# \[The Athletic\] NBA赛季进入最后一个月，各支球队冲刺阶段的首要任务是什么？

**URL:** https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/45211
**Category:** 环球刺讯
**Tags:** 2025-26赛季, 维克托-文班亚马
**Created:** [2026 年3 月 14 日 11:10 UTC](https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/45211 "2026-03-14T11:10:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

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### 作者： ![TheAthletic](https://chinaspurs.com/user_avatar/chinaspurs.com/theathletic/32/124_2.png) [@TheAthletic](https://chinaspurs.com/u/TheAthletic)
#### 发布日期： [2026 年3 月 14 日 11:10 UTC](https://chinaspurs.com/t/topic/45211/1 "2026-03-14T11:10:19Z")

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By The Athletic NBA Staff | The Athletic, 2026-03-14 09:45:15

![Image](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/Ue0y/260314-cf2a931207d0ca14a6757e418.jpg)

距离NBA常规赛结束大约还有四周时间。一些球队正向榜首发起冲刺，而另一些球队则在朝相反的方向疾驰。

卫冕冠军俄克拉荷马城雷霆队拥有全联盟最佳战绩，但[紧随其后的球队可能会让你大吃一惊](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nba/standings/)。而且，东西部季后赛席位的中游竞争依然扑朔迷离，短期内难以尘埃落定。

在赛季的最后一个月，每支球队_真正_应该关注的是什么？我们的NBA报道团队对此进行了深入探讨。（统计数据和排名截止至周五比赛前。）

## 亚特兰大老鹰

**杀入季后赛：** 老鹰队在进入本周末时是联盟状态最火热的球队，豪取八连胜，但他们可能仍要面临_连续第五次_参加附加赛的命运。不过，只要能突围，附加赛未必是件坏事。打进季后赛首轮并在那里赢下一两场比赛，对于这支处于“后特雷·杨 (Trae Young)”时代的年轻核心阵容来说，将是下赛季极好的概念证明。亚特兰大在剩下的比赛中还有不少是对阵乐透区球队。如果能获得东部第七或第八名，老鹰队将获得两次晋级季后赛的机会，且至少包含一个主场。 _—— 约翰·霍林格 (John Hollinger)_

## 波士顿凯尔特人

**让杰森·塔图姆找回节奏：** 自跟腱撕裂痊愈归来后的三场比赛中，杰森·塔图姆 (Jayson Tatum) 的表现超出了我的预期。他的产出和移动能力都让人看到了希望。然而，在目前有限的出场时间里，他的投篮命中率仅为39%。凯尔特人队在季后赛中无疑需要他贡献更多。 _—— 杰·金 (Jay King)_

## 布鲁克林篮网

**输掉更多比赛：** 篮网队本赛季的目标要么是高顺位乐透签，要么就是彻底失败。他们需要利用常规赛剩余的时间，确保概率站在自己这一边。他们目前拥有联盟第四差的战绩，但在“摆烂大赛 (Tankathon)”的榜首竞争非常激烈。篮网并非没有可能以全联盟垫底的战绩收官，这将确保他们获得的签位不低于第5顺位——在被视为深度和天赋并存的这一届新秀中，这依然是一个非常有利的位置。 _—— 迈克·沃库诺夫 (Mike Vorkunov)_

## 夏洛特黄蜂

**杀入季后赛：** 在赛季开始前说这话可能有点离谱，但黄蜂队是本赛季最有趣的球队之一，如果他们能打进季后赛，或许会极具冲击力。他们目前排名东部第十，有机会去争夺一个正式的季后赛席位，这应当成为他们的奋斗目标。黄蜂队自2016年以来从未进过季后赛，这将为一个有趣且充满惊喜的赛季画上完美的句号。 _—— 迈克·沃库诺夫 (Mike Vorkunov)_

## 芝加哥公牛

**评估剩余的年轻天赋：** 当这支公牛队在交易截止日清理阵容时，值得期待的东西就变得寥寥无几了。他们的重心已转向六月的NBA选秀——如果你能占据有利位置，这届选秀被认为具备改变队史的潜力；哪怕只是变废为宝利用翻新的乐透签，也大有可为。如果他们想看看下一阶段谁值得留队，像雷纳德·米勒 (Leonard Miller) 和杰登·艾维 (Jaden Ivey) 这样的年轻人必须得到出场机会。这不仅能让公牛队获得关于现有资产的有效数据，而且考虑到阵容缺乏凝聚力和明显的天赋，这应该能让他们在输球的同时保持斗志——对于这支战绩全联盟第九差、晚些加入重建行列的球队来说，这应该是首要任务。不过，这些年轻人无法获得无限出场时间的原因，也正是芝加哥可能不会彻底垫底的原因：主教练比利·多诺万 (Billy Donovan) 的天性就是追逐胜利。 _—— 乔尔·洛伦齐 (Joel Lorenzi)_

