FanPost

The NBA Playoffs 2015 Mixtape: Western Remix (Tracks 4-1)

So here's the rest of the mixtape. I'm still not sure if any of the comparisons stand after everything that's gone down with the playoff series since the last post, but I at least hope you have fun listening to the music.

4. Portland Trail Blazers

Play for Keeps - B.o.B

The Blazers are kind of a hard team to pin down. I know them as the unluckiest NBA team in history and, like the Grizzlies, they've dealt with people constantly underestimating them. But that was before LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard evolved into a state beyond ordinary. Now - or at least, before the playoffs started - the Blazers have become a legitimate force to be reckoned with, and like Bobby Ray says, they're going to start playing for keeps.

Okay, I admit that beyond the team's dynamic duo and Nicolas Batum, I know nothing else about the Blazers. So if this comes off a little forced, then I don't blame you for thinking that way. But hey, the song had to go to somebody. I'd like to give it to Portland, especially after plunging into an 1-3 hole, no thanks to the Grizzlies.

The Hook, The Line, The Sinker:

Veni, vidi, vici, I came, I saw, I conquered

They mad 'cause I murdered the game

And their name wasn't in the will



3. LA Clippers

Pump It - Black Eyed Peas

Hey, remember when the Black Eyed Peas used to be cool?

I love this song and I love this video. Love it so much, that I can almost see the frenetic montage of fantastic alley-oops straight outta Lob City set to this here track. The Clippers are the Peas: formerly irrelevant, but now made famous, thanks to a new addition. The Peas have Fergie; the Clips have Blake and Chris. And possibly DeAndre too.

But all that flash and glamour distract us from the facts that the Peas are just okay and that the Clippers have a terrible bench. But hey, that shouldn't matter, right? Just as long as BEP keeps making all those noisy club-bangers and LA keeps throwin' down them lobs.

They have attitude, though. Despite the glaring flaws in LA's team structure, they are still one half of the only playoff series so far that's gone neck-to-neck. While it doesn't change their status as one of the most hated teams in the NBA right now, all those haters really do need to ease on up (dude!). If the Spurs aren't careful, then this just might be the very team to knock them out of title contention. But then again, isn't this what happened with the Mavericks a year ago?

I wish the Black Eyed Peas were cool again.

The Hook, The Line, The Sinker:

Dude wanna hate on us (dude!)

Dude need to ease on up (dude!)



2. Houston Rockets

Live This Life - Big Sean feat. Dream

Whenever I see the Houston Rockets, I see a team of comic book characters - and I mean that in the least offensive way possible. Dwight's the obvious one. Then, you have none other than the Beardinator Harden himself backing him up (or leading him, more like), alongside Josh "Throw It Down" Smith and Patrick Intensity Beverley. I've done some actual research and I've read somewhere that Patrick's middle name really is Intensity. Seriously, have you even seen this little guy hustle?

Actually, now that I think about it, they look a lot like a team of assembled supervillains, which I think is just fine for the Rockets.

Almost like Big Sean and how he's such a character every time he raps. He's witty, he's occasionally funny, and maybe just a little crazy. You know, just like how your favorite comic book character probably is.

And just like the song, the Rockets are now finally famous, even if it's coming in at the cost of such a profound ass-whupping of the Dallas Mavericks. They've changed from the team that barely gets past the first round of anything, to a team that's giving the Dallas Mavericks such a profound ass-whupping. And it's all thanks to James Harden and his mighty beard. I wonder just how far he can take this team in the playoffs.

The Hook, The Line, The Sinker:

Let's show 'em how to live this life



1. Golden State Warriors

Now or Never - Kendrick Lamar feat. Mary J. Blige

To me, this song just screams Curry and the Warriors. It's a nice, feel-good tune about maximizing your moment and staring in awe at the experience. Which, I would wager, is the perfect emotion to describe what these Warriors are going through right now.

Golden State has been one of my favorite teams to watch all season long, and it's only because everything just seems to be going their way. Steph Curry can do no wrong, and with Klay Thompson backing up his Splash Brother, the Warriors have become nigh-unstoppable. And the best part is they seem to be having so much fun doing what they do. They're a vision of how things could have gone in Indiana before everything blew up in the Pacers' faces and before Roy Hibbert became the punchline to the league's sickest joke in recent memory.

If there's any moment to capitalize on, it's now. They can't afford to let this chance slip them by, especially since they've managed to not only survive, but thrive in the unforgiving Western Conference. Things are clicking and falling into place for them, and the love everybody on this team has for each other is obvious. Anything less than a Championship won't probably be too damaging, but it will feel like a waste after the magical season these boys have had.

If the Spurs don't win it this year (knock on wood), then I'd like to see the Warriors take it.

The Hook, The Line, The Sinker:

Look at the newer me, fate pursuing me

I can feel the energy in the air

It feel like I'm supposed to be here

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