Superbowl Sunday has come and gone and the NBA is taking center stage in the sports universe at it’s unofficial midpoint of the season. Let’s quickly recap how we’ve gotten to this point in the season via The Hot 16!
1) Who Gone Stop the Dubs???- At 48-4 Golden State is racing into the history books with one of the best seasons ever, dominating every other team in the field. They’ve blasted their toughest competitors (San Antonio and Cleveland) by 30(!!!) each in the past month. They’ll have a tough test after the break but the Warriors have a real chance to best the ’96 Bulls record of 72-10.
2) Steph Up- The reining MVP Stephen Curry is somehow even better than last year! While the Panthers let Chef Curry down the the North Carolina son is averaging 30ppg, 5 rpg, 7 apg with .50/.40/.90 numbers. Curry may or may not be the best player in the league but he is having one of the best runs in the history of the sport.
3) Again, Who Gone Stop the Dubs??- The Spurs and maaaaybe OKC have the best chance of stopping the GSW from coming out of the Western Conference.
4) Home Cooking: Tex-Mex Edition- Speaking of the Spurs, they just don’t lost at home. Their 28-0 at home this season and actually have a higher point differential than the Warriors, 13.5 to 12.6…
5) The Big Farewell?- Also Tim Done-can, the cornerstone of the Spurs for nearly two decades, could be on his last rodeo. If the Spurs can overcome the Warriors, Cavs, Thunder and Clips it would be a huge send off for Timmy. And these days, huge send offs for legends are all the rage.
6) Ball Out- That’s a tall task if Manu Ginobili’s mysterious testicle injury which required surgery has lasting effects on the rest of the season.
7) Is Draymond Green The Real MVP?- He’s got a league-leading 10 triple-doubles on the season, he’s defending at a high level at multiple positions, and while Chef Curry gets most of the accolades, the Warriors true strength is the versatility Green provides to the club.
8) Cleveland Is The City- Out East, LeBron James and the Cavs are in a familiar spot at the top of the standings but the question remains, will their midseason shake up at head coach be enough to get over that final hump?
9) Love On Valentine’s Day Weekend- Speaking of the “New Year New Me” Cavaliers the redefined role of Kevin Love might just be enough to push them past Golden State and “win one for The Land”. Anything less than a title will rule the Blast firing a mistake (no pressure, Coach Lue).
10) Fire Squad- Former Cavs coach David Blatt can give advise to newly canned coach Derek Fisher who just joined the ranks of coaches given their pink slips. Fisher joins Blatt, Kevin McHale, Lionel Hollins and Jeff Hornacek this NBA season. Life comes at you fast.
So the question is, most VALUABLE player?
11) Is it time to breakup the Clips?- LAC has been moving along just fine without Blake Griffin, who is out with injury and are at least one tier below GSW, SAS and possibly even OKC out West. With limited draft picks going forward, large salary commitments, and age and injury catching up with this team, the Clippers have to be taking some long looks in the mirror and wondering if they’ve already missed their title opportunity. But will “GM Doc Rivers” act in the best interest of “Coach Doc Rivers”?
12) Houston Trashtros- If the Clips window is teetering then Houston’s has probably already slammed shut. They’re a “broken” .500 team that is facing a tough decision on keeping the Dwight Howard/James Harden pairing (that Daryl Morey nearly broke his neck trying to assemble) when Howard has a player option and is no longer the elite defensive player he once was. Howard will be opting out and the Rockets are reportedly testing the waters on his trade value.
13) Trade Bait Stalemate- The All-Star Weekend festivities are the prelude to the trade deadline which always generates buzz. But this year with so many teams in playoff contention and the salary cap about to explode, there may not be much available for wannabe buyers or sellers. Everyone will have cap space soon and teams have grown tight-fisted with draft picks. So if you’re waiting on a blockbuster, don’t hold your breath.
14) Heads Of The (Rookie) Class- A quick look at the last draft and you can see why teams wouldn’t want to pass up the opportunity to have cheap young talent. Led by top overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) and fourth pick Kristaps Porzingis (NY), the 2015 class may be able to reach the heights of the famed 2003 class. KAT and KP have won the Rookie of the Month awards each month (West and East respectively), and while their teams haven’t had much success, these two appear to have the kind of ability and desire that should see them become two of the best in the league.
15) Heads Of The (Rookie) Class Pt. 2- One more point on rookies: take another look at that draft. You’d have to go clear down to pick #15 Kelly Oubre before you aren’t at least somewhat impressed with that rookie’s performance. Justise Winslow (MIA), Myles Turner (IND), Trey Lyles (UTAH), and Devin Booker (PHX) all look to be solid contributors right out the gate. The rising stars game, which pits first and second year players from the U.S. against their international counterparts, should be so much fun come All-Star Weekend in The 6. The league has such a bright future— Adam Silver should be somewhere smiling.
16) Size Still Matters- They’re no longer rookies, but two of the best young big men in the league right are HHSR favorite Boogie Cousins and Anthony Davis, each of whom are among the headliners for the All-Star Skills Challenge, which in a new twist is featuring frontcourt players. Boogie and the Brow will be joined by Draymond and Karl-Anthony Towns in what should be a very intriguing contest.