The NBA season has reached All-Star Weekend, and teams are gearing up to fight in the coming weeks for a spot in the playoffs.
As it currently stands, the Boston Celtics (43-12) sit atop the Eastern Conference, followed by the Cleveland Cavaliers (36-17), Milwaukee Bucks (35-21), New York Knicks (33-22) and the Philadelphia 76ers (32-22).
The Celtics are no strangers to the top, and it is no different this year, as they have maintained a stacked roster. Jayson Tatum has averaged 27 points per game so far this season and has a great supporting cast in Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White and recently acquired Kristaps Porzingis.
The Cavaliers, led by Donovan Mitchell, are currently the hottest team in the league, winning 17 of their last 18 games and only losing twice so far in 2024.
“It’s amazing the way we have started the year, and hopefully, we can catch Boston,” said Ryan Collins, a sophomore mass communication major and Cavaliers fan. “Hopefully, the team will stay hot as we get into the home stretch to the playoffs.”
In the Western Conference, the Minnesota Timberwolves (39-16) currently sit at the No. 1 seed. They are followed by the Oklahoma City Thunder (37-17), the Los Angeles Clippers (36-17), the Denver Nuggets (36-19) and the Phoenix Suns (33-22).
The Western Conference is closer than the Eastern Conference, as the fifth-place team is six games back, equal to the second-place team in the East.
The Nuggets will look to defend their title behind their main man and two-time MVP, the Joker, Nikola Jokic.
If the season ended today, the Celtics, Cavaliers, Bucks, Knicks, 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat and Orlando Magic would make the playoffs in the East.
In the West, the Timberwolves, Thunder, Clippers, Nuggets, Suns, New Orleans Pelicans, Dallas Mavericks and the Sacramento Kings would make the playoffs.
The playoffs begin on Saturday, April 20.
