Don't Believe Me, Just Watch: New York Knicks

A true Casanova.

Are the New York Knicks a legitimate contender?
Scott's Answer: You tryin' to get the pipe? 

Someone has to give Miami a run for their money, right?

It would be easy to point to the Knicks’ win last night over Miami as proof that they’re ready to come at the king--and not miss.





To be honest, it’s very hard for me to put much stock in an April regular season matchup like last night’s. Since the Heat’s winning streak ended last week, they've clearly eased up mentally and physically as they get their affairs in order for another deep playoff run.

Point is, the Knicks are legitimate contenders but it would be foolish to use such a small sample size as proof. Over seven games against the same team, you've got to have a go-to strength that’s sustainable and difficult to neutralize, even with extensive gameplanning.

Your meat and potatoes sets have to be lethal in their most basic forms--this requires elite players capable of winning one-on-one matchups. But, to hold up in the playoffs, these sets must have attractive options far out on the decision tree. All of those “If...then...” scenarios must end with at least a good option, if not a great one. If the center doubles Carmelo in the post, then...

Now, what I like about the Knicks roster is that they can score in any number of ways, all of which are good. Coach Woodson can run iso sets with Carmelo, pick and rolls with Felton and Chandler, run JR Smith off screens and let him work, etc.

Then, through each of these sets the Knicks have some deadly three point shooters to kick it out to if the defense collapses. Novak, Kidd, Shumpert, and Prigioni all present the Knicks’ playmakers with appetizing options.

Now, when the Knicks have struggled this year it’s been because the three point shooters have gone cold. They need their shooters--especially a one dimensional guy like Novak--to be locked in if they want to truly challenge the Heat.

Don't Believe Me, Just Watch: Milwaukee Bucks

Fear the Deer??

Are the Milwaukee Bucks a legit contender?

Logan’s answer: Hell No

Milwaukee has their spot in the Eastern conference playoffs practically secured, but this isn’t due to their phenomenal play but more of a result of the lack of depth in the Eastern Conference. Milwaukee’s record sits at 34 and 35, while 9th place Philadelphia rests at 26-42, a whopping 16 games below 500. That being said once Milwaukee makes the playoffs, everybody’s slate is swept clean and what you did in the regular season is largely forgotten and behind you. Sadly (at least for the Bucks), with the eight seed comes playing the top seed in the East, the Miami Heat.

It’s not really about what the Bucks will do wrong to not have a deep playoff run (or any significant playoff impact at all), it’s what the Heat will do so right. The Bucks won’t be able to slow down the onslaught that is the Heat’s offense. Though they have the defensive beast Larry Sanders, he can’t guard everyone. Milwaukee’s defense ranks 20th in the league per ESPN. Historically, a team out of the top 10 in defense struggles collecting wins when playoff intensity takes hold and especially against a team like the Heat which ranks 5th in the league in scoring offense.

Milwaukee has great length in their backcourt and good defenders in not only Sanders but also in Dalembert, Udoh and Mbah a Moute, but their frontcourt defense is atrocious. With Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings giving up so many open looks and drives to the basket it is a testament to how good their frontcourt defense is that they aren’t ranked worse. These two see the majority of the minutes in the backcourt averaging almost 38 minutes apiece. Ellis and Jennings are superior athletes who have the ability to score at an elite level but defensively they are pitiful. Both are prone to take risks and make poor attempts for the ball that leave them out of position leading to mismatches and 2-on-1 situations. Against the Heat and their elite backcourt, these mistakes will prove far too costly as mismatches and penetration lead to big throw-downs or corner threes.

Don't Believe Me, Just Watch: Denver Nuggets

Do not believe this man. Observe him.

So for the legions of you who caught Episode 5 of The Bottom Up podcast, you heard us introduce a new, nameless segment. Basically, we're going through each playoff team and debating whether or not they are legit contenders. We decided to take this cage match to the blog, because that's the kind of whimsical power we wield in The Bottom Up kingdom.

