The 76ers are coming up from behind.
The Pistons are falling back into the pack.
The Suns apparently are sellers.
And most are buying that it will be the Lakers emerging from the Western Conference.
With the silliness of All-Star Weekend over, and with the stress of the trading deadline days from dissipating, here's a look at 10 storylines for the second half of the NBA season.
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A year ago, the trading deadline was about contenders loading up for championship runs, be it the Lakers landing Pau Gasol or the Mavericks moving for Jason Kidd.
This year, the deadline could tell a different story, namely: Who's solvent?
Should the Hornets and Suns aggressively dump salary, then what does it say about those teams' futures?
In previous seasons, the deadline made clear teams' intentions for the following four months.
But what happens Thursday, or what doesn't happen, could open a window about those who plan, or can literally afford, to contend for years to come.
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Of course, not every team that dumps salary Thursday plans to head to the dumps.
The looming 2010 free-agency period figures to cast a significant shadow over the remaining weeks of this season, as it has over the opening months.
For the Knicks, the season has been about nothing less.
For the Raptors, the looming uncertainty about 2010 and its prized possession, Chris Bosh, has created a make-or-break urgency.
And in places such as Miami and Cleveland, significant steps forward over these coming weeks could possibly lead to get-ahead-of-the-game extensions this summer for Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, putting a crimp into the plans of so many others.
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It is one of the least-appreciated deadlines in the NBA, but still a significant one.
Any player who has spent time on an NBA roster this season must by be waived by that date in order to have playoff eligibility with another team.
So is that when the Thunder finalizes a buyout with Joe Smith (if he is not dealt by the trading deadline)? Is that when the Knicks finally come to an agreement with Stephon Marbury?
Such players can join a team any time before the final game of the season and be playoff-eligible, provided they had been waived by March 1.
Not included in that group are players who have not been with an NBA team this season (P.J. Brown, Alonzo Mourning, Bonzi Wells, anyone else overseas). Those players would be playoff eligible provided they sign with a team before its final regular-season game.
In other words, the personnel game doesn't end on Feb. 19.
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If there was candor, true candor in front offices in Houston and Philadelphia and Utah, the reaction certainly would be along the lines of:
\"You bet we're better without them.\"
Of course, no one in-house can come out and say that when it comes to Tracy McGrady, Elton Brand and Carlos Boozer, but it sort of is, well, undeniable.
Without McGrady, Houston plays to the strengths of the league's most unique force, in Yao Ming. Plus, there is one fewer voice in a locker room loaded with far too many. Should the knee stifle McGrady, the upside would be a team with a clear direction, clear focus, and enough perimeter talent in Ron Artest and Shane Battier to establish a clear identity in time for the playoffs.
In Philadelphia, it has become abundantly clear that the 76ers are at their best when playing at speed, not when bogged down by Brand's half-court fundamentalism. With Andre Miller at the controls and Thaddeus Young, Lou Williams and Marreese Speights acting like a bunch of kids, the 76ers well could challenge for first-round homecourt advantage.
Then there is the situation in Utah. Does Boozer make the Jazz better? Certainly. But at what cost? Even with a return, will it be an enduring return, or simply the prelude to the next injury? And how will that impact the continued emergence of Paul Millsap? Yes, Boozer is a money player, but too often it seems as if his focus is just that.
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What the Lakers have done in the injury absence of Andrew Bynum has been staggering. No, we're not going to put them in the category of the Rockets, 76ers and Jazz — teams potentially better without their injured stars — but the Lakers have nonetheless thrived in Bynum's absence.
Elsewhere, though, there remain significant injury questions.
With Anthony Johnson back to being Anthony Johnson, how much of a toll will life without Jameer Nelson take on the Magic?
Can Milwaukee continue to put up ridiculous scoring totals in the absences of Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut and Luke Ridnour?
Will all the traction gained in Minnesota be lost with Al Jefferson's season-ending injury?
