NBA Mid-Season Report

With All-Star weekend over, it’s time to take a look back at the first half of the season.

The first half of the 2019-2020 season has been very memorable–from all the new dynamic duos to the rising stars in the NBA. The league is in a great place, and the second half of the season is looking to be spectacular. The Western Conference is still stacked and looks to be shaping up to be a race to the end. And in the Eastern conference, well, it starts and ends with the Milwaukee Bucks, who sit at 46-8 heading into the second half of the season.

All in all, the NBA is heating up, and you don’t want to miss it.    

The Eastern Conference 

• Milwaukee Bucks (46-8) 

The Bucks are the class of the conference, and it’s not even close. Giannis Antetokounmpo is showing the world that he is capable of leading his team to the promised land, and that’s to the NBA Finals. But the job is not done by any means. The road to the post-season will be a breeze, but when it comes to the playoffs, can Giannis take his team to the conference finals? Better yet, can he capture Milwaukee’s first NBA Championship since 1971? That outcome will be determined soon. 

• Toronto Raptors (40-15) 

With the departure of Kawhi Leonard, many NBA people thought the Raptors would have a sub-par year. Well, Nick Nurse has his team sitting at 40-15 and second in the East. Can the Raptors make it back to the NBA Finals? Can the emergence of Fred VanVleet and Pascal Siakam lift the Raptors? With the leadership of Kyle Lowry, the notion of the Raptors returning the Finals is not such a crazy thought. 

• Boston Celtics (38-16) 

Kemba Walker and the Boston Celtics are sitting at the 3-seed, and this team has been playing great basketball lately. The Celtics’ talent is second to none, and the team has the potential to make noise come April, May, and maybe even into June. And with players like Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Marcus Smart, anything is possible. 

• Miami Heat (35-19) 

Miami is probably the most surprising team in the Eastern Conference. Jimmy Butler has made an impact, showing that he’s worth 141 million dollars. The Iguodala trade makes Butler better. But the biggest surprise is the emergence of Bam Adebayo, who’s averaging 15.8 PPG and 10.4 RPG. If he keeps up that stellar play, look for the Heat to be a dark horse come April. 

• Philadelphia 76ers (34-21) 

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are superstars. But can those two co-exist? And can Simmons start shooting the three-ball so so that the Sixers’ offense can spread out? These two questions (and more) will be answered come playoff time. 

• Indiana Pacers (32-23)

The Pacers are the one team that keeps hanging around, even though it hasn’t been easy to incorporate Victor Oladipo after a year (ruptured quad tendon in his right knee). The bright spot has been the two-man play of Domantas Sabonis and Malcolm Brogdon. Can these two and the rest of the roster make a push for a possible playoffs run? Don’t know.

• Brooklyn Nets (25-28) 

Brooklyn will be limping into the second half of the season. Kevin Durant is being held out until next season, and now Kyrie is gone for the year, too. The Nets are sitting at 25-28, which is good enough to be the seven-seed in the East. I don’t see the Nets snagging a six-seed. It will be a miracle if they do. 

• Orlando Magic (24-31) 

In all measures, the Orlando Magic are not a playoff team. They most certainly are an intriguing team, though. One thing that’s going great is the play of Markell Fultz. The Magic has the potential to be a great team down the line, but that won’t happen until they figure out their identity. 

The rest of the Eastern Conference teams

• Washington Wizards (20-33) 

Brad Beal is missing John Wall right now. 

• Chicago Bulls (19-36) 

Zach Lavine and crew have all the talent in the world, but they need a new coach if that talent is to mesh together. Jim Boylen isn’t cutting it. 

• Charlotte Hornets (18-36) 

Michel Jordan has a team built for the future. But to get there, the Hornets have to start guarding opponents effectively. Nothing good will come until they get that issue fixed.  

• Detroit Pistons (19-38) 

Detroit finally traded big man Andre Drummond, but they got back virtually nothing (John Henson, Brandon Knight). Reggie Jackson was also bought out. The Pistons are officially rebuilding, but will that road go anywhere?

• New York Knicks (17-38) 

New York thought it would be in a good position now. But that didn’t happen. Owner James Dolan is killing the franchise. Top-notch free agents don’t want to play for the Knicks. 

• Atlanta Hawks (15-41) 

I thought the Hawks were going to make a jump. Well, they sit at 15-41, making little progress. But I still think the future is bright with the dynamic duo of Trae Young and John Collins. Adding Clint Capela only adds luster. 

• Cleveland Cavaliers (14-40) 

John Beilein is out after coaching only 54 games. That’s all that needs to be said. 

The Western Conference Report 

• Los Angeles Lakers (41-12) 

LeBron James and Anthony Davis have been the best duo in the league thus far. The big question, though, is this: Can these Lakers beat the Clippers in the playoffs? LAC is the biggest obstacle to an NBA crown, and the Clippers lead the season series 3-0. 