## 克利夫兰骑士

**保持专注：** 对克利夫兰来说，这是一段“艰难”的时期，因为骑士队几乎没有跌出前四号种子的危险。老话常说要在季后赛临近时打出最佳状态，而自从骑士队重新崛起以来，他们从未真正做到过这一点。冲刺阶段的赛程大多比较轻松。因此，挑战在于如何通过足够好的表现和胜场数稳居第四或尝试冲击第三，同时避免伤病，并确保在这轮关乎球队未来走向的关键季后赛开始前，不至于因失去专注力而掉队。 _—— 乔·瓦尔登 (Joe Vardon)_

## 达拉斯独行侠

**摆烂至倒数前六：** 独行侠队欠夏洛特黄蜂一个2027年的首轮签，而他们的2028年首轮签也被牵扯进俄克拉荷马城雷霆的选秀权互换中。由于缺乏未来的选秀控制权，独行侠必须在今年的选秀中寻找一位能站在科珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 身边的强援。理想情况下，在这场史诗级的摆烂竞赛中，独行侠可以“超越”新奥尔良鹈鹕，以全联盟第六差的战绩收官。这意味着达拉斯将带着37.2%的概率进入抽签仪式，冲击前四顺位。 _—— 克里斯蒂安·克拉克 (Christian Clark)_

## 丹佛掘金

**恢复全面健康：** 我们都知道尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokić) 和他的掘金队在满员状态下能做些什么。如果你不知道，去看看上赛季对阵俄克拉荷马城的次轮系列赛，当时丹佛差一点就让雷霆队的夺冠之路折戟沉沙。但本赛季绝大部分时间里，掘金都在严重人手短缺的情况下苦苦追赶西部的领先方阵。阿龙·戈登 (Aaron Gordon) 最近的回归是最关键的拼图，但如果掘金想要改善那糟糕的防守，他们也需要佩顿·沃特森 (Peyton Watson) 的归队。 _—— 山姆·阿米克 (Sam Amick)_

## 底特律活塞

**修补防守漏洞：** 虽然活塞队本赛季108.8的防守效率仍排名联盟第二，但自全明星赛以来，他们的防守已经大幅下滑。由于右脚踝扭伤，他们最全能的防守者奥萨尔·汤普森 (Ausar Thompson) 一直作壁上观。但即使没有奥萨尔，底特律也需要想办法限制对手的直线突破、减少空位三分，并加强转换防守。活塞队只有不到20场比赛的时间来磨练防守强度和战术，如果他们希望能挺进季后赛深处的话。 _—— 亨特·帕特森 (Hunter Patterson)_

![](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/8iQo/260314-3771cb9695b0f6e517ea2dd37.jpg)  
对于史蒂夫·科尔和勇士队来说，这是一个过山车般的赛季。(Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)

## 金州勇士

**进入季后赛：** 勇士队的赛季充满了各种伤病和戏码。他们因为ACL伤势失去了吉米·巴特勒 (Jimmy Butler)，斯蒂芬·库里 (Stephen Curry) 也因膝伤缺阵数月。在乔纳森·库明加 (Jonathan Kuminga) 被交易之前，他的前途也曾迷雾重重，而随后接替他的克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porziņģis) 又带来了全新的伤病隐患。如果勇士队能克服这一切，并最终杀入首轮，那么主教练史蒂夫·科尔 (Steve Kerr) 和他的球员们在应对这个多次濒临崩盘的赛季时所表现出的韧性，理应获得巨大的认可。 _—— 尼克·弗里德尔 (Nick Friedell)_

## 休斯顿火箭

**让阿尔佩伦·申京回到正轨：** 过去几个月里，火箭队一直是西部最令人沮丧的球队之一，原因在于其进攻端乏力且状态极度不稳定。他们表现不佳的一个主因是全明星中锋阿尔佩伦·申京 (Alperen Şengün) 没能持续打出全明星水准。虽然他有几次数据爆发的表现，但在大多数夜晚，当休斯顿一次又一次地指望37岁的凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant) 来救场时，他几乎毫无存在感。如果火箭队想要在季后赛走得更远，他们需要杜兰特和申京同时打出最佳阵容级别的水准，否则很可能会面临提前出局。 _—— 威廉·古洛里 (William Guillory)_

