NBA Notebook: Celtics noticeably missing from Rising Stars Challenge

The NBA Rising Stars Challenge felt more exciting this year. Maybe it was the four-team format that transformed the showcase into a mini-tournament, with two first-round games to 50 points before a championship to 25. It looked like the All-Star Game, not only due to questionable defense, bounce pass alley-oops, excessively bold shot attempts and a frantic pace.

Many of the players involved have already become stars. LaMelo Ball played on Friday and will be one of the most exciting names to watch on Sunday too after being named Kevin Durant's replacement in the All-Star Game. No. 1 pick Cade Cunningham out-dueled Ball's team, then a loaded squad feature Anthony Edwards, Saddiq Bey, Tyrese Haliburton and Desmond Bane, Cunningham scoring 18 points and nine assists out of the 75 points needed to win. 

Young crossover stars aren't new in all-star weekend's kickoff event (unless you enjoyed Myles Garrett and Machine Gun Kelly trading shots in the celebrity game beforehand). Zion Williamson doubled as a rising and all-star last season, Luka Dončić started in the ASG during his second year, while Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid did too, though both after 'redshirt' injured rookie seasons. This year, Isaac Okoro and Evan Mobley helped drive an east contender in Cleveland, Desmond Bane powered a west contender in Memphis, Anthony Edwards looked like the Wolves' leader many nights, while Tyrese Maxey and Scottie Barnes invigorated Philadelphia and Toronto franchises that watched former all-stars Simmons and Kyle Lowry walk out the door last summer. 

Most noticeable for any Bostonians tuning in? No Celtics appeared as rising stars for the third straight season, aside from Grant Williams sitting court-side as an NBAPA vice president. Aaron Nesmith and Payton Pritchard have rarely played this year, and Brad Stevens traded Boston's 2021 first-round pick, which became rising star Alperen Şengün, along with Kemba Walker to the Thunder in exchange for Al Horford. The Celtics probably won't send any young players to Utah next year either, the rising stars event is typically reserved for rookies and sophomores, since Boston traded its 2022 first-round pick for Derrick White. 

"First-round picks are really valuable, but getting a guy for 3.5 years on a great contract that is a perfect fit next to your best players is valuable too and you're just weighing that," Stevens said last week. "I really value the picks. A lot like we talked about this summer in moving last year’s pick, we wanted to do a deal that didn’t encumber us moving forward. I think there are the benefits of the deal we did are that, but it’s not without its risk and that's part of it. I’m looking forward to having Derrick and we think he’ll be a really good player here and a really good player around our best players.”

The Celtics drafting Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams III in consecutive seasons affirmed Danny Ainge's career drafting record in the most important moment, initiating their recent run of success. His drafts from 2019 on, Romeo Langford, Grant Williams, Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters, Tacko Fall, Nesmith and Pritchard, held particular importance to where the team is today for the opposite reason. The context being that those players were slotted to fill depth roles after Kyrie Irving and other veterans left. They couldn't, and that left Boston stuck in the middle of the league since, due to stars at the top carrying their weight and young, inconsistent contributors unable to be relied upon. It's no wonder Stevens moved on from four of those seven players in short order after replacing Ainge as team president and coaching all of them. 

What's worse, for those Celtics fans who did watch Friday's Challenge, Cole Anthony, Bey and Maxey all could've been selected by Boston. The Celtics picked Bane, but for Memphis as part of a trade to dump Enes Kanter and Vincent Poirier. Young prospects Tyler Herro, Tyrese Haliburton, Jaden McDaniels, Ayo Dosunmu and Herb Jones could've been acquired with some draft board maneuvering, like how Brooklyn picked Cam Thomas by trading Landry Shamet.

Boston, under first-year head coach Ime Udoka, leaned in a veteran direction instead, not necessarily the wrong move, but now setting them up to be judged on that decision. They'll also need to spend more, up against the luxury tax already. A choice made in line with thinking youth development would take too long ahead of Brown and Tatum's free agencies, but only reached due to their own past errors. If Langford, Nesmith and Pritchard selections hit, it's hard to imagine Stevens shipping out three future first-round picks in his first year on the job. Instead, the trade deadline brought in Derrick White and Daniel Theis.

