(Translator's note: The author of this article is thether reporter Dan Devine, the content of the article does not represent the translator's views, the data statistics in the article as of March 23, 2022 Beijing time.) ）
Thanks to the advent of the NBA playoffs, two-thirds of the league's teams play a certain number of playoffs after the regular season. But for the other third of the teams — the five worst teams in the East and West — the next three weeks or so will be their full game time for the long summer.
That doesn't necessarily mean they're not worth paying attention to anymore. Even for teams with poor track record that focus on engagement, there's still something to watch and get excited about – grinding the lineup, improving your skills, or simply entertaining while waiting for the lottery draft results.
As a loyal journalist, allow me to share with you some of these exciting things — a glimmer of hope for many NBA lotto teams. By the end of the season, the rankings may change – as of press time, only four teams have officially missed the playoffs – let's take a look at the ten teams currently in the lotto zone. Let's start with the east:
Washington Wizards: Kuzma for all-round improvement
Record: 30 wins, 41 losses, 5.5 (play-off wins, the same below)
Before Bill received a season reimbursement for wrist surgery, the Wizards' fiery start was gone. One bright spot, though: Kuzma did his best to fill the huge offensive void left by Beal, showing off his leading-edge as a Lakers player when he exploded on the court, and the way he built up other details of the game from then on, which led head coach Unseld Jr. to call him "our Swiss Army Knife."
Kuzma has consistently led the team in the number of touches since Beal was injured, averaging 19.7 points, 7.7 rebounds and an eye-opening 5.1 assists in 34 minutes per game. He's shooting 67 percent from the basket and 38 percent from three-point range; he's not going to make fouls like you think a major scorer, but he's shooting 76.4 percent from the free throws, a new career high. He also didn't just shoot, he also had a 23.1 percent assist rate — the top five players of the same type throughout the season — and his turnover rate didn't rise significantly despite taking on additional responsibilities.
All of this is largely a matter of perspective. The Wizards have lost two-thirds of the game since Beal's absence, supporting the idea that any team with Kuzma as the best player may not be too good, and even then, it's not useless; it feels like a player who takes the opportunity to show his diversity while also doing his best to develop one of his skills.
Whether Kuzma will fit in with newcomer Porzingis remains to be seen — so far, the duo has won and lost -12 points in 105 minutes, but it's too early — and if Beal does re-sign with the Wizards this summer, the team's core players will have a high ceiling. I think Kuzma's performance has gone into the "core" consideration, however, as player options approach next season, he may profit from it if he continues to grow.
New York Knicks: Barrett's offense
Record: 30 wins, 42 losses, 6 games
With winning Thibodeau's trust on the defensive end and growing into a 40 percent shooter from three-point range, Barrett appears to be on the edge of a cliff from taking off, as his fellow player Morant did in his third year. What may have limited him before may have been a cold offense, but over the past few months, Barrett seems to have quietly begun to cross that hurdle — in part because he's starting to attack the basket consistently.
Barrett has averaged 23.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game since New Year's Day. While it's worth noting that his three-pointers look good — nearly 38 percent from more than six shots per game — what's more, he's been attacking the paint.
Without exploding athleticism, Barrett still struggles to finish on the inside, shooting just 56 percent from the box — well below the average for a flanker. But just breaking the defense and bringing the ball into the paint has helped the team somewhat, with the Knicks ranking 25th in halftime offense this season but sixth in offensive rebounding and secondary offense. Barrett struggled on the free throw line, shooting 69.4 percent of his career free throws, so the best thing to do was to get a lot of free throws: Seven of his 14 career games with 10 or more free throws occurred after mid-January.
Thibodeau still rotated Barrett and Randle together, which to some extent limited his chances of attacking. However, he has had some very interesting flashes of late when he has the opportunity to play alone, averaging just under 29 points and five assists in 2022 in 36 minutes without Randle. (The stats might have looked better since New Year's Day if it weren't for Topping, Quakeley, Grames and Redish picking up his passing on 5-of-45 three-pointers.) ）
When Randall began playing the best basketball of his life, it was understandable that plans to develop Barrett to become a number one offensive organizer were shelved. But since Randall, who was in the top spot, produced more troughs than peaks, the right move seemed to be to hand the ball over to Barrett, surrounded by shooters, and see if that worked wonders. If Thibodeau continues to coach, he may not choose this path. But that may be the best way for New York to build its own stars.
Indiana Walkers: Rebuild around Halliburton
Record: 25 wins, 47 losses, missed the playoffs
The Pacers have had such a bad record before. But that was 36 years ago — even four years before any player on the team was born.
This is the best proof of the team's philosophy – the long-term pursuit of the playoffs. However, not completely rebuilding but relying on piecemeal updates to your roster will have a long way to go.
