The NBA All-Star festivities have concluded in the Bay Area, and less than 30 games remain for most teams on the NBA schedule. It is the time of the year when teams are looking to build momentum towards a playoff run. This juncture of the season is critical to teams that made massive trades before the deadline in forging cohesion as a unit. It forms the basis of our article today as we examine the top 4 storylines to watch in the second half of the regular season.
1. Will Luka and Lebron Tandem Click in L.A. Down the Stretch?
No one could have predicted that after leading the Mavericks to an astonishing run to the NBA Finals, Luka Doncic would be wearing purple and gold the following season. Yet, here we are with Doncic and Lebron forming one of the most high IQ basketball duos in NBA history. So far, the pair have featured in two games against the Utah Jazz after the trade deadline, winning one and losing the other. Lebron has dominated the possession in those games, but I expect Head Coach J.J. to make Luca the primary ball handle, which will allow Lebron to cut, screen, and make the three-point shot with a far more efficient stroke. I expect the Lakers’ offense to roll and present a nightmare for defenses. However, the Lakers will have difficulty containing the opposition without a true Center. It will be a challenge when they face the Denver Nuggets, Memphis Grizzlies, Oklahoma City Thunder, and their long-time rival, the Boston Celtics. The Lakers have the fifth most difficult schedule remaining, and their games will be must-see television.
2. Will A.D. and the Mavericks Get Healthy in Time?
Mavericks fans have made their voices heard in expressing their displeasure to the organization for trading away a generational talent in Luca Doncic to their Western Conference rivals. The decision looks even worse because Anthony Davis is currently out for several weeks due to an oblique injury sustained in his first game in Dallas. The Mavericks have a slew of injuries, including Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell, Dereck Lively, and the recently acquired Caleb Martin. Fortunately, the Mavericks are one of the deepest teams in the league and able to hold down a playoff spot. However, they will hope that Davis can return before the start of the playoffs to have more chemistry with his teammates and maximize the opportunity to challenge this year. The pressure will be on this group to win now because the younger teams in Houston and San Antonio will make contention very difficult with the talent on hand. It makes them must-see television.
3. Will the Warriors Backup Draymond’s Bold Declaration?
The Warriors are a modern-day dynasty by winning 4 of the last nine titles, with their last in 2022 over the Boston Celtics. I think the Warriors were fortunate to win that year against a Celtics team that struggled to protect the basketball. The Warriors have subsequently failed to make the playoffs or made only the play-in tournament. Before the deadline, the Warriors acquired Jimmy Butler from the Heat for Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson, and a top-10-protected 2025 first-round pick to the Heat. In the four games since Butler’s arrival, the Warriors are 3-1, and Butler has averaged 21.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists which has exceeded all his statistical categories last season. Butler has been the perfect complimentary superstar to Steph Curry. Curry is playing with less pressure to handle the ball and is able to sit for his full break on the bench. Jimmy’s impact has been so profound that Draymond Declared at the NBA All-Star Sunday that they are the team to beat in the Western Conference. I think it is wishful thinking with the current roster but the Warriors have their swag back with Butler in the fold.
4. Which Eastern Conference will get hot at the right time?
The Eastern Conference standings have been dominated by the Cleveland Cavaliers since the start of the season. They are followed by the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, who are second and third. The Cavaliers might find the final stretch much tougher with the strength of schedule ranking at 14th, while the Knicks are 8th and the Celtics are 28th overall. I think the Cavaliers will barely hold on to the top seed followed by Boston and New York. However, the conference is poised for a surprise run by the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks. Milwaukee upgraded its roster by trading Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma and acquiring Kevin Porter Jr from the Clippers. I like Atlanta to push up the standings because they are giant-killers, having won 4 of 6 against the top two in the East. However, Atlanta has struggled against the Western Conference by going 7 -15. It will be interesting to see how this storyline unfolds.