NBA Playoffs: Most Intriguing Semi-Finals in Years?

Three of the four semi-final matchups this season have a conference finals type intensity with on and off the court. The Rockets truly believe they are better than the Warriors, and you can’t blame them. They took those warriors to seven games last season and many, myself excluded, believed Houston would have won had Chris Paul been healthy.

Kevin Durant as the Warriors close out the Rockets in game 7 of the 2018 Western Conference Finals. Photo cred: NBA.com highlights of the game

The Bucks and Celtics features a rematch of last years first round series that also went to seven games. Giannis has been the most dominant player in the league all season ( not sorry James Harden fans). The Celtics were the prohibitive favorites pre-season to represent the east in the finals, and they still feature one of the most talented rosters in the league.

Giannis Antetokounmpo hangs on the rim in the face of Ben Simmons. Photo Cred: Aaron Gash of the AP, from a New York Times article

Lastly the Raptors and 76ers haven’t been lacking in their own dramatic storylines. Off the court there was the past beef between Drake and Meek Mill. On the court the Raptors just added Kawhi Leonard a top 5 player in the league, and the 76ers have added Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris this season through trade.

These matchups also are the dawn of a new era in the NBA. For the first time since 1991, the NBA finals won’t feature Lebron, Kobe, MJ, Hakeem, Shaq or Tim Duncan. LeBron James hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2006. New superstars such as Giannis, Joel Embiid and Nikola Jokic are looking to make the leap to the faces of the league by having virtuoso playoff performances.

The oldest star player remaining in these playoffs is Chris Paul, who is no where near his former self. Of the stars, and high contributing players left in the playoffs only 10 were drafted before 2010; KD, Horford, Steph, Iguadola, Harden, JJ Reddick, Paul, Gasol, Lowry and Millsap. Iggy, Gasol, CP3 and Millsap all being lesser versions of their younger selves.

Young Stars outnumber the old heads in these conference semi’s. The new faces of the league are becoming just the faces of the league at this point. Yet the best player remaining whos single presence determines the scales of power in the league is still Kevin Durant. So is the way of the league, we have seen it before and we will see it again.

As Lebron controlled the Eastern Conference for over a decade, so did MJ in the 90’s before him. Tim Duncan and Kobe dominated the West for almost 20 years. An older star around 28-33 years old seems to be the final “boss battle” if you will for young stars in the league across all eras.

Yet, the Eastern conference finds its self without a single players face truly representing it for now. I am of the belief that Giannis is the best player in the East, but he has to go out and prove it in these playoffs. Kyrie, Kawhi and Joel Embiid will all have something to say about that as well.

These playoffs also feel more open than in previous seasons, more is up to be determined. The finals matchup isn’t a foregone conclusion as it was for the last 10 or so years. As we had into the 2019 Finals, offseason and free agency the future of the league is in question, but not in a bad way. The future has many questions and upcoming stars all of which will add intrigue and debate for NBA fans everywhere.