It's not so much the Pacers that have decided on their current trade plan as injuries have upset them — Brogdon, Turner and McConaughey have missed 114 games. Le Ver and Sabonis have missed a total of 25 games before the trade; Warren has not played since December 2020 – and the Sabonese-Turner pair has a declining return, and while the pair continues to perform well, it feels outdated. If you continue down this path, it could mean that the team ended the regular season with good results, but couldn't go any further in the playoffs. To be a good team again – like the Reggie Miller era, the Jermaine O'Neal era, the Danny Granger and Paul George era – requires more drastic measures.
So: Rebuilding around newcomer Harry Burton, or something like that — he's averaged 17.4 points, 9.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game with 50%/41%/81% shooting since he arrived — probably the Pacers' highest pick since the second pick in the first round in 1988.
Those cornerstones, along with veterans Turner, Brogden and Hield (who averaged 18-5-5 per game as Pacers players), rookies Duarte and Jackson, two draft picks with the top 31 picks, and about $24 million in salary space provide the Pacers with plenty of raw material to build a new lineup system. Whether this will make it stand out in the increasingly competitive east is still unknown. However, the situation will certainly be different. Sometimes, it's almost as important.
Detroit Pistons: Corningham
Record: 19 wins, 53 losses, missed the playoffs
My colleague Kevin O'Connor recently highlighted Cunningham's game stats for March, but even more encouraging for Pistons fans is that Cunningham has been on an upward trend for months. Since Jan. 1, he's averaged 18.3 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game, shooting better from both the field and three-point shooting, shining with the calmness of the game and making him Detroit's most attractive core player.
While Cunningham won't be able to legally buy beer until six months later, he's already commanding the offense like an experienced veteran. When he's on the court in 2022, the Pistons score nearly eight more points per 100 possessions — roughly the gap between the league's average offensive level and its worst.
The change Corningham brought about later in the game was particularly noticeable, using his size, strength, speed, patience and field vision to do whatever he wanted on the pitch, constantly delivering beautiful passes. Corningham's scoring or assists on the court have accounted for 40.7 percent of the Pistons' fourth-quarter points since the start of the year. He has ranked in the top ten in key moments since the beginning of February, helping the team to several reversals and unexpected victories.
The end-of-season effort may not have been enough to get Cunningham to top the Rookie of the Year selection (and may not even make it into the top three). However, Pistons fans should be very excited to see what more experienced players and more talented players will bring to a player who already looks so good.
Orlando Magic: The Return of Fultz
After a 14-month recovery period from left anterior cruciate ligament surgery, Fultz is finally back at the blue home, attacking the basket and injecting new energy into Orlando's second-team lineup.
The Magic limited Fultz's playing time, keeping his average playing time in his first nine games below 20 minutes as he struggled to get back in form. However, in his limited playing time, he averaged nearly 18 points, 10 assists and 6 rebounds per 36 minutes.
After a restless time in Philadelphia, we may never see the long-range shots he did in college. He only tried seven three-pointers since he returned, but his jump shots looked comfortable whether he took off near the free throw line or fell on the bottom line. Nor did he shy away from physical contact inside, averaging four free throws per 36 minutes and shooting 78 percent from the field.
Considering that he brings a lot of energy to other aspects of the game, even a qualified shot can make him a great player. He let the Magic play at a brisk pace — 105.4 offensive rounds per 48 minutes, league-leading — and was more fluid in offensive and defensive transitions. With head coach Jamal Mosley giving Fultz a role on the bench, he can also help in halftime attacks, using his 6.3-foot-tall, 209-pound body to hit the basket on his back, destroy the defense with throws or passes, or turn around in his own way.
It will take some time to figure out how Fultz teamed up with Cole Anthony, rookie Jaylen Sargers and RJ Hampton in the crowded backcourt, and which of these young defenders paired with the fast-moving Little Wendell Carter and the good rookie Franz Wagner. But his return to health brings elements of vitality that Orlando desperately needs, as well as a brighter future for Central Florida.
Here are the Western Conference teams:
San Antonio Spurs: Clear, tangible growth for young players
Record: 28 wins, 43 losses, 2.5 games
It's never wise to trade players who are defensively desperate and seem to have a natural love for key balls instead of looking for their highlights. Still, trading Derek White before the deadline does come with a number of benefits.
In the long run, White brought the Spurs a protected 2022 first-round pick with a top four pick, as well as the right to trade completely unprotected draft picks with the Celtics in 2028 — a feat that could prove to be a huge success if Boston finally finds itself underperforming after a decade. At this point, however, White is fourth in appearances with the Spurs, third in average shots per game, second in front court touches and possession time — an all-around guard removed from the rotation. It also gives spurs defenders more freedom to see what they can do.
