NBA Midseason Updates

As every team within the National Basketball Association has approached its 42 game mark–the official midpoint of the regular season–we have seen how certain teams have prevailed and how others have fallen short. Some performances have been expected, while others have surprised viewers in every conference. All in all, the rest of the season will show what teams can sustain their superiority, and what teams may have simply gotten lucky. 

Among the Western Conference, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder lead with a 40-11 (win-loss) record as of February 4; no surprise there from the defending champions. Interestingly, though, the Indiana Pacers–the runners-up for last season’s championship–are ranked dead last in the Eastern Conference with 13 wins and 38 losses. The Detroit Pistons, led by Cade Cunningham, lead the East (with a record of 37-12), which is notable considering their notorious reputation from their historic 28-game losing streak only two seasons ago. 

We see characteristic performances from stars such as Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Steph Curry–but young stars are also making a name for themselves alongside the veterans. Luka Doncic leads the league in points per game at 33.4 (a big thank you from all who have him on their Fantasy rosters), followed by Tyrese Maxey and Anthony Edwards. Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, who were often compared during the former’s freshman year, are two top contenders for Defensive Player of the Year. In terms of current rookies, the most notable ones are Cooper Flagg for the Dallas Mavericks and Kon Knueppel for the Charlotte Hornets.

As of February 4, we have seen some notable trades before the midseason deadline on Thursday. In early January, Trae Young was traded to the Washington Wizards from the Atlanta Hawks–an end to Young’s seven seasons as a Hawk. Dennis Schroder was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, making him the second-most traded player in NBA history. Additionally, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Jaren Jackson Jr. and several other players to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Kyle Anderson, Walter Clayton Jr., two other forwards, and three draft picks. Perhaps the most relevant trade to me as a Clippers fan is the deal that sent James Harden to Cleveland for Darius Garland and a second-round pick.

Looking forward, my personal prediction is that the Thunder will continue to achieve success, but looking at their recent losses, their initial run that painted them as unstoppable may have just been a wave of confidence spilling over from last season’s victory. I see potential in teams like the Philadelphia 76ers; wherein a young star is paired with an eager rookie–which we see in Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe. Additionally, in terms of MVP voting, I predict Shai-Gilgeous Alexander will not win a second time; instead, that the race will be between Luka Doncic and Cade Cunningham. Finally, pertaining to the playoffs, I think that injuries will likely get the best of some of the currently dominating teams (a lot of them lack consistency in health) and a play-in team will make it in their place to the second round.

As the world of basketball is unpredictable and convoluted, it also promises an entertaining game almost every night and a full 82-game season to enjoy over the course of about half a year. The younger generation of players fulfills the former roles of legendary veterans and continues to provide audiences with intense gameplay and recognizable determination. The next three months of the regular season will surely be a dynamic and exciting time for all NBA fans!