NBA All Star Break- Considering the pandemic and it’s havoc that it has wreaked across society and the sports world, NBA basketball has been pretty entertaining. Consider the start of the season and the protocols in place for Covid, a lot of the starters on these teams hadn’t been together enough to really get a good momentum going. The one team that was on a roll was the Utah Jazz. Remember the team that canceled their games about a year ago because 2 of their players had tested positive for Covid. Remembering Rudy Gobert making that, touching everything gesture, during a press conference with no regards to how serious this virus was? Seems like eons ago that this happened.
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Go back to January 8 where the Jazz started a 11 game win streak and then after losing a game went on to a 9 game winning streak. The Jazz for the most part since Jan 8th are 23-5, the best run for a NBA team this season. The emergence of Jordan Clarkson, and clutch shooting from Bojan Bogdanovic has this team poised to contend in the west. We also can’t leave out Donavon Mitchell, his games has also elevated the Jazz in their winning ways. Their recent road trip has taken out the fire they were on, but thank goodness for the NBA All Star Break, as this gives them a resting point, and the chance to get a good running start again afterwards.
The New Jersey Nets aren’t any pushovers either, and you would expect that with the tandem of Harden, Irving and Durant. Now they haven’t all played that much together, but they are doing well with out the big 3 lacing the lineup. Harden, who comes over from a trade with the Rockets, has become a driving force when both Durant and Irving are out of the lineup, they seem not to miss a beat. Right now the Nets are probably the favorites to win the chip this year.
When the year started, we had the Lakers looking like repeaters, but their recent woes with big man Anthony Davis out, has begun to show a chink in their armor, sort to speak. This NBA All Star Break, should give them some time to regroup, and turn things around. Lebron, has been getting more usage, but pretty much has the same stats every night. Considering that Lebron is older, and the intensity of the up coming games after the break could either make or break the Lakers. Oh sure, they will be in the playoffs definitely, but with the likes of the oncoming freight train Phoenix Suns there will be a lot to be considered. Yes, remember the Suns, always at the bottom of the pack. The Suns are now sporting the number 2 spot in the West, thanks to the little tweak of obtaining guard Chris Paul, and the much improved and under rated Devin Booker. Remember this team to be a one man show with Booker at one time. Now with Chris distributing and running the offense, all of a sudden the likes of Deandre Ayton, Mikai Bridges, and a host of other Suns, have learned how to play defense and control games. We shall see what happens after the break.
I would be remised, if I wouldn’t include the Portland Trailblazers. This is a team that is just waiting to explode down the stretch. Their season has been marred with injuries, but this team still competes on a nightly basis. Expect for the Trailblazers to be in the playoffs this year, and surprise somebody.
The Los Angeles Clippers are a team to be reckoned with. Right now injuries has also marred their season, as they have not been able to keep all of their starters on the court. Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Lou Williams and company, will get it right after the all star break. I look for them to run a streak of wins to get started.
How about them Sixers? This is a team that is up and down, but still leads the eastern conference in record. Sixers have a lot of young talent that is getting noticed. The likes of Korkmaz, Milton, and defensive player Matisse Thybulle. are key in the bench players that come out and give a rest to the Next NBA MVP Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons. We cannot say enough about the contributions that Dwight Howard, Seth Curry, give to the team, and also the experience that Danny Green brings to this lineup. How about the kid Tyrese Maxey, who I think has a lot of game, and has more that we haven’t seen yet. This team is just getting warmed up, and barring injuries the sky is the limit for this team. This team should be making the conference finals. Anything less would be a disappointment to this years Sixers team. The Sixers have a coach that is bonified in Glenn Doc Rivers, and should really help the Sixers get over the top. Only time will tell after the NBA All Star Break on where this team is headed.
The nemesis of the Sixers, the Boston Celtics, looked like they were starting to fall from there perch, as they had to contend with injuries, with Marcus Smart out and Kemba Walker returning from earlier injuries. Walker’s game has continued to improve. Jalen Brown and Jason Tatum have continue to try to keep the Celtics above water. The Celtics had lost a string of games back in February, and then started their turn around back to normalcy for the Celtics. Once Marcus Smart gets back and they get some playing time together, the Celtics could be formidable foe to contend with in the East.
Those Miami Heat who went to the finals last year, has had a tumultuous start when it came to Covid protocols, as well as injuries. They haven’t been able to put together their starting 5 in a string of games just to get familiarity with each other like they had during their playoff run. You have to consider that Miami was damn near at home last year as they played the playoffs in the bubble. Can Miami catch fire again? Will the playoffs be in the bubble again?
Their are a lot of other teams that we need to be aware of, but only a few that catches my eye right now. What teams do you think had a promising showing this year?
Click here to let me know——–>What teams?