“It’s hard (for younger players) to break through the guys in front of them," Stevens said. "Jayson plays 36 minutes a game, Jaylen plays a ton, so there are only so many minutes left. When you’re so deep, and 11 through 15 is recently drafted guys, it’s really tough. There aren’t many minutes on a normal night, so it’s the balance there with that."

That may be true in Boston's case, given that they've drafted later than most of the teams best represented in the Rising Stars Challenge. The Warriors, however, have been able to integrate Jonathan Kuminga into their starting lineup on the No. 2 team in the west seven times and find him 14.5 minutes per game. The Bulls utilized Dosunmu nearly 30 minutes every night on the second-best team in the east. It's not impossible to mix and match lineups to prop up younger talents alongside more sturdy veterans. The Celtics have tossed their youth into sporadic situations for short stints when need arises.  

Udoka and Boston nonetheless hit their stride before the all-star break, crediting full health, cohesion and an ability to execute their defense at the highest level, play with pace and turn stops into offense. The team's ball movement has dramatically increased, even if its shooting still lags. Udoka is checking off many of his stylistic goals in year one as his team hones in on an identity. 

Josh Richardson helped them get there before being dealt. Scaling back on Dennis Schröder and Enes Freedom's minutes before they were dealt helped maximize the team's minutes too, but Udoka's stance that Pritchard's efforts were only being blocked by Schröder's didn't translate into a larger role for Pritchard once Schröder departed. The Celtics mostly rotated eight deep last week, playing the starters, White, Grant and Theis off the bench. 

That group developed elite defensive connectivity, Brown describing to Boston Sports Journal in Philadelphia how difficult it feels to score against them, until Marcus Smart and Robert Williams III fell to ailments on the trip before the break. Diminishing depth turned Udoka back toward Pritchard and Nesmith, who had his best game all season in Philadelphia, but with a 20-point lead already in place. Their greatest value became extending the lead to 50 points in the fourth quarter. Nesmith's spoken about transforming his game to fit what the Celtics need, while the organization drilled Pritchard on playmaking in the summer without consistent opportunity to allow him to try it in the regular season. 

"I complimented the third group for the way they came in and finished playing the whole fourth quarter," Udoka said on Tuesday. "I think Payton was great kind of controlling that group, keeping everyone involved ... we've seen it go the other way, at times, so it was impressive the way that group came in and played and executed." 

To a lesser degree, letting Max Strus slip away, sending Javonte Green to Chicago, where he's shined since, for luxury tax relief, cutting Garrison Mathews in training camp without ever getting him preseason run and utilizing the COVID-19 hardship exemptions in December to sign older veterans like Joe Johnson and C.J. Miles also proved lost opportunities to creatively find young teammates for Brown and Tatum. They'll have to wait and see on draft-and-stash players Yam Madar and Juhann Begarin. Now, like almost every other playoff contender, Boston will hope for luck in the buyout market to fill two roster spots before Thursday. 

If their veteran direction works, it'll succeed in spite of recent youth development efforts. Older teams often win championships, but if the Celtics are who the current standings show they are, a step behind the league's elite and without lottery-level draft capital of worse teams, their path to improvement will only come internally. Especially if Tatum, Brown and Williams III are considered untouchable and they exit this year with only Grant a better player among their underbelly of youth. 

Rising stars can turn into stars before long and catch the progress the Celtics once stood ahead with around 2018 when Brown and Tatum played in the game. Fortunately, deeper drafts allow some players like Jae'Sean Tate to emerge from deep in the second round or after going undrafted if teams dig deep. Sam Hauser could help Boston after being signed to a two-year deal and sinking 3-of-5 three-point tries late in Philadelphia this month. He currently has no role. 

Look at the Grizzlies, who are now seven games ahead of the Celtics and would be the No. 1 seed in the east, led by 22-year-old Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., with 23-year-old Bane. The Pacers traded for 21-year-old Haliburton earlier this month, who's already averaging 20 points, 12.7 assists and two steals per game with his new team. He would've been my first target if the Celtics ever looked to trade Brown, and fittingly, it took Indiana parting with franchise cornerstone Domantas Sabonis to acquire the guard. The Cavaliers drafting Darius Garland and Evan Mobley in two out of the three years almost single-handily propelled them ahead of Boston in the eastern hierarchy. 