Dejuntai Murray, Kelden Johnson, Lonnie Walker and Devon Vasell have all received more touches and shots since White (and other veterans Brin Forbes and Sadius Young) moved last month, and they're doing a lot together. Murray deservedly made the All-Star for the first time and the only cornerstone the team has established, averaging 25.1 points and 9.7 assists per game since the trade deadline, further bringing the spotlight into the spotlight. Johnson continued his growth, growing from a mostly rampaged straight-line offensive player to a more comprehensive offensive scoring point, where he was able to maintain three-point efficiency while averaging 20 points per game.
Vassell is a 21-year-old whose defensive ability surpassed his offensive ability in his sophomore year, and he consolidated his starting position. He also improved his assist rate as the core of a complementary organization, showing more calmness and skill in possession. Walker will be a restricted free agent this summer after the Spurs did not extend his rookie contract, and he shined in the sixth-man role, averaging 16.3 points in 24.8 minutes per game and shooting 75 percent from the basket and 38 percent from three-point range.
Sophomore point guard Trae Jones and rookie Joshua Primo are also increasing in playing time and opportunities. Everyone got more appearances, more opportunities for development, and more room for growth. Against the backdrop of a serious effort to get into the play-offs, it all happened in important races. This expansion and experimentation may not bear fruit now. Still, if popovich's growth trend for all of popovich's young players goes all the way up — if San Antonio gets a little luckier in the draft draw — it's likely to pay off handsomely next season.
Portland Trail Blazers: The Take-Off of Anfinny Simmons
Record: 27 wins, 44 losses, 2.5 games
When I named Simmons the most improved player in the second half of the season, I paid tribute to him. If I don't give him more compliments, though, it's my dereliction of duty, as the 22-year-old still plays at a high level despite trades, a lot of injuries and some active play.
After entering the starting lineup in early January, Simmons averaged more points per game than Curry and assisted as James; only three players in 2022 had more three-point shooting than Simmons. Despite averaging more than 10 shots per game, he shot 42.3 percent from three-point range, a level that only Curry and Lillard could match throughout the season.
Simmons was key to Portland's offense, showing patience and skill in blocking and tackling and developing real chemistry with Nurkic on cover offense. According to Second Spectrum's tracking data, before they were sidelined due to injury, the duo had more blocks in 2022 than any combination other than Murray Peltel and DeRozan-Vucevic, and each opportunity produced more than the starting partners such as Trae Young Capela, Garland Allen and Conley Gobert.
Compared to what the Trail Blazers have seen as a losing season, it's surprising that he was able to maintain his rankings, thanks in large part to Simmons: Portland made a 12-15 record in the game he played in 2022, and a 1-6 record in his absence. He hasn't played in weeks since a mild quadriceps injury was included in the injury list, overshadowing the Trail Blazers' only glimmer of light. Still, once he's back in good health again — and presumably, once the Blazers re-sign him in the offseason, pairing him with a healthy Lillard, plus two top-ten pick picks, and $21 million in salary space for any talented player he can buy — he should have plenty of opportunities to shine again.
Sacramento Kings: Fox-Sabonis has a good combination of offense
Record: 25 wins, 48 losses, 5.5 games
After completing two trades involving six teams, 14 players and three future draft picks by the deadline, the Kings have lost 12 of their last 17 games and are on the verge of missing the playoffs for 16 consecutive seasons, setting an NBA record. The upside is that newcomer Sabonis and point guard Fox have begun to have chemistry on the offensive end, a style the Kings have never had in years.
One is a lightning-fast defender who can quickly get to the basket, and the other is a covered second setman who uses his hands and footsteps to complete the attack, and it makes sense for them to play together, especially since they both have passing vision and possession to divert defensive attention and create opportunities for their teammates to shoot in the open space. Part of Sacramento's vision has begun to blossom: The Kings scored 1.145 points per round in the game in which Sabonis provided cover for Fox offense — the fourth most efficient of a 150-pair combination with at least 200 covers, according to Second Spectrum's tracking data.
After a slump in the first half of the season, Fox — now the proper Kings point guard — began to pick up form, averaging 25.1 points per game and shooting 51.1 percent from the field and 5.7 assists per 36 minutes while Sabonis was on the floor. Sabonis, in turn, has maintained an efficient output while adapting to the new offensive point guard. When Fox is on the floor, he can destroy the defense and can get 20.2 points, 13.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists per 36 minutes.
In the 360 minutes they play at the same time, the Kings can score better consecutive points (115.2 points per 100 minutes), better protect rebounds, shoot more efficiently, and shoot faster — all of which rank or come close to the top of the league. While any offensive approach that gets Fox to go all in seems sensible, what's even more encouraging is that the Kings also excelled when the pace slowed down, with Fox-Sabonis scoring 104.1 points per 100 half-time offensive rounds while on the floor, even higher than the league's leading Jazz and Suns offense.