Are the Denver Nuggets a legit contender?

Logan’s answer: Yes

The past few years Denver has been labeled in the postseason as being that team you don’t want to meet in the first round but doesn't have a legitimate shot of going deep into the playoffs. That has changed this year as Denver has emerged as one of the elite teams in the Western Conference. Currently, Denver is in the middle of a fierce battle for the number three spot in the playoffs with the Memphis Grizzles and the Los Angeles Clippers. Denver currently holds the spot and looks poised to maintain it, as they have been playing phenomenal basketball of late and are in the midst of a 15 game winning streak. This spot could be crucial in long-term playoff success as whoever falls in the fourth or fifth spot will be in a real battle with one another to make it to the next round compared to playing the sliding Warriors or the inexperienced Rockets. But regardless of how the regular season ends or how the playoff seeding shakes out, the Nuggets are a team capable of going deep in the playoffs.

Drakenomics 101

By: Scott Barkett

It’s late March, which means only one thing for the post-LeBron Cleveland Cavaliers. Despite a season of impressive efforts against top-tier NBA teams, the real test is just beginning for Coach Scott’s young squad.

The time has come again to focus up and study extra game film. Months of hard work come down to these last few weeks and there’s no way owner Dan Gilbert will accept anything less than the Cavs' best effort.

If a starter has a hangnail? Two weeks rest, minimum. Can't be too careful! And the Cavs must figure out more ways to get Boobie Gibson and Omri Casspi some well earned playing time. That's right...it’s tanking season!

Wait, what?

Okay, so that was a contrived introduction. You knew damn well as soon as you clicked this link that you were going to read about some good old fashioned tanking.

But I didn’t lie—recent history shows that both Boobie Gibson and Omri Casspi are elite level players for any taking team. They’re so woefully overmatched on an NBA court that other tanking teams struggle to pull players off the bench of similar...ability.

For rebuilding teams in the NBA, there are two main schools of thought currently en vogue. One school is packed—think Introduction to Complete Sentences at University of Michigan in the Fall—and the other is a one-room school house with only a couple of pupils.

The former of course is Tankington University, home of Drakenomics 101—In order to reach the top, you must start from the bottom. Like it or not, Dan Gilbert’s Cleveland Cavaliers are unabashedly in this category.

The latter group we’ll call the Prideland School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Prominent enrollees include the Indiana Pacers and the Houston Rockets. After years of scorn, they just installed a couple of brand new Smart Boards and gave everyone an iPad. Now they've made the rank and file at Tankington University quite jealous.

Suddenly, it’s a little less straightforward of a proposition to unconditionally support the Cavs’ rebuilding strategy.

The Spread

By: Logan Bednarczuk

Welcome to the inaugural edition of The Spread on The Bottom Up. Each week and maybe even several times a week I will pick a day’s winners based off the points spread (spreads determined by SportsBetting.ag). And since it’s a slow basketball night with only three games on the schedule, I decided that this would be the perfect day to start. [Editor's Note: Logan's honesty about his laziness is impressive here.]

L.A Clippers at Indiana- Pacers -1

What looks to be the best game of the night is sadly not on TNT, but those with NBA League Pass should be in for a treat. Both teams have been hot of late with the Clippers winning seven of their last ten and the Pacers eight of their last ten. The Pacers have found their rhythm and have ramped up their offense to match their league-leading defense. Indiana, however, will be without their paint-protecting center, Roy Hibbert, due to his suspension after his on court altercation with the Warriors' David Lee. His defensive presence will be sorely missed considering the Clippers are 5^th in the league in points in the paint. With home court and rest on their side I expect the Pacers to keep it a tight game and hopefully see Granger get back in scoring form. But without Hibbert’s defense in the paint, I see the clippers bringing Lob City to Indiana and walking out with a big win tonight.

My pick- L.A Clippers