NBA: 3 Questions Heading into the End of the Year

The NBA is already three-quarters into the regular season. After a long All-Star weekend that concluded with last Sunday night’s All-Star game, players are ready to resume.

Here are 3 questions as we wind down the 2023-24 regular season.

Best Chance for the New York Knicks to Make the NBA Finals

Coming off a 51-23 record in 2022-23, and making the Eastern Conference Semifinals, this year’s New York Knicks have taken the NBA by storm for the second straight regular season.

National NBA pundits such as ESPN are going far by saying this could be a can’t miss opportunity for the Knicks to make the NBA finals this year.

Madison Square Garden has been loud and rocking every home game, as the Knicks faithful have been cheering on every victory this squad has earned.

With the help of the NBA In-Season tournament, contests have felt like playoff games every night in the regular season due to run-gun tempo.

If that fast pace extends beyond 82 games, NYC could experience its first NBA title since Walt “Clyde” Frazier in 1970.

Can the Detroit Pistons come back from a Slow Start with Isaiah Stewart and Cade Cunningham on the team?

Then, there are the Detroit Pistons who, unlike the Knicks, can’t seem to win games even with young star talent in Isiah Stewart and Cade Cunningham.

Stewart has been physical and has been a beast at center. The problem is that he lets his tough style of play get in the way of his emotions.

A physical fight broke out before the NBA All-Star break that led to a 3 game suspension for Stewart, meaning that Cunningham would be flying solo until Stewart was reinstated by the NBA.

Cunningham meanwhile, has feasted for the Pistons with his up-tempo play and excellent three-point shooting. Could Stewart and Cunningham want out of Detroit if they don’t start winning?

Maybe they request a trade to a winning franchise or the Pistons magically put it together?

Mavericks PG Kyrie Irving (2) – Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Which Team’s Season Will End in the Biggest Failure?

The following teams are projected to be in the NBA play-in tournament. If they don’t get their act together soon, it could spell trouble.

While the Sacramento Kings finished third in the West, the Dallas Mavericks missed postseason play after trading for Kyrie Irving.

The biggest surprise on this list is a Miami Heat team who made the NBA finals last year.

This was a team that fell short to the Denver Nuggets and the city of Miami was looking forward to making it back this year.

Right now though, the Heat are having a nightmare of being eliminated early. They can still dream of what could be, if they get in and play hot at the right time.

There is still about a quarter of time left in the season. Let’s see which teams can “bounce back” and which teams just seem to “foul” their way out of the playoffs.