The NBA is now at the All-Star Break. The first half of the season was a wild one, to say the least. Both the Eastern and Western Conferences have been competitive, the MVP conversation has constantly changed, some teams have entered the break with an impressive string of victories, some teams are falling below expectations, etc. This article will cover the most surprising team, the most disappointing team, the MVP so far, and more.
NBA Midseason Review
Most Surprising Team: Indiana Pacers
The Pacers are currently the 5th seed in the Eastern Conference, sporting an overall record of 33-25. They have won seven of their last ten games heading into the break. They are lead by All-Star shooting guard, Victor Oladipo, who is averaging 24.4 points per game thus far. Many expected the Pacers to fall flat after they traded Paul George to the Oklahoma City Thunder. But so far, they have proved doubters wrong. Their next three games out of the All-Star Break are against the Atlanta Hawks (twice) and the Dallas Mavericks. The Pacers have a chance to climb even higher.
Honorable Mentions: Toronto Raptors, Utah Jazz
Most Disappointing Team: Thunder
Speaking of the Thunder, they have been the most disappointing team so far. They finished the first half of the season with a record of 33-26, which places them 5th in the Western Conference. Many expected this team to provide competition for the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Chemistry has been questionable at best. Entering the season, Russell Westbrook, George and Carmelo Anthony were ranked in the top ten in points off isolation plays. They are ranked 26th overall in the NBA in assists per game (21.1). Most of the blame can be placed on Westbrook. Although he ranks number one in assists (10.4), he is also averaging 21.5 shot attempts per game, which leads all point guards. Westbrook must dial back his game a bit in order for the team to reach their full potential.
Honorable Mentions: Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards
Handing out Hardware
MVP: James Harden
Milwaukee Bucks‘ forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was the early favorite but things have changed. The leading candidate for MVP right now is Houston Rockets guard James Harden. Despite missing seven games due to injury, Harden is leading the NBA in scoring with 31.3 points per game. He is second in assists (9.0). He has led the Rockets to the best record in the NBA (44-13). Last year, Harden finished behind Westbrook in MVP voting. If he and the Rockets maintain the top record until the end, Harden will finally break through and take the trophy.
Honorable Mentions: LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Rookie of the Year: Donovan Mitchell
Ben Simmons started as the heavy favorite and deservedly so. He has proven to be everything the NBA world says he is. But recently, a new candidate has emerged. Utah Jazz shooting guard Donovan Mitchell has taken over the conversation. During the Jazz’s impressive eleven game winning streak, Mitchell has led the team in scoring, averaging 22.0 points per game. Overall, he averages 19.6, which leads all rookies. He also leads all rookies in three-pointers made per game (2.3) and his three-point percentage is tied for 10th. To put the cherry on top, Mitchell was the winner of the 2018 Slam Dunk Contest.
Honorable Mentions: Simmons, Kyle Kuzma, Jayson Tatum
Conference Outlooks
Eastern Conference
The East has gone through a three-team carousel. The Cavaliers started as the preseason favorite. Then, the Boston Celtics took over, posting a record of 30-10 from October to December before faltering, going 10-9 since January. Now, the Toronto Raptors with a record of 41-16, which includes a seven-game winning streak, are the leaders. But, the race is far from over. The Cavaliers have gone on a tear recently, ending the first half of the season on a four-game winning streak. They seem to have had a bounce in their step since the NBA Trade Deadline. Although the Celtics have struggled recently, they are only two games out of first place. Things will not be easy for those three teams the rest of the way.
Western Conference
As expected, the Rockets and Warriors have separated themselves from the pack. Both teams have 44 wins and have a firm grip on the first two seeds. The competition lies in spots three through eight. The current 8-seed, the New Orleans Pelicans are only three games behind the 3rd seed, the San Antonio Spurs. If the Spurs lose their next game, against the Denver Nuggets, they could fall to fourth place. The Minnesota Timberwolves currently hold the 4th seed. They would have to win their next game, versus the Rockets to move up. The Pelicans have to watch their backs. The Los Angeles Clippers are only a half game away from overtaking the 8th seed. The Jazz are hot behind their tails, only 1.5 games behind. Both the Clippers and Jazz are not far from the 6th and 7th seeds, which are held currently by the Denver Nuggets and Portland Trailblazers respectively. As always, the West is highly competitive. Expect the fight to continue until the very end of this season.
Main Photo:
James Harden is the favorite for MVP at the midpoint of the NBA season. (Photo by Mohammed Elshamy/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
