Five Questions for the Final Stretch of the Season

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With All-Star weekend passing, the NBA has begun the final stretch of the 2023-24 season. With most teams having 25-28 games remaining on their schedules, the race for the playoffs and play-in tournament will only get more intense over the next six to seven weeks. With that being said, there are several important questions that need to be asked as the final stretch of the season begins.

Will Joel Embiid Return and can Philly survive if he doesn’t?

One of the biggest stories of the first half of the season was the play of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid. After a dominant 2022-23 season that saw Embiid win his first MVP award, The Process himself was going on another dominant stretch, averaging 35.5 PPG, 11.3 RPG, and 5.7 APG. With the new awards rules being implemented and players having to play 65 games minimum to be in contention for an award, the pressure was on Embiid to play. He would ultimately suffer a meniscus injury in late January. Missing more than 17 games, Embiid is no longer eligible to win the MVP award, but his focus is on his return and playoff implications. There is no guarantee he will return in time for the end of the season or the playoffs. Coming out of the All-Star break, Philadelphia sits as the fifth seed, they are just a few losses away from being a part of the Play-In Tournament. In the eight games Philly has played since losing Embiid, they have gone 3-5, with their remaining schedule including numerous games against contenders in both conferences. For Philadelphia, the next six to seven weeks are about surviving without Joel Embiid. If they can, there’s a chance he could return for the playoffs. If the final stretch of the season becomes too much, the focus should shift to Embiid’s health and next season.

Who finishes at the top of the West?

Entering the final stretch of the season, the top of the Western Conference is jumbled up, with four teams all within a game or two of each other. At the time of this writing, Minnesota leads the West with a 39-16 record, followed by OKC (37-17), the Clippers (36-17), and the Nuggets (36-19). Not far behind the Nuggets in fifth is the Phoenix Suns, who sit at 33-22, but hope to finish top four by the end of the season. Minnesota and OKC have shown no signs of slowing down as they’ve both shocked the NBA this season. After a slow start post-James Harden trade, the Clippers have been one of the best teams since December 1st, going 28-7. For the defending champion Nuggets, the first seed does not appear to be the priority as they remain a legitimate threat no matter where they finish. With home-court advantage being the goal for the top teams in the West, it may come down to the final few games of the season to determine who finishes at the top of the conference.

Is this it for the Lakers and Warriors?

The 2023-24 season has been very tough for both the Los Angeles Lakers and Golden State Warriors. Following their In-Season Tournament championship win, the Lakers have gone 16-17 with many questions surrounding the future of the team, especially with 39-year-old LeBron James having a player option this summer. For the Warriors, they have seen many struggles this season including the declines of Klay Thompson, and Andrew Wiggins, and the issues surrounding Draymond Green. While Steph Curry is still Steph Curry, it is clear the team around him is not a championship-caliber team. Heading into the final stretch of the season, the Lakers sit in ninth place with a 30-26 record and the Warriors sit right behind them in tenth with a 27-26 record. If the season were to finish today, the two teams would play each other in a win-or-go-home game, with one of the two immediately going home and the high possibility of the other going home against the winner of a 7/8 matchup. With both teams being inactive at the trade deadline, they are set to finish the season with the rosters that have landed them in their current play-in positions. Both teams can and should expect big changes this offseason, with the potential of LeBron leaving the Lakers and the Warriors moving on from either Klay Thompson or Draymond Green being high.

Are the Cavaliers legitimate contenders or just a great regular-season team?

The Cleveland Cavaliers have had another great season with Donovan Mitchell as their number-one option, sitting with the second-best record in the East, 36-17. Since the start of 2024, the Cavs have gone 18-3, winning nine of their last 10 games. Donovan Mitchell has played his way into the MVP conversation, averaging 28.4 PPG, 6.3 APG, and 5.4 RPG. Even with Darius Garland and Even Mobley missing significant times, the Cavs have remained one of the best teams in the league. Will that matter come playoff time though? Last season, the Cavs finished fourth in the East in 51 wins but would lose to the New York Knicks in five games. Could they suffer a similar fate come the playoffs? If the season were to end today, they would play the winner of a 7/8 play-in matchup between the Miami Heat or Orlando Magic. If the lights were to become too bright once again, Cleveland could face another early playoff exits and serious questions regarding their future, with the rumors of Donovan Mitchell leaving only growing louder.

Can the Clipper stay healthy?

While the Los Angeles Clippers have always been a good team with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, they have not had the most luck towards the end of the season and playoffs. Both have gotten injured late in the season or playoffs, resulting in playoff exits that may have not happened if the team was healthy. In the last three seasons, they have missed the playoffs once, reached the Western Conference Finals once, and had a first-round exit once. Injuries have played a role in all three playoff exits. This season feels different though. Both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George have missed very few games, James Harden has embraced his role as the third option on the team, and Russell Westbrook has embraced his role coming off the bench. Having one of the best records, since December, the Clippers have solidified themselves as a legitimate contender for the 2024 NBA Championship. Can they remain healthy for the final stretch of the season though? If the duo of Kawhi and PG specifically can stay healthy going into the playoff, they very well may be the true dark horse contender for the championship.