All-Star Weekend means one thing: we’re moving into the homestretch of the 2017-18 NBA season. There’s been plenty to talk about so far – from injuries to rookie surprises, and enough LeBron drama to keep ESPN occupied for a lifetime.
It’s a league that’s built on the backs of highly publicised players that never fail to make headlines. All the gossip and storylines are sure to pick up steam in the second half, so here’s what to look out for.
Ben Simmons (76ers) vs. Donovan Mitchell (Jazz) for Rookie Of the Year
After sitting out his first year, the 2016 first overall selection, Ben Simmons, is not disappointing this season. Simmons is scoring 16.4 points per game and leads all rookies in rebounds (7.8) and assists (7.3) per contest. He has also joined Magic Johnson as the only rookies to have six triple-doubles in a season. 2017’s 13th overall pick, Donovan Mitchell, doesn’t have any triple-doubles, but many think he’s the clubhouse leader for ROY.
The case to be made for Donovan Mitchell over Ben Simmons is that Mitchell is the “go-to scorer” on a red-hot team. Mitchell’s Jazz have won 11 straight and he’s one of the main contributors to their impressive run. His 19.6 ppg is superior to Simmons and he’s a far better free throw and 3-point shooter. We all know jump shots aren’t Simmons cup of tea and these two players have completely different styles. It’ll be interesting to see which style of play ends up winning the ROY: the well-rounded Simmons or the go-to guy in Mitchell.
The Lakers and Lonzo Ball
Is this team better without the heir to the Big Baller Brand? It’s hardly contested that last year’s second overall pick has been underwhelming thus far. Lonzo is averaging just 10 points per game on 35% shooting, and has sat out the last 15 games due to an MCL injury. Many think the Lakers are being conservative with his return because, quite frankly, they play better without him. Regardless of how his season ends, Lonzo, BBB, his dad, and his monotone music are sure to continue making plenty of noise.
The MVP Race
With just about 25 games left in the regular season, the MVP race is still fairly tight. The current top five candidates are James Harden (Rockets), Kevin Durant (Warriors), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Lebron James (Cavaliers), and Russell Westbrook (Thunder).
Harden (31.3 Pts, 5.1 Reb, 9 Ast) is this year’s frontrunner for the coveted award. If he can stay healthy and maintain his scoring ways then he’ll have a great chance at nabbing his first MVP.
Also in the West, are Warriors’ Durant (26 Pts, 6.8 Reb, 5.5 Ast) and Curry (26.6 Pts, 5.2 Reb, 6.5 Ast). The Rockets currently have the number one spot in the West, which should provide these two Warriors with all the motivation they’ll need to play at their highest level (and maybe earn an MVP in the process).
This contest is nothing new to James (26.5 Pts, 8.1 Reb, 8.9 Ast), who’s already won the award four times. His new and improved Cavs might help him earn a fifth.
Last year’s MVP, Westbrook (25.4 Pts, 9.4 Reb, 10.4 Ast), is back in the running. His new teammate, Paul George, may be stealing some from his stat lines, but if OKC can stay relevant down the stretch with Russell at the helm, then a second consecutive title isn’t completely out of the question.
Lebron’s New and Improved Cavaliers
In the span of little more than an hour, the Cavs made three deals that may have resurrected a season and reshaped a franchise. Up until that point, it wasn’t looking pretty for Cleveland. Their team was underperforming while their star brooded and prepped for another theatrical offseason exit. Then the trade deadline happened. In a flurry of moves, the Cavs traded away Dwayne Wade, Isaiah Thomas, Channing Frye, Derrick Rose, Jae Crowder, Iman Shumpert, and a couple picks. In return, they received Jordan Clarkson, Larry Nance Jr., George Hill, and Rodney Hood.
What’s happened since? So far so good for the Cavs. They’ve won three straight, looked good while doing it, and Lebron’s smiling again, which always calms the nerves of Clevelanders. A chaotic hour changed the entire landscape of what Cleveland has to offer. Now James has three months to put it all together.
Race for the Number One Seed in the East and West
In the East, it’s currently the Toronto Raptors (41-16) duking it out with the Boston Celtics (40-19) for the number one spot. Boston was comfortably atop the standings for most of the season, but some recent struggles have allowed Toronto to take advantage with a 7-game tear. Right now it’s neck and neck between those two, but as always… watch out for them Cavs. They’re refurbished, revamped, and only 6.5 games back. The race to the finish for these three teams is sure to be a close one.
For the West, it’s looking like a Houston Rockets (44-13) and Golden State Warriors (44-14) showdown. No surprise there. Well, I’m sure not many expected the Rockets to have a slight edge over the Warriors heading into the All-Star break. A current 10-game win streak helps with that. But if last year taught us anything about the Warriors, it’s that Durant, Curry, Thomas, and Green are simply too much to hold off for long. For the sake of entertainment let’s hope the Rockets keep winning, but it’s shaping up to be another first seed finish for the Warriors.
