With Joel Embiid (knee) out indefinitely, is the 76ers’ season in jeopardy?
The All-Star break is here, and so are the questions. With the league on hiatus until Thursday, it’s time for rest, reflection and projection. So here are the league’s 10 most pressing questions heading into the home series:
1. If Joel Embiid doesn’t return, are the Sixers play-in tournament bound?
Short answer: It’s very possible. That’s how much it means in the big picture. It’s not just his numbers, but his presence. Game planning for Philly is much easier now.
That means more double teams coming Tyrese Maxey’s way, and while the young All-Star is somewhat used to it now, that’s a heavy load to carry.
2. Which team will have the best record in the West?
So, let’s rephrase the question β how badly do the Clippers want it? If the hottest team since early December makes it a priority, then go for LA. However, given their history, it wouldn’t be shocking if the Clippers hit the brakes in recent weeks and rest their stars.
Ditto for the defending champion Denver Nuggets. But not the Minnesota Timberwolves or Oklahoma City Thunder, young and hungry teams that would love the status that comes with first place and, more importantly, the advantage of home court advantage.
3. Can the Bucks recalibrate under Doc Rivers?
The initial getting-to-know-you process under the new coach ended in Milwaukee and so did the beer. That said, perhaps this was to be expected. Rivers reached the midseason under pressure. Roles had to be redefined. A system needed to be put in place.
This is a society with little patience, and when you add the level of urgency expressed by the perennial franchise player, the pressure mounts. It all depends on three factors: can the Bucks (with Patrick Beverley) prioritize defense, will Damian Lillard reduce his shooting-heavy nights, and are Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton capable of slowing their decline?
4. Is the worst over for the Warriors?
Just last month they were five games under .500 and were mired in trouble. Golden State is now horrible and, dare we say, starting to buckle a little.
So yeah, maybe the worst is over. Which doesn’t mean the Warriors are ready to make a sudden splash. A lot depends on Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins, two veterans who have seen their production dip to start the season.
The good news is that the young players, especially Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski, are proving worthy of critical minutes. Escaping the Play-In tournament is the Warriors’ goal, but they will need to overcome some decent teams.
5. Is the worst over for the Lakers?
After their post-tournament disappointment, the Lakers have rallied. Fortunately for them, they did not lose much ground in the West during those dark days. There’s nothing a five-game winning streak can’t cure.
That said, the Lakers squandered the good health of LeBron James and Anthony Davis during that stretch. Now Los Angeles has to cross its fingers, hope for continued health and this time, take advantage of it.
Can Spencer Dinwiddie, snapped up in the buyout market, make a difference? In a way, yes, but he’s not an impact player or he wouldn’t be available. The Lakers need to get help from the collective β and give their two stars less of a load.
6. Will the Mavs’ top line additions help them avoid the Play-In Tournament?
Daniel Gafford and PJ Washington made the Mavericks a big winner at the trade deadline, if only because Dallas added exactly what they needed β some front-line balance for a stellar backcourt.
Gafford in particular gives the Mavericks added size, and they will look to best use him and fellow center Dereck Lively II, who is having an encouraging rookie season.
More rebounding and more color presence on both ends will help. Of course, Dallas will move up mostly if Luka Doncic continues to look like a Kia MVP finalist.
7. Which team will be on site in March and April?
Last season, the Sacramento Kings were the feel-good story in the NBA. They lit up the post and finally cracked the playoff hex. So imagine if they go onβ¦missing the playoffs entirely.
That would leave a sour taste in Sacramento. The city and the franchise entered this season with a next-step mentality, and missing the postseason would seemingly represent a retreat for De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
They are currently in the Play-In tournament area, a place where anything can happen.
8. Which team can still salvage a bad start?
This is a coin flip between the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls with both teams opting to hold on to their major pieces at the trade deadline, which was surprising. Given their losing records and rosters, both teams appeared to be sellers.
Now it’s all about salvaging what’s left of a broken season and making the playoffs. Give the lead to the Hawks, just because the Bulls won’t be getting Zach LaVine back. Trae Young and Dejounte Murray have another, and perhaps their last, chance at redemption in Atlanta.
9. Will anyone in the East catch the Celtics?
It doesn’t seem that way. The Sixers are minus Embiid and the Bucks are still working on defense four months into the season.
The Knicks will be without injured OG Anunoby and Julius Randle for perhaps the next month. That leaves only the Cleveland Cavaliers in the hunt β and trailing the Celtics by six games as the All-Star break ends.
The East will surely be lost by the Celtics, and a stumble doesn’t seem realistic as long as Jayson Tatum and the deep roster refuse to allow any hint of a slump. Six of their last seven are at home, where Boston has lost just three times all season.
10. Who will finish with the worst record in the NBA?
Although the San Antonio Spurs and Charlotte Hornets lurk, this looks to be a two-team battle between the Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards, both weakened further after dumping assets at the trade deadline and through acquisitions.
What a season for both of them. Aside from losing streaks, the Pistons and Wizards haven’t seen much growth on the roster, the most critical stage of the rebuild.
Just by coincidence the Pistons or Spurs tossup for the worst record meet in the season finale. Stay tuned.
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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for over 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him to X.
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