As the National Basketball Association season has passed its halfway point and as the all-star break approaches, this year shapes up to be one of the most intriguing in recent history. This year, no team is considered a heavy favorite to win the NBA title, and parity abounds.
In the Eastern Conference, the Atlanta Hawks, holders of the best record in the league, are the biggest surprise of the year. Being hailed as the “Spurs of the East,” because of their team-oriented play, the Hawks are the first team to reach 40 wins, and they have done so without a superstar player. In an era where many teams hope to win by acquiring three stars – a concept referred to as a “big three” – the Hawks have managed to go on a 19-game win streak by relying on all their players. The question remains, however: Will the Hawks’ regular season success translate to success in the playoffs where great play from one star can determine the outcome of a series? Atlanta has been great so far, but the season continues for several months. With a system that is so team-oriented, an injury to any of the five starters could be catastrophic to Atlanta.
Speaking of big three’s, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who were one of the most disappointing teams in the first half of the season, seem to have figured out how to play together. Going into Wednesday’s game, the Cavaliers had won 11 consecutive games, one of them without LeBron James. Although the Cavs still have some problems to fix, such as getting Kevin Love more involved in the offense and getting more production from their bench, they will be one of the most interesting teams to watch going forward as LeBron looks to end Cleveland’s 50-year title drought. The success of the Cavs lies on the shoulders of James. He is the outspoken leader of the team. After sitting out for two weeks due to injury, LeBron has come back with a much stronger effort. More importantly, he is publically supporting rookie Head Coach David Blatt. James’ support of Blatt’s system, coupled with his renewed vigor, makes Cleveland one of the scariest teams in the east.
In the West, the race for the title is even more intense. The Golden State Warriors sit atop the standings with 37 wins and eight losses. Like the Hawks, several questions are yet to be answered about the Warriors. Head Coach Steve Kerr is in his first year with the team, and he has never coached in the playoffs. Regular season success is one thing, but winning in the playoffs is an entirely different task. Former Warriors’ Head Coach Mark Jackson led the team to successful regular seasons but failed to win in the playoffs. For Kerr’s first season to be considered a success, Golden State still has a lot to prove.
For teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, however, problems persist. The Thunder played in the Western Conference championship last year. This year, they are three games behind Phoenix, who holds the last playoff spot. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have had injuries, but injured players are not the only issue with the Thunder. Oklahoma City has acquired shooting guard Dion Waiters from the Cavaliers hoping to bolster its offensive, but Waiters has done little to help the team. If the Thunder cannot win a title this year, it will likely end the tenure of Head Coach Scott Brooks, who is yet to win a championship despite having talented teams. To stop Kevin Durant from leaving Oklahoma City and going to play in Washington, D. C., the Thunder need to start winning. The roster needs to be improved, and consistent effort needs to be put forward every night. The Thunder are far too talented to fall short of making the playoffs.
In a season where the Miami Heat is no longer the team to beat, the NBA is having one of its most interesting seasons. Teams that were considered title contenders have underperformed, and teams with less star power are leading the standings. As the season progresses and the playoffs begin, the NBA title is up for grabs.
