A Belated OKC perspective on "The Decision"

I'm not here to lampoon LeBron James and his ludicrus "The Decision" ESPN special. Dank Game, among many, many others, has done that plenty already.

Instead I've allowed a little time to pass, hopefully instilling reason into my OKC-themed reaction. So here it goes:

Kevin Durant will be the 2010-11 NBA MVP. And the runner-up will probably be Kobe Bryant.

Here's why:

James won MVP honors as the defacto leader of a Cavaliers team built around him. And it is a regular season award, so any talk of him not truly stepping up in the playoffs is inconsequential. LeBron was the undisputed focus of the team that won the most regular season ball games in the NBA in the 2009-10 season.

And the runner up was Kevin Durant, from the somewhat more team-oriented Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC was only able to muster an 8th seed in a crowded Western Conference, but coming off a truly bad debut season for the OKC franchise the year before, Durant quickly reestablished himself as a young superstar. He cemented this status by supplanting James as the NBA scoring leader and again winning the All-Star weekend HORSE competition (I know nobody cares about that, but I love mentioning it).

So now, with the "Three Headed Monster" in Miami, how can James (or Wade and Bosh for that matter) truly put up MVP stats? LeBron's points per game will almost have to go down, as the offense will no longer depend on him nearly every possession; the days of him playing point-forward should be over. Although his post-season aspirations should benefit as a result of this, the fact remains James is no longer the heart and soul of his team.

But Durant is. And unless Kobe has a season that makes him look a decade younger, Durant should easily be able to repeat as scoring champion. With the Lakers getting another year older, the window is opening for the Thunder, and I definitely see them enough games (55?) to put them in the top half of the West. That coupled with his prolific scoring ability will push Kevin Durant to an MVP season.

And Kobe, the likely runner-up, will have to watch as the West begins to slip away from his Lakers.

Could Delonte Heat Up Potential LA vs. Miami Rivalry?

Rumor has it that the Lakers are close to acquiring Delonte West. Apparently LA had been trying to trade Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic and a draft pick for West to rid themselves of Vujacic's salary. West was traded to Minnesota on Tuesday and is expected to have his contract bought out by the Timberwolves, making him a free agent. If the Lakers can move Vujacic, sources say the Lakers will sign him.

This acquisition would be interesting for several reasons. First off, if the rumors about Delonte's affair with LeBron's mother Gloria James are indeed true, it will add a new layer to the potential rivalry between the Heat and the Lakers. Gloria James might be torn between who to support if the two teams end up meeting come next June.

Another reason this would be interesting is that the Lakers would have arguably the two most insane players in the NBA on one roster in Ron Artest and Delonte. West just recently pleaded guilty to traffic and weapons charges after having been pulled over on a three-wheeled motorcycle and found with a 9mm Beretta pistol, .357 Magnum and a Remington 870 in a guitar case back in September. He was sentenced to electronic monitoring, unsupervised probation, 40 hours of community service and psychological counseling. At this point, you might even say West is crazier then Artest.

Lastly, this acquisition would be interesting because it sets up a potential reality show for West if he winds up in Hollywood. Maybe it couldn't get off the ground until he's off probation, but the opportunity is there now that he's out of boring old Cleveland. I mean, who wouldn't want to watch Delonte rap in fast food drive-thrus on television. And if we're really lucky, maybe Artest and West could join forces to make a reality show of the NBA's craziest players. In fact, "Artest and West" would be a pretty good name for the show, although I do really like Artest's forthcoming reality show's name: "They Call Me Crazy."

Ron Artest: Champion

I don't feel like taking the time to tell you why these post-game interviews are amazing. I'll just let Ron Ron do the talking.

Appreciate This Moment, Folks

Tonight's the night, Dank Gamers! Since October, everything has been building towards this moment. Appreciate it, because it's not often that the Finals come down to a game 7 with two evenly matched opponents. Who knows what's going to happen.

The outcome of this game is huge for so many reasons. If the Lakers win, it will vault Kobe Bryant into a realm that few others have. He will, without a doubt, be one of the greatest ever to step on the hardwood. Also, if the Lakers win, Pau Gasol will shed the label that he is "soft" once and for all. And if Derek Fisher hits a big shot at some point down the stretch, he will come to be regarded as the new Robert Horry. For Phil Jackson, it will just be another year, another ring.

