7 Under-the-Radar NBA Storylines to Watch Down the Stretch of the 2014-15 Season
There are so many big-picture questions that still need answering between now and April 15—the final date of the 2014-15 NBA regular season.
And not all of them are the type to be discussed ad nauseam by the various media outlets that cover the world's greatest game.
There's a finite amount of spotlight space available, and it will soon be monopolized by the MVP battles and playoff posturing set to take place over the next six weeks. Whatever's left will be divvied up between the draft-stock watch, the notable injury returns and the temperature gauges often affixed to coaching chairs at this time of year.
But there are so many other interesting storylines that exist outside of those realms. How many people realize the NBA's best record in February belonged to the Paul George-less Indiana Pacers? Or that the Utah Jazz just completed their first winning month since the 2012-13 season?
We're peeling back the curtains on seven under-the-radar plots worth watching as this version of the NBA's marathon approaches its final stretch.
Grizzlies Trying to Get Jeff Green Going
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Versatile scoring forward Jeff Green seemed like the perfect fit for the Memphis Grizzlies from the moment he arrived in the grit-and-grind capital of the basketball world.
His ability to spread the floor relieved some congestion around the Marc Gasol-Zach Randolph frontcourt. The fact that Green can play both featured and supporting roles meant he could lighten the offensive burden carried by Mike Conley without stepping on the underrated point guard's toes.
It fits with that narrative, then, that Memphis has a Western Conference-best 16-5 record since Green made his Grizzlies debut on Jan. 14. Except the story isn't nearly as simple as that. During his tenure in Memphis, he's played some of the worst basketball of his career, averaging 12 points on 40.2 percent shooting from the field. The Grizzlies have been 8.1 points per 100 possessions better when he isn't playing.
That's not to suggest Memphis is feeling any buyer's remorse for bringing him on board. Rather, it highlights the fact that one of the NBA's premier teams—third in winning percentage, tied for eighth in net efficiency rating—has yet to reach its top gear.
"We're going to get it right," Randolph said in late January, per Clay Bailey of the Associated Press. "It's a good thing, trying to figure out the chemistry with Jeff."
On paper, Green still looks like the right piece to complete this puzzle. If that starts translating to the hardwood, the Grizzlies could strengthen their already-favorable championship odds.
Opportunity Knocking for Young Bulls
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If anything is more prevalent around the Chicago Bulls than injuries, it's pity. Love them or hate them, it's hard not to feel for a team that was already dealing with another Derrick Rose knee injury before it lost All-Star swingman Jimmy Butler to a sprained elbow and invaluable reserve Taj Gibson to a sprained ankle.
But adversity can do more than send thoughts and well-wishes to the Windy City. It is, after all, one of history's greatest sources of innovation.
Rather than lamenting the losses, fans can turn their attention to the opportunities those absences create. There is a ton of production to replace—49.2 points, 15.6 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game between the three—meaning head coach Tom Thibodeau must look to other areas to get those numbers back.
Rookie forward Nikola Mirotic has already pounced on this chance, pouring in a career-high 29 points during Chicago's loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. Sophomore swingman Tony Snell can prove his recent success (13.5 points on .570/.529 shooting over his last 10 games) is sustainable in an expanded role. Maybe this even gets first-year scorer Doug McDermott back into the rotation.
"They desperately need scoring and shooting," wrote Bulls.com's Sam Smith. "And what do you know. Sitting on the bench basically doing nothing is one of the greatest shooters in the history of college basketball, a mature 23-year-old who is one of the most accurate three-point shooters in NCAA history."
Even if the Bulls falter without their missing pieces, they aren't likely to slip past the Eastern Conference's No. 5 seed. This is a still a heavyweight contender at full strength, and it can use these injuries as a developmental tool to bring its young players along.
Feel free to keep sending those "get well soon" cards to Chicago, but know that the Bulls see this as more than an unfortunate setback.
Fluid Values of Second-Tier Restricted Free Agents
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The basketball world already knows who's going to get PAID this summer. Major money has already been earmarked for Butler, Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green and Khris Middleton. But dollar amounts are still being determined for most members of the league's next batch of restricted free agents.
Combo guard Brandon Knight may have found a long-term home with the Phoenix Suns. They gave up a lot to get him and were already "going to go hard after him this summer," according to ESPN.com's Chad Ford.
But Knight is a scorer in a point guard's body (6'3", 189 lbs.). And he hasn't been scoring with much quantity (13.5 points per game) or quality (37 percent shooting, 8.1 player efficiency rating) since landing in the desert at the deadline. He's still getting used to his surroundings and has time to rebuild his value. But it's impossible to know right now where he'll play and for how much next season.
That last sentence could be copied and pasted for a host of impending restricted free agents.
Tobias Harris is a volume scorer who doesn't impact the game in many other ways. There's a market for what he brings, but the Orlando Magic might decide they have enough frontcourt depth to move on without him.
The Detroit Pistons are 1-3 since giving Reggie Jackson the keys to their offense, and they already have a costly point guard on the roster in the injured Brandon Jennings. Tristan Thompson brings a great motor to the Cleveland Cavaliers frontcourt, but energy guys are never easy to price. Cory Joseph has made two-way contributions for the San Antonio Spurs, but they might already have enough at point guard with Tony Parker and Patty Mills.
Restricted free agency can be clunky (see: Greg Monroe and Eric Bledsoe), especially for players with obvious flaws or limited skill sets. With millions at stake, there is plenty to be made—or lost—over the next six weeks.
