Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
At top of East, stability reigns
Blake Griffin is no stranger to trade drama. He was dealt from the Clippers to the Pistons in 2018, and last season he was playing for the Nets when they sent James Harden to the 76ers in a February blockbuster.
These days, Griffin is with the Celtics, who seem awfully stable when compared with those Nets.
“It’s a tough time of year, but as far as this team goes, we’re in a pretty good spot,” Griffin said after the Celtics’ road win against the Pistons on Monday night. “This team is very focused.”
In the aftermath of another Nets bombshell — they broke up their remaining All-Star duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving by trading Irving to the Mavericks — the other top teams in the Eastern Conference can feel pretty content with their situations. The Celtics have the best record in the NBA and a team that reached the Finals a season ago. The Bucks have the league’s longest current winning streak at eight games.
Even the 76ers, who haven’t always been a picture of tranquility in recent years, have won nine of 11 and are third in the conference, just three games behind the Celtics.
The Nets had a stretch of 16 wins in 17 games from late November to early January, but Irving’s recent trade request — and the fulfillment of it — now leave the team a very uncertain threat in the East. The Cavaliers jumped ahead of the Nets on Monday and into fourth place in the conference.
“I don’t think (the trade) affects Boston, Milwaukee — they’re still at the top,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said before facing the Celtics. “It could affect Brooklyn . ... It’s interesting for the league and it just lets you know that anything can happen.”
The Celtics recovered from a recent three-game losing streak and have won three of four. They’re trying to hold off the Bucks atop the East. The Bucks are a game back.
The Bucks and Celtics have made deep runs into the postseason the last two years. The 76ers haven’t reached the Finals since 2001.
The 76ers showed they might have that potential this season when Joel Embiid scored 47 points in a win over the Nuggets last month. Coach Doc Rivers understands it’s important to go into the postseason rested and ready.
“March is tough, more because of the travel and the back-to-backs than the opponent,” he said. “The opponents are all tough. That’s going to be an interesting month for us on what we’re going to do as far as playing guys, resting guys.”
The Celtics, Bucks and 76ers might make some moves of their own before Thursday’s trade deadline, but they’re unlikely to shake up their rosters the way the Nets did. The Nets had a dissatisfied star and decided to part with him. The Celtics, Bucks and 76ers, on the other hand, can deal from positions of strength.
“You know there’s a lot going on in the NBA. It’s exciting, fun for everyone to watch and listen and all that stuff,” Bucks big man Brook Lopez said. “But obviously we’re really good at just staying focused, keeping our head grounded and focusing on what’s next.”