At the All-Star break, The Post’s NBA writers answer 10 of the most compelling questions for the second half. Here’s where they stand:
1. The MVP right now should go to ___
Stefan Bondy: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
But it’s neck-and-neck with Nikola Jokic.
How close?
I would’ve put the Joker at the top spot before Denver’s current three-game losing streak.
We can remove Joel Embiid from the conversation after his surgery.
Brian Lewis: Nikola Jokic
Joel Embiid was a contender but became the first star felled by the league’s new 65-game rule for postseason award eligibility, leaving Jokic the frontrunner to take his third in four years.
Mike Vaccaro: Nikola Jokic
It’s a pity Joel Embiid won’t qualify, because he was cruising toward winning it back to back.
But Jokic is a worthy winner nonetheless.
2. The team to watch out for in the second half is the ___
Stefan Bondy: Pelicans
They’re an exceptionally deep team, which will help late in the season, and Zion Williamson is finding his groove while dropping at least 30 points in five of his past 12 games.
Also look out for three veteran teams to make a push, the Lakers, Heat and Warriors.
Brian Lewis: Suns
Finally getting healthy, the Suns have been rising since Jan. 11, with the fourth-best Net Rating and a 14-4 record.
Mike Vaccaro: Heat
Miami has done its usual dawdling lately and probably will dawdle some more until it needs to focus on the business at hand.
3. The team that will drop off in the second half is the ____
Stefan Bondy: 76ers
You don’t lose an MVP to surgery without consequences to the winning percentage.
Nick Nurse is a solid coach, and Tyrese Maxey is a budding star, so Philly will remain in the playoffs.
But they’ve already dropped to fifth in the East, and Kyle Lowry won’t stop the bleeding.
Brian Lewis: 76ers
They’re 6-13 when Embiid doesn’t play, and after he had surgery on his injured meniscus, it’s hard not to see them plummeting.
Mike Vaccaro: Cavaliers
Unless you believe they can keep up the remarkable pace they’ve been on the past month.
4. The Knicks’ chances of making a deep playoff run come down to ____
Stefan Bondy: Health
Duh.
To quote Jalen Brunson, they entered the All-Star break “the walking wounded,” but are expected to return Isaiah Hartenstein, Donte DiVincenzo and Bojan Bogdanovic.
The bigger questions are about Julius Randle and OG Anunoby.
To a lesser degree of importance, there’s also the potential of Mitchell Robinson returning before the postseason.
Brian Lewis: Health
Right now they are finding out how a spat of injuries can derail momentum, gimping into the break with four straight losses.
Mike Vaccaro: Health
Period. If they can get back up to full speed they can play with anyone.
If not it’ll be a quiet one-and-done.
5. The Nets will or won’t make the play-in because …
Stefan Bondy: They won’t.
They’re not very good, and it feels like they quit.
It’s harder to blame the players for terrible efforts when the organization quit on a game in December.
The Nets were 15-15 before that embarrassment.
Now they’re 21-33.
Brian Lewis: They won’t.
Brooklyn dug itself too deep of a hole.
Sure 2 ½ games with 29 left isn’t insurmountable, but what have the Nets done to engender confidence they’re the team to do it?
Mike Vaccaro: They won’t.
Unless they get about eight new players, a new coach and a new GM.
So not very likely.
6. A player who isn’t an All-Star this season but who will be next season is ___
Stefan Bondy: Ja Morant, Jamal Murray, Victor Wembanyama
I will confidently pick three players, all in the West.
Morant is an easy choice after he returns from surgery. as long as he stays away from firearms).
Murray can’t be snubbed forever, and the NBA would love for Wembanyama to make it.
Brian Lewis: Victor Wembanyama
The Kings’ De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are bigger snubs, but don’t expect to see Wemby miss another All-Star Game until he’s 40.
Mike Vaccaro: Domantas Sabonis
He is only eligible for this question because he was jobbed out of a spot this year.
7. If I were this coach, I wouldn’t feel great about definitely returning next season.
Stefan Bondy: Steve Clifford
It’s not his fault, but the Hornets are a disaster, with a roster full of immature personalities and new ownership stepping in.
This will be Clifford’s final season in Charlotte.
Hopefully he gets another chance somewhere else.
Brian Lewis: Billy Donovan
Wes Unseld Jr. is already fired, and Monty Williams survived the record losing skid, but Donovan is in his fourth season in Chicago.
It’s hard to see him in a fifth.
Mike Vaccaro: Jacques Vaughn
Because Sean Marks has more job security than a Supreme Court justice and he isn’t likely to fire himself, though he should.
8. The result of the NBA Finals will be _____
Stefan Bondy: Celtics over Clippers
My choice before the season, I’m sticking with it. Apologies to the Nuggets.
Brian Lewis: Celtics over Clippers
The Clips unseat the defending-champ Nuggets in the Western Conference finals.
Mike Vaccaro: Nuggets over Celtics
In six, and it will be a blast to watch.
9. The next NBA star to be traded will be ____
Stefan Bondy: Donovan Mitchell or Karl-Anthony Towns
And it will be for different reasons. With Towns, the Timberwolves are facing a financial crunch and need to unload their biggest contract to avoid luxury-tax hell.
With Mitchell, there’s little optimism he’ll re-sign with the Cavaliers, and they’d have to work out a trade or lose him for nothing in 2025 free agency.
Brian Lewis: Zach LaVine
Assuming he is considered a star.
The Cavs intend to hold Donovan Mitchell as long as possible, but the Bulls are in full-on rebuild mode.
Mike Vaccaro: Joel Embiid
If the 76ers can convince a team to send a boatload of picks to kick off The Process 2.0
10. The NBA’s biggest offseason storyline will be _____
Stefan Bondy: LeBron James
It’s always LeBron. Will he pick up his player option?
Will he try to force a team to draft his son? Will he retire?
There’s so much on the table, especially if the Lakers flame out in the playoffs.
Brian Lewis: Donovan Mitchell
The aforementioned superstar rejected an extension last year, and if he does so again this summer, Cleveland may be forced to reassess.
But look how long it took Houston to trade James Harden and Brooklyn to deal Kevin Durant.
Mike Vaccaro: LeBron James
What else? What are LeBron’s plans?