Still, this more comprehensive, harmonious offense comes at a cost: The King's net efficiency on the pitch at fox-Sabonis at the same time is close to -2 points. As my colleague Rob-Mahoney wrote after the trade, it's not easy to find the right player around special (and often defensively challenged) stars like Fox and Sabonis. Balancing the squad to get the team out of the slump is now general manager Monte McNair's toughest problem. Unless he can work it out, the Kings won't knock on the door to the playoffs. For now, though, the largely directionless team seems to have a reasonable offense and something worth building. This is not the worst case scenario.
Oklahoma Thunder: Alexander could be the next All-Star
Record: 20 wins, 52 losses, 10 games
In part, the Thunder's rebuild is still largely an idea — executive vice president Sam Presti (James was recently dubbed the team's "MVP") will hold an incredible 19 first-round picks in the next seven years of the draft. But while I applaud Presti's draft prospects through 2028, which Thunder fans keep a close eye on, we shouldn't ignore Oklahoma City's current best player on the team: Kyrgyz Alexander, who, in all these losses, has grown into one of the sport's most elusive and effective offensive players.
Since returning to the lineup after a three-week absence due to a severe ankle sprain, Alexander averaged 30.4 points per game with 54.2 percent shooting — the eighth-highest in the NBA after the All-Star Game. He played for a team that ranked last in the league in terms of three-point shooting percentage, and none of the 12 rotation players on this team were the league's average long-range shooters... However, despite playing almost exclusively at halftime, he averaged 23.8 league-leading attacks per game on the basket, always managing to get through every crack in his opponent's defensive range.
Alexander's ability to dribble through is the lifeblood of Oklahoma City's offense. He can create high-percentage numbers for himself; according to Cleaningthe Glass, he's shots in the paint since the All-Star Game, 70 percent shooting and 54 percent from mid-range. He could also look for misplaced defenses to put himself on the free throw line through physical contact — only seven players have scored more free throws per game since All-Star Weekend — or absorb defensive pinches to create the space they need for teammates. Alexander averaged 7.3 assists per game, tied for tenth since All-Star weekend.
There aren't many players who score and assist like Alexander this season, while also shouldering the same workload — all of them All-Star level. I think the most interesting of these is Morant: a player who doesn't perfectly jump shots, but he has an extraordinary talent for attacking the basket, and he's proven to be able to take on a lot of offensive responsibility without a lot of mistakes. He's grown into a competitive big heart player; however, he did so because Grizzlies hr director Zach Kleiman built a complementary roster for him. That's presti's task: follow his example and put your young superstar in an ecosystem that will help it grow. A lot of things about the Thunder are probably still largely theoretical. However, Alexander is real.
Houston Rockets: The dawn of Jaylen Green is coming
Record: 18 wins, 54 losses, missed the playoffs
Given Green's mental journey out of the G-League – a highly talented scorer whose organisational skills and defense need to improve – it's no surprise that Green has stumbled this season. Given the disadvantages he has to face top defensive players scoring and trying to find offensive rhythm and continuity in the crumbling Rockets lineup, the early struggles of rookie Green — averaging 14.1 points per game, shooting 37 percent from the field, making more turnovers than assists, and being one of the NBA's defensively inefficient players — are understandable.
Yes, it's painful — especially when the rookies to the 2021 NBA Draft rankings after Green, Evan Mobley and Scotty Barnes became famous in one fell swoop — but understandably, it's always been considered the cost of doing business. If Green can withstand the storm for a long time and thus keep his skills up to date with his physical talent, then he will be an exhilarating player.
I can now introduce you to this player.
Since Feb. 1, Green has averaged 18.2 points per game in 32.9 minutes and shooting 47 per cent/38 per cent/73 per game. He shot 63 percent from the basket, up from 58 percent earlier in the season. By combining a dazzling start with tight ball control, he can break through tight spaces and complete shots in the middle.
The more the defender worries that Green will hit the inside, the more chances he has to complete a stop-and-go jump shot. He also had the confidence and footwork to attack with a quick retreat, and when he forced the defender to defend closely to prevent him from stopping the jump shot, the retreat step became his offensive weapon.
Green's real key, though, is to use his scoring ability to create opportunities for others. He's also made great strides in that regard, with his assist-error ratio just over 2-1 since February, and his passing on the pitch looks more comfortable.
Green still has a long way to go to average on the defensive end, let alone become a defensive-level player like Mobley or Barnes, but it's worth remembering that they're a long-standing exception: 20-something youngsters shouldn't be good at defending. Rather than overemphasizing this, focus on Green's offense: This young guy makes it seem so easy to break through NBA-level defenses and get out of the league's cover.
Original author: Dan Devine
Compilation: Poetic