Is Having LeBron James Out of the Playoffs Good for the NBA?
It feels a bit strange to not have LeBron James in the NBA playoffs. After all, he’s been in the playoffs every season other than his rookie season and now, the 2018–19 season. Other players are having no problem filling in LeBron’s massive star power, though. They’ve been given a platform to shine with his absence, and they have done nothing short of that.
It seems many people forgot who and what Kawhi Leonard is after his strange final season in San Antonio last year. Make no mistake though, Kawhi is one of the best basketball players on this planet. He is proving that during these playoffs. He carried Toronto on his back for most of these playoffs to get them to the Eastern Conference Championship. The thing is, it’s not just his offense that is astonishing. It’s his defense as well. He gives it all on both ends of the floor, and it’s hard not to root for a guy like that. Many media members will not give Kawhi the respect he deserves because he’s a bit quiet and keeps to himself, but when it comes time to tip off, he turns on a switch.
Kawhi Leonard’s Toronto Raptors are going up against the number one seeded Milwaukee Bucks. This team is led by another player who is just so much fun to watch, Giannis Antetokounmpo, the 24-year-old player from Athens, Greece. This is another player who plays on both ends of the floor. He is a force on offense, and many have trouble guarding him when he decides he wants to go into the paint. While maybe not as great as Kawhi on defense, he can still handle his own on the side of the floor, which makes him one of the best all around players. This makes for the most exciting matchup we’ve had in the Eastern Conference in years.
Whether you are a person who believed LeBron had an easy East to roll through, or that his greatness made everyone else look bad, there’s no denying that there weren’t many classic matchups during his era. There were times when his Cavs or Heat when 7 games, but they were never all that memorable, especially towards the end. This series between Toronto and Milwaukee already looks like it could be a 7-game classic. It’s exciting to see what possibilities lie ahead for the Eastern Conference.
Meanwhile in the Western Conference, things are going just as expected. The Golden State Warriors are sailing through the playoffs with minimal problems. Except the one small problem of Kevin Durant getting injured and could miss the entire Western Conference Finals. Luckily for the fans of the Warriors, Steph Curry is still Steph Curry. Many have forgotten how he revolutionized the game before Kevin Durant decided to team up with him. Well, he’s here to remind you once again that he is one of the best shooters, if not the best, of all time. If Durant does indeed go to the Knicks as it is heavily rumored, I think the almighty Warriors would be likable again. Many fans have looked at the Warriors as being the New England Patriots or New York Yankees of the NBA once Durant teamed up with them. If Durant leaves the Warriors, it will be easy to root for them again when it becomes Steph’s team.
The West could be wide open next year. After all, the young Denver Nuggets were the number 2 seed this year. LeBron and the Lakers could easily make a case for being a legit team in the West, depending on how this offseason goes. There are a lot of people who are happy that LeBron is out of the playoffs this year, and even I have to admit it’s been nice to see something new, but I think a rested and motivated LeBron James could be a lot of fun if all goes well in Los Angeles next season.
LeBron not making the playoffs helps everybody in the NBA. It gets people who are sick of him a nice break away from the daily coverage of LeBron and what he ate for breakfast. It gives new players a platform to shine and show what they got. And it could also lead to a great comeback storyline next season. What more could Adam Silver, TNT, and ESPN ask for? Not to mention, this offseason is shaping up to be extremely dramatic. It will create storylines for days. The offseason has become a season of its own, and we all know LeBron and the Lakers will play a major role in the drama that ensues.
