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The NBA All-Star Game is over. Now the real fun begins as the playoffs draw closer and teams are looking to take another step to become a better team overall.
There has been a lot of madness that has occurred through the first few months of the NBA season. From James Harden being traded to Brooklyn to Anthony Davis’s injury forcing him onto the sidelines, there hasn't been a slow day where there isn't a topic to discuss.
Here are some of the biggest storylines to follow for the second half of the NBA season:
Blake Griffin with the Nets
Griffin has been in the news for over a month now. As the Detroit Pistons are going into rebuild mode, 31-year-old Griffin was looked to be shipped immediately. Luckily, Griffin and the Pistons were able to agree on a buyout, which allowed him to sign with the Brooklyn Nets.
It has not been the best season statistically for Griffin. The six-time all-star is averaging a career-low 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds. The stat that stand out is his field goal percentage sitting at 36%. Griffin’s game has gotten off to a slow start and has nearly plummeted his on-court production. As Griffin looks to rejuvenate his career, playing in Brooklyn will allow him to play in a comfortable role.
Playing with three other All-Stars will allow Griffin free rein to operate on offense and be a pick-and-roll player with any of the Nets trio of playmakers. He will certainly get open looks as the defense will become more occupied with the greater offensive threats. Witt the Nets as one of the favorites to win the NBA title at the end of this season, there is still hope for redemption from the star power forward.
Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons: Health Watch
The two Sixers’ stars were forced to miss Sunday night’s All-Star game due to contact tracing. The barber that both Embiid and Simmons both used tested positive for COVID-19. Although both players reportedly tested negative before heading back to Philadelphia, there still could be a possibility that the two will miss some time for their team.
Embiid has had an MVP caliber season for Philadelphia. He has played with a chip on his shoulder each game and has carried over to the rest of his teammates. Simmons has also continued to lead the way as the point guard for the Sixers. He is currently in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year and ranks in the top 10 for steals this season.
Even if they do come out with a clean bill of health, here's to hoping that the oft-injured stars can stay relatively healthy as their continue to rule atop the Eastern Conference.
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Victor Oladipo trade
The March 25 trade deadline is approaching soon. As Victor Oladipo has shown unhappiness with his tenure in Houston, there is a high possibility for Oladipo to be shipped to a contending roster.
There are a few teams who could use Oladipo’s presence on their roster. Teams like New York, Miami, and others look to climb the playoff race and get better in the second half of the season. Oladipo is a player that brings energy on both ends of the floor with his scoring and perimeter defense. His high-caliber play can become a big contribution to the right culture.
Victor Oladipo is no longer the All-NBA talent that he once was a few seasons ago. But his sheer talent can turn a team on the fence into an instant contender. Where he ends up will bring about a power shift in the second half of the NBA season.
Are the Jazz for real?
The Utah Jazz have been the toast of the NBA for the first half of the season so far. They have the league's best record at 27-9 and have the best point differential by far with a +8.8, a usually reliable indicator of team strength. Although 36 games is a pretty large sample size, it's going to be interesting to see how they perform for the next 36 contests.
They're going to have a pretty huge target on their backs as the top regular season team record-wise. There's been a ton of testiness that's surrounded their team heading into the All-Star break. Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert were punished complaining about a lack of respect from the referees after their overtime loss to the Sixers. LeBron James gave a half-hearted explanation for why their stars were picked last during the All-Star Game draft.
It'll be interesting to see how this Jazz squad responds to all that spicy beef.
