The NBA All-Star break represents a perfect point in the season to evaluate where teams stand and what they will have to do the rest of the way to get to the playoffs. While the Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Memphis Grizzlies each entered the break with wins in eight of their previous 10 games there was also three teams at the other end of the spectrum that will have to find a way to change their momentum in a hurry or risk missing the playoffs entirely.
Phoenix Suns
No team will be more desperate to change their momentum following the All-Star break than a Phoenix team that limped in to the weekend on the heels of consecutive losses and with just three wins to show for their last 10 games played. The Suns have held on to the eighth spot in the Western Conference for some time but their struggles over the past couple of weeks combined with a run of five wins in six games for the ninth-place Oklahoma City Thunder has cut their lead on that final playoff spot down to just a half-game.
The Suns have a slew of issues as guard Goran Dragic has demanded a trade from the team before Thursday’s deadline and while they do have a logjam in the backcourt, trading one of their offensive catalysts right now might not make the most sense. Their offense have averaged a paltry 96 points over their last six and this team is fading quickly. Complicating matters even more is the fact that Phoenix will play the fourth toughest schedule in the Western Conference down the stretch while the Thunder are slated to play the fourth easiest.
Washington Wizards
Washington is in a much more comfortable place than the Suns because they play in the Eastern Conference where their 33-21 record has them sitting in fourth place. However, the Wizards limped in to the break with losses in six of their last eight games and combined with the Cavaliers hot stretch (14 wins in 16 games), their hold on the fourth spot has whittled down to a half-game. There is no reason to think Cleveland will slow down the rest of the way and that means the Wizards will have a very tough time locking down a spot in the top four and home court advantage for at least the opening playoff round.
This is a Wizards team that started out the season so impressively and was leading the conference at one point and time. And while they’ve made progress as a franchise and will very likely win more games this year than they did last year, their playoff journey might be very short-lived if they have to face someone like Toronto, Chicago or Cleveland in the first round of the playoffs and they don’t have home court advantage.
Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers hit the break with losses in four of their last six. Compounding their problems is the fact that star forward Blake Griffin is out for a prolonged period of time. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has to somehow stay afloat in the challenging Western Conference and find a way to stay sixth or better.
The bigger picture here is that the Clippers were expected to be championship contenders but the season hasn’t transpired that way. Of course, anything is possible, but expecting this Clippers team – which has been so inconsistent this season – to go on the road and win multiple rounds in the playoffs without having home court advantage. They are only 14-12 in away games so far. However, that’s their reality and without Griffin in the lineup, they can only hope to avoid falling further down the ranks.
What the Clippers really need to is to bond together and play with that team chemistry that’s been missing. If they can shoot out of a cannon to start the second half, if their defense can improve (currently 21st in points per game allowed) and Chris Paul can lead the way, then maybe they get some momentum – along with a boost from Griffin’s return. Absent of that, this team is going to fall way short of their expectations.