The lowly Pistons, 13-45 at the break, not only sent the Celtics a wake-up call over fourth-quarter execution, physicality and intensity entering the break with their 112-111 stunning win in Boston, they featured both the Rising Stars MVP in Cunningham, the tournament's leading scorer in Bey (21 points) and Isaiah Stewart chipping in 10 points and 10 rebounds. If Detroit adds the right top-five 2022 rookie to Jerami Grant and that cast, who's to say they aren't looking like the next east upstart within the next year and change? Jake Fischer seemed crazy for writing that in January, but Cunningham peppering passes across Boston's defense on Wednesday, physically defending, fouling and bothering Tatum, before committing a smart take foul after the Pistons' turnover, before Tatum missed the potential game-winner, showed how ready Cunningham is. Even if the team isn't.

Cunningham was a public school sophomore in Texas about to make the leap to prep powerhouse Montverde Academy when Brown and Tatum were ahead of schedule as rising stars in 2017-18. Now, as they reach their mid-20s, the Celtics are consolidating, admitting some of their talent evaluations haven't panned out on their young players and speeding up the timeline to catch up with the conference. Sometimes, as Friday's Rising Stars Challenge showed, youth movements can not only be more sustainable paths to winning as the NBA veers younger than ever before, it can also be the more fun path. 

There are many ways to win in today's league though. Udoka, Stevens and Boston chose the veteran-led defensive grind. 

"Steady veteran," Udoka said of Theis after his return Tuesday, reflecting a phrase he used to describe Richardson and Schröder. "Someone that, although he hadn't played in a while, has that experience where he can just come right in and pretty much fit in. He was a little winded there for sure, but he can play through that off his experience and being around the guys. It's good to plug somebody in who you don't have to worry about as far as that, it's just a game shape thing. He was great, obviously, especially with Al's foul trouble in the second quarter, end of the first quarter, and didn't really have any drop off at all ... good to add another veteran piece to our group."

Here's what else happened in the NBA this week...

Atlanta (28-30): Lost in Boston after De'Andre Hunter reached four fouls early in the third quarter. Jayson Tatum and the Celtics took off to score on 10-of-11 possessions midway through the frame. The Hawks took care of the Cavaliers and Magic after, scoring over 120 points in each without John Collins. Collins suffered a right foot strain and will be re-evaluated after the break. Atlanta could never escape the bottom rung of the east playoff ladder, ranking 27th in defense through 58 games despite owning the No. 2 offense in the league in the first half. 

Boston (34-26): Firmly above the play-in tournament in the east after their nine-game win streak ended with a one-point loss to the Pistons at home without Marcus Smart (ankle sprain) and Robert Williams III (calf strain). Before that, they beat Joel Embiid and the 76ers by 48 points for the largest Celtics win in the history of the rivalry. Their defense is on the doorstep of No. 1 in the NBA (0.3 PP100 behind Warriors) and their starting lineup outscores opponents by 26.5 points per 100 possessions. Williams III reduces opponent's shooting efficiency by 6.1% when he contests their shots, while Zach Lowe noted Derrick White joins the team as one of the 20 best defenders in the NBA this year statistically. His spot start against Detroit produced three steals, including one that allowed Boston a second chance at a win, six assists, six rebounds and two blocks. They're a menace on defense and it's translating against some of the best offenses in the NBA -- Atlanta and Denver averaging 116 PPG over 15 before scoring fewer than 100 points in Boston.

Brooklyn (31-28): The Nets introduced Ben Simmons on Tuesday, who explained he needed to get right when he left the 76ers and has no timetable for a return to the court. Steve Nash later said he hasn't seen Simmons on the court, complicating efforts for the new-look team to gel as they fall into the east's play-in tournament after losing 12-of-14 into the break. Kevin Durant (knee) is unlikely to return right away, and despite Adam Silver and New York mayor Eric Adams questioning the fairness of the vaccine mandate keeping Kyrie Irving off the court at Barclays Center, there's no indication that rule will change anytime soon either. The trade started to pay off initially with back-to-back 20 point performances from Seth Curry though, while Cam Thomas averaged 21.4 PPG over his last eight games, including 21 in a 28-point comeback against the Knicks on Wednesday. Andre Drummond posted 9.3 PPG and 12.3 RPG in his first three games with Brooklyn, now the eighth seed in the east.