If the Celtics win, the big four will cement their legacies as true Celtic greats. Paul Pierce has probably already left his mark as a Boston legend, so this game weighs more on the legacies of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. If they lose, Allen and Garnett could be remembered somewhat less favorably assuming this is their last shot at a title with Boston. Don't get me wrong, both are future Hall of Famers who will be remembered as champions, but a win tonight will greatly impact their legacies for the better. As for Rondo, he's got plenty of time to shape his own legacy, but a second championship in his fourth year in the league certainly wouldn't hurt.

Anyhow, there's nothing I can tell you that hasn't already been said, so just sit back and enjoy the biggest game in basketball to happen in years. I would make a prediction, but I truly have absolutely no idea what to expect.

Do The Celtics or Lakers Have The Secret?

I've got to admit, I've had trouble pulling together inspiration to write about these NBA Finals. It's not that they've been bad, in fact they've been pretty damn good. I just haven't figured out an angle on them yet that hasn't been run into the ground elsewhere on the internet.

To find inspiration, I've turned to one of the most enigmatic sportswriters: Bill Simmons. I honestly haven't read much of his writing in the past, but he recently released a 700-page book titled The Book of Basketball and I just started reading it. I usually have trouble finishing 200-page books, so that probably gives you an idea of how dorky my fascination with basketball has become.

The second chapter of Simmons' book is all about The Secret to creating championship teams, which was revealed to him by none other than Isiah Thomas during a topless pool party in Vegas. If you're not picking up on the irony of Isiah Thomas telling him The Secret to basketball, look into Isiah's tenure as President of Basketball Operations for the Knicks. But Isiah really did know The Secret, and it goes something like this:

SPOILER ALERT!

At Least There Really Are Irish People in Boston

Here's the thing; I hate both the BostonCeltics and the Lakers. I actually can't think of any two NBA teams I dislike more. I hate them both like I hate the New York Yankees. The only championship match-up in all of sports that I could detest more would be the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

BUT - If I'm going to keep this interesting, I'd better disagree with SlipperyMcFaggot (I'm totally out of clever ones, so these will probably just get increasingly vulgar).

That's right - teenage_mustache is officially picking the Boston Celtics as 2010 NBA champions. In five.

Here's another contributing factor: How many rings do I need to see Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson win? Well, I've seen more than enough already. And I don't give a damn about the fact that the first three-peat was with Shack and now this is really Kobe's team. If I remember correctly Kobe was still a starting player back then.

Now for Artest. I'll be damned if he gets a ring before Chad Ochocinco! I rooted for Barkley as a kid. How many rings did he get? Patrick Ewing? You get the idea.

OK, so there was really no point to post this. But now you know where I stand. Go team that's not the Lakers!

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Kobe Schools KG

That's right Dank Game, the NBA Finals begin tonight! Because I've decided to back the Lakers, this week's Throwback Posterization is Kobe Bryant serving it up on KG and Rasho Nesterovic in the first round of the 2003 Playoffs. The fifth seeded Lakers would go on to beat Kevin Garnett and the 4th seeded Timberwolves in six games, but the Lakers would then lose to the number one seeded Spurs in six games in the second round. This put an end to their hopes of winning their fourth straight championship.

Garnett tries to close out on Kobe on the perimeter, which Kobe takes advantage of and blows passed him. Garnett attempts to keep up with him as he takes it to the rim, but Kobe goes up so quickly and strong with the reverse jam that KG doesn't stand a chance. Rasho Nesterovic tries to provide some help defense, but it seems as if he didn't expect Kobe to go for the reverse dunk.

Butt Buddies For The Win

It's no secret that Ron Artest has a bizarre relationship with Kobe Bryant. For instance, in 2008 when Kobe and the Lakers fell short to the Boston Celtics in the Finals, Ron Ron walked in on Kobe while he was showering by himself. Artest told him that he was going to come to LA and help him win a title. I can only assume he pat Kobe on the butt on his way out.

Artest idolizes Kobe. Just watch this clip of Ron interviewing Kobe before they were teammates.

