Analysis: As an angst-ridden NBA season nears its end, the playoffs loom as a chemistry test
After enduring some midseason hiccups, Golden State Warriors stars Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant appear back on track for their third straight title. By Ben Golliver Ben Golliver NBA reporter Email Bio Follow April 6 at 9:00 AM April angst has swept through the NBA — on the court, on social media and on the airwaves.
It might be best to frame the postseason with this question: Whose internal drama and personality differences can be swept under the rug? Or, put another way, how valuable will chemistry be in such a volatile landscape? Houston Rockets star guard James Harden is poised to win his second straight scoring title. Although a slow start and long-term injuries to Chris Paul and Clint Capela threatened to send the Rockets’ season off course, Harden’s scoring brilliance and improved team defense have generated significant late-season momentum. The 2018 MVP is averaging 36.2 points, the most since Michael Jordan’s 37.1 in 1986-87, and Houston has the league’s best record since March 1.
The Celtics boast the most impressive pedigree thanks to conference finals trips in 2017 and 2018, but they have suffered through sharp swings in their play that could portend an implosion. The 76ers have been the most aggressive, adding Butler and Tobias Harris to form a devastating starting five, but their accelerated timeline raises questions about whether they will be ready to function as one under the playoff glare.
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