Charlotte (29-31): Lost three straight games entering the break, falling to ninth in the east as they continue to struggle when Gordon Hayward is out of the lineup these past two seasons. The Hornets' defense finished the first half of the schedule 23rd in the league, allowing 120.7 PPG this past week. The Heat forced overtime after the officials didn't check a Kyle Lowry three-pointer in overtime, allowing them to take the lead late in overtime, before Montrezl Harrell missed a potential game-winning free throw and Miami finished the job in double-overtime. Harrell is averaging 17.8 PPG and 7.5 RPG in his first four Hornets games. 

Chicago (38-21): Won five straight games entering the break to remain second in the east, expecting reinforcements when Alex Caruso (wrist) returns to the court in the next week or two. Demar DeRozan closed the first half breaking a 1963 Wilt Chamberlain record by scoring at least 35 points and shooting 50% from the field in seven consecutive games, powering himself back into the MVP conversation by keeping Chicago afloat through Lonzo Ball's month-long absence after knee surgery. Nikola Vucevic stepped up too, averaging 24.8 PPG, 13.2 RPG and 4.0 APG over his last nine. They'll acquire Tristan Thompson in the buyout market, Pacers coach Rick Carlisle announced. 

Cleveland (35-23): The last time the Cavaliers were 12 games over .500 without LeBron James? The last day of the 1997-98 season. Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen (replacing James Harden) will play in Sunday's All-Star Game, while Evan Mobley and Isaac Okoro starred in Friday's Rising Stars Game. Allen, Mobley and Garland will compete in Saturday's Skills Competition as a Cavs team. Cleveland isn't going anywhere, and they've already passed their season over-under of 27.5 wins. 

Dallas (35-24): Luka Dončić picked up the flamethrower and unleashed 45 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in a loss to the Clippers and 49 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists in a win over the Pelicans. Spencer Dinwiddie is off to a quiet start, while Davis Bertans looks like a good fit as a catch-and-shoot option for Dončić to kick to. That'll be the game for Dallas after Kristaps Porzingis' departure, no longer needing to worry about the star's unstable health. Dallas finished the first half No. 5 in defense after ranking 21st last year. A feather in Jason Kidd's cap, who'll be among the coach of the year candidates, with Dončić committing to a better diet. They extended Dorian Finney-Smith and should now have the flexibility to keep Jalen Brunson too if they decide to and move some other money around. They'll be a favorite, alongside Miami, to sign top buyout candidate Goran Dragic. 

Denver (33-25): After nine turnovers one week ago in Boston, Nikola Jokic bounced back with 29.7 PPG, 15.7 RPG and 7.0 APG in three straight Nuggets wins. Put your feet up big man. He put Denver above the play-in line in the west nearly on his own and is the indisputable NBA MVP at the break after winning last year's award without much objection. Monte Morris buried the game-winning shot to beat the Warriors in their last game. Look at this pass. My lord. 

Detroit (13-45): Saddiq Bey loves playing the Celtics, now averaging 16.8 PPG, 6.8 RPG and 2.6 APG in five games while hitting 23-of-33 from three (69.7%). Bey sunk a step-back three and put-back layup to overcome an eight-point deficit with three minutes to go and beat the streaking Celtics in Boston as 12.5-point underdogs. Jerami Grant hit the game-winner and defended Jayson Tatum's final try at the other end. Bey, Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart appeared in Friday's Rising Stars Game, and Marvin Bagley III shot 7-for-17 with 16 points and 14 rebounds in his first two games with Detroit, including a thunderous slam over Grant Williams. 

Golden State (42-17): James Wiseman watch continues, with nearly three-fourths of the season gone. Andrew Wiggins hyping up his progress, plans for a G-League stint and Bob Myers using his recovery alongside Draymond Green's as a reason for standing pat at the deadline point toward more hope for an imminent return for Wiseman. Green (back) is expected back sometime after the all-star break after a 19-game absence. Klay Thompson scored 33 points to beat the Lakers a week ago, before the Warriors dropped their last two games to the Clippers and Nuggets. They're No. 11 in offense and No. 1 in defense. 

