NBA Midseason Look-In

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.

But don’t count out the Spurs. They’re only two games behind the Warriors for the overall best record and they could pose a serious threat to them in the conference finals. It’s a testament to the franchise as a whole that they’re continued their dominance without Tim Duncan manning the paint.

The Clippers are again a mystery this season. They’re still formidable on any given night, but with Chris Paul out the next few weeks, there’s more pressure than ever on Blake Griffin to take that next step towards superstar status.

Lastly, can we talk about Russell Westbrook for a minute? The man is absolutely unworldly. With Durant gone, he has emerged as one of the most dominant players of the decade. He’s averaging 30 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds a night and has a chance to be the first player to average a triple-double since Oscar Robertson almost half a century ago. That would be a true feat for the ages.

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