With the NFL season ending, some fans may find their sports lives empty and choose to follow a different league such as the NBA. However, the NBA season has already gone past its mid-way point and fans may need to do some catching up on the latest news around the league. Sports Illustrated recently released NBA cliff notes that can help any fan catch up with what is happening in the NBA since the previous season.
Firstly, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are still the favorites for each of their respective conferences. Looking to make it to a third NBA Finals matchup, these two teams are head and shoulders above the rest of the pack in each conference and look to settle the one-one record they have over the last two NBA Finals. Though this is something you have to wait for until June to see if it materializes.
Following the departure of Kevin Durant from Oklahoma City, Russell Westbrook is going on rampage, racking up triple doubles like they were layups. He now currently has 25 for the season with 30 games left to go; on pace to match the NBA record set by Oscar Robertson in 1962 with 41 triple doubles as per Interbasket.net. He is also on pace to average a triple double for a regular season, a feat not seen in the NBA since, well, Oscar Robertson.
However, James Harden is the heavy favourite for MVP this season. Harden himself is averaging a near triple double and has helped propel the Houston Rockets to have the third best record in the league while Oklahoma City sits at 11th in the league (Complete standings on ESPN.com). Another development that could potentially be a game changing news for a team is that Carmelo Anthony might get traded.
The New York Knick Forward has been embroiled in a public feud with Knicks president Phil Jackson for most of the season as per Sports Illustrated's report. He was even offered to the Cavaliers in exchange for Kevin Love, but the Cavs graciously declined the offer. As the trade deadline nears, people are anxious to see if Melo finds himself on a new team by March.
Isaiah Thomas, probably the smallest player in the league at the moment is averaging the most points put up in the fourth quarter for this season with 10.7 a night. This has helped the Boston Celtics earn the second best record in the East. While another Eastern Conference Story is Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Embiid, who has been sidelined for the first two seasons of his career has made a grand entrance into the NBA. He averages 20.2 points and 7.8 rebounds a game as per Basketball Reference, and has completely changed the worst team in the NBA into a, somewhat, competitive team. Considering they are also awaiting the return of number one Draft Pick Ben Simmons, the future looks bright for the 76ers.
Sports Illustrated also cited a few note worthy revalations around the NBA. Head coaches Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr always have something smart to say. The San Antonio Spurs are still really good. The Miami Heat, one of the worst teams in the league currently have a 10-game winning streak. The Chicago Bulls are a total mess. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic has become one of the league's mos exciting young players. Lastly, the teams that areare sneaky good and/or fun are the Jazz, Wizards, Grizzlies, Nuggets while the teams that have disappointed are Trail Blazers, Pistons, Hornets, Timberwolves.