## 印第安纳步行者

**保持帕斯卡尔·西亚卡姆的健康：** 步行者本赛季一直受到伤病困扰——许多人认为在失去球星泰雷斯·哈利伯顿 (Tyrese Haliburton) 的日子里，这个赛季已经没戏了——但帕斯卡尔·西亚卡姆 (Pascal Siakam) 始终保持着稳定的状态。西亚卡姆场均贡献24分和6.7个篮板，并入选了本赛季的全明星。现在，在最后的冲刺阶段，步行者只需要西亚卡姆健康地结束赛季，这样他们就能为2026-2027赛季的满血归来做好准备。 _—— 沙琪雅·泰勒 (Shakeia Taylor)_

## 洛杉矶快船

**坚持现有蓝图：** 我写这段文字的晚上，一支曾取得6胜21负开局的球队刚刚将胜率拉回到50%以上。你从未见过深陷如此困境的球队能重见曙光。快船队正打着快速、果断、无私的篮球，在多套阵容中充分发挥极具压迫感的天赋。随着快船希望全员康复并保持健康，球队仍有很大的提升空间。但他们已经证明了在科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 和新控卫达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland) 的带领下，他们具备成为威胁的能力。 _—— 罗·穆雷 (Law Murray)_

## 洛杉矶湖人

**解决三巨头的磨合：** 本赛季湖人队表现最好的时刻，并非三位核心同时在场的时候。当卢卡·东契奇 (Luka Dončić)、奥斯汀·里夫斯 (Austin Reaves) 和勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 全部保持健康时，消除攻防两端依然存在的尴尬感，应是湖人队最后阶段的首要任务。好消息是，这组人的表现一直呈上升趋势；坏消息是，这种提升可能还不够大，或者速度不够快，不足以实质性地提高湖人队的季后赛前景。 _—— 丹·沃伊克 (Dan Woike)_

## 孟菲斯灰熊

**为2026-27赛季的轮换阵容开启公开试训：** 灰熊队很可能以全联盟第六、第七或第八差的战绩收官，获得状元签的概率在6%到9%之间，而抽中前四顺位的概率在26%到37%之间。任务已圆满完成。只要他们不赢球过多导致被公牛追上，就可以为明年进行大胆尝试。沃尔特·克莱顿 (Walter Clayton) 有潜力吗？泰勒·亨德里克斯 (Taylor Hendricks) 还能拯救吗？奥利维尔-马克桑斯·普罗斯珀 (O-Max Prosper) 在其独特的五小阵容角色中能否成为一名轮换内线？塞德里克·考沃德 (Cedric Coward) 能在持球方面做更多吗？GG·杰克逊 (GG Jackson) 是否已经开窍？杰伦·威尔斯 (Jaylen Wells) 能摆脱“大二新秀墙”吗？在等待乐透抽签日期间，这些才是核心问题。 _—— 约翰·霍林格 (John Hollinger)_

## 迈阿密热火

**远离附加赛：** 热火队自2023年以来参加了每一届附加赛，是时候让他们以更稳固的姿态进入季后赛了。他们已经取得七连胜，并在周末前稳居东部前六，迈阿密正在找回赛季初的状态，并有望冲击第五号种子。热火队在过去两个半月里一直是联盟中防守最好的球队之一，并且也是本赛季总得分的领跑者。他们已经掌握了直接晋级季后赛的秘籍，接下来只需保持执行力。 _—— 詹姆斯·杰克逊 (James Jackson)_

## 密尔沃基雄鹿

**寻找培养机会：** 主教练道格·里弗斯 (Doc Rivers) 一直没能为这支球队找到制胜方程式，因此寄希望于雄鹿队打进附加赛似乎不太现实。相反，他们应该考虑如何培养扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 与那些预计下赛季留队的球员之间的默契。本赛季与字母哥共同出场至少650分钟的三名球员是AJ·格林 (AJ Green)、瑞安·罗林斯 (Ryan Rollins) 和迈尔斯·特纳 (Myles Turner)。这三人的合同在下赛季都有保障，无论是未来围绕字母哥建队，还是在休赛期字母哥可能的交易后作为重建资产，他们都能派上用场。雄鹿队应该优先最大化这三人的价值。 _—— 埃里克·内姆 (Eric Nehm)_

