As the NBA season nears its end, various teams from both conferences are vying for the top six playoff seeds.
Dyson Daniels from Australia has been showcasing impressive defensive skills, while veterans LeBron James and Stephen Curry are seeing their championship hopes rekindled due to recent trades.
Here are some key storylines to follow as the playoffs approach.
Daniels Making Historic Defensive Strides
Dyson Daniels has emerged as one of the premier perimeter defenders in the NBA.
Despite the Atlanta Hawks’ middle-tier status (33-36, ranked seventh in the Eastern Conference), Daniels has been a standout player this season.
Earned the nickname “The Great Barrier Thief,” he is renowned for his remarkable ability to steal the ball, boasting 194 steals so far, the highest recorded since Chris Paul’s 216 in 2008-09.
Daniels averages three steals per game, a feat not seen since Alvin Robertson’s 3.04 during the 1990-91 season; if he keeps up his pace, he could surpass Paul’s record.
At 203 centimeters, he perfectly complements All-Star point guard Trae Young, who is not particularly noted for his defensive skills. Daniels features prominently in the Hawks’ most efficient line-ups and is likely to make one of the NBA’s All-Defensive teams this season.
LeBron and Steph’s Title Aspirations Revived
The effect of two significant trades can reshape teams and the whole league.
The trade that sent Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers shocked the league in early February, and over a month later, it still feels surreal.
At the time, the Lakers held a 28-19 record, but have since climbed to fourth in the Western Conference with a strong performance of 42-25.
Dončić’s excellence combined with LeBron James, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, and Jaxon Hayes in the starting five has led to dominating victories, showcasing their ability to outscore opponents significantly.
Josh Giddey Rising to Prominence
In a quieter trade, the Chicago Bulls moved Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings, simultaneously sending De’Aron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs.
Though puzzling initially, the trade has provided Josh Giddey, previously acquired by the Bulls, a chance to shine.
His role improved considerably following LaVine’s exit, with Giddey enjoying some of his best basketball performances recently.
Since the All-Star break, he has averaged 23.1 points, along with impressive stats in rebounds and assists, while also improving his three-point shooting significantly.
Challenging Times for Underperforming Teams
As the league title races heat up, teams are also competing for a favorable position in the lottery at the season’s end.
The stakes are heightened with the prospect of securing Cooper Flagg from Duke, projected as the top overall pick in the upcoming draft.
Flagg, compared to Jayson Tatum, is a multi-dimensional scorer and playmaker, highly regarded as a polished prospect.
Currently, the Utah Jazz hold the league’s worst record at 15-54, just behind the Washington Wizards at 15-52, followed by other struggling teams like the Charlotte Hornets and New Orleans Pelicans.