You don't even have to watch more than a minute of the interview to figure out that Ron is completely enthralled by Kobe. He seems to hang onto his every word and stroke his ego with nearly every question. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Ron proposed that he stroke something more than Kobe's ego after the cameras stopped rolling.

Kobe enjoys the interview almost as much as Ron, if not more, as he seems to bask in every moment of Artest's idolization. Although the two have had some fierce battles between one another, such as last year's Western Conference Semi-Finals, I think it's safe to say that Ron Ron and Kobe are butt buddies. And because of this, I am cheering for the Lakers to beat the Boston Celtics in the Finals.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Marion Finishes Oop Over Kobe

With the Suns evening up the series against the Lakers on Tuesday night, I felt it was appropriate for this week's Throwback Posterization to be a Suns player dunking on a Laker. I was hoping to find a video with two players who still play for both respective teams, but I had to settle for less. It was either young Amare dunking on Karl Malone during his days with LA, or Shawn Marion as a Sun dunking on Kobe. Marion's dunk was sweeter, so I went with it. Plus, I figure the Dank Game community would prefer seeing Kobe get served.

This dunk is from the first round of the 2006 NBA Playoffs, in which the 2nd seeded Suns came back from a 3-1 deficit to eliminate the 7th seeded Lakers. Before this year's series started, several Lakers cited this 2006 first round elimination as a source of motivation to seek vengeance on the Suns. Here's to hoping the Lakers blow another comfortable lead to Phoenix in the playoffs.

Now onto that dunk. Kobe gets stuck playing 1 on 2 against Diaw and Marion as his teammates attempt to force a turnover on the other end. After the Suns get the ball down court, Kobe is pretty much screwed, as Diaw lobs it to Marion for the throw down over Kobe.

Thursday Throwback Posterization: Shaq Crushes Kelvin Cato

With Shaq's future up in the air and the Lakers' recent dominance, I figured now was an opportune time to use a slam by Shaq during his prime years in LA. I'm pretty sure this is from the 1998-99 season, which was the season of the lockout.

Somehow Shaq ended up on his ass on the defensive end, and for some reason the Blazers neglected to clog the lane as Shaq storms down the court. As Derek Harper is being double-teamed by Brian Grant and Kelvin Cato, he finds Shaq as he comes down the open lane. Cato is late to contest the dunk and Shaq just absolutely destroys him.

Brooklyn Thunder? Not Gonna Happen

For the first time in Dank Game history, one of our popular conspiracy theories has been lobbied at yours truly, teenage_mustache.

Specifically (if you don't feel like clicking the hyperlink above or the "read more" link on the post below), SlimMcBitchTits and some hack co-conspirator Andy "the turd" Young have suggested that LeBron's looming free agency could impact my beloved Oklahoma City Thunder. The suggestion is as laughable as the Cavaliers' defense against Garnett and Rondo.

While I appreciate Andy and Slim trying to look past the obvious - recognizing OKC, Northern Ohio and NYC interests convening at an opportune time - let's look at the facts. First off, the Thunder is one of the few teams that truly doesn't need King James. I'd like to remind you that Durant actually outscored LeBron this season. I don't see Durant and LeBron on the same team outside of the Olympics. Someone even asked Durant via Twitter (KDthunderup) if he'd like to see the Thunder sign LeBron and he responded more or less to the tune of; 'no, this is my team.'

Farewell 2009-2010 Thunder

Alas, the former champs finally did get the best of the up-and-coming Oklahoma City Thunder. Two Dank Game teams down, one to go.

Having been a lifelong fan of Cincinnati sports, this is the least I've ever felt badly about a promising season coming to an end. With the Reds and the Bengals, you always kind of know that a winning season will not be followed by another.

So maybe it's a blessing that Cincinnati lost the Royals. It frees up SlimMcFavorite and myself to become free agent fans. Also fortunate is that we weren't douchey enough to become Celtics or Lakers fanboys (or have hair like the pictured Thunder fan).

So unlike the Cincinnati teams, I know I won't have to wait twenty years for another solid Thunder squad. Only seven regular season wins separated them from the defending champ Lakers. And in their series against the best in the West, the Thunder took two games, and lost by a basket or less in two others.

And here's the real kicker: This is about as young as an NBA team could possibly be. Every core member of the team hovers within a year or so of 21. And unlike almost every other team in the league right now, the Thunder aren't about to implode amidst the much ballyhooed 2010 free agent sweepstakes.

