Courtside

Scouting the Second Half of the NBA Season

The All-Star game is in the books, the Trade Deadline has passed, and it’s time to talk about the stretch run of this fascinating NBA season. Here’s a look at the teams, trends, and players to keep an eye on as the season winds down.

Teams to Watch

As usual, the Cavs and the Warriors are the kings of the hill in their respective conferences, but a few other teams could make things interesting come playoff time.

The Boston Celtics have the best shot at unseating the Cavs as Eastern Conference champs. Isiah Thomas has been playing out of his mind all season and with everyone buying into Brad Stevens’ scheme on the defensive end, the Celts have a chance to knock off Lebron and friends.

It’s almost impossible to imagine anyone out West beating the Warriors in a playoff series, but one team looks to put up more than a Washington Generals-type resistance when the Golden State juggernaut comes to down.

Never count out the Spurs. They’re always in contention with Greg Popovich scowling on the sidelines and with the usual suspects whipping the ball around, the Spurs might have the firepower to challenge the Warriors.

Break Out Players

The two players to watch as the NBA season winds down are the Timberwolves’ Andrew Wiggins and Toronto’s DeMar DaRozan. Both have been on fire of late, with Wiggins finally becoming multi-dimensional under coach Tom Thibodeau. He had a pair of 40-point games recently and can now contribute even if his shot isn’t falling.

DaRozan has been on a tear since coming off the injured list. When his 43 points helped Toronto take down the Celtics, it was a clear signal that the Raptors weren’t quite ready to give up their status as the East’s second best team.

Who’s Trending Down?

Any talk of trending down has to start with the Sacramento Kings. They were bad before the trade deadline, but after getting fleeced in the Demarcus Cousins trade they look downright purgatorial.

The Pacers’ Paul George is trending down as well. Seemingly poised to attain Top 7 status coming into the season, the two-star has seen his numbers decline as the season’s progressed. Even worse, his complaining and me-first attitude have alienated Indiana’s old school fan base.

Staff

Share
Published by
Staff
Tags: NBA

Recent Posts

RSVP Book Recommendations & Review: Worthy- Jada Pinkett-Smith

Jada Pinkett Smith, a global superstar known for her multifaceted career as an actress, singer-songwriter,…

6 months ago

Deon Cole & Cast Talk BET+ Series ‘Average Joe’ Talk Dark Comedy & Zombie Apocalypse Skills

The new BET+ series, "Average Joe" is a dark comedy inspired by the life of…

10 months ago

“The Angry Black Girl & Her Monster” | Insights with Filmmaker Bomani Story

“The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster” is about Vicaria, a brilliant teenager who believes death…

10 months ago

HULU’s “Searching for Soul Food”: Exploring Culinary Legacies Around the World With Chef Alisa Reynolds

Hulu's new series, "Searching for Soul Food," takes viewers on an international journey with renowned…

11 months ago

Power Book II: Ghost’s Shane Johnson Talks Cooper Saxe’s Death & Time On Power Franchise

The character of Cooper Saxe appeared in over 60 episodes across the "Power" universe. The…

11 months ago

Making Waves: Halle Bailey on Bringing Ariel to Life in Disney’s 2023 “The Little Mermaid” Live-Action Remake

 Disney's live-action rendition of "The Little Mermaid" has emerged from a tidal wave of anticipation…

11 months ago

This website uses cookies.