Good Evening, NBA Basketball! The All-Star game is over, and as we all know, the West sent Kobe out a winner with a 196-173 victory over the East. And, it’s mind boggling to think of 196 points scored by a team in a regulation NBA game. Let’s then answer some questions about this first half of the NBA season, and then look at the current standings. It is interesting to note that, in the West, the Spurs are only 3 ½ games behind the Warriors in spite of the Warriors unreal start of 48-4. In the East, the Raptors trail the Cavs by only 3 games.
Question #1 – Will the Golden State Warriors break the NBA record of 72 wins in a season?
Answer – Yes. They are playing some unbelievably good basketball right now, though, and if they find a way to maintain that level of play (and barring injury, of course), I believe this edition of the Golden State Warriors will win 74 or 75 games.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Question # 2 – Did Steph Curry just have the best first half of an NBA season ever?
Answer – Yes, in spite of and considering the 1995-1996 72 win season of MJ and the 1961-1962 “triple-double” season of Oscar. Curry’s team is 48-4 right now and the Warriors are on track to break the NBA single season win record. Curry leads the NBA in scoring at 29.8 PPG even though he has “sat out” an unprecedented 15 fourth quarters so far.
Question #3 – Will the Cavaliers win the East?
Answer – Yes, in spite of the turmoil currently bubbling in Cleveland. However, I don’t believe the Cavs can beat either the Spurs or the Warriors for the NBA title.
Question #4 – Are the Warriors going to win the West?
Answer – Yes, barring injury or a total breakdown of civilization as we know it. But, I expect the Western Conference Finals between Golden State and San Antonio will be an epic battle for the ages. I think the winner of this series will win the NBA title in 2016.
Question #5 – Who is the best Coach so far this year in the NBA?
Answer – It’s either Steve Kerr or Greg Popovich, and I personally vote for Steve Kerr. Additionally, Tyronn Lue may deserve a Nobel Prize if he can calm the waters in Cleveland.
The STANDINGS GRID
Current as of end of play Monday, February 15, 2016.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
| # | Team | W | L | % | GB | Conf. | Div. | Home | Away |
| 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 38 | 14 | .731 | 0.0 | 22-9 | 4-4 | 22-4 | 16-10 |
| 2 | Toronto Raptors | 35 | 17 | .673 | 3.0 | 24-8 | 8-1 | 18-6 | 17-11 |
| 3 | Boston Celtics | 32 | 23 | .582 | 7.5 | 23-16 | 7-5 | 17-10 | 15-13 |
| 4 | Atlanta Hawks | 31 | 24 | .564 | 8.5 | 19-15 | 6-5 | 17-9 | 14-15 |
| 5 | Miami Heat | 29 | 24 | .547 | 9.5 | 16-15 | 6-4 | 16-11 | 13-13 |
| 6 | Indiana Pacers | 28 | 25 | .528 | 10.5 | 18-12 | 5-6 | 17-9 | 11-16 |
| 7 | Chicago Bulls | 27 | 25 | .519 | 11.0 | 16-15 | 6-4 | 16-10 | 11-15 |
| 8 | Charlotte Hornets | 27 | 26 | .509 | 11.5 | 17-13 | 5-6 | 19-9 | 8-17 |
| 9 | Detroit Pistons | 27 | 27 | .500 | 12.0 | 16-15 | 5-6 | 16-10 | 11-17 |
| 10 | Washington Wizards | 23 | 28 | .451 | 14.5 | 17-16 | 7-4 | 11-16 | 12-12 |
| 11 | Orlando Magic | 23 | 29 | .442 | 15.0 | 13-19 | 3-8 | 14-13 | 9-16 |
| 12 | New York Knicks | 23 | 32 | .418 | 16.5 | 15-20 | 6-4 | 14-15 | 9-17 |
| 13 | Milwaukee Bucks | 22 | 32 | .407 | 17.0 | 16-16 | 4-4 | 15-8 | 7-24 |
| 14 | Brooklyn Nets | 14 | 40 | .259 | 25.0 | 8-24 | 4-6 | 10-21 | 4-19 |
| 15 | Philadelphia 76ers | 8 | 45 | .151 | 30.5 | 2-29 | 1-10 | 5-21 | 3-24 |
WESTERN CONFERENCE
| # | Team | W | L | % | GB | Conf. | Div. | Home | Away |
| 1 | Golden State Warriors | 48 | 4 | .923 | 0.0 | 29-2 | 12-0 | 24-0 | 24-4 |
| 2 | San Antonio Spurs | 45 | 8 | .849 | 3.5 | 25-4 | 8-2 | 28-0 | 17-8 |
| 3 | OKC Thunder | 40 | 14 | .741 | 9.0 | 27-5 | 10-1 | 25-5 | 15-9 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Clippers | 35 | 18 | .660 | 13.5 | 17-12 | 5-4 | 17-8 | 18-10 |
| 5 | Memphis Grizzlies | 31 | 22 | .585 | 17.5 | 16-15 | 6-5 | 19-9 | 12-13 |
| 6 | Dallas Mavericks | 29 | 26 | .527 | 20.5 | 19-15 | 5-8 | 15-11 | 14-15 |
| 7 | Portland Trail Blazers | 27 | 27 | .500 | 22.0 | 21-15 | 8-3 | 16-11 | 11-16 |
| 8 | Utah Jazz | 26 | 26 | .500 | 22.0 | 14-18 | 5-6 | 17-10 | 9-16 |
| 9 | Houston Rockets | 27 | 28 | .491 | 22.5 | 19-17 | 6-6 | 16-13 | 11-15 |
| 10 | Sacramento Kings | 22 | 31 | .415 | 26.5 | 10-20 | 5-7 | 13-13 | 9-18 |
| 11 | Denver Nuggets | 22 | 32 | .407 | 27.0 | 11-23 | 4-9 | 11-15 | 11-17 |
| 12 | New Orleans Pelicans | 20 | 33 | .377 | 28.5 | 14-22 | 4-8 | 14-12 | 6-21 |
| 13 | Minnesota T-Wolves | 17 | 37 | .315 | 32.0 | 9-23 | 2-10 | 9-19 | 8-18 |
| 14 | Phoenix Suns | 14 | 40 | .259 | 35.0 | 9-24 | 3-6 | 10-18 | 4-22 |
| 15 | Los Angeles Lakers | 11 | 44 | .200 | 38.5 | 5-30 | 1-9 | 6-18 | 5-26 |
TIEBREAKER BASIS:
(-) Tie breaker not needed (better overall winning percentage)
(1) Division leader wins tie from team not leading a division
(2) Head-to-head won-lost percentage
(3) Conference won-lost percentage.
(4) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, own conference.
(5) W-L Percentage vs. Playoff teams, other conference.
(6) Net Points, all games.
MAKE HOOPS YOUR BUSINESS!