After Half the Season who are the NBA Contenders?
The first half of the NBA season is over and the games have proved an effective filter in distilling the cream of this years crop. True, it can be argued that some veteran teams use the regular season as more of an extended training camp so we will address those potential teams as well. But for now, let’s have a look and see which teams from each division have risen to the top.
Eastern Conference
Chicago – Bull-poop, that’s what’s what I told Jim at the beginning of the season when he declared that the Bulls were going to make some noise in the East this year. To me, they were a collection of guys who had never won anything and were never noted for their defense. Indeed, that defensive concern may come back to haunt them in the playoffs when defense matters more, but a tip of the hat to Jim for seeing beyond the pieces and forecasting quick success. In particular, DeMar DeRozan has come into his own this year to an MVP conversation level. He’s been dropping career numbers and efficiency ratings and stealing games at the buzzer from beyond the 3 point line. His chemistry with Zach Lavine who is also putting up career numbers and Lonzo Ball is fun to watch but I’m still not sold they will last past the 2nd round come playoff time. Questionable lockdown defense and the lack of a bona fide superstar make it difficult to imagine how this David could overcome some of the other conference goliaths.
Brooklyn – Kevin Durant is playing at an MVP level and it doesn’t seem there is anyone in the league who can stop him, but this version of James Harden remains quite subdued compared to the Houston version who was a league wrecking scoring machine. They are better when Kyrie Irving is playing but they’d be better off not getting home court advantage for the playoffs since Kyrie can’t play home games due his decision not to get vaccinated. They remind me of a supercar that’s been driven by a teenager through the Dakar: from a distance it looks pretty good, but the closer you get the more damage you see. If the engine, chassis and drivetrain remain in good working order, the Nets could take the East, but if those pieces begin to fail or show excessive signs of wear, they could make an early exit. They have the Stars and the ability to be champions, but they are the most fragile of the contenders this season.
Milwaukee – After a dreadful start, the Bucks have pulled themselves back into contention in the East 2 games out of first place. Giannis is clocking in another MVP level, Khris Middleton is doing his best Robin, Jrue Holiday is performing at a high level and you can expect the Bucks to be at least in the conference finals. Not much fuss, not much muss, Milwaukee is the most stable contender in the East.
Miami – Maybe yes, maybe no, it’s difficult to know with so little Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry. When they’ve been healthy, they’ve stormed through opponents and looked very much like eastern conference contenders, but that hasn’t happened consistently all year. If the team is healthy and stays healthy into the playoffs, they will make some noise because they have sound defensive players, experienced coaching and all-NBA management. If either Kyle or Jimmy is out or goes out, out go the Heat.
What about Philadelphia? – It is worth noting that Joel Embiid continues to beast in the east without a wingman. Mercurial star Ben Simmons continues to be out for reasons of his own and has said he will not play again for the 76ers and GM Daryl Morey continues to ask too much for an expensive star who is reluctant to shoot the ball in high pressure situations and never seemed to have much effort to improve his game. The losers? The fans, Joel Embiid and the rest of the team. Shame. It’s not just his presence that is missed, it’s the dark cloud hanging over the entire organization.
Western Conference
Phoenix – Although they got off to a slow start, the Suns soon found their way and led by Devin Booker and Chris Paul, assembled a winning streak that propelled them to the top of the conference. No doubt Deandre Ayton is a legitimate star in the post and the team chemistry seems strong. This year they’ll enter the playoffs with the experience of a deep playoff run behind them. One of 3 teams that have what it takes to win the west.
Golden State – They’re back! After a couple of years in the basement acquiring draft picks, the Warriors have returned with a vengeance this season. MVP candidate Steph Curry is having the season of his career and has finally been reunited with his splash brother Klay, don’t call me Clay, Thompson. Additionally for the Warriors, it seems like someone finally found a way to ‘plug in’ Andrew Wiggins and the Canadian talent is finally starting to look like the all-star he was predicted to be. Expect them to make some noise in the playoffs, but recall that good defensive opponents have stifled Curry in the playoffs in the past. They might or might not make the conference finals.
Memphis – The surprise of the West this season, young guard Ja Morant is showing why he really was the star of his draft class. Jonas Valanciunas gave way to the more experienced Steven Adams and Jaren Jackson Jr is having a career year. An exciting young team, they are the least experienced of the 3 western contenders and that may be their undoing in the playoffs. But so far this season, they are definitely playing at a contender level.
Utah – The most unlikely to succeed of the western contenders, the Jazz nonetheless have a couple of exciting players that could always get hot and stay hot for an extended period of time. So I wouldn’t count them out of the race in the west, I don’t see them getting to the conference finals.
What about LA? – I’m as surprised as anyone – except for possibly Stephen A Smith – that neither of the bloated, contrived, star bound LA teams are even in the conversation as a contender in the west this year. However, if there was any veteran laden team that might struggle through the regular season in order to flex their muscles in the playoffs, it could be the Lakers. After nearly 20 years, you still can’t count LeBron James out. If the Lakers are healthy and if the good Russell Westbrook shows up, they always have a punchers chance of getting to the Western conference finals.