The NBA has a funny way of focusing on just two to three teams over others in the league. This year, it has undoubtedly been the Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Atlanta Hawks. Makes sense, seeing as Atlanta and Golden State are both on pace to win 70 games, and the Cavaliers have a super squad comprising of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love. However, we shouldn't regard these three media-magnets as the title favorites.
If you take a look at it a little closer, the title contenders are two teams receiving very little hype. Wait, isn't that how the San Antonio Spurs won most of their five titles? Under the radar?
In a post-game show on TNT, Charles Barkley was asked who he thought the three best teams in the mighty Western Conference were. His partners were in shock when he excluded the Warriors from that list. He claimed that he didn't like their big men, at least not as much as other teams in the conference.
This author doesn't always agree with Chuck, but this time, he is 100 percent correct. The Splash brothers are a sensational backcourt duo that will allow the Warriors to be competitive for the next five or six years, probably even longer. However, anybody who has been watching the NBA playoffs for a while know that defense and depth become more and more important as the season wears on. They may not come out to the public, but by May, most NBA players have some sort of nagging injury. The wear and tear of 82 games starts to catch up with them and whether it's a sore back or a twisted ankle, their minutes start to decline slightly.
Coaches can't wear down their star players in a series against another elite team. When you play weaker teams once every three games, your players get some time to rest. However, when it's a good team every night, the rotations have to change. Bench players are depended on to maintain a high level of play when the starters are resting and after an 82-game season, rest becomes more valuable.
Of the three media-magnets this season, the Hawks, not only have the most depth, but play the best defense. Players like Dennis Schroder, Shelvin Mack, Pero Antic, Kent Bazemore, and Thabo Sefolosha have provided excellent reserve play for the East's best team. They rank top five in the NBA in defense and are top 10 in rebounding, thanks to big men Al Horford and Paul Millsap. The Bulls and Grizzlies, however, have a unique combination of depth, defense and clutch scoring that is unmatched in the NBA this season.
Memphis has been a solid team for the better part of a decade, ever since pairing big men Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph with point guard Mike Conley. They have been built around defense, but have added scoring more recently. Two weeks ago, they took part in a three-team trade and ended up with forward Jeff Green from Boston. Aside from his brief stint with the Thunder, Green has never really played for a contender. Since coming to the Grizzlies, he has been averaging 13 points and four rebounds, providing some offensive stability in the starting lineup, as well as versatility.
Memphis has seven players averaging double-digit minutes and each player understands their role. The starting lineup of Green-Randolph-Gasol-Conley-Lee provides a mix of shooting, slashing and post-play, while the reserves supplement that lineup very well. Tony Allen, despite his goofy jumper, provides lockdown perimeter defense and averages two steals per game. Beno Udrih, ever the journeyman, has been a steady backup floor general, averaging around eight points and four dimes per contest. Youngsters Jon Leuer and Nick Calathes have proved energy and defense off the pine and speaking of journeymen, veteran Vince Carter continues to produce as a role player, as he has averaged six points this season and can heat up at any given time.
Memphis ranks third in opponents points per game for the 2014-2015 season, but they aren't as one-dimensional as in the past. They are 11th in the NBA in points per game at just over 100, and ninth in assists per game with 22. Conley continues to improve and could now be considered an elite NBA point guard. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol are work-horses down low, as both have become rock-solid post players for this team. They rarely get into foul trouble and when on the floor together, they terrorize opposing big men.
The Bulls also have a Gasol, but the older one. Pau, since coming from the Los Angeles Lakers, has provided Chicago with a third scoring option apart from Jimmy Butler and Derrick Rose. He and Noah have become as potent a big-man duo as the two guys in Memphis, and that's saying something.
The reigning defensive player of the year, Noah has continued to anchor this Bulls team, as he has averaged roughly eight points, 10 rebounds, and a block and a half per game this season. His numbers and minutes are slightly down because of Pau Gasol coming over from the Lakers this off-season. Gasol has averaged 18 and 12 and has been the same well-rounded player. His ability to both shoot and work in the post opens up the floor for the Bulls. Shooters, such as Kirk Hinrich and Aaron Brooks, can come off the bench and find open jump shots often in the game, while backup big man Nikola Mirotic has come into his own, providing both rebounding and deep shooting off the pine, as he averages four boards and just over one three-pointer per contest in just 18 minutes.
Derrick Rose has gelled with the young Jimmy Butler to form a backcourt that rivals the Splash Brothers, perhaps not in shooting but in overall play. The Bulls are third in the NBA in total rebounds and have limited their opponents to under 35 percent shooting from beyond the arc, as well as under 45 percent inside of it.
All in all, there is still plenty of basketball to be played, but the teams with defense and depth tend to go further. These teams are well-coached, well-built and extremely tough. They have a bevy of different lineups they can use to shut down another team's game plan, which becomes especially useful in a seven game series. The Gasol brothers will meet in this year's Finals, which would give the media reason to finally focus on these dark horses. Until then, ESPN and everyone else will keep talking about Golden State and Cleveland, and rightfully so. Those teams have exciting players and play an exciting brand of basketball. However, it's not always "exciting" that gets it done in May and June.