There’s less than 20 games left in the regular season for each team and it’s the key time for some teams to lock in to solidify their place in the Playoffs. For some the season is over, others it’s looking to lock in home court advantage but for a select few it’s actually making it to the Play In to get that all important 7th and 8th spot and extend their time on the court. With all that in mind, there’s a few stand out stories around the league.
Lakers situation – Is it over for the Lakers?
By now we know the Lakers are not looking good. A string of losses, locker room chaos and even head office antics. there’s a lot of questions to be asked. Wherever LeBron goes he brings big names with him and a formula to win it all. He delivered one ring to LA and decided to bring in a few veterans. Carmelo Anthony and Russell Westbrook. That’s 2 future hall of famers, in the form of a former prolific scorer and a league MVP. One of these experiments has not worked out and there’s potential rumours of them dropping him from the starting line up. Yup, it’s Russ. That combined with Anthony Davis as a walking injury report, LeBron’s Lakers have a pivotal decision to make. Do they make a run at the Play In? Or do they preserve health and durability to focus their efforts on figuring out that chemistry they’ve been struggling to form all season?
With under 20 games left in the regular season a logical route should be the latter but for an MVP performing LeBron his career high 56 points against Golden State looks like he’s not quite done with this season yet. That or he’s trying to bump up his numbers to climb up the all time stats ladder.
Welcome to the conversation young fella – Ja Morant did what??
There’s a new wave of fearless young up risers ready to take the throne from some of the greats they grew up up to. Ja Morant is one of them and it’s performances like his that turn him an explosive young prospect to a household name. Now in his third year and from the same draft class as Zion Williamson, he’s broken out as a box office attraction where it’s a known fact he’ll attempt multiple ridiculous plays throughout the game. Only difference is now he’s actually scoring them too. That’s what got him an All Star selection and now a potential case for MVP. A streak of 3 games with over 25 points, one of them a career 52 points shows it’s not just luck. His Grizzlies are 3rd in the West and in good form to make a solid run in the playoffs! But he’s not the only one on this type of trajectory. The young magician that is Luka Dončić, the sharp shooting Trae Young, the locked in Devin Booker and fearless Jayson Tatum all have come into their own. All high level performers very capable of winning a ring but can one of them breakthrough to become the face of the NBA? LeBron, Steph, KD and Giannis have something to say about that first.
Top seeds and dark horses. Who’s meeting in the finals?
We’ve got a pretty good idea of who’s in the playoffs but who makes it to the finals is a tougher question. There’s a lot of factors at play and just because you hold the top spot now doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed the last shot at the championship. The playoffs are a beast and battlefield of its own. It would be easy to go with top seeds Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns but what about in form reigning world champions Milwaukee Bucks or the always consistent Golden State Warriors? Not to mention teams with MVP contenders Joel Embiid for the Philadelphia Sixers and DeMar DeRozen for the Chicago Bulls. There’s also dark horses Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks in the West and Boston Celtics and even Cleveland Cavaliers in the East. Some teams look like they’re one key player away, others need a deeper bench, but what we have seen is how far focus and tenacity can take you. Remember the Heat team that made it to the bubble finals? It might still be too early to call with a tonne of factors left to consider but we’re keeping a close eye on how these play out.
Find out about our hot takes and early picks on The SportsHeads podcast ep 15 open.spotify.com/episode/4W
