NBA Playoff Race: Key Storylines and Players to Watch as the Regular Season Nears Its End

NBA Insiders: What to Watch as the 2024-25 Regular Season Winds Down

As we approach the thrilling conclusion of the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the excitement is palpable. With the regular season set to wrap up on April 13, teams are laser-focused on securing their spots in the postseason. While some teams have already punched their tickets to the playoffs, others are still battling it out for those coveted positions. Let’s dive into the key storylines and players to watch as we head into the final stretch.

First up, let’s talk about the Western Conference. The Oklahoma City Thunder have already clinched the No. 1 seed, but the race for the No. 2 seed is still wide open. Meanwhile, over in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, and New York Knicks have already secured their playoff spots. But there’s still plenty of action to keep an eye on.

Contract Incentives: Who’s Cashing In?

One of the intriguing aspects of the final weeks of the season is the race for contract incentives. A total of fifty-three players, including big names like Kevin Durant, Derrick White, Aaron Gordon, and Dejounte Murray, had incentives in their contracts before the season began. These incentives range from being selected for the All-Star Game (Durant) to achieving a certain number of 3-pointers in a season (White).

Durant, White, and Jae’Sean Tate (team wins) have already met the criteria and will earn a combined $2 million. White also secured an extra $500,000 for playing in at least 70 games. As for the rest of the list, ESPN projects that only five players are on pace to earn regular-season bonuses: Dillon Brooks, Jonathan Isaac, Cameron Johnson, Chris Paul, and Julius Randle.

• Brooks will earn $1 million when the Houston Rockets clinch a playoff spot.
• Johnson will pick up $562,000 if his true shooting percentage remains above 60% — he is currently shooting 63.2%.
• Paul is one win away from $262,000 and has two additional bonuses (net rating and true shooting) that could net him an extra $523,000.
• Randle’s $1.4 million bonus depends on the Timberwolves reaching the first round. They are currently in the play-in but only a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors for the No. 6 seed.
• Isaac’s bonus — an extra $2.6 million for appearing in 70 regular-season games for the Orlando Magic — was the most unlikely to happen before the season. The forward has dealt with injuries throughout his career and played only 69 games over the past two seasons. He has played in 65 games this season, on pace to play his most since 2018-19.

Memphis Grizzlies: A Team with Much to Prove

The Memphis Grizzlies have found themselves in the spotlight after making a bold move by firing Taylor Jenkins with less than three weeks left in the season. This decision has brought two significant factors into play. First, the Grizzlies are taking a gamble by handing the reins to interim coach Tuomas Iisalo, a high-intensity and system-devoted coach with success overseas but no NBA playoff experience. This move could be inspired by general manager Zach Kleiman, who believes in Iisalo’s high-tempo, high-movement offense that challenges NBA norms.

Second, there’s the question of how the team’s stars feel about this new direction. This season, Ja Morant and Desmond Bane have seen their minutes, shots, and points decrease, even as the Grizzlies’ offensive efficiency has improved. However, questions about Morant’s feelings regarding these changes have led to rumors about his future in Memphis, prompting Kleiman to address the noise after the trade deadline in February.

The Grizzlies have underachieved, failing to reach the conference finals despite being the No. 2 seed in the West in previous seasons. Morant’s off-court issues and injuries have contributed to their struggles. Now, as the playoffs approach, the Grizzlies need to prove themselves when it matters most.

Eastern Conference Playoff Positioning: A Battle to Watch

In the Eastern Conference, the race for the fourth through sixth seeds is heating up, with the Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, and Milwaukee Bucks all vying for position. The Bucks have faced a setback with Damian Lillard out indefinitely due to blood clots in his right calf. While there’s optimism that Lillard will return this season, the Bucks have already dropped six of their past 10 games, falling to No. 6.

Meanwhile, Indiana has been on fire since the All-Star break, going 13-8, with Tyrese Haliburton looking like an All-NBA player again. The Pistons are also surging, fighting to host a first-round matchup in their first playoff appearance since 2019. If the Bucks can’t climb out of the No. 6 seed, they could face the Knicks in a star-studded first-round matchup, with the winner likely facing the Celtics in the second round. Meanwhile, the Cavs would have a clearer path to the conference finals with two less-experienced teams in their way.

The Tank Race: Who Needs Cooper Flagg the Most?

As the season winds down, the race for the No. 1 pick in the draft is heating up. The Utah Jazz have been tanking early this season, hoping to secure the best lottery odds. They have a greater need for Cooper Flagg than any other team in the lottery. The Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets are still early in their rebuilds, while the Charlotte Hornets already have a potential dynamic duo in LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller. The New Orleans Pelicans and Philadelphia 76ers should be competitive again next season with better health. But the Jazz, having traded Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert three years ago, are still searching for a young star to build around. Flagg could fill that void, forming a dominant defensive front line with Walker Kessler and partnering with another skilled forward in Lauri Markkanen.

Who Will Secure the No. 2 Seed in the West?

The race for the West’s second seed is Houston’s to lose at this point, as unlikely as that seemed entering the season. The Rockets have a two-game cushion over the Nuggets, and the tiebreaker between those teams will be decided on the final day of the regular season in Houston. The Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Lakers are within striking distance if the Rockets fade down the stretch, sitting 4½ and 3½ games back in the standings, respectively. Two of the Rockets’ remaining eight games are on the road against the Lakers.

Players to Watch for the 65-Game Criteria

As the season nears its end, there’s no need to worry about stars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jaren Jackson Jr, and Anthony Edwards being ineligible for postseason honors. All three players have met the 65-game criteria. Gilgeous-Alexander is eligible to be named MVP, and Jackson has qualified to sign up to a five-year, $345 million super max extension if he is named All-NBA or Defensive Player of the Year. However, a group of previous award winners is short of the criteria. The list includes Nikola Jokic (64), Evan Mobley (64), LeBron James (63), Jalen Brunson (61), Stephen Curry (62), Giannis Antetokounmpo (62), Kevin Durant (62), Domantas Sabonis (61), Jaylen Brown (59), and Draymond Green (59). A player must appear in at least 20 minutes or more for the game to count, and they are allowed two games between 15 to 20 minutes.