Houston (15-43): Allowed 130 points or more in three of their last four games. They've now lost seven straight games and firmly sit in the NBA lottery's top-three (14% chance at No. 1 pick) by 3.0 games over the Thunder. Former Celtics guard Dennis Schröder is fitting right in alongside the youngsters, averaging 12.0 points, 7.7 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game in his first three games with the Rockets. Bruno Fernando got his first extended run before the break, scoring 10 points with five rebounds late in a blowout loss to the Clippers. The team also officially waived Enes Freedom. 

Indiana (20-40): Get ready to witness some monstrous Tyrese Haliburton numbers the rest of the way, the guard even stealing a win over the Wizards with 21 points and 14 assists before the break. Haliburton finished the first half sixth in assists, third in steals and 13th in three-point percentage. The 21-year-old is already one of the best players in the league and is averaging 20.8 PPG and 11.0 APG in his new home with the Pacers with 45.2% 3PT on 7.8 attempts per game. Indiana traded its franchise cornerstone at the deadline, but it found a new one and might've successfully reset rather than launching a rebuild. They're currently fourth in the NBA lottery hierarchy. 

Clippers (30-31): They throttled the Rockets after hanging with the Suns the game before, finishing the first half 26th in offense and seventh in defense. Norman Powell broke a bone in his left foot last Thursday that'll keep him out indefinitely, though the team doesn't believe it'll require surgery. He only played three games after getting traded from Portland before the deadline, averaging 21.0 PPG on 47.6% shooting. Robert Covington is shooting 47.5% from the field in limited minutes in his first seven games with the Clippers, who have lost 4-of-7 since the deal sent Eric Bledsoe, Keon Johnson and Justise Winslow north to Portland with a second-round pick. 

Lakers (27-31): LeBron James' 33 points, eight rebounds and six assists charged the Lakers into the break with a much-needed win after more bad news. Anthony Davis fell with another injury, this one to his foot, which will cost him at least four weeks. It may prove the final blow to Los Angeles' hope of avoiding the play-in tournament, with James' load as high as it's been since he left Cleveland the first time and Russell Westbrook shooting 35.1% in February. They couldn't even sign Tristan Thompson in the buyout market. Goran Dragic might be their last hope that help is on the way, and I'm not counting on it. 

Memphis (41-19): Ja Morant and Desmond Bane combined for 51 points in a win over the Hornets, then 74 in a close loss to Portland, with Morant sitting the game in between in New Orleans while Tyus Jones relieved him and led the win with 27 in a spot start. That's how they've become a top-five team in the NBA and at least the peskiest group any opponent could run into in the NBA Playoffs. They enter the break No. 5 in offense and No. 9 in defense, and they win even when Morant sits.

Miami (38-21): Jimmy Butler's game revolves around rest and willing passing at 32-years-old. So when he turns it up and wins a game in double-overtime late with lethal shot-making it's a needed reminder that he can break any game open on his own when needed. The Heat enter the break fresh, healthy and with the east's No. 1 seed that needs to be acknowledged when predicting teams that could reach the NBA Finals out of the east. Of course, this group did it two years ago and has only seen Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and a cast of unsung bench contributors grow since then. Victor Oladipo could join the fold soon, having recently started 5-on-5 work. Goran Dragic could return too. Duncan Robinson shattered Steph Curry's record of fastest to hit 700 threes. It's all good. 

“People are bored with Spo’s greatness, and it sucks because I think right now you’re talking about Coach of the Year,” Dwyane Wade said in a glowing assessment of Erik Spoelstra's performance this season. “We’ve said it multiple times, but if there’s any year that he has shown that he can coach his face off, it’s this year.”

Milwaukee (36-24): The Serge Ibaka experiment didn't exactly fend off Jusuf Nurkic or Joel Embiid in the Bucks' two losses this past week. Ibaka is a -8 in 26.2 minutes per game to begin his Milwaukee stint after the Bucks offloaded Donte DiVincenzo, Semi Ojeleye and Rodney Hood for him in a four-team deal. Pat Connaughton broke his hand the next day, leaving the Bucks with Bobby Portis, Wes Matthews and Jordan Nwora as proven wing depth. On a team that wants to spread the floor for Giannis Antetokounmpo, that question mark is a big problem, and it's worth wondering if they should've just kept waiting for Brook Lopez to get back. They added DeAndre' Bembry from the buyout market, who shot well with Brooklyn (56.8% FG), and have room for one more buyout acquisition or 10-day tryouts. 