So I feel I can safely say this team is only a few years away from at least threatening a deep playoff run - conference finals or further. Meanwhile I'm just hoping the Bengals can post back-to-back winning season for the first time in 28 years.

Ron Artest's Mustache Smothers Durant/Thunder

After a convincing 110-89 game 4 victory in Oklahoma City on Saturday, the Thunder appeared overwhelmed by the Lakers last night in Los Angeles. What made the difference in the Lakers' 111-87 win? While many people are crediting Kobe's defense on Russell Westbrook, the real difference was Ron Artest's mustache.

"When Ron had the fucked up dyed hair in games 3 and 4 in Oklahoma City, I was able to get into a good rhythm. His shit just look so botched that I got into a mindset like, 'Can't nobody with fucked up hair like that stop me,' and I was able to just take it to him," said Kevin Durant in his post-game interview.

"Tonight though, I guess I just wasn't prepared for the mustache and bald head. That shit was mad intimidating. I'm just going to have to watch some tape with coach and figure out how to overcome it. He might come out with a totally new look though, so I have to be prepared for anything."

Ron Artest also gave credit to his mustache for getting into Durant's mind.

"I could tell that the dyed hair was losing its power after games 1 and 2, so I knew that I had to come back into LA with a new look that would throw Durant off his game," said Artest.

"As soon as I finished shaving my head and getting my mustache right, I looked into the mirror and said to my mustache, 'You're going to be the X-factor tonight, 'stache. Can't nobody get by you.' From that moment on, I just knew we were going to take them out. As great as my mustache was, I think my bald head deserves a lot of credit for this win too."

While Artest's 'stache proved to make the difference last night, can it continue to slow down the Thunder on their home court? Lakers' coach Phil Jackson is already planning what Artest's next look will be for game 6.

"Now that Ron is bald, we're starting to run out of options as far as what to do with his appearance," said Jackson, "but we've been tossing around some ideas on how he can come into Oklahoma City with a new, and even more intimidating look. Our first idea was to bring in a professional make up artist to make Ron look like one of the zombies from Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' music video, but that little bitch David Stern caught wind of that and threatened to fine me again. It's a real shame too, because we a had whole dance routine in the works for the announcing of the starting line-ups. At least we have Pau who basically looks straight out of the 'Thriller' video."

Because he's a big fan of mustaches and the Thunder, I tried to get a comment from Dank Game's Teenage Mustache regarding Ron's 'stache and the Thunder's loss last night. Thus far he hasn't answered his phone or responded to e-mails. I suspect that he's jealous of Ron's mustache and embarrassed by how much crazier Artest has proven to be than the Cincinnati Bengal's Chad Ochocinco.

Obsessed Kobe Fan

Although this is fake, it wouldn't surprise me to hear a real Kobe dickrider say some shit like this.

The Dunk Heard 'Round The World

Russell Westbrook welcomes Lamar Odom to Oklahoma City.

Oh, It's On

That's right Dank Game, the moment has arrived. With the NBA playoffs only a few days away, the first official match-up is our beloved Oklahoma City Thunder vs. the hated Los Angeles Lakers.

Now I don't want to hear any guff about how the Lakers are defending champions, number one in the West, or a certain number 24. Because none of that is going to matter. The Thunder are too hungry.

Durant is the reigning scoring king of the NBA. Kobe Bryant is a pathetic fourth in the league. Russell Westbrook has 645 assists on the year. The closer Laker is this Kobe Bryant fellow again, with 365.

These stats tell me that the Lakers have only one legitimate offensive threat. Tell me how the Lakers are going to keep up with the Thunder air show with Serge "the Congolese Squeeze" Ibaka blocking half of everything Kobe tosses up with? (Ibaka has 91 blocks on the season as a rookie - he's also from the Democratic Republic of Congo - I'm trying to invent a nickname for him)

So that should settle it. Thunder over the Lakers. In six.

The only remaining question is whether it will be the Dank Game approved Miami Heat or Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the Thunder in the finals.

Stats provided by NBA.com

Artest Gets Odom Down with Orange Slices

Referee: Look out, Kobe! Artest's gonna stab you in the back!

Kobe: Huh?

