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The 2018-19 NBA season is half over in terms of the number of games played. Midway through, there are still questions about which teams are serious contenders and which teams can or won’t make the playoffs.
Some teams have already separated themselves from the pack and are clear playoff contenders. They are favored to go deep into the playoff season when it begins in April. Some teams are already considered lottery pick worthy with the price for mediocrity and a poor won-loss record being the addition of a talent like Zion Williamson from Duke University.
There are teams stuck in the middle who still need to make their move to prove they belong in the playoff picture. Some teams that are expected to be in the playoff mix like the Minnesota Timberwolves have already fallen out of the picture and traded away Jimmy Butler who was instrumental in their playoff appearance last year.
Teams like the New Orleans Pelicans another playoff team last year are on the outside of the playoff this year. They may be looking to trade their star, Anthony Davis. Here is a quick look at five NBA teams that are on the rise and have a great shot at being a factor in the NBA playoffs.
#1 The Brooklyn Nets
Every year, come playoff time in the NBA there is usually one 7th or 8th seed in the Western or the Eastern Conference that catches a top-seeded team by surprise. The Brooklyn Nets are just such a team this season. They are a young hard-working team.
They keep playing even when they are as sloppy as they were Friday, January 11th, 2018 against the Raptors in a 122-105 loss. The Raptors head coach Nick Nurse had to call a 4th quarter time out after his subs nearly blew a huge lead giving the Nets hope. The Nets coughed up 17 turnovers and shot just 42% from the field.
However, the Nets used a 106-105 victory over the Raptors on December 7th, 2018 to start a 7 game winning streak. They have also won 13 and lost only 5 games since that game in Brooklyn. Currently sitting 7th in the East, the Nets hold victories over Toronto, Philadelphia, the LeBron James led Lakers and the West-leading Nuggets.
They have played a series of close games against playoff teams from last season like the Rockets and Pacers. A first-round match-up with the Nets is dangerous if the opponent does not bring their A game every single game of the series.
#2 The Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets had a mediocre 4-6 start to the season following last season’s 65 wins. General Manager Daryl Morey got desperate and offered Minnesota four first round picks for Jimmy Butler.
The offer was rejected and Butler got traded to Philadelphia. Free agent signing Carmelo Anthony was sent home in November, defensive coaching mastermind Jeff Bdzelik was brought back out of retirement, and the Rockets are now in blast-off mode.
Their current record is 24-17. This means they have gone 20-11 since the slow start. As of play on Sunday, January 13th, 2019, the Rockets have won 8 of their last 10 games. It also helps when they have a perennial MVP candidate in James Harden who has been electric and is on a stretch of 14 games with 30 or more points scored.
Point guard Chris Paul is out of the lineup nursing a hamstring pull until the end of January, Therefore, the Rockets will need to lean on Harden for results. The “Beard” is always capable of delivering. The Rockets now sit 5th in the Western Conference standings and are on the rise.
#3 The Indiana Pacers
The talk of the Eastern Conference this season have been the Boston Celtics, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Milwaukee Bucks, and the Toronto Raptors. The Celtics have been somewhat disappointing sitting 5th overall in the Eastern Conference.
The other three teams have produced. However, the Indiana Pacers have quietly put together a solid 28-14 record and sit just 3 games behind the Raptors for 3rd overall in the Eastern Conference.
Since returning from injury against the Bucks on December 12th, 2018, Victor Olapido, last season’s MIP has been a significant contributor to the Pacers success The Pacers are 11-4 since Olapido’s return.
During that stretch, they have secured wins against the Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers. In a pair of losses to the Raptors during that time, they played the Raptors tough losing both games by a total of 18 points. This is an average of 9 points per game or each loss or it those games came down to three possession.
#4 The San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs made a mega deal in the offseason to bring DeMar DeRozan and Jacob Poeltl to San Antonio while sending Danny Green and Kawhi Leonard to the Toronto Raptors. In so doing, the Spurs shook up their roster in a significant way. They also had to prepare for a season without point guard Dejounte Murray after he tore his right ACL and star point guard Tony Parker signed in free agency with Charlotte.
It has taken a while for the Spurs to gel as a unit but its starting to happen. The Spurs are 7-3 in their last ten games. They are currently 7th in the Western Conference. DeMar DeRozan continues his trend of getting better every year.
While his scoring average is 22.1ppg., he has gotten involved more in games by upping his rebounds per game to his highest career level of 6.2rpg. In light of the absence of Tony Parker and the injury to Murray, DeRozan has been a distributor for the Spurs setting up teammates to the tune of 6.4apg. also a career high for him.
Greg Popovich always finds ways to make good players great and he is getting great performances out of DeRozan. Expect the Spurs to be a factor in the playoffs out West.
#5 The Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz had a mediocre start to their season going 11-9. They even suffered the humiliation of a 118-68. It was a 50 point loss to the Dallas Mavericks. However, the Jazz is currently 9th in the Western Conference. They are also 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Jazz has a record of 23-21 overall.
Donovan Mitchel the 2018 Rookie of the Year has put up solid numbers once again this season but hasn't really improved. His stats through 40 games this season are very similar to last season. However, a 21.3 ppg. scoring average is nothing to dismiss as well.
The Jazz also added sharpshooter Kyle Korver in a deal with Cleveland. In 22 games with the Jazz, Korver is playing in just over 19.4 minutes per game and has a 9.3ppg. average. Korver is also connecting on his three-pointers at 39.7% clip for Utah.
The Jazz’s frontcourt is strong with Rudy Gobert providing a double-double with 14.7ppg. and a 12.5rpg. average. Gobert is also blocking 2 shots per game at the defensive end. Derrick Favors is always steady if unspectacular with an 11.5ppg. average and 7.1rpg. There is just too much talent for the Jazz not to find a way into the playoffs.
