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At the midway point of this NBA season in terms of games played the playoff picture due to start in April is not complete. There are a number of teams in the middle of the pack that can surge up the standings or plummets out into lottery pick territory.
For the moment, teams like New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, and the Atlanta Hawks have a lock on the top draft picks in the 2019 NBA Draft. There has been a fair amount of parity in the Association this year.
Out West, only 6.5 games separate the Conference-leading Nuggets from 9th place Utaz Jazz. In the Eastern Conference, only six games separate the Conference-leading Raptors from the 5th place Boston Celtics. Here is a look at five teams that will miss the playoffs this season.
#1 The Washington Wizards
The Wizards were a playoff team last season giving the Raptors fits in a 6 game series that the Raptors eventually won in the first round. The Wizard the past few seasons have been able to boast about having one of the best guard tandems in the league with John Wall and Bradley Beal. However, that tandem has not really led Washington anywhere.
Earlier this season Washington management made it clear that the entire roster was available for trade. The Wizards have already traded young player Kelly Oubre Jr. to Phoenix for Trevor Ariza. The Wizards are currently 18-26 on the season and 4-6 in their last 10 games including a loss Sunday, January 13th, 2019 to the Raptors.
Also hampering the Washington franchise is after moving on from Marcin Gortat at center his replacement Dwight Howard has suffered back problems and required back surgery for the second time in his career.
Howard isn't expected to return to the team until sometime in February or March, Howard has only played in 9 games this season for Washington. Another issue is the injury to John Wall. He is out for the season with a sore left heel which will take between 6-8 months to heal.
#2 The New Orleans Pelicans
A playoff team last season the Pelicans are 20-23 this season and are the third worst team in the Western Conference. They are 5-5 in their last ten games going into play Sunday night.
General manager Dell Demps has a huge problem on his hands. His star player Anthony Davis has an opt-out clause in his contract this summer. It means with the Pelicans struggling Demps may have to move Anthony Davis before the trade deadline. If that is the decision, then the Pelicans are almost certainly in rebuild mode immediately.
If trading Anthony Davis is not the choice, then the Pelicans risk losing Davis in the summer and will still most likely miss the playoffs this season. For his part, Davis is putting in an MVP effort regardless of the situation. He averages 28.9ppg., 13.3rpg, and 2.6bpg. for this season. The Pelicans are in a bad situation whether it's regarding Davis’ contract or the number of wins on the court.
#3 The Minnesota Timberwolves
A playoff team just last season the Timberwolves find themselves 11th overall in the Western Conference. They have a record of 21-22 and are 6-4 in their last ten games. The Timberwolves began the season with the Jimmy Butler drama. He wanted a new deal and was eventually traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. In return, the T-Wolves got Dario Saric, Robert Covington, and Jerryd Bayless.
However, the T-Wolves have been inconsistent ever since. Initial analysis of this deal appeared to favor the T-wolves as Covington is a sixth man who could start for a number of teams in the Association.
Covington is also a lockdown defender. Saric provides good production offensively and is averaging 10.2 ppg in 23mpg with Minnesota. The T-Wolves also went 9-3 shortly after the deal and appeared to be on the rise. However, they have fallen back out of the playoff picture. The Timberwolves have also fired their head coach and president of basketball operations Tom Thibodeau as of January 6th, 2019.
#4 The Detroit Pistons
The Pistons had a strong start to the season. The Pistons now have Dwane Casey as their new head coach. He is considered a defensive mastermind and was last year’s coach of the year. The Piston started the season 14-6. Since then, the Pistons are 4-17.
They are 18-23 overall going into play on Sunday, the Pistons’ are 3-7 in their last 10 games and find themselves 9th in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons’ losses and wins have come in streaks all season long. They have not been consistent and their place in the standings show that.
Center Andre Drummond has provided the Pistons with a double-double at 16.8ppg. and 15rpg. Blake Griffin acquired from the Clippers last season has been outstanding scoring 25.6ppg. and averaging 8.3rpg. Detroit is 24th in points scored at 106.9ppg. and 29th in the Association in field goal percentage at 43.5%.
Detroit’s opponents score 109.7ppg. and shoot the 4th highest percentage in the NBA at 47.3%. Dwane Casey does not seem to be getting his defensive message through to his new team or the Pistons just don’t have the players to lock down opponents.
#5 The Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James makes any team better. However, the Lakers are not a playoff worthy team. They were as high as 4th overall in the Western Conference as recently as Christmas Day. Since then, a groin injury to LeBron James and a 4-6 record in their last 10 games has the Lakers half a game ahead of the Jazz for the 8th and final playoff spot.
LeBron could easily put this team on his back and lead it to the playoffs but he can’t afford any more injuries as the Lakers are flawed. At the center spot, they feature JaVale McGee backed up by Tyson Chandler. Chandler at 37 years old was signed for the remainder of the season because the options to back up McGee were not suitable. However, Chandler is averaging 3.2ppg. in 19.4 minutes per game.
Lonzo Ball is averaging less of everything in his sophomore season than in his rookie year. His points, assists, minutes, and rebounds are at lower averages than last season. His shooting percentage is higher at 40.1% and his three-point field goal percentage is 2.5% higher than last season at 33%.
With the parity of talent in the western conference, LeBron will have to return from injury soon. He will need to provide the Lakers with MVP efforts, as often as possible, for the rest of the season to keep the Lakers in the playoff picture.
