The NBA All-Star break has handed, the season is starting the homestretch and questions abound as we careen towards the playoffs, which start April 20. Listed below are seven of crucial:
(All data and statistics are by way of Tuesday’s video games.)
1. How harm is Philadelphia star Joel Embiid?
It is by no means enjoyable when one of many largest questions of the season is said to an damage, however that is the case right here. Embiid (35.3 PPG in 34 video games) was the clear front-runner for MVP earlier than he was sidelined with a meniscus damage, and when — or if — he returns, the steadiness of the league will shift.
With Embiid, Philadelphia (32-22) is a menace to win the East. With out him, “outsider” groups reminiscent of New York, Cleveland and perhaps even Indiana have probabilities to do harm within the playoffs. First-place Boston (43-12), nonetheless, stays the clear-cut favourite within the Japanese Convention.
2. Will Milwaukee get again on observe?
Saying the third-place staff within the Japanese Convention should “get on observe” might sound odd, however for anybody who has watched the Bucks (35-21) lately, you may perceive what we imply. Milwaukee’s play below new HC Doc Rivers has been uninspiring — he’s simply 3-7 in his first 10 video games — and a loss to Thirteenth-place Memphis earlier than All-Star Weekend was an eye-opener.
One thing is not clicking with the Bucks, they usually’re operating out of time to search out out what that factor is.
3. Does Minnesota have sufficient offensive creation to win all of it?
From the start of the season, Minnesota (39-16) has been at or close to the highest of the Western Convention standings. That is, no doubt, among the best groups within the NBA, nevertheless it has one main flaw. Behind Anthony Edwards (26.3 PPG) and Karl-Anthony Cities (22.5 PPG), the Timberwolves lack a participant who can go on a scoring rampage when wanted.
Naz Reid (12.2 PPG) can get sizzling and Mike Conley (10.6 PPG) nonetheless gives stability to the offense, however with no true third scoring choice, questions stay about Minnesota’s probabilities to make a deep postseason run. The T-Wolves had been jettisoned within the first spherical final season.
4. Will a transparent MVP emerge?
In most seasons, we now have a good thought of who the MVP finalists are by the top of February. Not this season. Dallas’ Luka Doncic (34.2 PPG), Oklahoma Metropolis’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31.1 PPG), Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo (30.8 PPG) and Denver’s Nikola Jokic (26.1 PPG) have respectable circumstances to win the award. Plus, it could be too early to depend out the darkish horses: Boston’s Jayson Tatum (27.1 PPG), Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell (28.4 PPG) and New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson (27.6 PPG).
Buckle up.
5. Is Oklahoma Metropolis a 12 months early?
If the Thunder (37-17) stumble within the postseason, it may not be their fault. Frankly, younger groups of their first actual playoff motion typically fall brief merely as a result of a scarcity of expertise. With out experiencing playoff hoops firsthand, it is a near-impossible job to take 4 collection to win a title towards groups who have been there earlier than. OKC hasn’t made the playoffs because the 2019-20 season.
6. Have we seen the final of Golden State?
The Warriors (27-26) did simply sufficient earlier than the All-Star break — profitable eight of 10 — to make many NBA observers ponder whether or not they could make a deep playoff run.
Profitable one other title appears out of the query for Golden State. At no level this season have the Warriors performed properly sufficient to be thought-about equals of Minnesota, Oklahoma Metropolis, the Los Angeles Clippers or Denver — the highest 4 groups within the Western Convention.
However might this staff nonetheless make for essentially the most annoying eight seed of all time? That is believable.
7. Is level guard Jalen Brunson a bona fide celebrity?
New York’s trade-deadline day deal for Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks alerts a perception the Knicks can compete for a title. To do this, Brunson (27.6 PPG) should show he can carry a staff by way of the mine discipline that’s the Japanese Convention. Brunson has nice reinforcements behind him, nevertheless it’ll be as much as the 6-foot-2 level guard to information the Knicks to greatness.
