We are inching closer to the trade deadline and teams that look unbeatable like the Nets and Warriors are starting to come back to earth a bit. With key players in their 30s health will be a big factor for both squads if they want to make it to the Finals this year. Meanwhile, several young squads like the Bulls, Cavs, and Grizzlies are surging into the break and nearing the best records in their respective conference.
The Eastern Conference is loaded with contenders with the 8th seed raptors only 6 games behind the top seed Nets which is incredible to see this late into the season. If you look up and down the East, nearly every team in the top 6 has a realistic chance of winning the conference. Things like who ends up with home-field advantage and can stay healthy for the entire year will be key to who makes it out of the East. Playersbest.com is a great resource for your NBA betting action and be sure to check out our betting tips page if you want to get in on the action.

The Jazz are one of thetop teams in the West that doesn’t get talked about
The Warriors have lost 6 of their last 10 which is quite a surprise when you consider the type of start the Warriors started the year off with. The Warriors have been without Draymond Green for a couple of weeks due to a calf injury he is trying to recover from. Green only averages around 10 points a game but when he is out of the lineup you see how valuable he is to the Warriors defensively and from a leadership standpoint. The Jazz has also had a rough 4-6 stretch but are still in the top 4 in the West. The Jazz are one of the deepest teams in the West and have been knocking on the door for the last 3 years but fallen short in the playoffs. They are deeper than ever and a team to keep an eye on to come out of the West should the Warriors continue their slide and the Suns come back to earth.

Luka and the Mavericks are playing much better over the last month
The Grizzlies have been the story of the NBA over the last month and are now up to 3rd the West. Ja Morant has emerged as a superstar over the course of the season and has the Grizzlies positioned to be in contention for the next decade. Because the Grizzlies play in small market Memphis they don’t get the same type of attention the Warriors, Suns, or Nets do. The Mavericks are 8-2 in their last 10 and seem to be one player away from being able to compete consistently with the top teams in the West. Mark Cuban likes to take risks and I could see the Mavericks making a big move at the trade deadline with the hopes of trying to make a run at the title in the second half of the year.

Kyrie and James Harden will have to carry the load with Durant out
The Nets have had a bizarre season so far but still find themselves in first place in the East. Kevin Durant will be out for a few more weeks after suffering a knee injury and the Nets are still dealing with Kyrie Irving only being eligible to play in road games. Could the Nets end up trading Irving at the deadline to a team that can use him on a full-time basis? That is something the Nets brass has to seriously consider but seems like there may be hesitancy from other teams in the league to acquire Irving with as much time as he has missed over the last few years for a multitude of reasons.
Curry still has the best odds to win the title but I think after what we saw with Kevin Durant you have to wonder if Curry will be able to stay healthy for the entire year. If the Warriors come back to earth in the second half Curry will likely no longer be the favorite and young up-and-coming players like Morant and Embiid could take home their first MVPs if their teams finish toward the top of the conference standings.

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