On The Brink of Parity
Just a year ago, fans along with sport mediums alike determined NBA competition and championship parity were all but dead in the present and foreseeable future. It was fine the two years prior to last year when the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors threw haymakers at each other in the NBA Finals. Yet, when Kevin Durant joined the fold of the rivalry ready to challenge Lebron James, all hell broke loose and the perceived future of the league was all but "decided".
"KD ruined the NBA" is what fans have voiced through social media turning a blind eye to the withering Eastern Conference that Lebron James has brought to his knees since he joined a Miami Heat Super Team in 2010. ESPN/ABC Broadcaster Jeff Van Gundy was quoted saying the Warriors "would win 8 to 10 straight NBA Finals" even though the longest championship run of the 21st Century was the three-peat by the Shaq and Kobe Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-2003. The science behind parity being a common theme in the NBA until the Warriors and Cavs is humorous considering the league has historically immortalized MJ's two three-peats, Bird and Magic Finals Rivalry, and Bill Russell's dynastic tenure with the Celtics in the 60's and early 70's. The hypocritical statement exuding life in a near two-year span due in large part because an Association's best player can't go on a dynastic run have finally come to this. The Boston Celtics and Houston Rockets have held together homecourt in game 5 and are a win away from the NBA Finals.
Both teams were deemed national underdogs because the opponents before them have dominated their respective conference in three years. Yet, while Golden State and Cleveland continued to ride their respective fast tracks for a right to compete in June, the Celtics and Rockets were building a creation behind closed doors to vanquish the big dogs once and for all. Boston, led by head coach Brad Stevens and General Manager Danny Ainge, created a tenacious defensive identity from the talent brought in and drafted. The draftee's individual offensive talents were molded and shaped gradually through a positive three-year-period. In the corner of the lab, Ainge moved his players to other team's enhancing ex-Celtics' values through gritty play and discipline for the right to gain two all-star players. The connection between the two has by far cemented their legacy as eastern conference contenders for years to come. For now, the former is why they're a game away from the NBA Finals. First-Team All-Rookie Jayson Tatum leads Boston in postseason scoring. Second-year player Jaylen Brown has saw his three-point shot catch up to his athleticism and finishing ability making him a valid number two option on the perimeter. Followed by savvy vet play from All-Star Al Horford with quality guard play from draft picks Marcus Smart and Terry Rozier and all of a sudden, a once endless rebuilding stage is nearing its concluding product.
On the opposite side of the coin, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey vowed to build a team destined to beat the Golden State Warriors with Hall of Fame guard play, a barrage of three pointers, and a tint of intense defensive play that's been magnified into a vitalness in the Western Conference Finals. He saw his franchise player James Harden reach an incredible high as the two guard on a high-octane offense in 2015 that eventually succumbed to the Warriors in the conference finals. Morrey witnessed in agony Harden runout of gas and mail it in during a five game first round loss to Golden State the year after with him and Dwight Howard play styles reaching a breaking point. Then, he saw the dynamic potential of new Head Coach Mike D'Antoni with James Harden at the helm of the ship. James lead the league in scoring and finishing in the top three in assist all to just flame out against a determined San Antonio Spurs in the 2017 Western Conference Finals. These three stages of Houston led Morrey to not blow the team up, but retool it in hopes of reaching maximum heights. Chris Paul gives them a viable option at the one opposite Harden to relieve him from his ball-handling duties. Clint Capela has become the teams most important rim protector and rebounder after showing signs of being a productive rim protector a year ago. The signings of P.J. Tucker paired with Trevor Ariza on the wing give them quality three and d players to fill out their starting five. Off the bench they've still maintained Sixth Man of The Year Eric Gordon whos timely shots and aggressive drives have made him be a complete offensive player. And through their grittiness and timely Paul plays, they're edging closer to an NBA Finals berth all while proving that even thought parity in the league is rare, it can be established through the evolution of the hungry teams previously on the outside looking in.