Minnesota (31-28): Patrick Beverley signed a $13-million extension to stay in Minnesota another year, largely credited with ramping up the team's defensive intensity, particularly for fellow point guard D'Angelo Russell. The group's new starters thrived together and despite maddening inconsistency shown again in a fruitless offensive showing in a loss to the Raptors before the break, they're off to their best start since 2017-18 with Jimmy Butler. They're getting by this time with a much younger cast featuring Anthony Edwards and Jaden McDaniels. 

They should remain competitive through the play-in, but there's a case they should rise higher. It still feels like they could be something more. 

New Orleans (23-36): The next chapter for C.J. McCollum began with four losses in his first five games, not the upward trajectory toward play-in status they hoped for. They're tied with San Antonio 2.0 games behind Portland for the 10 seed, who is thriving with Josh Hart in McCollum's place in their lineup, even as they don't seem entirely fixated on reaching the tournament themselves. The Kings are right behind NOLA trying to win now too. McCollum averaged 28.4 PPG on 51.4% shooting with 5.4 APG, but still finished with net negative minutes in his opening Pelicans run. Their problem was never offense, and in case you held out hope, Zion Williamson might need a second foot surgery and probably isn't walking through that door this season.

New York (25-34): Just an unequivocally disastrous season for a team that doesn't even seem to have play-in tournament hope as losers of three straight to Portland, Oklahoma City and an undermanned Nets team after leading by 28 points in the first half at MSG. Big changes should be coming this offseason if this trajectory continues, and it probably begins with Tom Thibodeau. Leon Rose's tenure hasn't started hot either, building a back court around Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier after that led to a first-round exit for the Celtics one state over the season before. Their young talent isn't bad. It doesn't have to be this way. 

Derrick Rose provides the last chance to save this year after he salvaged last season, expecting to return shortly after the Knicks resume play.

Oklahoma City (18-40): The flashes are there. Josh Giddey unleashed 28 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in a MSG stunner. Tre Mann adding 30 points as his name starts to pop more often around the Thunder. They're still too few and far between, particularly at the offensive end. That's fine for this season, where they'll pick in the top 1-7 range again after nailing the Giddey pick following lottery disappointment. They also own the Clippers and Suns' first-round picks later on the board. Draft night is when they need to begin to think about how all this asset accumulation and tanking flips into winning. 

Orlando (13-47): The worst team in the NBA and bordering on needing a reminder that the lottery odds have balanced out across the bottom three teams after four ginormous losses in a row to enter the break. They got to enjoy Franz Wagner winning the Rising Stars tournament at the free-throw line though, and Cole Anthony should receive an Aaron Gordon-esqe introduction to the world as the star of Saturday's dunk contest alongside Obi Toppin, Jalen Green and Juan-Toscano Anderson. 

Philadelphia (35-23): There was something ominous about Tuesday. How strange it felt to see James Harden in Camden giving vague answers about a mid-season exodus from Brooklyn he chided as 'reports' early in the month. Wells Fargo Arena introducing him like a prized free-agent acquisition, ringing the bell with an admittedly chill-inspiring video tribute followed by him ringing the bell. Then, as Harden sat in an odd outfit, Boston mashed Joel Embiid and company by as many as 51 points at the highest point. Harden is still nursing a hamstring injury. The 76ers bounced back behind Embiid's 42 points in Milwaukee. There are still a ton of questions here though. 

Doc Rivers put it plainly to me in Philadelphia this week, after saying he didn't know how to use Paul Millsap: "I think it's a pretty easy combination. James Harden and Joel Embiid in the pick-and-roll. James Harden coming off Joel Embiid. James Harden being a post passer to Joel Embiid, and then the next guy tries to trap. I don't think that part is going to be difficult. The part of having great rhythm. Great continuity. That'll be the toughest part for us. We don't have a lot of time, and we know that. You can tell, yesterday and even today, everybody's talking about doing extra work. James comes today, 'can I work with the second, third group even after shootaround to go over everything, to try and get my rhythm?' Everybody's motivated. That's good." 

