Netflix’s “Drive to Survive” turned an enormous hit for its dramatic storytelling in System 1’s midfield, specializing in the groups not concerned within the championship chase however below excessive strain with large monetary stakes and main names concerned.
You might do an identical documentary on the second half of this NBA season — and, not coincidentally, Netflix is filming one with a number of big-name gamers on “midfield” groups resemblingKevin Durant and James Harden — as a result of the drama is excessive with the groups preventing to get out of the center.
Simply take a look at who made the huge strikes on the commerce deadline. You wouldn’t say strikes such because the Golden State Warriors getting Jimmy Butler, the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers dealing Luka Doniand Anthony Davis, or the Sacramento Kings swapping De’Aaron Fox for Zach LaVine symbolize groups that had been happy with their present conditions. All of them are in the course of the pack, costly and never blissful about it.
The groups on the entrance in each conferences, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, are prone to keep there till the postseason assessments their legitimacy. The championship-holding groups behind them, the Boston Celtics and Denver Nuggets, are on this for the lengthy haul and might be able to make one other run.
However that midfield, nicely, that is the place the motion goes to be. There are lots of reputations, contract extensions and jobs on the road over the subsequent two months. There merely is not sufficient room on the all-in stage on this zero-sum recreation. And you are going to see the strain, and the desperation, actually present up.
So which matchups do you have to preserve your eye on? We put collectively a viewers information for the previous few months of the common season, together with commerce deadline reunions and potential playoff races to observe. — Brian Windhorst
Middleton again in opposition to the Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks at Washington Wizards (Feb. 21, 7 p.m. ET)
Earlier than the Bucks traded him to Washington forward of the commerce deadline earlier this month, Khris Middleton had been with Milwaukee since 2013-14, Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s rookie season. Bucks normal supervisor Jon Horst known as the commerce the hardest transfer of his profession. It represented the top of an period for a franchise icon who had been slowed by accidents this season. However buying Kyle Kuzma within the deal is one other effort by Milwaukee to maintain extending its championship window throughout Antetokounmpo’s prime. Time will inform whether or not the Bucks made the proper gamble, however Middleton could have a possibility to play in opposition to his 2020-21 championship teammates instantly after the All-Star break. — Jamal Collier
AD, LeBron reunite, and Luka returns to Dallas
Dallas Mavericks at Los Angeles Lakers (Feb. 25, 10 p.m. ET, TNT)
Lower than a month after Davis and Doni had been traded for one another, the Mavericks head to Los Angeles for a recreation that can lose lots of its luster if Davis is out. The massive man aggravated a left adductor damage in his Dallas debut after exhibiting out with 26 factors, 16 rebounds, 7 assists and three blocks and has been sidelined since. Lakers followers will certainly welcome him again with raucous applause, remembering him for his key contributions to the 2019-20 championship, nevertheless it simply will not be as impactful if he is not in uniform and taking part in in opposition to his former teammates. Max Christie, nonetheless, can even be making his return and will see a while defending Doni, which ought to trigger conflicting feelings from Lakers followers who embraced Christie whereas he developed in L.A. — Dave McMenamin
Los Angeles Lakers at Dallas Mavericks (April 9, 7:30 ET, ESPN)
That is definitely going to be probably the most surreal scenes we have seen within the league’s latest reminiscence. The Mavericks’ fan base will nonetheless be mourning the lack of Doni in probably the most stunning trades in NBA historical past. It is a strong guess that the overwhelming majority of individuals in attendance, even longtime Dallas followers, might be hoping to see an epic revenge efficiency from either side. The tribute video for Doni, assuming there may be one, might be an all-time awkward occasion because the followers have not seen him play in a Mavericks jersey since he acquired harm on Christmas Day. — Tim MacMahon
Japanese Convention finals matchup?
