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Three important questions before the WNBA playoffs. Also: Which NBA contender can dethrone the Celtics?

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Three important questions before the WNBA playoffs. Also: Which NBA contender can dethrone the Celtics?

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Who else had on their bingo card that former All-Star Jeff Teague would become an MVP-level NBA podcaster?

WNBA playoffs are imminent

Three questions for Ben Pickman

Before we jump into the NBA discussion, I would like to thank WNBA writer Ben Pickman from The athlete to discuss some of the league’s biggest storylines as the regular season comes to a close. With the playoffs approaching, it’s time to look at the bigger picture, so let’s see what Ben thinks ahead of the postseason.

MVP favorite A’ja Wilson has set the WNBA single-season record for most points. How dominant will the Aces’ playoff run be on the way to a third straight win?

Ben: Wilson has been arguably the WNBA’s most dominant player this season, and is coming off perhaps the most successful season in league history. (Before Sunday’s game, she averaged 27 points and 12.1 rebounds per game.) Still, Las Vegas will enter the playoffs with more questions than in years past. The Aces had the WNBA’s best defense last season, but have slipped to fifth in 2024. In both 2022 and 2023, they were the WNBA’s best team in the first quarter, with net ratings over plus-14.5. This season, however, they have just a plus-1.9 net rating in the opening game. Although Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum all played on the U.S. Olympic team, the trio also hasn’t been as effective as in seasons past. Could Las Vegas still pull off a third straight win? Absolutely. But the Aces are not as good as they have been in years past and they face New York in the semifinals (where the Liberty will have home advantage).

What are your predictions for the other WNBA awards?

Ben: With a week to go, a lot could change in the race for the award. But it seems likely that Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve will end up taking home her fourth Coach of the Year award, breaking the all-time tie with Mike Thibault and Van Chancellor. Caitlin Clark is the favorite for Rookie of the Year and Wilson is the favorite for MVP. For me, the award for the player with the biggest improvement of the year was the most interesting.

Is there an underdog that the playoff contenders should be afraid of?

Ben: Aside from the Aces, Indiana is a franchise no one wants to play against in the playoffs. Before back-to-back losses to the Aces last week, Indiana had won eight of its first 10 second-half games and posted a plus-6.1 net rating, the third-best mark in the league. All-Star guard Kelsey Mitchell is averaging 24.4 points per game (second-most in the league) since the All-Star break, while Caitlin Clark is averaging the third-most points (23.4) since play resumed and a league-leading nine assists per game. Add in All-Star center Aliyah Boston, and Indiana becomes a difficult opponent, even without factoring in the wave of fans following them across the country.

Latest from Shams

Lakers sign center; Morris returns to New York

In the West, The Lakers and 7-foot-4 Christian Koloko have agreed to a deal, says agent Calvin Andrews of Klutch Sports. Koloko, 24, will have the opportunity to play in the Lakers’ frontcourt after receiving clearance from the league’s fitness committee.

In New York, The Knicks and veteran forward Marcus Morris have agreed to a one-year deal, says agent Yony Boy of LAA Partners The athlete. The 14-year veteran shot 40.3 percent from long range while splitting time between the 76ers and Cavaliers. Morris returns to the Knicks, where he started 43 games during the 2019-20 season and averaged nearly 20 points.

Can the Celtics repeat their result?

Would be the first defending champion since 2018

It’s way too early to think about whether the Celtics will become a dynasty, even though things are looking like they have a chance to make that happen. But going for back-to-back rings would be a big step toward starting that discussion.

The Celtics will gain confidence from winning the 2023-24 title and having their two best players have reason to be mad about the summer, and the latter could be the extra motivation that helps Boston overcome the regular season doldrums.

Jayson Tatum won gold for the U.S. Olympic team but didn’t play much. Last season, Tatum was named to the All-NBA First Team but was ranked behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant on the U.S. team. Jaylen Brown was named MVP of the Finals but was passed over as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement on the U.S. team in favor of his Boston teammate Derrick White.

If both play with the power of a duo that hasn’t proven anything yet, it wouldn’t hurt Boston’s title chances. Repeat champions sometimes need new mental challenges to stay focused.

Kristaps Porziņģis could return from ankle surgery as early as December, giving the Celtics the best starting lineup in the NBA unless another team steps up and proves otherwise. Even if that happens, shouldn’t the champions have the edge if it comes down to it?

The East may be tougher, but the Celtics are still the favorites to reach the NBA Finals.

If Boston can’t repeat the success…

Could these four teams take his crown?

Miami if Jimmy Butler bullies Boston? Can Minnesota get things under control? Is it too early for Oklahoma City? Did Dallas get lucky last season? What if one of the OGs of the Olympics (LeBron’s Lakers, KD’s Suns or Steph Curry’s Warriors) gets going?

Oh, isn’t it fun to speculate in September? Here are four teams that could derail Boston’s attempt at two straight titles:

  1. 76er: I know, I know: Joel Embiid hasn’t seen the playoffs past the second round. I also understand that a lot of people don’t have faith in 34-year-old Paul George in the postseason (but he’s been to the conference finals three times). But I believe in Tyrese Maxey and what he can be as he grows as a player. That trio could cause problems for Boston, especially with Embiid at center.
  2. Nuggets: I’m skeptical of what Denver will look like without Kentavious Caldwell-Pope because the team’s depth was shaky last season. This is a reference to Nikola Jokić because a deeper team can lose when the opponent has the best player. Jokić would be the best player in the series.
  3. Bucks: This is based on the assumption that Giannis Antetokounmpo will finally be healthy again in the postseason. He has the ability to dominate a series and overcome Boston’s depth. With a decisive game from Damian Lillard, the Bucks could advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since 2021.
  4. Curtsy: The only matters whether Julius Randle plays. From Jan. 1 to Jan. 27, after the Knicks added OG Anunoby to the lineup, New York’s offensive output improved by 10 points when Randle played (491 minutes). Without him, Jalen Brunson and a collection of players who rely on grit and play 47 minutes won’t be enough to beat the Celtics.

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(Top photo: David Becker / Getty Images )

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