There are exactly 47 days left until the regular season concludes in the NBA next April 9. A little over six weeks that become a frantic race for each franchise on their way to save the objectives of the course.
Little more than twenty parties and the goals very marked. From the ring, to get a more affordable crossing. From trying to play the postseason to positioning himself better so he can acquire Victor Wembanyama the next course.
Regarding this, there are four completely evicted teams in competitive terms and that aspire to take over the French giant- Charlotte, Detroit, Houston y San Antonio. The more defeats the better to increase the chances of being the number one pick in the Lottery Draft next May 16.
But the main attention will be on the other twenty-six teams, some of them with notable changes after the market close and with adjustments also in the ‘Buyout Market’. How can they adapt? Kevin Love en Miami, Russell Westbrook con los Clippers o Reggie Jackson in Denver are key to understanding the future of these teams.
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Until March 1st there will be time to see new names reinforcing candidate teams from free agency. Some of these players have not yet been released but it seems a matter of days before veterans like Goran Dragic y Derrick Roseamong others, are free to choose their next destination.
THE WILD WEST
The arrivals of Kyrie Irving a Dallas y Kevin Durant to Phoenix change the scenery in the West. A conference so far dominated by Denver Nuggets y Memphis Grizzlies, it happens to be a matter of at least four teams.
In the Mavericks the numbers after the arrival of Kyrie Irving They can’t be worse, the former from Brooklyn has coincided in three meetings with Doncic and they all lost. The team scores more and more easily, but there is a handicap defensive that they must solve if they want to have real options to go far.
They seem more reliable Sunsan already consolidated project, with identified leaders and which caressed the ring in 2021. The arrival of Kevin Durant it puts them right in the title race once he’s playable, probably in two weeks.
The work that the Sacramento Kings are doing is excellent. It seems too early to think of the Californians as title candidates, but they should compete in the postseason.
Along with them are some Clippers who lead a huge group of pursuers, and it is that between the third and the twelfth in the west there are only four victories away.
THE LAKERS, LAST MINUTE STUDENTS
Rob Pelinka was late for his homework. In the middle of the ‘deadline’ of the market, he decided to change the squad, releasing many players and compensating for rotation. Some say this is the Lakers’ most complete roster since they were champions in Orlando.
Even with a negative record, these Lakers They have twenty-three games in front of them to show whether or not they are a Playoff team. The commitment of LeBron James for playing them all says a lot, plus the immediate addition of D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley y Jarred Vanderbilt to turnover leads one to think that the improvement can be rapid.
Of the twenty-three remaining games, sixteen are against direct rivals for postseason spots. If Darvin Ham and his team want to go straight to the ‘playoffs’ they are bound to make almost full wins. While to reach the Play-In it could be enough for them to win half of their commitments.
LAST SPRINT FOR THE MVP
In the individual part, the NBA now faces an exciting sprint to see who gets the most fought MVP in recent years. A quarter of a season seems enough to add weight merits by the five clear candidates- Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic.
The Serbian is currently the clear favorite to revalidate the award for the third consecutive year. He has 21 triple-doubles so far this year and his performance, as usual, has been from less to more, having his Nuggets as the best team in the west.
Jayson Tatum y Giannis Antetokounmpo They follow him in favouritism, with the same impact on their teams as Jokicboth lead the other two best franchises in the league.
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The Greek can play against the absences due to injury, while the one from the Celtics also comes out very supported having achieved the MVP in the All-Star Game.
the options of Luka Doncic It seems that they decrease with the arrival of Kyrie Irving in Dallas, he will continue to have a lot of prominence, but he will share responsibilities with his new partner.
Joel Embiidbeing the undisputed leader of los Sixers, loses out in any statistical comparison with Jokic. Although he scores more, his rebound and assist numbers are far off.