We’ve hit the midway point of the 2022-23 NBA schedule, and some interesting developments have percolated in the roundball world. While some trendy preseason predictions are holding form, — the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks looking like Eastern Conference juggernauts and Luka Doncic putting in his bid for his first MVP trophy — other projections are not holding up.
While shocks and busts might be too harsh in terms of descriptive words to describe these respective team’s seasons, the Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, and a wild Western Conference have all surprised, while Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors haven’t just surprised fans, but disappointed many. Let’s take a closer look at three surprises and disappointments as we get set for the second half of the season:”
Surprise #1: The Utah Jazz Not Tanking
Ummmm…. Wasn’t Utah supposed to be tanking for Wembanyana?
After unloading Donovan Mitchell in the offseason for a bevy of assets and draft picks, Utah was predicted heavily to be collecting the most lottery balls come the end of the season. However, the Jazz came out of the gates swinging, knocking off several supposed top teams and making life difficult in the Western Conference. Lauri Markkanen has been an absolute revelation; an almost ‘throw-in’ in the Cavaliers – Jazz trade, and this 6th-year player has increased his scoring by almost 10 PPG and is in the mix for Most Improved Player.
The team has recently slid to the edge of the play-in standings, but Utah’s 20 wins are already more than most pundits gave them credit for the entire season.
Surprise #2: Light the Beam in SAC-Town!
After years of toiling in mediocrity, the Sacramento Kings are in the thick of the playoff hunt. Can they snap a 16-year run and finally taste the postseason? Will we be treated to throwback highlight packs of Chris Webber, Peja, Vlade, and White Chocolate?
De-Aaron Fox is a sneaky (and fun) pick for the All-Star Game this year. Domantas Sabonis is leading the league in rebounding. Harrison Barnes is a calming, veteran presence.
This team is young. This team is FAST. And they play with no fear. They will be a danger in Round 1.
Surprise #3: The Wild, WILD Western Conference
At this writing, the difference between 6th (a guaranteed playoff spot) and 12th (two spots outside of the play-in) is only 1.5 games.
We knew the West was loaded, but every night from here on out is going to see a shift in the standings. It may come down to who can keep their team the healthiest, and ironically, load management will be difficult to do when teams cannot afford to rest starters.
Of course, there have been several teams, players, and trends that have gone the other way. Here’s a look at three disappointments:
Disappointment #1: Clippers Doing Clipper Things
Back in the summer of 2019, the L.A. Clippers were the co-winners of NBA free agency (along with the Brooklyn Nets), giving the franchise their most legitimate title to date.
With the additions of Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, this team has been predicted to finish at or near the top of the Western Conference since. Unfortunately, the amount of time these two have seen on the court together can be counted in minutes, not hours. Leonard himself has been a complete mystery; he’s barely played in any games this year, and it’s difficult to project how much more he will be available moving forward.
Their roster is deep and the Clippers are treading water in the playoff race, but if their two megastars aren’t healthy come season end, it’ll be a short visit to the postseason.
Disappointment #2: Warriors’ Road Woes
The defending champs have not played like a team that is a contender for the title this year. Through 40 games, they sit at a .500 record, and most of those losses have come away from their palatial arena in San Francisco.
The Warriors have three wins on the road, one less than the Rockets. Houston has more wins away than Golden State! Let that sink in….
If Golden State cannot secure a Top 6 seed and has to play a game on the road, it’s unlikely they will be around to defend their title come the postseason.
Disappointment #3: Trouble in T.O.
Was it really that long ago that the Toronto Raptors stood atop the basketball world? 2019 was a whole pandemic ago, and the shooting woes of the starting lineup is killing the team in close matchups.
Pascal Siakam will probably make All-NBA at the end of the year. Scottie Barnes, though his progression has stalled, will be a solid building block. And O.G. Anounoby’s lockdown D is a massive (trade?) asset. But decisions have to be made on Fred VanVleet as his body is struggling to stay healthy.
The NBA Trade Deadline will be very interesting for those in the 6. There are plenty of assets on the roster that could be appealing to contenders.
