With the 2016 NBA Playoffs nearing, five teams are hitting their stride at the perfect time. Find out which teams they are and whether or not they can reach the postseason.
The push for the postseason has officially commenced. No team has more than 15 games remaining on their respective schedules, which means the non-contenders will soon be eliminated and the postseason field will be set in the very near future.
A number of teams have already begun their final push, getting hot at the perfect time as they hope to solidify their place as a postseason team.
The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs have been excluded from this list because they aren’t getting hot; they’ve been scorching since the beginning of the season. At 62-6 and 58-10, respectively, it’s hard to call either one of those teams a squad that’s, “Getting hot.”
Instead, this list will focus on the teams that may have started slowly, but have since slammed their respective feet on the gas pedal with the finish line in sight. Some have already positioned themselves as capable of making the playoffs, while others are closing in on the opportunity to do so.
The question is, which teams are getting hot at the perfect time?
Next: Better When Worse?
Atlanta Hawks
Record: 40-29
Last 10: 8-2
Key Statistic: 11.2 (Point Differential over the past 11 games)
Current Streak: 9-2
It may sound crazy, but the 40-29 Atlanta Hawks of 2015-16 are better equipped for the postseason than the 60-22 Hawks of 2014-15. Paul Millsap has emerged as a genuine threat in isolation, Dennis Schröder has become a prime Sixth Man of the Year candidate, and Mike Budenholzer is getting the best from his team at the perfect time.
Since a three-game losing streak dropped it to 31-27, Atlanta is 9-2 with one of the two losses coming in overtime to the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena.
During that stretch, Atlanta has defeated a number of quality opponents—convincingly. It won by double-digits against the Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Memphis Grizzlies, and fell only to Golden State and the Toronto Raptors by single digits.
It’s done so by riding the production of the usual suspects, all the while developing young players such as Tim Hardaway Jr. and Schröder.
The key for Atlanta this season is that it’s creating penetration with more consistency than it did a season ago. The ball movement is still the key to the offense, but when games slow down and defenses get physical, the Hawks have the quickness and skill level to exploit openings.
Known for their selflessness and sharpshooting, Atlanta is No. 5 in the NBA in points via drives per game.
Next: Red Hot
Charlotte Hornets
Record: 39-29
Last 10: 9-1
Key Statistic: 108.2 PPG (Past 18 games)
Current Streak: 15-3
Outside of the Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs, no team is hotter than Steve Clifford’s Charlotte Hornets. The 39-29 Hornets have won nine of their past 10 games, but that only begins to scratch the surface of how well they’ve been playing.
Since falling to a record of 24-26, the Hornets are a downright dominant 15-3.
Charlotte’s schedule has become significantly more manageable during that stretch, but this team is getting healthy again. Kemba Walker is playing at a star-caliber level, Al Jefferson is finding his footing, and the offensive production has been off the charts.
Over the course of that 18-game period, the Hornets are averaging 108.2 points per game—an explosive number for a team that’s generally recognized for its defense.
Charlotte currently ranks No. 9 in both offensive and defensive efficiency—measures of how many points are scored and allowed per 100 possessions. They’re on pace to play the Miami Heat in the first round, with the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics being within a tiebreak and 0.5 game, respectively, of becoming the opponent.
If Charlotte maintains its current pace until season’s end, it’d have the confidence and momentum necessary to win its first postseason series since the organization was reintroduced in 2004.
Next: The Quiet Contender
Toronto Raptors
Record: 47-21
Last 10: 8-2
Key Statistic: 26-6 since Jan. 4 loss to Cleveland Cavaliers
Current Streak: 12-3
It hasn’t been spoken about enough. While LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers seemingly have control of the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Raptors are just 2.0 games back of the heavy favorites for the No. 1 seed.
You can credit Toronto’s recent stretch of 12 wins in 15 games for it’s resurgence, but it’s been playing at a contending level for quite some time.
Toronto is No. 1 in the NBA in points via drives per game, and by a massive margin. Behind the efforts of All-Star shooting guard DeMar DeRozan, who’s No. 1 in the NBA in points via drives per game by a player, the Raptors have been able to exploit the opposition’s interior defense.
Toronto is also No. 3 in the NBA in free throw attempts per game, and shoots a highly efficient 78.6 percent from the charity stripe as a team.
That ability to create penetration and get to the free throw line should prove invaluable come the playoffs. It’s also worth noting that Toronto ranks in the top half of the NBA in 3-point field goals made per game, is No. 3 in 3-point field goal percentage, and checks in at No. 5 in points allowed per game.
So long as Kyle Lowry shows up and plays at his current level, the Raptors should be able to make it out of the first round for the first time since 2001.
Next: The Late Push, Part I
Utah Jazz
Record: 33-35
Last 10: 5-5
Key Statistic: No. 10 in Defensive Efficiency
Current Streak: 4-0
The Utah Jazz were a trendy pick to make the playoffs entering the 2015-16 NBA season. Injuries to key players, including Rudy Gobert and the two starting point guards, Trey Burke and Dante Exum, damaged Utah’s chances of doing so.
With Shelvin Mack playing at the highest level of his NBA career, however, Utah appears to have enough firework to live up to the postseason hype.
Utah is currently on a four-game winning streak. That may not seem like much, but those victories include a 94-85 home win over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and a 114-93 decimation of the Washington Wizards.
On the strength of this late push, the Jazz have pulled to within 0.5 game of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
As Utah is getting hot, the No. 8 seed Dallas Mavericks are going cold. Dallas has lost seven of its past eight outings, and the Jazz have capitalized on this opportunity by gaining ground on the Mavericks and making a postseason appearance entirely possible.
Dallas will play Utah in game No. 81 and the San Antonio Spurs in game No. 82, which means the Jazz have a legitimate opportunity to make the the playoffs for the first time since 2012.
Next: The Late Push, Part II
Washington Wizards
Record: 33-35
Last 10: 5-5
Key Statistic: 24-19 when John Wall has 10+ assists
Current Streak: 3-0
Since December 1, a stretch of 54 games, Washington Wizards point guard John Wall is averaging 21.1 points, 10.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. That’s been the only thing keeping Washington afloat in the pursuit of the postseason.
After keeping the Wizards relevant for the entirety of the season, Wall has taken the final step in aiding the Washington in a late push for the playoffs.
Washington is just 1.5 games back of the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. It’s won three consecutive games, including critical wins over the Chicago Bulls and Detroit Pistons—the other two teams realistically competing for the final postseason spot.
During that three-game stretch, Wall has two triple-doubles and a 15-point and 12-assist performance against the Pistons.
With Optimus Dime carrying the offense, the rest of the team has stepped up to shoulder the load on both ends. Marcin Gortat and Markieff Morris have provided balance down low, Bradley Beal has begun to look like himself, and Nene Hilario is providing critical production.
More hoops habit: Are the Washington Wizards a realistic destination for Kevin Durant?
If Washington is able to continue to execute its well-balanced attack, it will have a legitimate opportunity to make the playoffs.