The NBA trade deadline has passed, and as the All-Star break comes to an end, significant roster changes have taken place across several teams. Notably, Luka Doncic is now part of the Los Angeles Lakers, while Jimmy Butler has joined the Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis has been traded to the Dallas Mavericks; however, his return to play remains uncertain due to injury concerns.
As the season enters its critical stretch run, teams are gearing up for the final 26 to 30 games in this 7 1/2-week sprint culminating in the playoffs on April 13. Resuming play on Wednesday, the Lakers will face off against Charlotte, with teams striving to capitalize on past playoff experiences, where lower seeds have advanced to the conference finals in recent years.
Stephen Curry of the Warriors expresses his anticipation for the remaining challenge, stating, “It’s basically a playoff game every single night, and that usually brings the best out of you.” Several teams are already eyeing the playoffs based on their strong records, with Oklahoma City and Cleveland leading the league at 44-10. Defending champions Boston, currently ranked No. 2 in the Eastern Conference, are expected to break records for three-pointers made and attempted this season. Notably, teams like New York, Denver, Houston, and the Lakers maintain winning percentages above .600, with 132 of the last 133 teams reaching this benchmark going on to secure playoff spots.
Oklahoma City All-Star guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a frontrunner for MVP, commented, “We have a little bit more experience. We have an opportunity to, for sure, win an NBA championship. Now we're going to have to earn it.” Conversely, teams that are unlikely to make the playoffs are already appearing clear, as 98.8% of teams with a winning percentage below .400 at the break have historically missed the postseason. This ominous statistic applies to Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Toronto, Charlotte, Utah, New Orleans, and Washington.
Currently, it appears that seven teams are locked in for the playoffs, seven are out, leaving 16 teams vying for nine remaining playoff spots—five to be claimed by the end of the regular season, with four others available through the play-in tournament.
Miami guard Tyler Herro emphasized the importance of the upcoming games, stating, “Everything is going to matter throughout this next month and a half.” The Heat have recently traded Butler to the Warriors, receiving Andrew Wiggins in return, and others, like San Antonio, made key acquisitions, including De'Aaron Fox from Sacramento. The struggling Los Angeles Clippers, who have not had a fully available Kawhi Leonard this season, are signaling competitiveness now that he is fit to play.
Clippers All-Star guard James Harden expressed optimism about the team's prospects, commenting, “We added some shooting, we added some defense, and obviously with a healthy Kawhi we've got a chance to compete with anybody.” In another significant trade, Milwaukee acquired Kyle Kuzma, potentially signaling a shift as they moved Khris Middleton to Washington. Meanwhile, Phoenix chose not to trade Kevin Durant, indicating hope for their star trio—Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal—to make a strong playoff push.
While the injury to Davis poses a challenge for the Mavericks, compounded by other injuries in their big-man rotation, Luka Doncic is working to return to form. As for the Warriors, Butler’s presence is expected to reignite championship aspirations for Curry, Draymond Green, and coach Steve Kerr.
With the playoffs on the horizon, teams are actively seeking to shift momentum in their favor. “All we want is to just get into a playoff series and have a fighting chance to be a tough out against anybody in the West,” Curry stated, highlighting the urgency of the upcoming games as teams embark on the final leg of the season.