• Denver Nuggets (38-17) 

Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray are the league’s best pick-and-roll tandem, and the Nuggets are playing solid basketball heading into the second half of the season. But the Nuggets need to figure out what to do with Nikola on the defensive side come playoff time. If not, the Nuggets will make an early exit. 

• Los Angeles Clippers (37-18) 

The much-anticipated pairing of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard has seen only 18 times this year. Both have been injured. Can the Clippers get healthy? If they can, I think LAC is the team to beat in the West. Otherwise, I predict they’ll be bounced in the second round. 

• Utah Jazz (36-18) 

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are the leaders of this talented squad. But it’s Mike Conley, Joe Ingles, and Bojan Bogdanovic that make this team truly dangerous–one of the most dynamic teams in the league. Utah has the potential to make a run to the West Finals. 

• Houston Rockets (34-20) 

‘Small ball.’ That’s what the Houston Rockets are playing after trading Clint Capela. Now, Russell Westbrook is essentially playing center. Will that work in the playoffs? I think not, but I’m willing to take a wait-and-see approach.

• Oklahoma City Thunder (33-22) 

After saying goodbye to Russell Westbrook, the Thunder and Chris Paul have bounced back surprisingly. The emergence of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has made the Thunder a better team. And while many people thought OKC would trade Paul, but that didn’t happen. Good that it didn’t! Paul is the heart-and-soul of this Thunder squad. 

• Dallas Mavericks (33-22)

Luka Doncic has the Mavericks on the verge of making a return to the post-season. Doncic is a gem, too. He not only gets to the cup, but he also makes plays for his teammates. Doncic and partner Porzingis are the keys to the Mavericks’ success. I’m just not sure how successful they’ll be in the playoffs. 

• Memphis Grizzlies (28-26) 

A new era has begun in Memphis, and it’s with Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. leading the way. At issue is whether the Grizz can keep hold of the 8-spot in the West. That’s going to be a tough task. 

The rest of the Western Conference teams 

• Portland Trailblazers (25-31) 

Damian Lillard has been a terror this season. But the Blazers need more than one player to get into the playoffs and then advances. 

• San Antonio Spurs (23-31) 

The Spurs will miss the playoffs for the first time in 23 years.  

• New Orleans Pelicans (23-32) 

Zion Williamson is here, and he is already making an impact on the Pelicans. Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram are also there to help. Can this young team make a push for the 8-spot in the West? To do that, Zion and the other young bucks will have to grow up fast. 

• Phoenix Suns (22-33) 

The Suns have the talent, but they don’t finish games. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Devin Booker leave this team. 

• Sacramento Kings (21-33) 

Bad management! The Kings’ front office has no idea what it’s doing. 

• Minnesota Timberwolves (16-37) 

While it’s too late for the Wolves to make a push for the 8th spot, adding D’Angelo Russell and Malik Beasley helps them build for next season. 

• Golden State Warriors (12-43) 

Golden State is the worst team in the NBA. It seems crazy to say that, but it’s just true. Without Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, that outcome seemed assured. They’ll be back in ’21 with their new Warrior, Andrew Wiggins, who’s an excellent fit for this team.  

NBA Second Half Predictions 

East 

Milwaukee Bucks (63-18)

Boston Celtics (56-26)

Toronto Raptors (54-28)

Philadelphia 76ers (52-30)

Miami Heat (50-32)

Indiana Pacers (47-35)

Brooklyn Nets (37-45)

Orlando Magic (34-48)

Charlotte Hornets (32-50)

Washington Wizards (30-52)

Atlanta Hawks (28-54)

Chicago Bulls (25-57)

New York Knicks (25-57)

Detroit Pistons (24-56)

Cleveland Cavaliers (22-58)

West 

Los Angeles Lakers (61-21)

Denver Nuggets (58-24)

Utah Jazz (56-26)

Los Angeles Clippers (55-27)

Oklahoma City Thunder (53-29)

Houston Rockets (51-31)

Dallas Mavericks (49-33)

Memphis Grizzlies (42-40)

Portland Trailblazers (38-44)

New Orleans Pelicans (36-46)

San Antonio Spurs (34-48)

Phoenix Suns (33-49)

Sacramento Kings (30-52)

Minnesota Timberwolves (28-54)

Golden State Warriors (25-57)

Postscript: My Tribute to Kobe Bryant 

Kobe Bryant was the most significant competitor ever to grace an NBA floor. He had that dog in him, and he brought it every single night, a pro’s pro. He helped globalize the NBA, too.

Kobe, who was taken away from us too soon, will be remembered as one of the best basketball players ever and also as a great human being and leader. Rest in peace, Kobe. Mamba mentality forever.