Phoenix (48-10): All they do is build long win streaks, starting a fresh new one where the old one ended. They carried seven straight into the break, and own the league's best record by 6.5 games, not to mention the No. 3 offense and No. 3 defense. They dominate the fourth quarter, statistically the most clutch team ever, and key depth cogs like Cam Payne, Cam Johnson, Javale McGee alongside underrated deadline additions Aaron Holiday and Torrey Craig solidify this group as a legitimate championship favorite entering the second half. They check all the boxes, and already got so close last summer. 

Portland (25-34): They've won four straight amid hefty deadline wheeling and dealing. Josh Hart, an underrated addition via the C.J. McCollum trade, stepped right in alongside Anfernee Simons and averaged 24.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG and 4.3 APG on 60% shooting in his first three games on 11-for-21 three-point shooting. Jusuf Nurkic's future with the Blazers is unclear ahead of unrestricted free agency, but he's ripping through his last nine games, with 17.2 PPG and 12.8 RPG on 50% shooting. They're clearly intent on making the playoffs, at least on the court, and they have a 2.0 game edge on the No. 11 Spurs/Pelicans. 

Sacramento (22-38): De'Aaron Fox is playing well since the deadline, 28.3 PPG, 3.3 RPG and 5.3 APG on 50.8% shooting. Domantas Sabonis looks at home, running his patented high post action and making this team more interesting to watch with 17.3 PPG, 11.5 RPG and 5.5 APG in his first four starts. The question about their trade was never how good Sabonis could be. It's where he brings them? So far, they still don't look close to a team that can win the play-in tournament, even if they sneak into the No. 10 seed. They're No. 21 in offense and No. 29 in defense this season. Claiming a play-in berth ends their postseason drought would roll eyes from Sacramento to Maine. 

San Antonio (23-36): They're still in the play-in race despite dumping off some players at the trade deadline. It wouldn't be the worst thing to squeeze Dejounte Murray, Lonnie Walker, Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson some playoff experience. Josh Richardson snuck in some limited minutes in the team's win at Oklahoma City, while Romeo Langford still hasn't played since joining San Antonio. 

Toronto (32-25): They're 5.0 games back of the No. 1 seed in the east without a prototypical star. They're well-represented in Cleveland between Scottie Barnes and Precious Achiuwa, who flashed some of the Raptors' wackier tendencies in a mini skills showcase when Barnes missed two point-blank floaters and Achiuwa looked off Desmond Bane to launch a corner three the closing moments of the Rising Stars game. Fred VanVleet will be a three-point contest favorite and star in Sunday's game, while Pascal Siakam might've been the next name called if Zach LaVine sat. 

Utah (36-22): Shattered a win streak and wasted Donovan Mitchell's 37 points in a bad loss to the Lakers before the break. Nickeil Alexander-Walker hasn't factored into their play since he became their only deadline addition. Their offense finished No. 1 and defense No. 10 in the first half, but their moments of streakiness reveal a group that isn't exceptionally deep after losing Joe Ingles, can only play one style and loses their defensive aptitude when Rudy Gobert isn't on the floor. Gobert can't win, blamed when the Lakers spread him out and receiving limited credit for cleaning up for a team full of suspect defenders.

Washington (27-31): Their last hope might be finally winning the lottery 12 years after John Wall's drafting propelled them to notoriety. They're tied for No. 11 in the lottery, 4.5 games back of No. 7, but only 1.0 game back of the play-in tournament with their wacky rotation digging a win from Ish Smith, Rui Hachimura and Anthony Gill in Brooklyn. Wes Unseld Jr. is a first-year head coach, so he'll be pushing for the playoffs, especially if it's any factor in keeping Bradley Beal invested, but it might not be their straightest path back to contention. Kristaps Porzingis probably won't offer one either. 

"Staying on the floor consistently," Porzingis said, outlining his goal in Washington. "Now that I’m healthy and I’m moving well, that’s the thing I have to prove. I truly believe that my luck hasn’t been the best luck in terms of injuries. A lot of them, if not all of them have been contact injuries. Those you can’t really avoid, 100 percent. I do my part with being in the weight room, making sure my body is right to stay healthy. But you have to have a little bit of luck."