Check Out This Year's Top 5 Teams After the All Star Break
1.Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks are on a 12 game win streak while going 15-3 over their last 18 games, and with having arguably the best 3-man tandem with Giannis, Middleton, and Jrue, and a DPOY and 6MOTY candidate in Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis, they have great collection of stars to go alongside Giannis and if healthy; they’ll have a great chance to win the east this year. However; guys like Grayson Allen, Wes Matthews and Pat Connaughton will have to lock in come playoffs as teams key in on Giannis and Khris, and open shot opportunities will start to open up.
2.Phoenix Suns
Although dealing with a substantial amount of injuries throughout the year, the Suns shifted the playing field by trading for Superstar Kevin Durant. They now have and unstoppable scoring tandem in Devin Booker and KD which will cause serious problems for defenses. The only concern for them is can they build a decent amount of chemistry heading into the postseason given how little time they have this year, and also if Chris Paul can stay consistent down the stretch.
3. Boston Celtics
Boston didn’t make any big moves at the deadline mainly because they didn’t need to. Last year they made the finals with this same core group and now hold the number one spot in the east and the best record in the league. Right now they’re the team to beat in the east and show no signs of giving in. The only concern for Boston is the high risk-high reward play style they have with the abundance of 3’s they shoot.
4.Denver Nuggets
At the deadline the Nuggets traded for Thomas Bryant to improve their backup center spot; and now having the best record in the west while having a back to back MVP in Nikola Jokic who’s on pace to win his third straight MVP; the pressures on for Denver to show some playoff success and with everyone healthy and the way they’re playing, they’re showing the ability that they could be a serious contender. The only concern for them is down the stretch in the playoffs; we’ve seen countless times how teams attack Nikola Jokic defensively and take advantage of him. If they can’t gameplan around that, it could be another early exit for this team.
5.Philadelphia 76ers
At the deadline the 76ers went out and got a solid wing defender and shooter in Jalen McDaniels, and with Joel Embiid playing like an MVP and James Harden playing amazing these past several weeks. The 76ers look to take advantage of their two healthy stars and finally make it out the east. James Harden does have a player option this offseason, and rumors have circulated of him leaving if the Philly fails in the playoffs again, so the pressure is on for this team to take advantage of this roster.
Ojore Brown