## 明尼苏达森林狼

**让朱利叶斯·兰德尔锁定季后赛模式：** 兰德尔在本赛季开局表现惊人，像去年季后赛前两轮一样频繁命中三分并开启推土机般的打法。交易截止日前后，由于身陷交易流言以及漫长赛季带来的损耗，他陷入了一段时间的低迷。全明星赛后，兰德尔表现出了重回巅峰的迹象。他表示，休息时间让他完成了心理重置，且在防守端表现得比赛季初更加积极。但他的三分手感一直不佳，如果他能找回射程，森林狼的进攻将变得更加危险。 _—— 乔恩·克劳钦斯基 (Jon Krawczynski)_

![](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/3fOl/260314-035991b44015a003ef714ecaf.jpg)  
德章泰·穆雷的回归为鹈鹕队注入了赛季末的活力。(Stephen Lew / Imagn Images)

## 新奥尔良鹈鹕

**继续围绕德章泰·穆雷建队：** 德章泰·穆雷 (Dejounte Murray) 上个月才从跟腱断裂中归来，他在来到鹈鹕的第一年里无论场内场外都打得非常挣扎。但在他在新奥尔良的第二个赛季，他看起来像变了一个人，他的存在为这支在冲刺阶段仍追求胜利的球队注入了强心剂。场上拥有一名经验丰富的控卫帮助鹈鹕梳理了进攻，也让他们对全员健康后的前景重燃希望。穆雷、锡安·威廉森 (Zion Williamson) 和特雷·墨菲三世 (Trey Murphy III) 同时在场时表现非常抢眼。这绝对是鹈鹕可以继续发扬光大的方向。 _—— 威廉·古洛里 (William Guillory)_

## 纽约尼克斯

**保持防守端的对抗性：** 尼克斯队通过提升防守对抗强度开启了新的篇章。确实，他们对防守细节做了一些微调——比如将持球人赶向边线而非中路——这拯救了曾经陷入困境的防守。然而，最大的改变在于全队愿意贴身紧防且不轻易犯规。防守赢得冠军，如果纽约能继续保持防守端的表现，他们在季后赛表现不稳的概率将大大降低。 _—— 詹姆斯·L·爱德华兹三世 (James L. Edwards III)_

## 俄克拉荷马城雷霆

**寻找最佳阵容：** 雷霆队的人才储备过于雄厚，以至于在另外29支球队中几乎稳坐轮换位置的球员，在全员健康时也无法获得稳定的出场时间。目前，他们正面临伤病。阿杰·米切尔 (Ajay Mitchell) 仍在恢复中。最重要的是，杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams) 处于伤停状态。一旦他们回归，像赛斯·伊萨亚·乔 (Isaiah Joe) 或贾里德·麦凯恩 (Jared McCain) 这样的球员可能会失去出场时间。主教练马克·戴格诺特 (Mark Daigneault) 坚信在季后赛征程中需要不断发掘贡献者。他不会只固定八九个人打满四轮季后赛。但麦凯恩在俄克拉荷马城的表现一直很出色，卡森·华莱士 (Cason Wallace) 在承担更多控球任务后取得了飞跃，乔的投篮精准无比，亚伦·维金斯 (Aaron Wiggins) 能瞬间提供攻防火力。米切尔必须上场。雷霆队正面临着这个世界上最美好的烦恼：能打的人太多了。 _—— 弗雷德·卡茨 (Fred Katz)_

## 奥兰多魔术

**力争锁定前四种子：** 虽然难度很大，但如果魔术队能设法缩小差距并以东部至少第四的战绩结束常规赛，那将给他们带来巨大的优势。魔术队目前的核心三人组保罗·班凯罗 (Paolo Banchero)、弗朗茨·瓦格纳 (Franz Wagner) 和杰伦·萨格斯 (Jalen Suggs) 在过去两届季后赛中主场战绩为4胜1负，但客场却是0胜7负。在首轮系列赛中拥有主场优势将至关重要。第二个重点是让瓦格纳彻底康复并找回节奏，他在去年12月初遭受严重的脚踝扭伤后经历了漫长的缺阵。为了让魔术队发挥最佳水平，特别是在防守端，他们需要一个健康的瓦格纳。 _—— 乔希·罗宾斯 (Josh Robbins)_