Cleveland Cavaliers at Boston Celtics (Feb 28, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
After dropping at house to the Celtics proper earlier than the NBA’s commerce deadline earlier this month, the Cavaliers made a daring transfer to get De’Andre Hunter from the Atlanta Hawks for a bundle together with Caris LeVert and Georges Niang. Cleveland simply might have stood pat amid its excellent common season, however getting a much bigger wing to go up in opposition to Celtics frontmen Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown was proof the Cavaliers have large ambitions. This recreation would be the first likelihood to see what Hunter can do in what simply might be the Japanese Convention finals matchup this spring. — Tim Bontemps
Chet vs. Wemby, Half 2
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at San Antonio Spurs (March 2, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN)
This matchup marks the fifth regular-season assembly between Chet Holmgren and Victor Wembanyama, and the previous owns a 3-1 head-to-head file.
When these 7-footers clashed again in October, Wembanyama scored a season-low six factors, marking the one time he has been restricted to single digits in 2024-25. Wembanyama’s lone win on this matchup got here final February, and though his supporting forged has improved by means of the Fox commerce, the Spurs nonetheless haven’t got OKC’s full energy.
Anticipate a tall order for Wembanyama as he’ll need to include Holmgren andIsaiah Hartenstein (who missed the primary recreation due to a hand damage) for this conflict. — Michael C. Wright
Fox returns to Sacramento
San Antonio Spurs vs. Sacramento Kings (March 7, 10 p.m. ET)
San Antonio emerged from the All-Star break sitting 3 video games behind the Kings within the Western Convention standings. So, whereas Fox’s return might be a subject of debate in Sacramento, it pales compared to the desperation the Spurs are beginning to really feel as spring approaches. San Antonio desires to make an actual push for the postseason, which is why it introduced in Chris Paul within the offseason and now Fox. Anticipate a spirited effort from Fox, who was drafted in 2017 by the Kings and spent his whole profession taking part in for that franchise however had not proven a willingness to commit long run to Sacramento and was traded to the Spurs the week of the commerce deadline. — Wright
MVP Conflict
Denver Nuggets at Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (March 9, 1 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN+, March 10, 8 p.m. ET)
That is the opener of a back-to-back between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander‘s Thunder and Nikola Jokic‘s Nuggets. May these video games issue into the MVP battle? Positive. However maybe extra intriguing is that this baseball sequence is a possible West finals preview, pitting the heavy favorites in opposition to a latest champion that’s arguably the Thunder’s largest challenger within the convention. The Nuggets had been most likely one of many groups in Sam Presti’s thoughts when the Thunder GM prioritized beefing up the roster over the offseason, wooing Hartenstein in free company to enhance fellow 7-footer Holmgren. — MacMahon
NBA Finals preview?
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder at Boston Celtics (March 12, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)
The Celtics are nonetheless behind the East-leading Cavaliers within the standings, however Boston and Oklahoma Metropolis stay the consensus favorites to face one another within the NBA Finals.
And whereas each groups did not make any main upgrades on the commerce deadline, Holmgren did not issue into the final matchup in early January when the Thunder pulled off a come-from-behind victory with a dominant fourth quarter.
If these two groups make it to the Finals, it will be fascinating to see them face off at full power, and we should always get a sneak peek of that in mid-March. — Bontemps
LaVine and DeRozan group up in opposition to Bulls
Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings (March 20, 10 p.m. ET)
The breakup between the Bulls and LaVine was drawn out for greater than a 12 months earlier than lastly concluding forward of the commerce deadline. LaVine is again taking part in with DeMar DeRozan in Sacramento after three seasons collectively in Chicago. In the meantime, the Bulls will try and rebuild with out the constraints they believed LaVine created for his or her roster (on the ground and due to his most wage). For now, either side are blissful and parted on good phrases, which ought to make the reunion cordial. However LaVine and the Bulls are going to be motivated to show themselves higher off with out the opposite. — Collier
The return of Jimmy Butler to the 305
Golden State Warriors at Miami Warmth (March 25, 7:30 p.m. ET)
When Butler met with the media for the primary time after his commerce from the Warmth, he made it abundantly clear how he felt to be on the Warriors and out of Miami. He repeatedly talked about how blissful he was to be with a group that needed him, about having pleasure once more on the courtroom and about having the ability to play his recreation. It is a good guess that when Butler returns to Miami, he’ll wish to remind the Warmth of what he appears to be like like when he is motivated and blissful. For the Warriors, Butler has been “a franchise changer,” as Draymond Inexperienced put it. In simply 4 video games together with his new group, he is averaging 21.3 factors and 5.3 assists. — Ohm Youngmisuk
Finest bets
With 30 video games left to play within the common season, what are the very best bets to make on award races and team-oriented futures?
