2025 NBA: Five things to watch in the closing stages of the regular season
by Sam Cox | by Tyler Doty
Several teams are already eliminated, others are secure in their seedings. The closing days of the 2024/25 NBA regular season give us plenty to follow, though, whether waiting to see the outcome of preseason NBA picks or landing on who deserves support in the award races.
Avoiding the play-in tournament is a priority for many. For others, Cooper Flagg is the goal.
Here are five things worth watching in the remaining days of the 2024/25 season:
Draymond’s DPOY Push
Draymond Green has become the overwhelming favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year. The race opened up when Victor Wembanyama was ruled out for the remainder of the season, with Jaren Jackson Jr. and Evan Mobley enjoying stints as the betting favorites before Green took charge in the last fortnight or so.
Advocating for himself, Green has forced the issue, creating enough buzz to see him leapfrog Mobley, Jackson, Lu Dort, and a couple of others. There is some backing for his candidacy, though, with the Golden State Warriors possessing the best defensive rating in the NBA since Jimmy Butler made his debut almost two months ago.
Golden State’s defense has only been 0.9 points better per 100 possessions with Green on the floor. He remains an elite defender, but could we see a switch in momentum if Mobley posts some big statistical games in the last week of the season?
Fight to Avoid the West Play-In
The fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets are 47-32. Four teams are right behind them on 46-32 in the Los Angeles Clippers, Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Memphis Grizzlies. As it stands, the Grizz and Timberwolves would compete in the seven-eight play-in game, while the Warriors would take on the Los Angeles Lakers in a blockbuster first-round series.
Avoiding the play-in doesn’t just guarantee a first-round berth. It also removes the risk of facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round, even if several of the 46-32 teams wouldn’t mind facing the Houston Rockets if they were to win the first play-in game.
The standings are too congested for any team to try and work their work into a favorable matchup like we’ve seen in previous years. The Los Angeles Lakers are heading for the third seed, but would anyone choose to face the purple and gold even if it means avoiding the Thunder until the third round?
What Denver Has Left
Not only are the Nuggets embroiled in the battle to avoid the play-in, but they are also on a four-game losing streak and a 10-13 slump. They close their season against the Sacramento Kings, Grizzlies, and Houston Rockets.
Denver is down in 21st in net rating since the All-Star break. Russell Westbrook has had a string of calamitous late-season performances, while Jamal Murray has dealt with a hamstring injury.
The Nuggets, who looked set for the two seed a few weeks ago, could yet drop into the play-in tournament. How they finish this season will have a massive impact on the Western Conference playoff picture.
Bucks and Pistons Showdowns
The Milwaukee Bucks hold a two-game lead over the Detroit Pistons in the loss column. The teams face each other in the final two games of the regular season, which could flip their positions in the Eastern Conference standings.
Landing fifth means a first-round matchup with the Indiana Pacers. Sixth is a series with the New York Knicks.
Damian Lillard is out for the remainder of the regular season. Detroit has been a force to be reckoned with since the turn of the year. JB Bickerstaff remains a second favorite in the Coach of the Year race, but the Pistons’ head coach could make a push for the award in the final week if Detroit somehow ends up as the five seed ahead of the Bucks.
Brunson’s Ramp Up
Jalen Brunson missed a month with an ankle injury. In true Tom Thibodeau fashion, the All-Star guard played 34 minutes on his return in a win over the Phoenix Suns. Brunson scored 15 points on nine shots thanks to clocking 10 free throw attempts.
The Knicks have nothing to play for in their final four games. Matchups with the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers might see load management from New York’s opponents, while Thibodeau will surely want to keep his cards close to his chest with the Knicks needing to go past both the Celtics and Cavs if they are to reach the NBA Finals.
Brunson’s workload should be carefully managed. It will also be interesting to see what kind of offensive rhythm can be developed after sitting out 15 games on the bounce. The Knicks are going to be expected to win their first-round series, but it might not be straightforward against the Bucks or Pistons.
