The stretch run for the NBA season following the All-Star Break is always an exciting time, and with the number of games left to play dwindling, teams know it’s now or never to dig deep and secure a spot in the 2022 playoffs for the teams
This is easier said than done for a lot of teams, especially in the western conference where the gap to conference leaders Phoenix Suns is already fairly large. But strange things have been known to happen in the NBA – the ‘06-’07 Timberwolves come to mind, starting the season with a respectable 25-27 record, and being led by Kevin Garnett (one of the best power forwards to play the game), the Wolves fell apart and finished the season after the break with a 7-23 record. They sat watching the playoffs after this complete disaster in the second part of the season.
NBA 2022 Best Teams Ahead Of The Playoffs
Eastern Conference
There’s been a lot of hype around Eastern Conference teams with a few key players making moves to championship contenders recently. But compared to some pretty potent teams from the previous season, how does the conference as a whole stack up, and who should you keep an eye on?
Great Expectations – deep playoff run potential
Miami Heat – The Miami Heat have played exceptionally well this season, especially considering their roster doesn’t quite pack the same star power some other teams in the conference have. While their road record isn’t particularly special, they have been dominant at home, so if they can keep up the pressure and finish the season strong, a home advantage in the playoffs could send them pretty deep in the postseason.
Philadelphia 76ers – Without a doubt the team on everyone’s watch list right now. Already seeming to be rolling into the playoffs, the 76ers have managed to entice James Harden to join the squad, and it only took two games for Joel Embiid to describe their offense as ‘unstoppable.’ That seems like a pretty apt description considering they have averaged 129 points per game since Harden joined the lineup.
Given this dynamic duo, it might be worth checking out some top betting sites to get some wagers in before the playoffs start – the 76ers are clearly a team that’s primed for a deep run, and have the offense to bring a trophy back to Philly for the first time since 1983.
On the Bubble – who to watch
Charlotte Hornets and Atlanta Hawks – Sitting on the good side of the play-in tournament bubble, the Hornets and Hawks have a pretty steep hill to climb if they want to secure a spot in the playoffs without needing to win in the short playoff matchups the new play-in tournament features. But there are still a few games left, and the gap in the Eastern Conference is by no means insurmountable, so watch out for one of these teams to make a push to at the very least make it into the 7th or 8th position before April 12th.
Western Conference
The Western Conference is certainly spread out a bit more, with a couple pretty dominant teams at the top making it clear they want to finish the regular season strong and secure a home advantage for the playoffs.
Top Tier – champions in the making?
Phoenix Suns – Any time a team can lose all of their games following the All-Star Break and still have the potential to make the playoffs you can say they’re a team to watch. And the Suns are definitely the favorites to win it all this year, and it’s possible they are finally getting the recognition they deserve as a top level team.
But even with a healthy Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, the Phoenix Suns are sorely missing Chris Paul. While he should be back in time for the playoffs, the Suns’ chances to make it to the Finals for a second season in a row without Paul at 100% go way down.
Golden State Warriors – It seems like a while since the Warriors weren’t in contention for the playoffs, but there were a lot of questions to be answered in the post-Kevin Durant era. But bouncing back better than anyone could expect, the Warriors have rallied behind yet another brilliant season for Steph Curry, and let young talent bolster the gaps on the court. If Draymond Green can get healthy by mid-April, there is a good chance the Golden State Warriors can put up a real fight for the title again.
Long Shots – who doesn’t love an underdog story?
Denver Nuggets – Sitting on the inside of the playoff bubble, the Denver Nuggets have been in exceptional form on either side of the All-Star Break, and have been slowly closing the gap to a couple teams ahead of them. With the seemingly imminent return of Michael Porter Jr, the Nuggets are a team that seem to be getting it together at the right time leading up to the playoffs – definitely a team to watch.
LA Lakers – The Lakers should absolutely not be an underdog, and they should not be in a position where they are fighting to get a playoff spot. So why is a team with so much talent met with boos from their home crowd?
It seems like they’re just being outplayed – not from a talent perspective, but Westbrook has said that ‘teams are coming in, [and] playing harder.’ This isn’t a great sign for a storied team with one of the greatest players to ever step foot on the court. We’ll have to see if LeBron James can shoulder the burden and slip on another ring – it’s a big ask, but if they can make it into the playoffs anything could happen.