Melissa Rohlin
FOX Sports NBA Writer
It’s Christmas Day, that really particular time of yr when the NBA takes heart stage on our televisions.
So, what higher time to debate the league’s largest storylines?
As we head right into a day jam-packed with the league’s high expertise, together with Los Angeles Lakers celebrity LeBron James making his NBA-record nineteenth Christmas Day look and San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama making its vacation debut, let’s take inventory of what is occurring occurring across the league.
Here are the 5 most essential plots.
1. What’s happening between LeBron James and the Lakers?
The face of the League will flip 40 subsequent week. And there are two large questions surrounding it. How for much longer will he play? And earlier than he hangs up his jersey, will the Lakers be aggressive sufficient to compete for one more championship? James just lately mentioned he is unsure if he’ll play one other season or two, however he is positive of 1 factor: “I will not play till the wheels fall off.”
He’s had a season of ups and downs up to now, although his normal. He’s nonetheless able to being the perfect basketball participant on the courtroom each night time, and on Monday he is coming off his eighth triple-double of the season in a loss to Detroit during which he had 28 factors, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. But the participant who has logged probably the most minutes in NBA historical past has additionally struggled at occasions, together with final month going by way of a stretch during which he missed 20 consecutive 3-pointers in 5 video games.
The excellent news is that Anthony Davis has been enjoying MVP-caliber basketball, which he just lately talked about in an unique interview with FOX Sports. Not to say the truth that the Lakers have additionally made nice strides on the defensive entrance these days, which led them to win 4 of their final 5 video games earlier than falling to the Pistons. But with the commerce deadline shortly approaching, Lakers brass should ask themselves whether or not this crew is nice sufficient to go all the way in which, or whether or not they need to make an enormous pivot to amass one other celebrity to play alongside James and Davis. After all, the sand is shortly slipping by way of the hourglass as to how a lot time James has left.
2. Will Boston repeat as champions?
After making very sensible selections within the draft (Jaylen Brown at No. 3 in 2016, Jayson Tatum at No. 3 in 2017) and trusting their roster for years, the Celtics’ endurance lastly paid off final season within the type of a championship. Brown and Tatum have proven they will thrive on the largest phases, one thing they have been keen to point out after reaching the Finals in 2022 however then falling to Golden State. Now that they’ve had a style of success in its highest kind, the query is whether or not they can repeat it.
The Celtics have just about stored their roster intact, however a lot of the remainder of the league has made adjustments to attempt to get rid of the defending champions. The Celtics are at the moment ranked third in offense and eighth in protection, which is spectacular. But contemplating they completed first in offense and second in protection final season, it is truthful to surprise if the competitors has caught as much as them a bit.
When the 76ers acquired Paul George through the offseason to play alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, they have been instantly thought of title contenders. Instead, they changed into the NBA’s cleaning soap opera.
They have been suffering from accidents (George performed 16 video games and Embiid solely seven). There was drama (Embiid pushed a reporter after he wrote concerning the deaths of his brother and son in a means that Embiid thought was out of bounds). And there have been even arguments inside the crew (Maxey chastised Embiid for at all times being late to crew conferences). The 76ers are in twelfth place with a 10-17 file, removed from aggressive. But they’re clearly proficient and have proven indicators of digging themselves out of their deep gap, successful seven of their final 10 video games. Will they be capable to change issues after their unhappy begin?
4. Can rising groups like Oklahoma City and does Cleveland actually get far within the playoffs?
If you check out the rankings, the groups to look at are Oklahoma City (No. 1 within the West) and Cleveland (No. 1 within the East). They appear to be outpacing the competitors. But successful within the common season is a really completely different factor than successful within the playoffs. Do both of those groups have what it takes to really be a contender?
Let’s begin with the Thunder. It is the youngest crew within the league, with a median age of 24.14 years. Last season, they grew to become the youngest crew to win a playoff sequence, sweeping the New Orleans Pelicans within the first spherical earlier than falling to the Dallas Mavericks, who reached the Finals. The Thunder have a really proficient core in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams. And they addressed problems with playoff expertise and dimension by buying Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein within the offseason. This crew has a excessive ceiling, however does it have what it takes to beat groups that basically know tips on how to win?
Then there are the Cavaliers, who’ve exceeded expectations this season. They are No. 1 on offense, with Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley every averaging greater than 18 factors per recreation. They strengthened their roster through the offseason after which opened with a surprising 15-0 begin. They confirmed that they’ve nice chemistry, exact ball motion and an unselfish crew. They’re rising, however can they preserve tempo when the competitors heats up?
5. Aside from the Thunder, who’s the crew to look at within the West?
As ordinary, the West is loaded with expertise, with 11 groups hitting over .500. Let’s check out a few of the storylines from the ultra-competitive convention.
Anthony Edwards grew to become a playoff darling final season as he led his Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals. But after the Timberwolves traded Karl-Anthony Towns, they struggled. Edwards has referred to as out his crew in no unsure phrases every time they’ve made errors, most just lately stating their offensive woes. Can he gentle a fireplace below them?
The Golden State Warriors are the league’s trendy dynasty, successful 4 championships in eight years. After lacking the playoffs final season and Klay Thompson leaving for Dallas over the summer time, questions arose concerning the finish of the dynasty. But Steph Curry opened the season Steph Curry and Draymond Green are enjoying with a renewed sense of pleasure after struggling to be themselves amid the drama of the previous few years. This crew appeared good at the beginning of the season. But they’ve misplaced 10 of their final 13 video games. Will they be capable to cease the free fall and lead the league once more?
What concerning the Memphis Grizzlies, who’re shining after Ja Morant performed simply 9 video games final season following a 25-game suspension adopted by a season-ending shoulder harm. He’s again, and Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins just lately praised him for his elevated management expertise. Will he be capable to take this crew far?
The Rockets are enjoying top-level basketball. Kevin Durant needs to show he can win a championship with out Curry and Green: will he be capable to take the Phoenix Suns to the top? Can Luka Dončić, Kyrie Irving and Thompson recover from the hump for the Mavericks, who reached the Finals final season?
In the crowded West, who do you could have?
Melissa Rohlin is an NBA author for FOX Sports. He beforehand lined the league for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, the Bay Area News Group and the Saint Anthony Express News. Follow her on Twitter @by Melissarohl.
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