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Thursday, March 28, 2024

First Half of NBA Season Filled with Lots of Surprises

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By: Marvin Azrak

The NBA season is full of surprises, both delightful and spiteful, with Sunday’s Team Lebron 163-160 win over team Durant (Minus KD) in all-star game and where Steph Curry dropped a record 16 threes for 50 points is a good one. But some teams haven’t been so lucky while others have enjoyed a first half of hope and promise that’s a prelude to the second. So without further ado, here are my takeaways from the NBA season so far.

 

THE KNICKS STINK:

What else do you want me to tell you? They went from 41-31 and were the fourth seed in the eastern conference to 12th at 25-34. They were supposed to have only improved with the offseason acquisitions of Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier to go along with the reigning Most Improved player of the year in Julius Randle. Still, all three have been a shell of themselves which has cost New York. This demise isn’t squarely on coach Tom Thibodeau but playing slam dunk contest winner Obi Toppin just eight minutes a night doesn’t help either. The worst part of it all is that they lose in the most deflating ways, most notably blowing multiple 20+ points leads in the span of a couple of weeks leading into the break.

 

THE CAVS ARE A PLAYOFF TEAM

Remember how abysmal they were going 22-50 in 2021? Well, with Tyron Lue back where it all started in Cleveland as head coach and the contributions from youngsters such as Evan Mobley and Darius Garland as well as veterans like Jarret Allen, the Cavs are 35-23 and are effectively what the Knicks were last season which is stunningly fourth in the East.

 

REIGNING CHAMPIONS STILL TEAM TO BEAT IN EAST:

Let’s take a look at the Conference standings:

Heat and Bulls 38-21

76ers and Cavs 35-23

Bucks 36-24.

So why is Milwaukee the team to beat? It’s because they haven’t even hit their full peak yet and have had to battle through injuries to many of their key pieces and yet are still in the running for the top seed in the East. Right after they won it all last year, Giannis said, “We’re going to do it again,” and he may be right about that.

 

WARRIORS MYSTIQUE IS BACK

Golden State has been “splashing” their way through the Western Conference this season despite Draymond Green being down for a while due to injury. Steph Curry has been his Hall of fame self this season, and Klay Thomson hasn’t skipped a beat since returning a couple of weeks ago for the first time since the 2019 NBA finals due to multiple ACL injuries. The Dubs’ 42-12 record puts them second in the NBA and, with a captivating supporting cast, look to be championship contenders once again.

 

SUNS ARE NO FLUKE 48-10

Phoenix is on a mission this year and has proved that by becoming the first team in NBA history to clinch a berth beyond the regular season before the All-Star break, Phoenix automatically will finish no lower than the last play-in spot this year. Devin Booker is a bonafide superstar, Deandre Ayton has only improved from his breakout season last year, and Chris Paul looks even more fueled by last year’s finals loss when most ringless veterans would have already thrown in the towel.

 

THIS IS THE GRIZZLIES BREAKOUT SEASON 41-19

Ja Morant has made the quantum leap, and so have the Grizzlies. After winning two play-in games before a first-round exit last year, Memphis has endured a season for the franchise annals, and the sophomore who’s averaging 26.8 PPG is at the front and center of it all.

 

PLAYOFF BASKETBALL IN MINNY? 31-28 play-in spot.

These Timberwolves are sneaky, and with them currently nursing a play-in spot out west led by three-point contest champ and MIP candidate in Karl Anthony Towns, we could see playoff basketball return to the city for the first time since 2018 and second time since 2004.

 

LAKERS IN TROUBLE 27-31 9th:

This has got to be the best team ever to have this type of record. Lebron James and Russel Westbrook haven’t meshed well, Anthony Davis continues to be off the court due to injury more than on it, and Carmelo Anthony, as well as the rest of the bench, have struggled mightily. LA will probably at least make the play-In, but once again, we have no guarantees beyond the first round for the title favorites, who seem to be reliving their 2020 championship, more than looking to expand on it.

 

DEMAR DEROZAN MVP?

Six straight 30+ point performances out of him have not only put him atop the conversation but have helped Chicago return to contention for the first time in nearly a decade. Chicago is currently tied atop the East, and their offseason acquisitions, especially the most prominent one in Demar, continue to look better and better.

 

BOLD PREDICTIONS:

  • The Knicks will turn it around and squeeze into the playoffs
  • The Raptors will be a top 4-5 team in the East.
  • The Spurs will find a way into at least the play-in tournament
  • Steph Curry will take over the MVP race

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