Utah's Long-Term Picture Coming into Focus
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Tickets are going fast on the Utah Jazz's bandwagon. If you want to impress your buddies with a sexy sleeper team for next season before this one is even finished, there isn't a better option than head coach Quin Snyder's bunch.
File that away as a sneaky hot take. It's not nearly as bold as it's going to sound to those who haven't been watching what's taking place in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz lost 19 of their first 25 games this season. Since then, they're 17-16 and 4-1 after moving disgruntled center Enes Kanter at the trade deadline. In 2015 alone, they own double-digit victories over the Bulls, Golden State Warriors and Portland Trail Blazers (plus a nine-point win over the San Antonio Spurs).
Utah has held seven of its last eight opponents below 100 points. During that stretch, the Jazz have allowed a league-best 91.9 points per 100 possessions—four fewer than the second-placed Milwaukee Bucks.
"Our whole team is evolving [defensively]," Snyder said, per Jordan Garretson of STATS LLC (via Yahoo Sports). "It's no one guy. It becomes infectious. Guys start having pride in that."
It also helps having a pair of road blocks by the basket in Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors. The pair averages a combined four blocks per game (the most of any two-man tandem), and both rank near the top in opponent's field-goal percentage at the rim among high-volume interior defenders.
Offensively, Gordon Hayward has shattered his previous ceiling by posting a personal-best 19.5 points per game and shooting above his career averages from the field (45.1, 44) and three (37.7, 36.8). Point guard Trey Burke looks more comfortable in his sixth-man role by the day (17.8 points on .462/.517 shooting over his last six games).
It's too late for the Jazz to creep into this playoff picture, but be sure to watch them continue laying the foundation for cracking the next one.
MIP Race
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The MVP race is going to create some can't-miss drama over the coming weeks. Seeing some of the best players on the planet—James Harden, LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Stephen Curry (and, if it's not too late, Chris Paul)—compete for the Maurice Podoloff Trophy is everything a basketball fan can dream of and then some.
But don't neglect the almost equally compelling battle for the Most Improved Player award. The field is just as thick and only a shade less productive.
This appeared like it might be a two-man contest between Butler and Klay Thompson. Both booked the first All-Star trips of their careers while setting new personal bests in points, assists and PER.
Either one could still capture the hardware, but Miami Heat surprise star Hassan Whiteside won't go down without a fight. He has more 20-rebound games than any player other than DeAndre Jordan and Andre Drummond. Whiteside, who signed with Miami in late November and didn't see regular minutes until late December, is tied for ninth with seven games of four-plus blocks.
Jordan is a compelling candidate in his own right, as he continues improving his shooting, rebounding and efficiency. Anthony Davis bumped his already impressive PER up to a historical level (31.2, a number that's only been reached by LeBron, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain). Draymond Green's offensive numbers have spiked across the board, and he's in the running for Defensive Player of the Year.
As with the more publicized award that almost shares the same acronym, this race appears headed for a thrilling photo finish.
The Annual Tankfest
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There have been some brutal performances this year.
The Philadelphia 76ers, New York Knicks and Minnesota Timberwolves have each lost more than 75 percent of their games. The Los Angeles Lakers have been outscored by an average of 6.4 points per 100 possessions. The Denver Nuggets, who have reportedly fired head coach Brian Shaw (per Yahoo Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski) have won two of their last 21 games.
It's been ugly, and it's about to get worse.
Each of these teams, and several other cellar dwellers, desperately need an injection of young talent. And the simplest way is by strategically manipulating the standings.
The 2015 draft class isn't as celebrated as last year's crop, but there are enough intriguing players on the board to ignite a race to the bottom. From interior anchors Jahlil Okafor and Karl Towns to potential perimeter stars Emmanuel Mudiay and D'Angelo Russell, there's plenty of incentive for teams to start improving their lottery odds.
This could be an interesting race. Both the Lakers and finally healthy Timberwolves have started showing signs of life, while the Nuggets seem intent on "making up ground" after a relatively successful first half of the season (18-20 over their first 38 games).
There is no prize for narrowly missing the postseason, and there's a potentially massive one for lighting a dumpster fire. With both eyes fixed on the future, fans of bottom feeders will be able to see the beauty in the ugliness that awaits.
Pacers Looming as East's Biggest Matchup Nightmare
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Everything is clicking for the Pacers right now.
Their head coach, Frank Vogel, just earned Eastern Conference Coach of the Month honors for guiding them to a 7-2 February. The perennial defensive power has the NBA's sixth-best offensive efficiency rating since Feb. 4. Typically timid point guard George Hill has found the aggressiveness he's often lacked, totaling 15-plus points in five of his last 10 games.
And All-Star swingman Paul George took his most significant step toward a possible hardwood return after recently completing his first full practice since breaking his leg in August.
"We still think in this locker room that we need to be in the playoffs, and we're still one of the top teams in the East," Hill said, per Bleacher Report's Ethan Skolnick. "Even though our record doesn't speak for it, with all the injuries."
The Pacers survived the first half of the season. In addition to George, they also lost Hill, David West and C.J. Watson for significant stretches. The fact that they're still standing is no small miracle, let alone sitting just a game back of the East's seventh seed.
Going forward, this team could be positioned to thrive. Bringing back George would mean adding a player who averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals last season. It would also give Indiana 80 percent of a starting five that played in each of the last two Eastern Conference Finals.
The Pacers won't have time to return to powerhouse status before the playoffs, but this deep, experienced, talented group could be a nightmare to face in the opening round.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics used courtesy of Basketball-Reference.com and NBA.com.