Artest: I was just cuttin' some orange slices for Lamar! I'd never do Kobe dirty like that!

Odom: He cool, ref. Just helpin' me kick my Now and Later habit.

According to Lakers columnist Kevin Ding, Ron Artest has turned infamous candy addict Lamar Odom onto orange slices. Odom has taken such a liking to them that the Lakers bring a bag to the bench for every game. It seems the Vitamin C did him well tonight in San Antonio, as Odom contributed 19 points and 13 boards in a 92 - 83 victory over the Spurs.

During last year's playoffs, Odom insisted he played well when he ate candy for breakfast. Can Lamar's new found love of orange slices help him go cold turkey on Skittles and Starburst Jellybeans?

Nope.

Because Lil Wayne is Lamar Odom's dude, and Lil Wayne is also a known candy addict. Weezy's addiction is so bad that he's had a grill fitted on his teeth to hide how rotted they've become. It's just a matter of time before Lil Wayne lures Lamar back into his binge candy eating. Before long, Lil Wayne will have Odom back on Supercool.

All this talk of candy reminds me... Aren't we due for another installment of Seanz Snax?

Cavs Clinch the Central (Big Surprise)

The last couple of weeks for the Cavs have been a bit boring, despite the clinching of the Central division title. One thing that did work out really well for the Cavs has been the rest for Lebron James. They only had 2 games in 9 days so Lebron had another little all star break to rest his tweaked ankle.

They went 1-1 in the games, losing to a hot Milwaukee Bucks team, big ups to Brandon Jennings. That one loss could make a difference in the race for home court with the Lakers, but it was worth it to rest Lebron for 9 days. They still have a 3 1/2 game lead on the Lakers for the best record in the league and home court advantage throughout the Playoffs.

The rest was really about being healthy for the Playoffs and I think he is definitely healthy now. Lebron has looked really strong in the 4 games since his return. He carved up the 76ers with 10 assists on only 1 turnover even though his shot had a little rust (3-10 on 3 pointers, 6-12 at the line). He played really well down the stretch against Boston, scoring 30 points. Then he had a triple double against Detroit and a near triple double against the Pacers the following night. I think its fair to say he's running away with the MVP despite missing those two games.

Playoff Picture: Top of the West

The Lakers currently sit atop the West with the Nuggets just three games behind them and the Mavericks three and a half. I expect LA to hang onto the top spot. Their schedule in March is pretty light besides games against the Spurs, Thunder, and Hawks, but only two of their nine games are at home. I think they can handle all three of those teams, though. April looks a bit more tough, with games against the Jazz, Spurs, Nuggets, and Blazers.

To defend their championship the Lakers will have to start functioning more as a unit. Since Kobe has returned from injury, they haven't appeared on the same page. Kobe has been trying to do too much on his own, Pau Gasol has looked frustrated and lost at times, and Artest has never really found his way in the triangle offense. Rumor has it that the Lakers might start to rely less on the triangle, so it will be interesting to see if this helps Artest adjust or throws the team off after having relied on it for so long. I think the key for the Lakers is getting into a rhythm in which everyone feels involved. Andrew Bynum should get some touches early in games, Gasol needs to get involved by hitting the offensive glass and getting easy buckets, and Lamar Odom needs to come off the bench and produce.

Projected Record: 60 - 22

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Portland Trail Blazers

Despite injuries, the Nuggets have been playing well and currently hold a 6-game winning streak. They could surpass the Lakers, but I think LA will turn it up to close the season out. The Nuggets also have some tough games down the stretch and will mostly be on the road this month. In March, they play the hot Bucks, the Celtics, Magic, and Mavericks. Their long road trip closes against Orlando and Dallas, so that will be a big test for them. In April, their toughest competition includes the Blazers, Thunder, Lakers, Spurs, and Suns. They also play the Grizzlies at the end of the season, who might be fighting to slip into the playoffs.

The Nuggets biggest concern heading into the playoffs is health. Kenyon Martin has been out with knee problems, and has opted to have blood injected into his knee (apparently this is a standard procedure) rather than have surgery. Martin is a great post defender, so it will be important for him to be on the floor. Rookie point guard Ty Lawson has also been out with a shoulder injury and probably won't be back for a while. His ability to come off the bench and change the game's pace could make a big impact in the playoffs. According to Basketball-Reference, Denver is 2nd in offense but only 15th in defense in the NBA. The Nuggets tend to play to their competition, so they will need to control the tempo of games to be successful. As I've mentioned before, if J.R. Smith can play to his potential throughout the playoffs, the Nuggets will be a tough out.