Los Angeles Lakers to win Western Convention (+700)
Doni and LeBron James give the Lakers two elite offense creators, offering teammates extra alternatives to supply, together with Austin Reaves and Rui Hachimura. Whereas the Lakers have query marks within the center, they mitigate that by beginning a lineup that includes 4 gamers with energy ahead dimension (together with James and Doni) that may assist them stay sturdy on the glass even after they play small ball.— Andre Snellings
Golden State Warriors to win Western Convention (+1800)
Newcomer Butler certain appears to be like good as a Warrior, and the franchise will get younger Jonathan Kuminga again from damage quickly. Would it not be so stunning if Curry, Draymond and the brand new Warriors acquired sizzling on the proper time and shocked the Thunder or Nuggets? — Eric Karabell
Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder to win the championship (+230)
I picked the Thunder to win all of it earlier than the season began, and so they’ve fully lived as much as the hype, going 44-10, tying the Cavaliers for the very best file within the league. They’re younger and have two of the NBA’s finest gamers with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, and I merely do not see anybody beating them in a seven-game sequence. — Steve Alexander
Extra finest bets for the remainder of the common season
Key playoff races to observe
Japanese Convention
Solely six groups within the top-heavy Japanese Convention have profitable data — and considered one of them is Detroit, which hasn’t received a playoff recreation since 2008. Staying within the high six would clinch an automated playoff berth for Cade Cunningham‘s Pistons and certain enable them to keep away from going through the top-seeded Cavaliers or second-seeded Celtics within the first spherical.
However whereas the highest six groups seem like in strong form to remain forward of the play-in pack, there’s extra potential for motion behind them within the standings, as a gaggle of middling-at-best squads jostle for place. Amid a prolonged stoop, the Orlando Magic did not make any strikes on the commerce deadline, whereas the Hawks, Warmth and Bulls moved on from notable stars — however they’re all nonetheless in play-in spots as they exit the All-Star break. Even the Bulls, who’re on tempo for a 33-49 file, stay two video games forward of the injury-ravaged Philadelphia 76ers and semi-tanking Brooklyn Nets for the tenth seed.
That opens a door for Philadelphia to qualify for the postseason and try and salvage what has been a down season for Joel Embiid & Co. However the 76ers have misplaced 5 video games in a row and are working out of time to show issues round, irrespective of what number of second (and third, and fourth) probabilities they get. With all of the sub-.500 groups concerned, the East’s play-in race appears to be like extra like a slog than a dash. — Zach Kram
Western Convention
The Thunder are virtually assured to complete with the West’s finest file, however the convention’s different playoff seeds are up for grabs. Solely three video games separate the Grizzlies, Nuggets, Rockets and Lakers for the Nos. 2-5 seeds, which implies the distinction between home-court benefit within the first two rounds and no house courtroom in any respect. And solely 3 video games separate the Clippers, Timberwolves, Mavericks, Kings and Warriors for spots Nos. 6-10, with the Suns lurking shut behind in eleventh place.
Each win counts in such a crowded race, and one key distinction between the convention rivals is their remaining power of schedule: Minnesota and Golden State have the simplest slates, whereas the Suns and Kings should battle a brutal set of opponents down the stretch. The Mavericks have a neater schedule however should survive the absence of all their injured facilities to stay within the playoff hunt. With 11 groups battling for simply eight playoff berths, a number of groups with championship aspirations are assured to overlook the postseason.
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