The NBA season has hit the halfway mark and with the All-Star Break just ending, it’s time to take the league’s temperature. Here’s a look at what’s been happening and what to expect as we roll toward Cavs-Warriors Part III in June.
The Eastern Conference
It all begins with Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers. They’re still the cream of the crop out East, but with a meh performance over the last dozen or so games, all does not seem well with the champs. And with Lebron clamoring for point guard help all over social media, it remains to be seen which version of the Cavs will head into the playoffs.
The Toronto Raptors again seem to be the Cavs’ closest rival, but Brad Stevens has the Celtics playing well after a tough start. The Knicks have improved over last year, but with Kristin Porzingis slumping and the uncertainty around Derrick Rose’s recent absence, coach Jeff Hornacek has a tough course to navigate over the next few months.
Beyond that, there’s not much to get excited about in the East. The Cavs should march into the Finals with only token resistance from the Raptors, but as things currently stand they’ll have a tough time beating a loaded Warriors’ team.
The Western Conference
A similar situation holds out West. The Warriors have missed nary a beat while integrating Kevin Durant into their ridiculous lineup. While it’s true that they’re off of last season’s record pace, the Warriors still have a couple of gears that no other team can reach.
