With one of the most eventful trade deadlines behind us, the verdict is still out regarding who won this amazing shakeup of the entire league. While the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks made the most noise, it is still early to see who got better and who could struggle with their new roster. The All-Star break is almost upon us, which typically means the halfway point of the season in terms of readiness and seriousness. The best games of the season are still to come and NBA odds for the championship have changed in the last week or so. Read on to find out more about the favorites.
The LakeShow is in Uncharted Waters
Getting Luka Doncic is one of the biggest things a basketball team can do, as this has already been described as one of the most significant things to happen to the sport. Having a generational talent is something the Lakers always manage to do, but nobody expected this. But how well will Luke the Don match with LeBron James? They are both very ball-dominant, and this will be the first time the King plays with someone who is better than him. There are many uncertainties, especially now that the Mark Williams trade is voided because the Charlotte center did not pass his physical. The California team has no center except Jaxon Hayes and could struggle. Their statement win against the Indiana Pacers proved they could play well even without Luka and LeBron, but is it sustainable?
The Mavs Look Promising
After a trip to the finals last season, the Mavericks having shaken things up is an understatement. Bringing Daniel Gaffod and PJ Washington last season made them so much better, and now they have Klay Thompson and Anthony Davis but no Luka. Their first game with AD seemed great as the PF/C dominated, that is before he had to leave the Houston matchup after a non-contact injury that looked like an aggravation of his abdominal/groin strain. Washington also left the Texas classic meaning they are without two key pieces right now. Kyrie Irving is balling, and so is the supporting cast in Spencer Dinwiddie, Max Christie, and Naji Marshall, but there is an injury bug with the bigs as Derrick Lively is also on the sidelines. For now, the Mavs could be in trouble with a season lost to injuries looming over their heads.
Denver Nuggets Cruising
The heavyweight of the Western Conference is on cruise control as of late, and despite not making a trade they are very interesting to watch. With Denver winning six in a row and the fact that Russel Westbrook is injured having almost no impact. Nikola Jokic is the MVP everyone knows, Jamal Murray is finally producing at a high level, Michael Porter Jr. turned in some promising scoring performances and is shooting well, and Christian Braun is back where he started to open the season. Aaron Gordon is healthy and dominant so the Mile-high City is finally catching up to the top where Houston and OKC are waiting. It would not be a bad move to bet on the Nuggets moving forward as they are just now shifting gears for the second stretch of the season.