Team of the week
The Boston Celtics have clearly smelled blood. We wondered during the season about this team's motivation after winning the title last season. Boston got through the season unscathed, sitting in second place in the East, and seemed willing to let the Cavaliers secure the first seed without any problems.
But over the last month, the team has gone into playoff mode: the C's have won 10 of their last 11 games, and 16 of their last 20! In turn, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are putting in a string of good performances, the Jrue Holiday - Derrick White backcourt is still a nightmare for opposition outside guards, and Kristaps Porzingis is back to complete the famous starting five, which will come into the playoffs on a high. And given Cleveland's recent collapse, it's not out of the question to see them top the East again.
Strugglers of the week
What's going on with the Miami Heat? It's true that the South Beach franchise won last night against the Hornets, but that victory simply put an end to... a run of 10 consecutive losses! Since Jimmy Butler's painful departure to the Warriors at the beginning of February, the franchise's record has been a miserable 6 wins and 18 defeats.
Does his departure alone explain this poor run? Tyler Herro's rise to prominence was followed by a dip in form, but it was Bam Adebayo's performances that were the main cause for concern. The team's leader on paper has been inconsistent, with the whole team suffering as a result. In the midst of the slump, Andrew Wiggins is starting to find his feet, but whatever happens, the Heat will be in the playoffs, and unlike in 2023, this is unlikely to be the start of a sumptuous playoff run. To be continued...
Player of the week
Speaking of the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls will be making their third consecutive appearance. As with the Heat, it will be hard to beat them, but things are looking up in Illinois, with seven wins from their last 10 games. And while Josh Giddey is increasingly asserting himself, much of the credit goes to Coby White.
The guard has not scored fewer than 20 points in 12 games. And he's even had a 35-point game against the Kings and a 36-point game against the Lakers! Both wins show that he is having an impact on a team that is still far too soft to aim for anything that significant. But while the off-season will undoubtedly be a time for making choices, White is increasingly establishing himself as the future of his franchise.
Play of the week
Unlike last season, Tyrese Haliburton will not finish as the NBA's top assist man, an award that will go to Trae Young. But the Indiana Pacers point guard is still delighting his teammates. This alley-oop from the logo to Obi Toppin, who is as spectacular as ever, was one of the players of the season without a doubt.
Story of the week
It's also for stories like this that we love the NBA. Joe Ingles is an NBA veteran who has entered his 11th season. At the moment, he's only a supporting player in the Minnesota Timberwolves rotation, as evidenced by his mere 18 appearances this season. A father, one of his three children is autistic, and he recently attended an NBA game for the first time. A game in which the Australian did not play...
The story touched Timberwolves coach Chris Finch. When his son came back to watch the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, there was no question of the same scenario occurring: Finch put Ingles in the starting line-up. Admittedly, he only played six minutes in the game, but at a time when the Timberwolves are playing for their place in the playoffs, it was a move that deserved to be applauded.