Projected Record: 56 - 26

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: San Antonio Spurs

The Mavericks 13-game winning streak came to an end last night... against the Knicks... by 34 points. What an embarrassing way to end such a good run. Give credit to New York though for bringing it. Dallas has a moderately difficult schedule to finish the season, but eight of their fifteen games are at home. This month, they have games against the Celtics, Blazers, and Nuggets. In April, they'll have the Magic, Thunder, Blazers, and the Spurs. They also face the Grizzlies twice more, who won't be an easy out.

The Mavericks trade deadline deal that sent out the inconsistent Josh Howard and brought in Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, and Brendan Haywood may have been the best trade this season. All three players bring a toughness that was lacking on past Mavericks teams. Although swingman Caron Butler was the biggest name in that trade, Stevenson and Haywood bring a lot to the table. Stevenson provides solid perimeter defense and Haywood gives them a much needed upgrade over center Eric Dampier, or as Shaq would say, "Erica" Dampier. With their championship window closing, success in the playoffs is crucial for Dallas. If they come up short again, Mark Cuban might have to start from scratch.

Projected Record: 55 - 27

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Phoenix Suns

The Jazz sit in the 4th seed with the hot Thunder dangerously close, just half a game back. The Thunder beat the Jazz last night, who have now dropped two straight. The rest of this month looks light, with their toughest games being against the Suns and Celtics. April will be tougher, as they face the Lakers, Thunder, and Suns. Eight of their fifteen remaining games are at home, which is significant because the Jazz fare much better at home than on the road.

The Jazz are currently dealing with several injuries, as Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur and Ronnie Price all missed last night's game against the Thunder. Deron Williams has also struggled with injuries this year, most recently having problems with his shoulder. The Jazz will need Kirilenko to be healthy in the playoffs, as he has had a big season after a couple of disappointing years. And of course, Deron Williams needs to be healthy for them to succeed. Although the Jazz have shown signs that they're on the up this year, being in the top ten in both offensive and defensive ratings, they still have many issues that have plagued them over the years. They're still a pretty lousy team on the road, which is a big concern in the playoffs. If the Thunder finish ahead of them and they lose home court advantage in the first round, there'll be even more cause for concern.

Projected Record: 54 - 28

Opponent if Playoffs Started Today: Oklahoma City Thunder

What a Show

As mediocre as the Heat has been the past two seasons, they always manage to show up against the Lakers. Maybe Dwyane Wade is determined to always put on a show when Miami is on primetime or maybe the Heat somehow match up well against the Lakers. Whatever it is, these two teams have had some classic games and last night was no exception. There were 31 lead changes and 19 ties, making it the most back and forth game of the season.

Luckily this one didn't end like their last meeting, although it did come frighteningly close. After Quentin Richardson hit a three pointer to put the Heat up 99-97 with 11.1 seconds left, everyone was expecting Kobe to drain a three for about his 18th game winner of the season. Instead, Kobe drove on Wade and pulled up for a short jumper to knot the game at 99 with 3.3 seconds remaining. On the ensuing play, Wade couldn't get a good look with Lamar Odom all over him and into overtime it went.

Kobe tried to singlehandedly take over the game in overtime, which ultimately led to the Lakers coming up short. Kobe knocked down several ridiculous jumpers in isolation plays, but the Heat kept answering with big shots by Haslem and Arroyo. The key play for Miami came with 18.7 seconds left, when Jermaine O'Neal drew a charge on Kobe driving the lane. Two free throws by Carlos Arroyo would seal the game for Miami. During overtime, J.O. told his teammates that he would be waiting to draw the charge on the next player to drive the lane, and he came through on that promise.

Damn, it feels good to see the Heat finally beat a contender rather than wilting under pressure. They're now back at .500 with the 8th seed, just a game and a half in front of Charlotte but also a game and a half behind Toronto and the 5th seed. The East is still inferior to the West, but at least the playoff race is interesting.