NBA Mid-Season Report: All-Star & Conference Finals Predictions

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The NBA All-Star Weekend is approaching in two days and all teams have played 50-52 games out of the 82 game season.  The Indiana Pacers have the best record in the NBA and the Oklahoma City Thunder have the second-best record in the league.  The Pacers are 40-11 and the Thunder are 42-12 – both teams have a impressive home record – the Pacers are 25-2 at home and the Thunder are 23-3 at home.  Kevin Durant, forward for Thunder, is currently leading the league in scoring with a career-high 31.2 points. Durant is also averaging 7.6 rebounds, a career-high 5.5 assists and 1.4 steals.

DeAndre Jordan, center for the Los Angeles Clippers is leading the league with 14.1 rebounds. His previous career-high was 8.2 rebounds.  Jordan is also leading the league in field goal % shooting 65.6% from the field. Jordan is averaging 10 points and is fourth in the league in blocks shot with 2.37 blocks a game.  Clippers point guard, Chris Paul, would be leading the league in steals and assists. Paul is ineligible due to not playing in enough games because of an injury.  Paul is averaging 11 assists and 2.49 steals a game; he recently returned from injury and still could lead the league in both categories.  Stephen Curry, point guard of the Golden State Warriors, is leading the league with a career-high 9 assists and averaging a career-high 24.5 points.

Ricky Rubio, point guard of the Minnesota Timberwolves, is averaging a career-high 2.46 steals a game and is fourth in the league with 8.3 assists a game.  Anthony Davis, of the New Orleans Pelicans, is leading the league with a career-high 3.12 blocks a game.  Davis is a candidate for Most Improved Player and has improved in every statistically category this season and became a first-time All-Star.  Durant is the front runner to win his first regular season MVP award and Jordan could win his first Defensive Player of the Year award.  The Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers all round out the top five records in the NBA.

It will probably be a Eastern Conference Finals rematch with the Heat and Pacers this year.  The Thunder should be in the Western Conference Finals this year. Once the Spurs get healthier, they have a good chance at returning to the Western Conference Finals.  The Trail Blazers have been one of the hottest teams this season after not making the playoffs last season.  Portland is a young team and the Spurs deep roster and experience gives them an edge over Portland.  The playoffs start in April and the Heat have a tough road ahead of them if they wish to three-peat as NBA Champions.