76ers and Lakers dominate NBA second half storylines

NBA All-Star Weekend exceeded expectations. The Elam ending Sunday night was the perfect exclamation point to re-energize the league entering the second half of the season. These five storylines will dominate the conversation down the stretch.

Can small ball work in Houston?

At the NBA trade deadline the Rockets unloaded Clint Capela, two others and a 2020 first round pick to acquire Robert Covington. The 6-foot-7 addition is now the Rockets’ tallest rotational player. Mike D’Antoni has thrived with unorthodox lineups, but this is taking it to new extremes.

Four games into the small-ball experiment, the Rockets are 2-2. If they decide to ditch the lineup and add another piece in the buyout market, there are a few attractive options that could be on the table. Tristan Thompson and Bismack Biyombo are two names that could pop up on Houston’s radar as the buy-out market heats up.

Is the NBA better without the Warriors?

The Golden State dynasty is dead. After appearing in five straight Finals and winning three, the Warriors will not even make the playoffs. Following Kevin Durant’s departure, ans injuries to Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. To offset Durant’s absence they brought in D’Angelo Russell, but moved him at the trade deadline to acquire more assets for the long haul.

With only 12 wins on the year, Golden State is at the bottom of the Western Conference standings. In recent years casual fans have cheered for their destruction, but life after the Warriors might not be as entertaining as they hoped. Be careful what you wish for. 

Will the Bucks catch the Warriors’ record?

The dismissal of one dynasty could be more emphatic if their high-water mark is usurped. The Milwaukee Bucks are currently on pace for a 70-win season, three shy of the Warriors’ record. The Greek Freak is well on his way to a second straight MVP award. If his supporting cast can continue to play at a high level and remain healthy, anything is possible.

Can the Sixers still trust the Process?

Philadelphia’s worst-to-first rise all centered around one mantra: Trust the Process. However, the key pieces of the Process might have overstayed their welcome. Joel Embiid has never shied away from drama. His relationship with Jimmy Butler, now a member of the Miami Heat, and Ben Simmons, could blow up in the Sixers’ face before they reach the ultimate prize in the NBA Finals.

Kobe’s Laker legacy

All-Star Weekend served as a salute to Kobe Bryant, Gigi, and all the lives lost in the tragic helicopter crash. We’ve not seen the last of the tributes. The most fitting would come in the form of a championship. It could be LeBron James’ final great act in the NBA Finals, and Anthony Davis is the perfect wingman to bring the Larry O’Brien Trophy back to the Staples Center for the first time since Bryant dominated the hardwood in 2010. 

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