It’s hard to see through blinding tear drops in Miami, but there are a number of quietly emerging playoff teams hitting their stride at just the right time thanks to team basketball, not superstars.
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Philadelphia » OK, Andre Iguodala gets paid like a superstar, but he’s made his teammates better during a run of 16 victories in the last 21 games, leading the 76ers (33-30), who hosted Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, in assists 14 times over that stretch. Meanwhile, no Philadelphia player is averaging more than 15.2 points a game, although five average at least 12.7.
Memphis » Also heading into Wednesday, the Grizzlies (36-29) had won 17 of their last 23 games to claim the eighth spot in the Western Conference. Despite missing Rudy Gay, Memphis is getting a boost from a different reserve each night, whether it’s Tony Allen, Sam Young or recently reacquired Shane Battier.
Are either the Sixers or Grizzlies elite just yet? Perhaps not. But they also didn’t throw themselves a championship party before the season started.
