Ty's Second Half NBA Look Back and Look Ahead
The NBA is back tonight. The All Star break is over and teams are ramping up for the playoffs. Each team has anywhere from 20 to 25 games left in the season. This is less than usual, but I like it like that. This is going to be a fun sprint to the finish. With the break being over I want to touch on a few things I was wrong about in my preseason preview and what I am looking forward to as everything gets wrapped up.
I was wrong about Brooklyn, as a lot of other people were. They are a mess and they traded their stars. They needed to do that and the core they have now is fun. The current Nets remind me of the team before they went out star hunting. They should still make the playoffs, but they most likely will not win a round.
I was wrong about the Thunder as well. I figured they were going to tank, and while they are still below .500, they are fun and Shai Gilgeous Alexander is a superstar. That dude is so much fun to watch. I love how well he has adapted to the NBA.
I was also wrong about Toronto. I thought they were going to be a solid 4 or 5 seed in the East. I like the squad and the coach but it has not worked out as they planned I think. This team will be interesting to watch this offseason to see what happens with some of the players. They will still make the playoffs I bet, but they will be an easy out as well.
Now let's talk about the LA teams.
I picked the Clippers to make the Finals. I was nearly certain of this. I assumed they were finally healthy and they have a deep squad. Well, they have shown such little care about the regular season. I do not know how many games Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have played this year, but it isn't much. I feel like they are load managing every other night. That is frustrating. They are still 4th in the West, and should finish right around there, but yeesh are they maddening to watch.
The Lakers are very mediocre. When they have their guys, LeBron and AD, they look good. The problem is, they are barely on the floor together. One of them is always hurt. LeBron is having a great, great year. He looks as good as he always does. But this team is still a mess. They are 13th in the West at 27-32. I saw a Bleacher Report article talking about their "push to playoffs". That should not be the goal with the Lakers. I like the trades they made, and I do think they will sneak into the playoffs, but they will be a round one exit almost assuredly.
The Suns look legit now with KD although they lack depth and everyone on that team is always hurt.
The Grizzlies limped into the all star break, and they seriously miss Steven Adams, but I have faith they are a solid top three team in the West.
The Nuggets look like a very good regular season team and an easy out in the playoffs.
The Mavericks are sloppy and messy and I have zero faith in them. I do not like Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving is an antisemite, flat earther numbskull and they traded away any good defense they had.
The Pelicans started hot but Zion is hurt again and had yet another setback. I will not believe in this team ever until Zion can stay on the court for 40 plus games.
The Bucks and Celtics are the cream of the crop in the whole league. The Celtics seemingly have everything a modern NBA could ask for. As much as I dislike that team, they should be the favorites. They are great.
The Bucks are pretty much fully healthy and are riding a pretty nice win streak. Giannis has a wrist thing but I cannot imagine he will miss too much time. The Bucks defense is elite and the offense seems to be coming along.
The 76ers look like they have figured it out and Joel Embiid is having another MVP type season.
The Cavs are one of the most fun teams to watch in the league. Donovan Mitchell has been everything they could have hoped for and Darius Garland and Evan Mobley get better with every game. Jarrett Allen is a force in the middle and this team plays exceptional defense.
As for a few other teams, the Warriors look sloppy, the Pacers and Jazz have fallen back to Earth, the Wizards are boring and the Spurs, Rockets and Pistons are hoping to get either Victor Webanyama or Scoot Henderson.
What I want to see is this run to the playoffs. Who will get the 8 seed in the West? Will it be Portland or the Lakers? Could it be the Timberwolves? Hell, maybe the Thunder can figure it out. That should be exciting. I am also very interested to watch KD play with the Suns. Putting him together with Devin Booker and Chris Paul could be devastating. They should be the favorites out of the West. I'm personally interested in watching Ja Morant continuing his ascent to superstardom. I want to watch Joel Embiid push for a much deserved MVP. I want to see how the rookie of the year race finishes between Paolo Banchero and Benedict Mathurin. But most of all, what I am looking forward to above all else, is the Finals. If I had to readjust my pick from the preseason right now I'd go with the Suns and Celtics. That would be a solid matchup.
Ty
Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.