Roundball Roundtable: End-of-season talking points
With the playoffs just a few days away, theScore's NBA editors answer some of the biggest questions around the league.
Which playoff-bound team's end-of-season form is most concerning?
Milwaukee Bucks: The Bucks are stumbling into the playoffs with six wins in their last dozen games and are only certain of a top-six finish due to the greater shortcomings of the play-in sides. It also doesn't bode well for an offense outside of the top 10 to lose a 25-point scorer. Damian Lillard's blood clot issue and subsequent 10-game absence has forced Giannis Antetokounmpo to carry the team on his back, averaging a near triple-double since Lillard's absence. There's a glimmer of hope that Lillard can return before the postseason, but an 11-20 overall mark against teams with records of .500 or better will do little to inspire confidence. - Michael J. Chandler
Sacramento Kings: Not much has gone right for the Kings since their feel-good season in 2022-23. They finished with a 46-36 record the next year and missed the playoffs. This campaign, they let go of Mike Brown for Doug Christie in December and were forced to trade De'Aaron Fox less than two months later. Sacramento has lost seven of its last 10 games but will likely make the play-in due to the Suns' latest skid. The Kings seem headed for a tumultuous offseason, with DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis reportedly expected to have "tough conversations" with the team. - Donald Higney
Memphis Grizzlies: Firing your head coach on the eve of the postseason is generally a sign that things aren't going as planned. You might expect such a drastic move to light a fire under the team, perhaps propelling the group to a few good results. Well, the Grizzlies are 2-3 since Taylor Jenkins' dismissal, with one victory coming from a Ja Morant buzzer-beater. Simply put, with or without Jenkins, Memphis hasn't played like a playoff squad for quite some time; the Grizzlies are 18th in both offensive rating (115.4) and defensive rating (116.4) since the All-Star break. They've gone 10-14 over that period and have slipped to eighth in the West. - Thomas Tittley
Which title contender is most flawed?
Boston Celtics: The Celtics depend heavily on 3-pointers, with 45.9% of their points coming from deep and only 40.9% coming from twos. Relying on that play style has its obvious shortcomings: In victories, Boston shoots 38.3% from beyond the arc, but, in losses, that number falls to 33.1%. Jaylen Brown's deep ball, in particular, has fallen off a cliff, as he's shooting a career-worst 32.6% on the season and made a remarkably low 27.9% in March. The Celtics lose their punch when the threes aren't falling, leaving them vulnerable to opposing defensive schemes. - Joseph Luca Casciaro
Denver Nuggets: Another absurd campaign from Nikola Jokic has papered over some of the cracks in the Mile High City, though the Nuggets' defensive issues can't be covered up. That doesn't bode well for a deep playoff run. Their poor defensive rating (115.1) is the worst among teams in both conferences' top-six spots, and they're in the league's bottom half in conceding second-chance points (14.7) and allowing points off turnovers (18). The inconsistent offensive play of Jokic's supporting cast also makes defending this team an easy ask. - Chandler
Los Angeles Lakers: While swapping out Anthony Davis for Luka Doncic will increase any team's chance at a title, the Lakers are still searching for consistency heading into the postseason. Los Angeles is 15-10 since the trade deadline and is a middle-of-the-pack team in offensive and defensive rating, ranking 13th and 16th, respectively. The Lakers' key trio of Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves holds a negative-2.6 net rating in over 300 minutes played together. While James and Doncic have been responsible for improbable Finals runs individually, the tough Western Conference might be too much this season. - Higney
Which team outside the playoff picture has the brightest future?
San Antonio Spurs: Assuming Victor Wembanyama recovers from his deep vein thrombosis, it's hard to imagine a team better situated than the Spurs. They nailed the Stephon Castle selection, as he's a favorite to bring home the Rookie of the Year trophy. The Spurs also have all of their key players locked up long term, apart from Fox, who specifically requested a trade to San Antonio. With two first-round picks - and a 6% chance at Cooper Flagg - the organization is poised to add more depth, and potentially star power, in the upcoming draft. - Tittley
Portland Trail Blazers: While the Spurs are the obvious answer here, Portland has plenty of reason for hope going forward. The Blazers are on pace for their highest win total since the 2020-21 season, and their young players have begun taking strides to stardom. Shaedon Sharpe has developed into a reliable scorer, averaging 18.3 points per game. Deni Avdija is posting 23.3 points on 50.8% shooting since the All-Star break. And Scoot Henderson is showing flashes of his third overall pick potential. Henderson has scored at least 20 points eight times in 2025, including a 39-point outburst against the Nets on Jan. 14. - Casciaro
Washington Wizards: A complete rebuild will enter the next stage this summer, and the Wizards' front-office architects hope it includes Flagg. Even if they miss out on the Duke phenom, the team boasts a freshman class of Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George that led the league in rookie minutes. Combined with second-year stud Bilal Coulibaly, the Wizards form a reputable young core. They have a first-round pick in each of the next seven drafts and countless second-round selections. They also have flexibility this offseason, with the potential to move Marcus Smart's and Richaun Holmes' expiring deals or capitalize on Jordan Poole's increased value. - Chandler
Which coach will not be back with their current team next season?
Nick Nurse: Despite Nurse's championship pedigree, the experienced bench boss might not make it to next season - largely because of reasons out of his control. With the Sixers' star trio of Joel Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey experiencing significant injury troubles, Nurse couldn't find a consistent rotation, rostering 29 players over the season. The team floundered below .500 all season as a result. Although Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey also deserves blame for putting together the roster, the coach is always the first to go, meaning Nurse's tenure could be over soon. - Higney
Willie Green: The New Orleans Pelicans are about to wrap up their fourth season with Willie Green in charge, none of which have been particularly good. A winning percentage of .457 through 324 games isn't a strong argument to keep him around. New Orleans' offense has often felt stagnant since Green's arrival; the Pelicans have finished in the league's top half in offensive rating just once in the last four years. Granted, it's not Green's fault the team has been hit hard by injuries - again. However, in a win-now league, coaches without regular-season or postseason success rarely last longer than Green has. - Tittley
Mike Budenholzer: The Phoenix Suns have had a disastrous season. They're outside the playoff picture, and Budenholzer has gotten into animated disagreements with Kevin Durant on the sideline and a reported spat with Devin Booker about his vocal contributions. There was also the controversial benching of Bradley Beal and his $50.2-million salary. Beal blamed Budenholzer for the decision and reiterated that he views himself as a starter. Suns' owner Mat Ishbia even characterized the team's season as "a really disappointing year." The writing's on the wall. - Casciaro