The NBA has paused its regular-season schedule for every week for considered one of its annual showcase occasions, All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, which started with the Rising Stars event Friday night time.
As soon as the entire acrobatic dunks and 3-point shows and abilities competitions have been executed, as soon as one other All-Star Recreation has been performed, there might be no scarcity of intriguing storylines for the rest of the 2021-22 marketing campaign — each on an area and league-wide degree — when the video games resume Thursday night time.
Listed here are 10 of the largest tales to observe throughout the league for the ultimate two months of the common season and into the postseason:
No sleep ’til …
Regardless of their latest 11-game shedding streak, the Nets nonetheless are the extra charming staff within the New York market, particularly with the eventual addition of Ben Simmons to their rotation, the pending return of injured of Kevin Durant and the continuing saga involving unvaccinated Kyrie Irving. What number of video games the newly assembled Massive 3 will get to play collectively and the way shortly they'll develop chemistry ought to decide whether or not the Nets might be thought of a viable postseason menace.
Ping Pong
The skidding Knicks, however, hit the break losers of seven of eight to fall 3 ½ video games out of the No. 10 play-in place within the Japanese Convention, prompting experiences that coach Tom Thibodeau has misplaced assist throughout the entrance workplace. They completed final season on a 16-4 kick and doubtless want one thing much like actually have a likelihood at a 7-10 play-in berth, so an consideration shift in the direction of youthful gamers and the draft quickly might be within the offing.
The king and his court docket
The Lakers proceed to be the league’s highest-rated cleaning soap opera, with a ninth-place report of 27-31 within the Western Convention coming into the break regardless of a 12-year excessive of 29.1 factors per recreation from 37-year-old LeBron James. Russell Westbrook, their $44 million per yr offseason acquisition, is usually benched late in video games, and their different star, Anthony Davis, is anticipated to overlook at the very least a month with a foot damage. Carmelo Anthony’s final likelihood at an elusive title appears to be like extremely unlikely in Los Angeles.
Harden his coronary heart
James Harden’s pressured departure from the Nets was a horrible look, however the 10-time All-Star now will staff with MVP candidate Joel Embiid to attempt to get the 76ers previous the second spherical of the playoffs for the primary time since an NBA Finals run in 2001. Tobias Harris goes again to being one of many league’s higher No. 3 choices, and second-year level guard Tyrese Maxey emerged as one of many league’s most improved gamers throughout Simmons’ season-long absence.
What concerning the Bucks?
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the defending league champions have quietly flown below the radar in an improved Japanese Convention, basically in a three-way tie for the third, fourth and fifth seeds with the 76ers and the Cavaliers coming into the stretch run. Their battle-tested Massive 3 of Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Vacation have a report of 24-7 when within the lineup collectively this season, and Milwaukee might get one other increase if veteran huge man Brook Lopez can return down the stretch from December again surgical procedure.
Right here come the Suns
It’s all proper. The Suns made all of it the way in which to the NBA Finals final yr after 10 consecutive years out of the playoffs, they usually clearly have been no fluke in posting simply the league’s greatest report (48-10) via the break. Devin Booker is a full-fledged celebrity, former No. 1 general choose Deandre Ayton is a legit double-double menace and 36-year-old Chris Paul is the glue piece together with his twelfth profession All-Star berth and a league-best 10.7 assists per recreation in his ongoing quest for a primary championship ring.
New children on the block
Very like Phoenix’s rise one yr in the past, there might be some thrilling new blood within the playoffs this yr, led by the Bulls, with the addition of MVP candidate DeMar DeRozan and level guard Lonzo Ball, becoming a member of two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. They're tied with the Warmth atop the East at 38-21, already seven extra wins than they posted final season (31-41). The Cavaliers — led by first-time All-Stars Darius Garland and former Web Jarrett Allen and rookie middle Evan Mobley — have been a good larger shock with a 35-24 mark after ending 22-50 in 2020-21. Within the West, dynamic level guard Ja Morant and the rising Grizzlies (41-19) appear to be a direct menace, whereas Alex Rodriguez’s new staff, the Timberwolves (31-28) are also on track to make the playoffs for less than the second time in 18 seasons.
Eyes huge open
The Knicks have been the stunning No. 4 seed within the playoffs final yr earlier than shedding to Trae Younger and the fifth-seeded Hawks, who superior to the convention finals. These groups at the moment are the No. 12 and No. 10 groups within the East, respectively. The enhancements made by the Warmth, the Bulls and the Cavaliers ought to make for an attention-grabbing first few rounds of the playoffs for the favorites just like the Bucks, the Nets (when at full energy) and the retooled 76ers. The Celtics (34-26) additionally vaulted again into the highest six with a latest nine-game profitable streak.
Come out and play
The Warriors, who made 5 consecutive journeys to the Finals (with three titles) from 2015-19, have moved again into the upper-echelon of the NBA at 42-17, behind solely the Suns in all the league. Stephen Curry and fellow All-Star starter Andrew Wiggins didn’t even look forward to Klay Thompson’s return in January from a number of main accidents to guide Steve Kerr’s staff to its resurgence to elite standing.
Many, many beneficial gamers
You can simply make a powerful case for 10 or so candidates for league MVP, a lot of whom have been mentioned above. Embiid, reigning winner Nikola Jokic, and former winners Antetokounmpo and Curry are the present favorites, but it surely’s getting more durable to miss team-leading stars comparable to Morant, DeRozan and Luka Doncic. Booker and Paul are each deserving, however probably will break up any Phoenix votes, whereas previous winners comparable to James and Durant probably have missed an excessive amount of time to have a shot at including to their private trophy circumstances this yr.
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