And can Dallas get enough off its bench to replace what Jason Terry has so deftly provided?
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Last season, Golden State failed to qualify for the playoffs despite a 48-34 record. This season, another Western Conference playoff-worthy team will be sent home before the postseason.
Based on the standings at the break, it looks like it could come down to Phoenix or Utah.
That's what will make the deadline so intriguing: How significant is a 2009 playoff berth to the Suns? And is it more significant than saving owner Bob Sarver a few bucks down the road?
The one thing you know about Jazz coach Jerry Sloan is that victory is the only thing that matters. But health remains a huge issue in Utah, not only with Boozer but also the balky ankle of teammate Andrei Kirilenko.
The Suns are more talented (well, at least as currently composed with Amare Stoudemire), but the Jazz carries far less baggage.
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Last season, 37-45 got Atlanta in the playoffs, as did 40-42 for Philadelphia.
This season, figure on at least one sub-.500 from the East.
Based on the current standings, Boston, Cleveland and Orlando are the elite. Then there's Atlanta, Detroit, Miami and Philadelphia in the middle of the pack.
So who else sneaks in, tries to become this season's Atlanta and push a conference front-runner in the opening round?
Based on coaching, keep an eye on the Bucks and the Nets.
Known for his defensive leanings, Scott Skiles currently finds himself guiding a thrill show in Milwaukee. Could it crash and burn? Certainly. But maybe, just maybe, Ramon Sessions and Charlie Villanueva are for real.
Then there are the Nets and Lawrence Frank. A team can do worse than a core of Brook Lopez, Devin Harris and Vince Carter (or his potential replacement in a trade). Remember, we're only talking 36 to 38 victories to complete the task.
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With seven coaching changes before the All-Star break, and then the Terry Porter situation taking the spotlight in Phoenix during All-Star Weekend, the league certainly has run out of fall guys, right?
Most likely yes.
But keep an eye on Chicago and Golden State.
Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf already has publicly questioned Vinny Del Negro, and a protracted slide could lead Vinny and his wise-men assistants out the door.
Then there's the Nellie-circus-by-the-Bay. For the Warriors to regroup next season, it could be time to establish order before the end of this season. Is this Nellie's team? What about Mully? And shouldn't the kids be playing a little more considering where the record stands?
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Unlike last year, with Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley, or even the year before, with Greg Oden and Kevin Durant, there is not nearly such clarity at the top of the draft. Therefore, there is less reason to tank.
For the league, that's a good thing. It means fewer D-League All-Stars taking the court in March and April, as we particularly saw last season with the Heat (where is Kasib Powell these days, anyway?).
Yes, Blake Griffin tantalizes with his athleticism, there is the international intrigue of Ricky Rubio, and Hasheem Thabeet certainly is very, very tall.
But the league well could get a reprieve from some of the lineup chicanery we've seen late in recent seasons.
It's not as if Washington is going to throw out a lineup featuring Andray Blatche, Dominic McGuire, Darius Songaila, Javaris Crittenton and Oleksiy Pecherov. (Oh, the Wizards already are doing that? Never mind.)
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Kobe or LeBron? LeBron or Kobe?
With all due respect to Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul (whose team is just awful without him), the race for Most Valuable Player has been reduced to a win-place proposition, with Bryant and James clearly the best in show.
Most likely, when supporting casts (or lack thereof) are factored in, it well could be James' award to lose.
But if the Lakers continue to dominate in the West, while Cleveland continues to tussle with Boston and Orlando in the East, it could come down to overall record. In that case, as a stand-alone champion in the West, Kobe could emerge.
Submit your questions to the NBA Expert";
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spt_NBA_2ndHalfStorylines_090215[i-1].body = "Q: What are the chances now of the Celtics picking up Stephon Marbury, another guard or someone big for the front line (maybe a center)?
— Jeff Burnett, Parsippany, N.J.
A: Excellent.
To Danny Ainge's credit, he hasn't rushed the process, hasn't bankrupted his team's future for a patch that only will be required for the playoffs.
