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The NBA 2019-20 season is flying by, as the second half of the campaign is underway. All-Star Weekend came and went, and now it is crunch time, as teams around the league gear up for the playoffs.
Throughout the season, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks have been the top teams of their respective conferences. The Bucks have already clinched a playoff birth, and currently have a record of 50-8, which is also the best in the entire league. The Lakers have a record of 44-12 and have a comfortable lead over other Western Conference teams.
The Bucks and Lakers are most likely set as the top seeds of their conferences, but the playoff race gets more exciting with the teams chasing them in both conferences.
In the West, teams such as the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, and the Utah Jazz are playoff-bound and are fighting for a seed. If the Nuggets keep playing at a high level, they could remain the second seed of the West come playoff time. And teams such as the Clippers and Rockets could fall anywhere from the 3rd to 6th seed.
On the other hand, teams like the Celtics and Heat are chasing the Bucks. These teams are nearly a lock for the playoffs, and fans will see them in exciting series', as some of these teams match up at some point in the playoffs.
There are several playoff-bound teams whose stars are playing at a high level. However, there are a few exceptions. There are some players who are playing extremely well, but their teams' records do not reflect their performance. There are a few players that are having great seasons and deserve to be in the playoffs. But that may not happen. Here are five Western Conference players who deserve to be in the playoffs.
#5 Zion Williamson
The New Orleans Pelicans are a rebuilding team, and it shows (at times). And while they are not out of the playoff picture just yet, it is safe to say the Memphis Grizzlies or Portland Trail Blazers have a better shot. Regardless, the Pelicans have been the subject of conversation (or at least one of their players) as rookie Zion Williamson has made his return from a meniscus injury.
Since his return, Williamson averages 23.3 points, and 7.1 rebounds, while shooting 57.3 percent from the field. Williamson is arguably the first player since LeBron James to come into the league with so much hype. And, so far, he has lived up to it.
Williamson tallied a career-high 31 points earlier this month in a win over the Blazers, just to surpass it the next day with 32 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Williamson is an exceptional athlete who has a knack for rim shaking dunks and incredible blocks. He is a special player that the league will talk about for years to come.
A playoffs with Zion Williamson is something I think we'd all want to see (admit it), but we will just have to wait for a few more years.
#4 Karl-Anthony Towns
Before suffering a wrist injury that will leave him out for two weeks, Karl-Anthony Towns was having the best season of his career (stat-wise). Towns is averaging a career-high in points with 26.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists (another career-high). While Towns has played only 35 games this season (compared to not missing a game in his first three seasons), what he's done when on the court has been impressive.
The Timberwolves are on their way to another lottery pick, as they have a record of 17-40, but not all hope is lost. They traded for one of Town's best friends in D'Angelo Russell and picked up Malik Beasley, who has played well since his arrival in Minnesota. Towns is out for a few weeks but will hopefully return before the end of the season.
Towns and the Timberwolves have only made the playoffs once in his career, but what he's done this season (and could do more if healthy) is noteworthy and shows he deserves to be in the playoffs.
#3 Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield is a player that not everyone may be familiar with, but his game cannot be ignored. He is a talented shooting guard who can score and shoot (from deep) with ease.
Hield averages 20.1 points per game this season, which is only 0.6 points away from his career-best 20.7. Hield has played 57 games this season but has started in 44 of them. There are times where he came off the bench, including a game against the Spurs, where he scored 31 points off the bench earlier this month.
He also had 42 points while making nine three-pointers in an overtime win over the Timberwolves in January. He dedicated the game to his idol Kobe Bryant, who sadly passed away the day before.
Hield scored 20 of his points in the fourth quarter while shooting 6-for-6 from the field. It was an excellent performance that shows what the young guard is capable of.
The Kings will most likely miss the playoffs this season, but regardless Hield manages to give it his all when he's on the court.
#2 Devin Booker
Devin Booker is a young star in the making, and he continues to show it every year. The 23-year-old guard is averaging 26.1 points (0.3 points away from his career-best) and shooting 48.9 percent from the field.
Booker is a great offensive player, who can have a hot shooting night nearly at will. He is the franchise player for the Suns' young core, and he has embraced that role. And, he is getting a bit of recognition for it.
Booker was nearly snubbed from the All-Star team (in fact, he was snubbed initially) but made the it after Damian Lillard suffered an injury that kept him out of the game. Booker became a NBA All-Star for the first time, and it was well deserved.
The future looks bright for Booker, and while he won't get his first taste of the playoffs this season, the Suns will hopefully get closer.
#1 Damian Lillard
It is nearly unfathomable to think that Damian Lillard could miss the playoffs this season. Last season, the Blazers made the Western Conference finals after an incredible shot from Lillard in the first round against the Thunder, and a competitive seven-game series against the Nuggets in the second.
The Blazers were swept by the Golden State Warriors but showed that they are a talented team, who many thought would be back in the playoffs. But this year has gone differently.
The Blazers find themselves just shy off the playoff race, as they have a record of 26-33. The Memphis Grizzlies have a record 28-30 and currently hold the eighth seed. While there is a chance the Blazers get that spot, it will take closing in on the Grizzlies to get it.
Lillard has been on a tear in the last two months, as he's put up big numbers in multiple games. He had a 61-point game in January and followed up with three 40 (plus) point games and two 50 (plus) point games since then. Lillard is still out with a groin injury and has missed the past few games and could miss a few more before returning.
The Blazers need Lillard to return soon if they have any hopes of making the playoffs this season. So, hopefully, he comes back soon. Otherwise, the playoffs will be strange without the Blazers and will be even more strange without Lillard.
