Now if you’re looking at my like this pieces picture, sometimes you cut the fat to enjoy the meat. To keep a long piece from being longer, the was an omission of three teams, all of which garnished wins last night bringing the group of eight to growing to larger than a third of the league (11). One is within error (Chicago) but there are two shocking underperforming teams in Dallas and Miami. Appearing to have stabilized slightly, all three teams could be poised to execute down the stretch. Lets dive down into the context of their remaining games as All-Star break fast approaches.
Miami Heat:
With a win last night and five games remaining isn’t a lot of time but could be all Miami needs to prepare for the second half of the season. Filled with early season woes (injuries/COVID) could be the main reason for this, but the concern was warranted. They were having championship fatigue without winning and coming so close and not making it over the hump has doomed team chemistry in the past. They have their fair share of challenges facing the Raptors (similar season story), the Jazz and the improving Pelicans(back half of a double header). Two games against the very beatable Hawks could help even out any potential hard losses, or pile on a bad stretch with the offense they can produce.
Predication: (3-2)
Chicago Bulls:
Chicago and Miami may share similar color schemes and turns out they have a very similar end to the season as Miami. Similar is the worst ways, and differs in more adverse ways. There’s one game against the Timberwolves who just changed their coach which is usually followed by a brief honeymoon regardless or ability. They’re a trap on any schedule at this point and that’s their “best” game. They battle the Suns, Raptors, Nuggets and finish off on the Pelicans. The benefit of the Pelicans game is that it’s the first game of a back to back and they may catch the Pelicans sleeping a game early. Also the last game before All-Star break for a team with playoff ambitions can be a must win for some organizations. Perhaps a bullish prediction coming, it will still have the Bulls seeing red.
Prediction: (2-3)
Dallas Mavericks:
While there’s still more than half the season left, the first game against Boston feels consequential. Two underperforming teams trying to survive to the All-Star break and stop the hemorrhaging coming to head. The problems for Dallas is they could get caught looking ahead for their games later in the week against the 76ers and Brooklyn. Finishing up with OKC and Orlando after the first three games can be a reprieve or leave just enough water to drown in. KP has fallen from grace and the flaws to him game that Knicks fans were blind to, and Dallas minimized in their acquisition have come to bare. They’re glaring and sometimes the fundamentals are more important at a certain size and height than overall skills. Dallas seems a lot more to figure out and their one two punch is more resembling that of a one-armed boxer. Miami or Dallas will be one those penciled in teams poised for success that falls for reasons unseen in the preseason. This prediction should key you in to whom we’re predicting to rise or fall.
Prediction: (1-4)
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