Here are five things that you may have missed during the NBA week.
Following a relatively news free All-Star Break, the NBA is back and better than ever. No more breaks, it’s full steam ahead to the playoffs. While it may have seemed the Cavaliers and Warriors were clear favorites heading into the year in their respective conferences, neither currently hold the No. 1 seed. The playoff races are heating up as we head into the home stretch. Will either team head into the postseason with the top spot? Nobody knows, but it looks as if the Rockets and Raptors could hold onto the No. 1 seeds and make some serious noise.
Yet another week went by where Zaza Pachulia was ‘clumsy’. Meaning he tried to injure an opposing player and blamed it on his clumsiness. Sure, no 6-foot-11 man will have perfect balance or coordination, but this seems all too coincidental. Much like Draymond’s multiple ‘accidental’ groin kicks in the playoffs a few seasons back. At this point, the league needs to take a look at Pachulia. His latest victim was Russell Westbrook. While the Thunder have had the Warriors’ number this season, Golden State unleashed its wrath on OKC in this game. Pachulia attempting to hurt or step on the ankle of Westbrook was completely unnecessary and is a part of the game that needs looked at. Both Westbrook and even Kyrie Irving pointed out the dirty nature of his game following the incident.
Meanwhile, speaking of Pachulia victims, Kawhi Leonard is now expected to miss the remainder of the season in an attempt to re-gain his full strength and heal up for next year. The reports surfaced earlier in the week and while it may seem surprising on the surface, it’s hardly shocking given the severity of the injury. These were just a few of the headlines from this week in the NBA world, here are five of the biggest headlines you may have missed.