In the early predictions of the year, one of the most commons thoughts was that the thrilling race for the playoffs spots into the Western Confence of the last two season was going to repeat, given the number of teams that can rightfully claim one.
After approximately one quarter of the regular season, it turns out that Suns aside (sorry Phoenix fans!) basically every team is competing for a postseason run.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
The surprise of the season so far: on top of the Western Conference without a certified superstar. At least until now, because Tobias Harrs is producing like one: 21.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 53% from the field, 44% from 3 points, 83% from the charity stripe, well deserving an All Star selection so far.
Around him a solid group, with Gallinari playing his best season ever (18.9 points per game with 47% from 3), Lou Williams as always a super efficient scorer sixth man (17.6 points per game) and two underrated players in their categories that are emerging: Montrezl Harrell is averaging 16.3 points and 7.2 points from the bench and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander secured his starting point guard spot as one of the best rookies so far.
DENVER NUGGETS
Forget the attack-only version of the Nuggets; during this summer, the approach to the defensive end was radically changed at Denver and the results are there: 4th in the whole league for defensive rating, their effort hedging and recovering on pick and rolls instead of containing is huge.
With the ball in Nikola Jokic's hands, the offense is always flourishing: Paul Millsap, Gary Harris, Jamal Murray are averaging double digits in scoring and even Juan Hernangomez is giving contribute. And Will Barton, Isaiah Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. are actually injured...
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
We are used to Russell Westbrook triple doubles stat lines: 23.2 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.8 assists for him until now. And with the last one he tied Jason Kidd for the 3rd most triple doubles in NBA History.
But in the 14-7 record of OKC, he played only 13 games, with 9 victories and 4 losses. It means that even without him, the whole team had more wins than defeats; discovering to be not completely dependent from his superstar is probably the best thing that could happen to the Thunder.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
The only doubts surrounding the Warriors army are motivations and injuries. Their combination is actually putting them out of the top of the Conference, still waiting for the new arrival DeMarcus Cousins. Even if the bench didn't seem so productive as the past years, we don't have to take too seriously their ups and downs: anyway, they already had 3 players that scored 50 points in the same season (second time in history, after the Lakers in 1961-62 with Jerry West, Elgin Baylor and Rudy La Russo).
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
The Gasol-Conley duo can still provide wonderful effort and, with the two healty, Grit and Grind is back. And it's rejuvenated by the offseason addiction: Kenny Anderson and Garrett Temple have the same mindset as their predecessors. Around them, the 4th pick of the last draft is starting to show why he can be a gem in a loaded rookie class.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Their process is so far to be completed, the young core is not showing the progresses that they need to be considered a threat to the highest level, with Kuzma, Lonzo Ball and Ingram not stepping up to the next level.
But you know, you've got LeBron on your side...
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
The strenghts and weaknesses of the Blazers are always the same: Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum are one of the best backcourts in the league, but the rotation doesn't have so many options. Anyway, is still difficoult to beat Portland; the bench seems a bit deeper, Nurkic seems a bit more solid and when Lillard time comes, Dame Dolla always deliver.
HOUSTON ROCKETS
Slow start for the Rockets, with the loss of Ariza and Mbah a Moute not replaced from the failed experiment of Carmelo Anthony. With the return of Chris Paul (the Rockets were defeated in any of the 5 games he missed) and James Harden in MVP shape (35.3 points + 10.6 assists in the last 8), they're still one of the best team on the West side.
SACRAMENTO KINGS
Nobody saw the Kings coming. But coach Joerger work is starting to pay off and the rebuilding is taking significant steps ahead: the Kings are a funny team to watch, pushing the pace (the 2nd overall in the league) and maximizing the offensive skills of Fox and Hield, with the serbian duo of Bjelica and Bogdanovic backing them up in scoring. Maybe it will not be enough to secure a spot to play in May, but in the last year they were never so close.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
Take a team with some useful pieces of a puzzle but not enough to compete for the postseason, surround them with other significant pieces and add a diamond in the rough. So, the Mavs with Barnes, Barea and Matthews (without forgetting about something still in Dirk) had the long-awaited center DeAndre Jordan and finally embraced a talent like Luka Doncic: 18.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game for the 19 years old slovenian sensation with the impression that it's only the beginning for him.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
That's a funny story: after being hostage of the will to leave of their best player and start losing as the years before the last one with Butler, once the T'Wolves got rid of him... they start winning. So, adding up the two stretches, they're in the middle to play again the postseason, so awaited before last year. If Towns has now plenty of spaces, the spotlight belongs to Derrick Rose: after all his troubles, he's playing an excellent season with 19.3 points per game, looking closer to his old self.
UTAH JAZZ
The Jazz was used to exceed expectations thanks to a solid organization. In this first part of this season, they confirm some of their weapons but they're not secrets anymore: the star Donovan Mitchell, the good shooting Rubio, the excellent shooter Ingles, the defensive anchor Gobert. So, in the offensive end they are struggling, with embrassing lows (as the 68 points scored in the entire game against the Mavericks) balanced by a defensive effort still among the very best of the league.
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
It's no secret that everything is around Anthony Davis. If possible, the Brow made another step into his game this year: not only being a double double machine, a wonderful defender and a scorer both near and far from the basket, but becoming also a facilitator, averaging his career-high in assists with 4.6 (doubling his former high). Mirotic, Randle and Holiday will be enough to convince Davis to stay and not leave in two summers, at the end of his contract?
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The worst Spurs version in a long time; so, given the standard of excellence, enough to be part of the competition for a playoff run.
The defense is struggling, being the 26th of 30 for defensive rating, but the "midrange shot couple" of DeRozan (23.8 points, 6 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 48.9% effective field goals percentage until now: all career-highs) and Aldridge (17.8 points + 10.6 rebounds per game) is trying to make the difference on the offensive side.
That's how the playoff picture currently looks like:
Regular season is boring... right?
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