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With the annual celebration of all things NBA now over, it’s time to get down to business take a closer look at the NBA landscape.
What interesting stories are developing and who looks set to go all the way in 2014-15?
1) Trade deadline
The NBA trade deadline is usually a furious Twitter storm of rumours, ‘trusted sources’ and speculation over potential blockbuster trades – but this season is a bit different.
A combination of the current CBA and the expected rise in salary cap means bad contracts are no longer seen as that crippling. The value of an expiring contract is not what it once was and when you couple that with the changing attitude towards trading lottery-bound draft picks, the NBA trade market looks a bit dull.
Unless something comes out of left field, the biggest name we might see traded is Goran Dragic – and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
So far this season we have seen a couple of big moves designed at strengthening up a contender rather than a big move designed at getting a star. Rajon Rondo was dealt to the Mavericks, Jeff Green was traded to the Grizzlies and the Cavs acquired Timofey Mosgov, JR Smith and Iman Shumpert in return for Dion Waiters and a few draft picks.
2) The Eastern Conference playoff race
In a season where tanking has been discussed at great length it is refreshing to see a situation where teams are going all out at a shot of making the eighth seed instead of looking at what draft pick they could get in June.
Currently in the East there are six teams (five if you discount Boston) fighting for the seventh and eighth seed in the East. After a rocky start the Pistons have found new life without Josh Smith and again with DJ Augustin leading the way with Brandon Jennings out for the season.
Charlotte has rocketed into seventh with the return of Al Jefferson and will look to consolidate that position after trading for Mo Williams while Kemba Walker is sidelined.
Miami, Brooklyn and Indiana have all hung around despite injuries and out of that lot Indiana looks to be the most intriguing with Paul George due back some time in March. If they can get a playoff spot and George finds his feet again then who knows what is possible.
It may not be the prettiest basketball at times but it is certainly worth following the sub .500 race to the final playoff seeds in the East.
3) The Western Conference playoff race
It might not include as many teams as the East but this three-way battle between Phoenix, Oklahoma City and New Orleans is a very interesting one.
Phoenix currently holds the eighth seed by half a game over Oklahoma City, who are a further game ahead of New Orleans. Out of the three teams, everyone would expect Oklahoma City to take the final playoff spot – but it isn’t that simple.
New Orleans currently holds the tie breaker over both teams and if their roster can do something it hasn’t been able to do all season, remain healthy, then they could form an upset. They have one of the best players on the planet in Anthony Davis and the rest of the roster is actually quite strong when they are all on the court together.
Phoenix are the ones that are the most likely to slip given the recent drama surrounding Goran Dragic. He has expressed his discontent about the three guard line-up where he is “standing in the corner”.
Whether that issue gets resolved time will tell but trouble with your best player isn’t something you want when the last playoff spot is on the line.
4) Who are the real contenders?
After the 50 or so games each team has played so far, it is clear that both the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors are the real deal when it comes to the regular season. Will this translate into playoffs success? We will find out in April.
The chasing pack is a very interesting mix of fast starters and intriguing dark horses.
Leading the charge is a revitalised Cleveland team that still has its issues but looks strong behind a healthy LeBron James. They seem to have worked things out but their team is still unproven in the playoffs so we won’t find out what they are really made of until May.
The status of Chicago, Toronto and Washington is still a big unknown as all three teams have been fairly inconsistent this season. At times they look brilliant and then go through stretches of poor play and you wonder if they can make it to the Eastern Conference finals.
Out in the West things are too close to call.
Memphis doesn’t get a lot of national attention due to their small market status and unattractive style of play but with the addition of Jeff Green they have surely jumped up to one of the elite teams in the West.
Behind them are the Rockets, Mavs, Trailblazers, Clippers and Spurs. All of those teams have very handy rosters and it is very possible that we get a first round situation where we see every series go to a Game 7.
5) Who will be MVP?
Right now the race is as open as it has been all season with four genuine contenders by my count. You could put a very credible case together for Steph Curry, James Harden, LeBron James and Russell Westbrook to be named MVP with all four playing outstanding basketball.
With 30 odd games left, we will get a clearer picture on who will separate themselves from the pack but currently there is no clear cut winner.
Unfortunately my early season pick, Anthony Davis, won’t be crowned MVP unless the Pelicans go 29-0 through the rest of the season.
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