NBA regular season a bore for most
The NBA is a great product, when the right teams are playing. Everybody loves to watch some of the best athletes in the world, ranging from LeBron James and Steph Curry to James Harden and Kristaps Porzingis. It’s artistry above the rim and beyond the arc, but only when approximately four squads are on the hardwood.
If you happen to root for the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets or Cleveland Cavaliers, you are very excited about the prospect of what the future might hold. While Houston is the longshot of the group, there is something to be said for having James Harden on the team, and knowing that a burst from him could be the difference in a series. The other three teams are all considerable favorites to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy, with Golden State being the top pick of most.
The Eastern Conference, however, has absolutely no intrigue. The Cavaliers could sit LeBron James for the rest of the regular season and still cruise to a top seed, perhaps getting pressure from only the Boston Celtics. Even if Boston was able to get home-court advantage throughout, it wouldn’t matter. LeBron and his mates aren’t losing to a team led by Al Horford and Isaiah Thomas. It’s nothing against both of those players, who are terrific talents, but they would be lucky to make a series against Cleveland go beyond five games.
Cleveland will be waiting for one of the aforementioned Western powers. The Spurs are without the retired Tim Duncan, but it doesn’t seem to matter one bit. With head coach Gregg Popovich leading the way, San Antonio is sitting at 41-13, five games behind the Warriors for the top seed in the conference. Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge continue to put the Spurs in the championship chase, something they have been in almost every year or the past 20 seasons.
Golden State needs little buildup. At 46-8, the Warriors are the best team in basketball and while they won’t win 73 games again, should cruise to 65 behind Kay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Curry. If the Warriors and Cavaliers meet up come the NBA Finals, we’ll finally have something to be excited about this season.
It’s not a slam on the NBA to call it boring. For 26 teams or so, that’s reality. Who in Detroit or Utah can really get fired up about this season? The ceiling is insanely limited, and will be for some time. In the days of super teams, it’s only super to watch if you root for one of them. Otherwise, it’s a great reason to watch something else, whether it be hockey or college basketball.
