of nba season We are a quarter of the way on schedule and things are starting to take shape.
There appear to be three teams in the Eastern Conference that could compete for a spot. nba finalsMeanwhile, the Western Conference has some new blood at the top.
LeBron James (left) of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joel Embiid of the 76ers talk during a game in Philadelphia on November 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Los Angeles Lakers, phoenix suns The Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder are two of the top three teams in the West, while the Golden State Warriors and Golden State Warriors are all outside the top six.
NBA superstar Nikola Jokic wants to keep a low profile after retirement: 'I really hate this life'
If the NBA Playoffs start today, let's take a closer look at the 12 teams currently qualified and what to watch as the calendar heads into 2024.
eastern conference
Boston Celtics: Keeping Kristaps Porzingis healthy
The Celtics have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals five of the past seven years and will reach the NBA Finals in 2022. However, that success has not translated into a championship yet.
Boston hasn't won a title since 2008, but made moves in the offseason in hopes of taking the final step.
Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis pictured in Boston on December 28, 2023. (Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
Kristaps Porzingis The big man needs to stay healthy if the Celtics are to stay atop the Eastern Conference and get past a June hump, something the big man hasn't been able to do throughout his career.
Milwaukee Bucks: Improve defense
Milwaukee needed to take action after losing as a No. 1 seed in the first round of the 2022-23 NBA Playoffs.The Bucks went out and got it. Damian Lillard The trade for Jrue Holiday added some much-needed firepower to the offense, but had a negative impact on the defense.
Pistons lose to Celtics in overtime, tying NBA record with 28 consecutive losses
The Bucks finished last season with the fourth-best defensive rating in the league, but are 20th in the NBA in defensive rating.
Philadelphia 76ers: Finding a third star?
It's been a strange offseason for the Sixers. james harden He was forced to leave town.
Even though the 10-time All-Star is no longer with them, the Sixers sit at 22-10 and hold the third-best record in the East. Philadelphia is just 3.5 games out of first place in the Eastern Conference a third of the way through the NBA season.
Despite getting off to a strong start, Philadelphia appears to be one player away from being on the same level as the Celtics.
Joel Embiid of the 76ers shoots Precious Achiuwa of the Toronto Raptors at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia on December 22, 2023. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
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“I believe we have enough,” Joel Embiid told ESPN earlier this month. ”[Boston and Milwaukee], those teams are great. They got a good player on paper.just like you [in the media] They say they’re better than us,” he continued, tongue firmly in cheek.
“Whatever happens, happens. Whoever we add, it's a good thing. Even if we don't, we'll go out there and try to win. But I think we have We believe in what we have, and we're going to do it.''The best job possible.'' ”
The NBA trade deadline is February 8th.
Miami Heat: Proving people wrong again
of miami heat They continue to let NBA “experts” eat their words.
Last year, the Heat made it to the NBA Playoffs through the play-in tournament, only to be upset by the top-seeded Bucks in the first round.
After defeating new york knicksMiami overcame a 3-0 lead in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals on the road and managed to win.
The Heat aren't dead, and after striking out Lillard and Jrue Holiday over the summer, the Heat are tied for fourth in the East with a 19-13 record.
Orlando Magic: Acting ahead of schedule
It was just two years ago that the Magic finished 22-60 and had the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
orlando selected Paulo Banchero They'll be No. 1 overall and have a true franchise player moving forward, along with a legitimate second option in Franz Wagner.
Magic's Paolo Banchero grabs a defensive rebound during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Kia Center on Dec. 27, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (Julio Aguilar/Getty Images))
The Magic are moving ahead of schedule and aiming to make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Thinking about what to do with Donovan Mitchell
When the Cavaliers made the big trade donovan mitchell Before last season, they were taking calculated risks.
Cleveland was never Mitchell's first choice, but the Cavaliers gave him a chance to compete for a championship. Through the first 32 games of the 2023-24 season, it's clear the Cavaliers are plagued by numerous injuries and are not a championship-caliber team.
Nuggets' Nikola Jokic perfect from the field, matching Wilt Chamberlain's triple-double feat
Mitchell is scheduled to become a free agent in 2025, and many have floated the idea of trading the four-time All-Star either before this year's deadline or during the offseason. However, according to Yahoo Sports, the Cavs “remain committed to their core of four All-Star players.”
western conference
Minnesota Timberwolves: Translating regular season success into postseason
time minnesota timberwolves Most of the players traded for Rudy Gobert before the 2022-23 NBA season felt the three-time Defensive Player of the Year was giving up too much.
Last season, Minnesota was eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, and Karl-Anthony Towns didn't fit well with him.
As of 2023, the Timberwolves are in first place in the Western Conference with a record of 24 wins and 7 losses.
Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves during a game against the Grizzlies at FedExForum on December 8, 2023 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The University of Minnesota ranks No. 1 in defensive rating (108.1) and has legitimate star players. anthony edwards. Earning the top seed and home court advantage would be huge for Minnesota.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Add or push?
of oklahoma city thunder Really good.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is an MVP candidate and Chet Holmgren will likely be Rookie of the Year.
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The Thunder are certainly ahead of schedule, but they are so young that playoff time could come.
With a trove of draft picks at their disposal, the question is whether OKC will add pieces or decide to stay put.
Denver Nuggets: Only until April
The Nuggets are the defending NBA champions and are still a team to beat come playoff time.
There's a good chance Denver won't have the best record in the West, but all that matters is that they're healthy for the playoffs. The Nuggets know who they are.
Los Angeles Clippers: Let's hope the Big Three stays healthy until the playoffs
The James Harden trade is going well. The Clippers have won nine straight games since the start of December and are in fourth place in the West Division.
As always with the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard Paul George will decide how far he can go in the spring.
Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers goes to the basket against Derrick Jones Jr. of the Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Dec. 20, 2023. (Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Leonard has played in 27 of 31 games this season, although he missed the last few games with a hip contusion.
Sacramento Kings: Will it move?
The Kings made the playoffs last season for the first time since the 2005-06 season, and were the best story in the league, shining with each win.
The Kings finished last season with the league's best offensive rating, but took a step back in 2023 and currently sit at 12th in the league.
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The Athletic's Sam Amick jumped on Sactown Sports 1140 after losing a recent game. portland trail blazers And he said the Kings need to be aggressive in order to be considered a championship contender.
The NBA logo is displayed on the backboard before the game between the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz at Ball Arena in Denver on October 30, 2023. (C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
“I've said it before, if this team wants to compete, they have to be pretty open to making big moves at the trade deadline,” Amick said. “That was the type of loss for me. You know now. And if something isn't there, you can't force it. So that doesn't mean something is definitely going to happen. But , cap-wise, this team, I thought that was a pretty bad sign.”
Dallas Mavericks: See how far Luka Doncic can take you
Luka Doncic has somehow elevated his game in his sixth NBA season.
The four-time All-Star is averaging 33.7 points (a career high) and 9.2 assists (also a career high). kyrie irving From early December.
Doncic entered on Christmas Day and scored 50 points, adding 15 assists, six rebounds and four steals.
