Dark Horses
Philadelphia 76ers
The Main Attraction: 76 Problems but Talent Isn’t One
The 76ers are one of the most baffling teams in the league. While they have a lineup packed with talent that features three former All-Stars within the last three years, they sit at sixth place in the Eastern Conference. Their uncharacteristically poor performances have been spurred by season-long chemistry issues that have frustrated their fan base immensely. The departure of perimeter scorers Jimmy Butler and J.J Redick to free agency last summer have left serious issues in the shot creation and shooting departments and new acquisition forward Al Horford, a 2018 All-Star, hasn’t been as effective as he was with the Boston Celtics last season due to injuries and poor fit with franchise cornerstone Joel Embiid.
But, there is still hope for the 76ers. It was only just a year ago when they lost by just two points to the reigning NBA Champion Toronto Raptors in Game 7 of the East Semifinals. They also have one of the most dominant forces in the league in Embiid. Predicting what the 76ers will bring to the playoffs is almost impossible. They may continue to struggle against strong teams and lose in the first round, or they could walk away as NBA champions. Only time will tell.
Potential X-Factor: The Basketball Burglars
Sixers’ guards Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle have been nuisances for opponent ball handlers all season long. The pair use combinations of size, athleticism and pure instinct to consistently pick pockets and clog passing lanes. Thybulle, in just his first year in the NBA, is quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s best perimeter defenders. Only two other players in the last 20 years have achieved his rate of both blocks and steals in the minutes he has played. Unfortunately, the 76ers were dealt a huge blow when Simmons suffered a kneecap dislocation Aug. 5, which will reportedly sideline him for the remainder of the season. With the dynamic duo not together this postseason, the 76ers will especially need Thybulle to shine defensively more than usual.
An Interesting Stat: 2
The 76ers only lost two home games all season. Their 31-2 tally was the best home record in the league, but it remains to be seen how the lack of home court advantage in the bubble will affect this home-happy 76ers team.
Dallas Mavericks
The Main Attraction: Patience Is a Virtue
Mavericks guard Luka Dončić, in just his second season in the NBA, is already one of the league’s best players. The first time All-Star has led his team to its first postseason appearance in four years and is averaging a dazzling 29 points, nine rebounds and nine assists per game. While only 21 years old, Dončić approaches the game with the patience of a wily veteran, meticulously scanning defenses for openings. The Mavericks have given him full reign over the offense — his usage rate is second-highest in the league behind Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo — and consequently the Mavericks have the league’s best offensive rating. If Dončić and the Mavericks can continue to slice and dice through defenses, they will be a formidable force in the Western Conference.
Potential X-Factor: A Mythical Big Man
Eyebrows were raised in January 2019 when the New York Knicks traded away what seemed to be the future cornerstone of the franchise, forward Kristaps Porziņģis, to the Mavericks. Porziņģis — nicknamed “unicorn” due to his guard-like shooting and ball skills in a 7-foot-3-inch frame — was recovering from a torn ACL at the time and it was unclear how his injury would affect his future play.
After more than full year away from basketball, Porziņģis has returned to play an important supporting role in the Dončić show. While he has not reached the 2018 numbers that garnered him his first All-Star appearance, the 25-year-old has continued to improve all season, leading the team in blocks and rebounds while averaging 20 ppg. The Mavericks, with the unicorn firing on all cylinders, will feature a multi-dimensional offense that will haunt Knicks fans.
Interesting Stat: 29th
Despite having the best offensive rating in the league, the Mavericks are 29th out of 30 teams when it comes to offensive rating in clutch situations — defined as when there is a point differential of five or less points with five or fewer minutes remaining. To become a true championship-contender, the Mavericks will have to improve in these critical situations to have any chance of success.
Utah Jazz
The Main Attraction: When Stars Collide
Guard Donovan Mitchell and center Rudy Gobert have done a fantastic job comfortably leading the Jazz to a playoff spot in the highly competitive Western Conference. Mitchell, in just his third season, made his first All-Star appearance and again led the Jazz in scoring. The 23-year-old is one of the league’s most exciting athletes and has continued to develop an impressive offensive skill set. Gobert has won the last two Defensive Player of the Year awards and is quickly solidifying himself as one of the best rim-protectors of all time. The statistical advantage of Gobert’s defense is absurd, which helped Gobert finally make the All-Star team this season.
Gobert and Mitchell’s bring vastly different skills to the table, making them a perfect All-Star duo on the court. However, their chemistry off the court is a completely different story. The teammates had a well-documented fallout after Gobert jokingly touched reporters’ mics, attempting to mock the threat of COVID-19. Days later, Gobert was the first NBA player to contract the virus, and his careless attitude in the team’s locker room likely spread the virus to Mitchell, the only other Jazz player to test positive. The tension between the two became so hostile that reports declared the relationship unsalvageable and questions arose over whether the two could continue to be teammates. Although the duo reportedly put the feud behind them, the Jazz will need their two stars to have fully buried the hatchet if they want to get past the second round for the first time in over a decade.
