NBA storylines headed into final games: Who wins MVP? Makes … – USA TODAY

The last 6 1/2 weeks of the NBA season are established up for a wild, exciting trip with a lot at stake.Coming out of the All-Star break with the resumption of action on Thursday, groups have 21-24 video games continuing to be on their routine.
Denver is attempting to hold back Memphis for the front runner in the Western Seminar. Boston has enjoyed and also earned a view from the top of the East for the majority of the period. Yet Milwaukee as well as Philly are appropriate behind. And also the three groups have several neck and neck matches: Philadelphia plays both Boston and Milwaukee twice, as well as Milwaukee and also Boston play each various other once.Not just are leading seeds at stake, playoff seeds and also places are up for grabs. Twenty-six teams (13 in the East, 13 in the West) are in the postseason mix. Just six video games different third area from 13th location in the West, as well as 9 game different 5th area from 12th place in the East.Get ready.Follow every
video game: Newest NBAScores as well as Timetables Here are the top storylines headed right into the stretch run: Once more, it’s a wonderful group headlining the NBA MVP race(in alphabetical order): Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas’Luka Doncic, Philly’s Joel Embiid, Denver’s Nikola Jokic as well as Boston’s Jayson Tatum.Jokic is attempting to become the fourth player to win three successive MVP awards, signing up with Larry Bird (1984-86), Wilt Chamberlain (1966-68)and also Costs Russell (1961-63 ). Bird is the just one to win 3 in a row in a vote figured out by media. Players voted when Russell as well as Chamberlain won.If the Nuggets complete as the top seed in the West(they’re 5 games ahead of second-place Mem), it’s mosting likely to be challenging to overlook Jokic’s case, specifically if he completes with a triple-double standard. He is at 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds and also 10.1 helps as well as shooting 63.2% from the field and 39.1%on 3-pointers. The theory is that no one intends to play LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs. But can the Lakers even get there?LeBron James hasn’t missed out on the playoffs for 2 consecutive periods considering that his very first 2 in the organization– nearly 20 years of normal playoff looks, including 10 journeys to the Finals. Will certainly he miss out on the playoffs for the second successive year again?James just called the Lakers’remaining games one of the most vital 23 regular-season games of his occupation. The Lakers are in 13th location at 27-32 but just 2 video games behind Oklahoma City for an area in the play-in games. They have a great deal of work to do as well as not much time to do it. James is relying on Anthony Davis and also trade-deadline purchases D’Angelo Russell, Rui Hachimura, Malik Beasley and also Jarred Vanderbilt to push the Lakers into the postseason. The Lakers have the 25th most convenient remaining schedule, according to tankathon.com.Phoenix trading for Kevin Durant and also Dallas obtaining Kyrie Irving at the trade target date improved the equilibrium of the league and made it that far more difficult to win the West.The Suns reached the NBA Finals in 2021, shed in the meeting finals last period after establishing a franchise record with 64 regular-season success as well as remain in fifth location appearing of the break. With Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and also Deandre Ayton, the Suns have an eruptive infraction. Yet they also lost deepness in the trade.Doncic as well as Irving make the Mavs even a lot more harmful offensively, and while Dallas and also Phoenix will certainly be able to outscore teams in a lot of video games, they will certainly need quits at some point on protection, which is the biggest problem dealing with both teams.The Nuggets have been in initial place considering that Dec. 20 as well as are 22-7 ever since. With Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Doorperson Jr. and a deep lineup that has the Nuggets with the No. 1 infraction as well as No. 13 protection, the Nuggets are for real.Memphis has been right there with Denver near the top of the West standings. The Grizzlies are ascending– first-round loss in 2021, meeting semifinals loss in 2022– and ready to take the following action with Ja Morant as well as Jaren Jackson Jr. The depth in the West offers a strong challenge, and exactly how the Grizzlies respond will be watched.Philadelphia hasn’t been to the Eastern Seminar finals and NBA Finals since Allen Iverson’s days in 2000-01. With Joel Embiid and also James Harden and the way the 76ers have played because December, they are a contender.Yet the top of the East is packed. Boston, the defending conference champion, is 42-17, and Milwaukee, the 2021 NBA champ, is 41-17. Celtics ahead Tatum and also Bucks onward Antetokounmpo are MVP prospects in addition to Embiid.Boston as well as Philly are No. 3 as well as No. 6 offensively, and the Bucks are No. 2 defensively and enhancing offensively in the last month, winning 12 successive games headed into the All-Star break.Don’t rest on Cleveland either. The Cavs have an All-NBA prospect in Donovan Mitchell and also have a top-10 crime( No. 10)and also defense (No. 1). The NBA and National Basketball Athletes Organization(gamers union)prolonged their deadline to choose out of the present cumulative bargaining contract until March 31. Talking at All-Star Weekend, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and also NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio expressed interest in consenting to the structure of a bargain already, as well as Silver claimed he was enthusiastic that would certainly happen.With basketball-related income rising as well as the organization setup sights on a new television bargain that will certainly benefit both owners and also gamers, both sides wish to get a deal done. The split of money isn’t the big issue, so that aids as the league and union discuss other concerns such as curbing teams’high-end tax bills, age-limit and also load management.
There shouldn’t be the kind of difference that results in a lockout.Follow NBA press reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt
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