Which team is the most impressive after the All-Star?
The first thing that comes to mind is the 76ers, for the following reasons:
First of all, in the game against the Timberwolves and Knicks, the 76ers won 31 and 16 points respectively. Not to mention the big wins, but also the horror of the offensive ability to show the most vivid - the average of 129 points per game, far higher than the team's first score Hornets 114.2 points.
Secondly, I think it's very important that harden and Embiid show very good chemistry and compatibility – 53 minutes combined, the team's net efficiency is as high as 43.1.
A defender, a center, both attacking and defending well and extremely dominant in their respective positions, such a combination is easy to recall O'Neal and Kobe Bryant of the old "OK" combination.
Realistically speaking, if Harden and Embiid remain as efficient as they are, it is not impossible for the new "OK" combination to lead the team to the championship in my opinion.
Aside from the 76ers, what other team is impressive? In my opinion, it is necessary to mention the Lakers.
If the first 102-105 loss to the Clippers after the All-Star was said. I mean, although Leonard and Paul George, two absolute cores, can't play, the Clippers, which have matured in recent years, are still extremely competitive.
In fact, in my opinion, the Clippers were once the favorite of the champions, not because the two cores of "Pepper" were strong, but because the role players had a strong sense of existence.
Speaking of the Lakers, if the Clippers who lost to the remnants can be understood, then the Pelicans who lost to the residual team are still net minus 28 points, to be honest, I can't understand how.
First of all, the pelicans' absolute core Zion could not play due to injury, and the overall combat strength of the team was invisibly weakened a lot;
Secondly, the All-Star former Pelicans have just completed a big deal with the Blazers, and it can be said that the team is still in a run-in period;
Although the team is not enough combat strength and is in the run-in period, the Lakers cannot win in this situation, and they still lose 28 points.
On the side, through this game, another pseudo-strong team in the NBA was born - the Lakers. I mean:
In the face of the overall combat strength is not as good as their own, still in the run-in period of the team, the Lakers are still a mess of defeat. In fact, from the intuitive feeling of the game, the Lakers are basically "beaten" in the whole game and almost have no ability to fight back. The data shows:
Scored from the inside, the Lakers trailed 52:56;
Than the fast attack score, the Lakers trailed 12:26;
Scored from the bench, the Lakers trailed 36:41;
Even the three-point shooting rate was suppressed by the Pelicans at 20.6%.
In fact, throughout the history of the NBA, this pseudo-strong team has always existed, such as the Hawks and Raptors who have successively dominated the East before, and have repeatedly hit a wall in the playoffs.
For the pseudo-strong team, my understanding is that it is useless, just like the Lakers this season, looking at the player list is almost all superstars, quasi-superstars (although the age is older), but the rich game experience is still not to be underestimated. But as the season progresses, it's not like that at all, it's basically about seeing who loses.
Thanks to the Lakers' poor performance, I think the Cavaliers are a presence that benefits from it. I mean that James has recently spit out the possibility of returning to the Cavaliers in the future, coupled with the news that there is a gap between the Lakers management and James, it can be said that this possibility is increasing.
Moreover, it is the existence of jokes in the same city, the sworn enemy Clippers. How to say?
As a sworn enemy in the same city, the Clippers are eager for the Lakers to disband quickly and rebuild to dominate Los Angeles, and now with the Lakers themselves not fighting, especially in the case that the Remnant Clippers can't beat, it can be said that this situation is becoming more and more realistic. Maybe this summer, the Clippers are completing a few huhoo interceptions, and the Lakers may really rebuild.