Potential X-Factor: Regaining the Grit and Grind
After being traded to Utah last summer, guard Mike Conley hasn’t had the best of times this season transitioning from the predominant perimeter scorer on the Memphis Grizzlies to a more reserved role on the Jazz. This season has been the 32-year-old’s lowest scoring season in eight years and has not smoothly meshed with Mitchell in the backcourt due to their ball-dominant natures and similar lack of size. However, Conley was an integral part of the “grit and grind” Grizzlies teams that were playoff regulars for the better part of a decade, experience which will be valuable in the playoffs. If Conley and Mitchell can suddenly find their groove as a backcourt in the playoffs, it will be an added bonus for the Jazz.
Interesting Stat: 0
Zero is the number of overtime wins the Jazz have had this season — the only team in the playoffs without an overtime win. It will be interesting to see if the Jazz can muster a huge streak-snapping overtime win to decide a close playoff game.
Oklahoma City Thunder
The Main Attraction: (Point) Gods Never Die
Last summer, guard Chris Paul was shockingly traded from the Houston Rockets to the Oklahoma City Thunder in a package for guard Russell Westbrook, leaving the Thunder’s front office with plenty of critics. The Thunder have been acquiring young talent and a boatload of draft picks, and the 34-year-old Paul seemed to be a step in the wrong direction for their rebuild. While Paul and Westbrook are both historically Hall of Fame-caliber players, Paul appeared at the time to be entering an injury-ridden twilight of his career on an egregiously expensive contract. Westbrook, a few years younger, seemingly had more left in the tank.
Paul has spent the entire season repaying the Thunder’s faith in him and quieting the naysayers, and the “Point God” has reminded the league that injuries are temporary but class is permanent. The ten-time All-Star is having the best scoring season of his career efficiency-wise and has featured in the most games in a regular season he’s played in four years. Paul has not only been an invaluable mentor for a youthful Thunder roster, but he has also helped the entire league navigate through this years’ turbulence as president of the National Basketball Players Association. The only thing missing from his illustrious 15-year career is an NBA title, and an underdog run to a title could provide the perfect fairytale ending.
Potential X-Factor: Gaining off George
When a team loses a player as good as six-time All-Star Paul George, they’re almost always expected to get worse. But, the Thunder have shown you can fill any hole if you fill it properly, which they have with guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and forward Danilo Gallinari. The two have played vital roles in improving the Thunder’s winning percentage to its highest mark since the Kevin Durant days. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of the most promising talents in the league and has taken massive strides towards stardom in just his second season. The crafty 21-year-old is leading the Thunder in scoring as well as almost doubling his ppg efforts from last season. Gallinari has exploited his offensive prowess to provide the Thunder with much needed perimeter spacing to fill the void left by George’s departure. The 31-year-old brings an 19 ppg average to the table with 41% three-point accuracy and is one of the league’s most underrated players. If Gilgeous-Alexander and Gallinari continue to provide the Thunder with a powerful offensive punch, they might be able to do what George couldn’t and lead the Thunder past the first round.
Interesting Stat: 1
The Thunder only have one player who averaged at least 10 ppg remaining from last year’s team: center Steven Adams. Since the Thunder have lost in the first round in each of the last three seasons, the roster reconfiguration might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Indiana Pacers
The Main Attraction: Considerate Use of Cash
Pacers’ wing T.J. Warren has been on an absolute tear since NBA play has resumed in Orlando. Warren has scored 30 points in four of the team’s first five bubble games — including a mesmerizing 53-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Aug. 1 — and has led the Pacers to a 4-1 start in the bubble. The 26-year-old has been unguardable since the restart and is already being dubbed as the “bubble MVP.”
What’s all the more remarkable about Warren’s breakout is that he’s not generally revered as a player capable of producing these types of performances. The Phoenix Suns certainly weren’t expecting this, as they elected to keep wings Kelly Oubre and Mikal Bridges last summer and shipped Warren to Indiana for measly “cash considerations.” Trades involving cash are usually centered around fringe NBA players, and Warren has made it publically known the disrespect he feels for being let go for so little is fueling these performances. If Warren can maintain his superstar play into the postseason, there’s no telling just how far the Pacers can go.
Potential X-Factor: Oladipo Good to Go
Guard Victor Oladipo has had a tumultuous last couple of seasons. Halfway through his second consecutive All-Star campaign, Oladipo suffered a horrific season-ending injury when he ruptured his quad tendon in January 2019. The 27-year-old missed an entire calendar year of basketball before making his long-awaited return on Jan. 29 of this year. The two-time All-Star was eased back into action and played the fewest minutes per game of his career before the season was postponed. With the additional time to recover, the bubble might be the perfect opportunity for Oladipo to increase his minutes load and regain his All-Star form in time to be an important postseason contributor.
Interesting Stat: 48%
The Pacers have the best field goal percentage in the league at 48%. While that’s partly due to few three-point attempts, All-Star center Domantas Sabonis has also contributed to the stat, individually making 54% of his shots. Only two players average more ppg while shooting a better percentage than Sabonis.
