DARK HORSE TEAMS

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS:

DARK HORSE TEAMS TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS:

This play-in tournament is a welcomed addition. Sort of a spinoff of last year's "bubble" tournament, I think it is about time the NBA shook things up a little bit. For fringe playoff teams, they probably hate having to protect their position, but for teams that were plagued with injuries, had bad starts, or in this year, had to deal with COVID, this is great. In a way, this is a more exciting version of the Wild Card race in other sports.

Part of what I do is consistently check in on players, teams, and transactions to see how it affects the league as a whole and what trends occur. I do this for the passion of the sport, but I also participate in several fantasy sports leagues and it helps me stay keen to what's new. Every once in a while I write an article completely void of any fantasy sports commentary, and this is one of them.

As mentioned, a lot of teams that had bad starts and had to deal with extenuating circumstances are now in the midst of an interesting race. There are obvious teams like Detroit, Houston, and Minnesota that really don't stand a chance. There are teams like the Thunder that very well could make the tournament, but likely won't. Finally, there are the dark horse teams. These are the teams that have the right players, the right motivation, but may have been counted out prior to a month or two ago. Here's the list:

WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Westbrook has been locked in and helped propel the team to two straight victories. Throughout the year has looked not as explosive as he was in his prime, yet he put an exclamation mark on his box score in their win against the Pacers. After winning two straight games, they now sit 2 games back of the Bulls for the 10-seed. They will need Beal back as soon as possible and Bertans to start producing at his contract value, but they can definitely do it. The rest of the season, they have the easiest remaining schedule and are in the East. They are definitely not a lock, but they are my #1 dark horse team to make the playoffs.

SACRAMENTO KINGS: They are the most hot and cold team I've ever seen. They might actually be better without Marvin Bagley, and are now on a 5-game winning streak, being led by De'Aaron Fox and Richaun Holmes. The duo has become one of the most efficient combo in league and their rookie, Tyrese Haliburton, has looked phenomenal. They had a very underrated trade at the deadline to acquire Delon Wright, who would provide them with improved defense, and picked up a solid role player in Terence Davis. With Harrison Barnes having somewhat of a down year and their young players continuing to improve, we might not have seen their ceiling yet. They have one of the harder remaining schedules in the league, and are playing in a tough Western Conference. It won't be easy, but they're not down and out yet.

NEW ORLEANS PELICANS: Another young team that continues to improve, they have been led by Zion Williamson, who has exceeded even his ridiculously high expectations. Since the All-Star Break, he's averaged 29.0 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 3.8 APG on 66/50/75 splits. He's not the only one that has been impressive this year - Lonzo Ball is one of the top 3-point shooters in the league after previously being critiqued for his unorthodox shot his first couple of years. Many were confused on how a Ball/Bledsoe backcourt would work, but they seem to have found a groove and despite drafting Kira Lewis Jr, seems adamant that Ball is part of their future. Overall, I think what makes the Pelicans so dangerous is their bench. Guys like Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Josh Hart, and Jaxson Hayes all bring a ton of energy, hustle, and heart on every play. Ultimately, I think they'll narrowly miss the playoffs, but will definitely be a major conversation going into next season.

- Adam Safianow - NBA Analyst - Upsyde Sports [Copyright 2021]

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DALLAS SUMMER LEAGUE

UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: DALLAS SUMMER LEAGUE PROSPECTS: Derrick Alston Jr - SF/PF - A solid G-League prospect that averaged close to 20 PPG and some potential as a stretch shooter from the 4-spot. He is an above average passer and a good free throw shooter. From the eye test he does not appear to be an explosive athlete but he's a hard finisher and is often relied on to defend multiple positions. He could be useful down the line, but I don't see him being able to get minutes on a competing team. Grade: C- Marcus Bingham Jr - C/PF - Outside of Hardy, he might be the crowned jewel of this group. He's a true 7-footer, came from a solid college program, and showed improvement every year at Michigan State. His defense is much further along than his offense, but his efficiency has improved over time and he's added a 3-ball to his game. Foul trouble will be a major concern, but I think he could be a bench big within a year or two. His block rate is outstanding and I think if h...
Read more
UPSYDE SPORTS PRESENTS: CAN THE PELICANS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS? This article comes in the midst of the Pelicans being on a 4-game win streak. The Kings which got hot, finally ended their streak. Nuggets, Grizzlies, and Rockets seems to be in a slump. I wouldn't say the door is open for them, but there's at least a window. What has propelled this team? A lot. Let's start with the obvious. Zion and Ingram have played very well. During the win streak, Zion has scored 23.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.8 APG, and 1.3 BPG. Ingram has averaged 25.5 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, and 1.8 BPG. While these numbers don't jump off the page, what's interesting from both players is the increased amount of passing. Everyone on these team seems to be getting involved in the offense, nobody on this team is selfish, and it's just a group effort in every facet of the game. The next player that has done phenomenal has been Lonzo Ball. He's almost the forgotten Ball brother since his younger brother, La...
Read more
UPYSDE SPORTS PRESENTS: Addressing the Viability of a Kristaps Trade: I myself, have been very critical of Kristaps. Ranging from his health, finding him overrated as a shooter, not assertive enough on offense, and feeling that his defensive stats are empty. Obviously, I can see his upside, it's the name of my blog, but I feel like he plays out of position, is too thin, and his biggest strength (his size), is also likely going to be what limits his potential. Now, I gave him time. When the trade happened originally, I was pretty excited. He was coming off an injury, but had a really nice All-Star season in New York. Most Mavs fans, myself included, had somewhat soured on Dennis Smith Jr, and we saw what Luka is - a superstar. Wanting to get some wins in his rookie contract, I was receptive of the trade. Tank for the rest of the season and then the following year we get the two Euro sensations. Didn't quite work out that way. He did play very well in the bubble - helping us get ...
Read more