Ten Big Storylines That Will Define The Second Half Of The NBA Season

These ten storylines will define the second half of the NBA season.

We are officially done with All-Star Weekend Festivities and into the second half of the NBA season. These ten storylines will define the rest of the season.

Can The Lakers Play Good Enough Defense To Be True Contenders?

After the stunning trade for Luka Doncic, the Lakers now have two of the most gifted offensive players in league history in LeBron James and Luka. But, left without a center after a trade for Mark Williams fell through, their defensive potential seems limited. Can they find a way to play defense at the level of a true contender?

Can the Boston Celtics regain their consistency from 2023-2024?

At their best, the Boston Celtics have looked much like the team that ran through the NBA last year. But, their consistency on both the offensive and defensive ends has been lacking. Do they have that extra gear in them, or is this a worse version of last year’s team?

Can The Knicks Avoid The Injury Bug?

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau relies on his star-studded starting five to play huge minutes. That caught up with the Knicks in the postseason last year, as they were decimated by injuries. Will that be the case again this year?

Will The Sixers Pursue The Playoffs, Or Shut Joel Embiid Down?

The Sixers have had a disastrous season, as Joel Embiid has struggled to stay on the court. But, they’re just 1.5 games out of the last play-in spot in the Eastern Conference. On the other hand, Embiid needs surgery at somme point, and if their draft pick falls in the top six, they keep it instead of sending it to Oklahoma City. Will they decide to shut Embiid down and tank?

Can The Mavericks Survive The Injuries To The Frontcourt

The Mavericks shockingly traded away Luka Doncic for a package headlined by Anthony Davis. Davis quickly reaggravated an abdoment injury, and is joined by fellow big men Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford on the injured list. What should’ve been the deepest frontcourt in the league has been decimated by injuries. Can the Mavericks survive those injuries and make the playoffs?

Can The Orlando Magic Find Some Scoring

The Magic were a trendy pick to join the upper-echelon of the Eastern Conferences after earning the number-five seed and losing in 7 games to the Cavaliers in last year’s first round. BUt, this year, they’ve been arguably the worst offensive team in the league, and have especially struggled from deep. Can they find some consistent offense before the end of the season?

Can the Oklahoma City Thunder Properly Reintegrate Chet Holmgren?

The Oklahoma City Thunder have been the best team in the Western Conference this season by a large margin, and they’ve mostly done it without young star Chet Holmgren. But, for this team to win a championship, they have to fully reintegrate Holmgren to get the most out of him alongside Isaiah Hartenstein in the frontcourt.

Can A Rookie Emerge As A Future Star?

This rookie class entered the league with low expectations, and that’s more or less been right on. Rookies like San Antonio’s Stephon Castle, Atlanta’s Zacharie Risachier, and Memphis’s Zach Edey have shown flashes. But, no rookie looks like a future superstar. Could that change down the stretch?

Can The San Antonio Spurs Go On A Run

The 23-29 Spurs had a poor January, and dug themselves into a 3.5 game hole for the last play-in spot in the Western Conference. Can the acquisition of DeAaron Fox lead them on a run and get Victor Wembanyama into the postseason for the first time.

Who Will Win The Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes?

It’s been a while since an American-born player was as coveted by NBA teams at the top of the draft as Cooper Flagg. Who will win the lottery to land the freshman Duke star?