LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers claimed the first ever NBA In-Season Tournament last week. During the tournament, James averaged 26.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 7.0 assists while shooting 56.8 percent from the floor and 60.6 percent from behind the three-point arc. The tournament was widely considered a successful venture for the NBA.
Typically, the first couple months of the NBA season are considered as being slow or boring. With this new initiative, the league saw an increase in interest from fans and players.
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Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors was suspended indefinitely by league commissioner Adam Silver. The suspension follows the incident of Green hitting the Suns’ Jusuf Nurkic in the face during a game this past Tuesday. Green is a habitual foul committer. He is expected to receive a more specific punishment in the following days. He is also mandated to meet certain league and team conditions before returning to play. It could be assumed that he won’t be eligible to return until after the new year.
Unfortunately for Boston fans, the Celtics were eliminated in the quarterfinal round of the tournament, losing to the Indiana Pacers 122-112. The Pacers pulled away late in the game to seal their victory over the Green team. The Pacers would go on to advance to the final round of the In-Season tournament. They, of course, lost to the Lakers in the final game of the tournament.
The Eastern conference playoff picture currently looks like this: Celtics, Bucks, Magic, 76ers, Pacers, Heat, Knicks, Nets, Cavaliers and Raptors. And, in the West: Timberwolves, Thunder, Mavericks, Nuggets, Lakers, Kings, Rockets, Clippers, Pelicans and Suns.
Now, with the In-Season Tournament in the rearview mirror, Tony Mazz shifts his gears towards playoff contending teams. In a three-tier system, he ranks the best contending teams in the NBA.
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BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – NOVEMBER 22: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics runs downcourt during the first quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at TD Garden on November 22, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON CELTICS
MILWAUKEE BUCKS
DENVER NUGGETS
PHOENIX SUNS
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 22: LeBron James #6 and Anthony Davis #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers react to a Laker foul during the third quarter against the Denver Nuggets in game four of the Western Conference Finals at Crypto.com Arena on May 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
MIAMI HEAT
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES
DALLAS MAVERICKS
LOS ANGELES LAKERS
SACRAMENTO KINGS
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 10: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks waits for the clock to run out ending game five of the Eastern Conference semifinals at Madison Square Garden on May 10, 2023 in New York City. The New York Knicks defeated the Miami Heat 112-103. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
ORLANDO MAGIC
INDIANA PACERS
NEW YORK KNICKS
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