Clearly, additional height is required beyond Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett in the power rotation, as well as veteran ballhandling behind Rajon Rondo in the backcourt.
Keep in mind, with P.J. Brown and Alonzo Mourning not on NBA rosters at any point this season, they can be added by Boston any time before the Celtics' April 15 season finale and be playoff eligible.
As for the backcourt, still unclear are the Celtics' intentions with Sam Cassell. Is he in street clothes at the end of the bench for any discernable reason? Will he emerge as the postseason backup to Rondo, so Eddie House can continue his off-the-ball 3-point success?
With Marbury, it comes down to whether either side blinks, Marbury or the Knicks. If he's still on the Knicks roster after March 1, then his value to the Celtics is lost, without playoff eligibility.
Beyond the availability issue, Boston likely would offer nothing more than a tryout to Marbury, see if he can provide a bench boost, or else move in other directions with playoff-eligible options.
Submit your questions to the NBA Expert";
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spt_NBA_2ndHalfStorylines_090215[i-1].body = "Q: Ira, I have watched and played basketball most of my 61 years and I’m wondering what’s with this so-called hop step? To me, it’s a traveling violation; it’s no wonder some of these players make the moves they do today.
— Anonymous, Pekin, Ill.
A: What you have to understand is this is NBA basketball, professional sports offered as entertainment.
Many of the rules are geared toward continuous play that allows for maximum athleticism.
Is this what Dr. Naismith had in mind? It doesn't matter. He also probably never envisioned furry mascots dunking off trampolines.
The key is that the NBA interpretation of basketball be universally enforced. That's where the detractors enter, wondering why LeBron mostly gets away with his \"Crab\" dribble, how Patrick Ewing and Robert Parish got their hop steps, and what keeps Dwyane Wade's change-of-direction dribble from being considered anything short of a carry.
I discussed the matter earlier this season with Phil Jackson, who said it is difficult for referees to notice those hops.
\"It's very difficult to referee the game and look at the feet,\" Jackson said. \"In this league, our referees have decided they're going to referee the defense, not the offense, and so the offensive players obviously get away with more than the defense does, because they're looking at the defensive players.\"
Of course, Jackson also coached Michael Jordan, who was known to get an extra step or two during their Chicago championship days.
Jackson said the officials were poised at the start of the season to crack down on such hop steps.
\"You get to this part of the season,\" Jackson said, \"and it's gone, totally dissipates, and no one's calling it.
\"The cry from the coaches is if you actually execute and call the games as supposed to be played, the players will adjust to it. They'll make those adjustments. And these players don't have to have those moves. They just do what the limits are.\"
Submit your questions to the NBA Expert";
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spt_NBA_2ndHalfStorylines_090215[i-1].body = "Q: Why is Jason Kidd continually recognized as a great point guard when he shoots about 35 percent from the field, gets burned by every quick guard in the league and has the most pathetic triple-double stats ever?
— Peter, Western Washington
A: For the same reason Shaquille O'Neal is recognized as a great player, even though he can't make a free throw:
Kidd excels at the most significant aspects of his position, in his case guiding the offense and making his teammates better.
Consider the Olympics, where Kidd barely even shot the ball, but still emerged as the stabilizing force for one of the most impressive U.S. efforts in years.
The difference in recent years is the league's top point guards have emerged as scoring point guards, such as Chris Paul and Deron Williams, or even Tony Parker. That is among the reasons Kidd did not even get a sniff for the All-Star Game this year.
But Kidd remains, unquestionably, one of the premier playmakers of his era.
As for the defensive argument, such a standard likely would have kept several players out of the Hall of Fame, sort of like baseball Hall of Famers who never were great fielders.
Oh, and there's nothing pathetic about a triple-double because it includes only 10 points along with the requisite double-digit rebounds and assists. If it were so easy, Kidd would not stand in such select company with his total.
Submit your questions to the NBA Expert"; // END editorial data