Second verse, same as the First?

Good Evening, NBA Basketball! The All-Star game is over, and as we all know, the West sent Kobe out a winner with a 196-173 victory over the East. And, it’s mind boggling to think of 196 points scored by a team in a regulation NBA game.  Let’s then answer some questions about this first half of the NBA season, and then look at the current standings. It is interesting to note that, in the West, the Spurs are only 3 ½ games behind the Warriors in spite of the Warriors unreal start of 48-4.  In the East, the Raptors trail the Cavs by only 3 games.

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Question #1 – Will the Golden State Warriors break the NBA record of 72 wins in a season?

Answer – Yes. They are playing some unbelievably good basketball right now, though, and if they find a way to maintain that level of play (and barring injury, of course), I believe this edition of the Golden State Warriors will win 74 or 75 games.

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 01:  Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors tries to get the crowd louder during their game against the Los Angeles Lakers at ORACLE Arena on November 1, 2014 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.  (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Question # 2 – Did Steph Curry just have the best first half of an NBA season ever?

Answer – Yes, in spite of and considering the 1995-1996 72 win season of MJ and the 1961-1962 “triple-double” season of Oscar. Curry’s team is 48-4 right now and the Warriors are on track to break the NBA single season win record. Curry leads the NBA in scoring at 29.8 PPG even though he has “sat out” an unprecedented 15 fourth quarters so far.

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Question #3 – Will the Cavaliers win the East?

Answer – Yes, in spite of the turmoil currently bubbling in Cleveland.  However, I don’t believe the Cavs can beat either the Spurs or the Warriors for the NBA title.

 

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Question #4 – Are the Warriors going to win the West?

Answer – Yes, barring injury or a total breakdown of civilization as we know it. But, I expect the Western Conference Finals between Golden State and San Antonio will be an epic battle for the ages.  I think the winner of this series will win the NBA title in 2016.

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Question #5 – Who is the best Coach so far this year in the NBA?

Answer – It’s either Steve Kerr or Greg Popovich, and I personally vote for Steve Kerr. Additionally, Tyronn Lue may deserve a Nobel Prize if he can calm the waters in Cleveland.

The STANDINGS GRID

Current as of end of play Monday, February 15, 2016.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

# Team W L % GB Conf. Div. Home Away
1 Cleveland Cavaliers 38 14 .731 0.0 22-9 4-4 22-4 16-10
2 Toronto Raptors 35 17 .673 3.0 24-8 8-1 18-6 17-11
3 Boston Celtics 32 23 .582 7.5 23-16 7-5 17-10 15-13
4 Atlanta Hawks 31 24 .564 8.5 19-15 6-5 17-9 14-15
5 Miami Heat 29 24 .547 9.5 16-15 6-4 16-11 13-13
6 Indiana Pacers 28 25 .528 10.5 18-12 5-6 17-9 11-16
7 Chicago Bulls 27 25 .519 11.0 16-15 6-4 16-10 11-15
8 Charlotte Hornets 27 26 .509 11.5 17-13 5-6 19-9 8-17
9 Detroit Pistons 27 27 .500 12.0 16-15 5-6 16-10 11-17
10 Washington Wizards 23 28 .451 14.5 17-16 7-4 11-16 12-12
11 Orlando Magic 23 29 .442 15.0 13-19 3-8 14-13 9-16
12 New York Knicks 23 32 .418 16.5 15-20 6-4 14-15 9-17
13 Milwaukee Bucks 22 32 .407 17.0 16-16 4-4 15-8 7-24
14 Brooklyn Nets 14 40 .259 25.0 8-24 4-6 10-21 4-19
15 Philadelphia 76ers 8 45 .151 30.5 2-29 1-10 5-21 3-24

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

# Team W L % GB Conf. Div. Home Away
1 Golden State Warriors 48 4 .923 0.0 29-2 12-0 24-0 24-4
2 San Antonio Spurs 45 8 .849 3.5 25-4 8-2 28-0 17-8
3 OKC Thunder 40 14 .741 9.0 27-5 10-1 25-5 15-9
4 Los Angeles Clippers 35 18 .660 13.5 17-12 5-4 17-8 18-10
5 Memphis Grizzlies 31 22 .585 17.5 16-15 6-5 19-9 12-13
6 Dallas Mavericks 29 26 .527 20.5 19-15 5-8 15-11 14-15
7 Portland Trail Blazers 27 27 .500 22.0 21-15 8-3 16-11 11-16
8 Utah Jazz 26 26 .500 22.0 14-18 5-6 17-10 9-16
9 Houston Rockets 27 28 .491 22.5 19-17 6-6 16-13 11-15
10 Sacramento Kings 22 31 .415 26.5 10-20 5-7 13-13 9-18
11 Denver Nuggets 22 32 .407 27.0 11-23 4-9 11-15 11-17
12 New Orleans Pelicans 20 33 .377 28.5 14-22 4-8 14-12 6-21
13 Minnesota T-Wolves 17 37 .315 32.0 9-23 2-10 9-19 8-18
14 Phoenix Suns 14 40 .259 35.0 9-24 3-6 10-18 4-22
15 Los Angeles Lakers 11 44 .200 38.5 5-30 1-9 6-18 5-26

 

TIEBREAKER BASIS:
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Conference won-lost percentage.
(4) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference.
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference.
(6) Net Points, all games.

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