeles Lakers in the West?Right now, yes it does. Denver took the Lakers to six games in the West Finals last year and despite a loss at LA on Sunday, they have shown the ability last season and this season to beat the Lakers both at home and on the road.Chauncey Billups is a matchup problem for the Lakers and Carmelo Anthony can score with the best of them. A Western Conference Finals between Los Angeles and Denver has "seven games" written all over it. 1. Finally, it was sad to hear about George Karl. Hopefully, he will get well soon.
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