## 费城76人

**我们真的需要问吗？（好吧，就是健康）：** 这就像是在寻找大脚怪或张伯伦单场100分的录像，是那种在费城可能永远无法企及的稀罕物。76人本赛季保持全员健康的时间只有大约两周，去年也从未真正全员齐整过。而现在，他们有四名首发因各种原因缺阵。这是全联盟最不健康的球队之一，而找回健康的时间已经不多了。沙漏里的沙子快要流尽了。 _—— 托尼·琼斯 (Tony Jones)_

## 凤凰城太阳

**远离附加赛：** 太阳队在周五对阵多伦多的比赛前，胜率超过50%达12场，创赛季新高。他们挺过了4胜7负的二月以及数次伤病（目前仍未完全康复——狄龙·布鲁克斯 (Dillon Brooks) 仍因腕部骨折缺阵，大个子马克·威廉姆斯 (Mark Williams) 则受困于足部伤势）。但他们正打出更好的篮球。德文·布克 (Devin Booker) 正展现巨星风采。杰伦·格林 (Jalen Green) 终于找回了舒适感。新秀拉希尔·弗莱明 (Rasheer Fleming) 在攻防两端都注入了活力。这并非易事——凤凰城最后16场比赛中有10场是客场——但跻身西部前六的目标并非遥不可及。 _—— 道格·哈勒 (Doug Haller)_

## 波特兰开拓者

**争取胜率至少过半：** 开拓者队几乎锁定了附加赛名额，这是重建进程中的一大进步，但随着冬天的糟糕防守和低迷投篮，赛季初的那股冲劲已有所消退。如果能打好收官阶段，一个不败的赛季（41胜或更多）是可以实现的。剩下的比赛中有八场是对阵目前处于附加赛区之外的球队。如果能横扫这些对手并再顺带赢下几场，波特兰就有理由庆祝自2021年以来的第一个非负赛季。 _—— 杰森·奎克 (Jason Quick)_

## 萨克拉门托国王

**让年轻人体验竞争感：** 国王队并没有过剩的年轻天才，他们急需在选秀中找到那位超级巨星。但在那之前，一些球员可以成长为优秀的轮换角色。他们不能每晚都被人痛宰。这些年轻人需要尽可能多地参与竞争激烈的比赛，即使球队的目标是输球顺位。 _—— 扎克·哈珀 (Zach Harper)_

![](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/P1tb/260314-e7d610b728293a3ba14ee43fe.jpg)维克托·文班亚马和马刺队是本联盟最大的惊喜之一。(Nic Antaya / Getty Images)

## 圣安东尼奥马刺

**为季后赛保持节奏：** 马刺队不必担心是否做好了季后赛准备。自二月初以来，他们一直是联盟表现最好的球队，并且在围绕维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 进行的阵容调校中迈出了一大步。他们的主要任务是在季后赛前保持健康并合理分配体能。这将是队内大多数人的首次季后赛之旅，他们不希望成为那种在三月打出一波连胜后耗尽能量、结果在第二轮被对手以身体对抗击溃的球队。 _—— 杰里德·维斯 (Jared Weiss)_

## 多伦多猛龙

**避免附加赛：** 猛龙队本赛季大部分时间都徘徊在季后赛首轮4-5号种子的位次，但追兵已至。本赛季猛龙在对阵联盟前十的球队时表现糟糕，自十一月取得九连胜以来，战绩一直维持在五成左右。如果猛龙队继续延续“虐菜失准、遇强则弱”的模式，那么对阵战绩相近球队的比赛——两次对阵迈阿密，以及对阵凤凰城和奥兰多的各一场——将极大地决定他们的季后赛命运。 _—— 埃里克·科林 (Eric Koreen)_

## 犹他爵士

**保住选秀权：** 没错，“摆烂”在当今NBA是个贬义词，是目前NBA产品的毒瘤。而且没错，爵士队一直是表现最露骨的“摆烂者”之一。但与此同时，他们必须保住那个首轮选秀权，确保它不会落入俄克拉荷马城手中。如果他们在五月的乐透抽签中抽中前三顺位，没人会记得他们曾故意输球。在规则改变之前，请务必保住选秀权。 _—— 扎克·哈珀 (Zach Harper)_

## 华盛顿奇才

**乐透顺位：** 在理想的世界里，奇才队的目标应该是让特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 和安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis) 与现有的年轻核心阵容进行深度磨合，并给有潜力的年轻人更多出场时间。但考虑到这届选秀的深度，以及奇才的选秀权如果掉到第9顺位或更后就会失去，球队的首要目标是争取更好的乐透位置。现在输球至关重要，因为这可能会提高奇才选秀权的下限。战绩垫底的球队在选秀顺位上最多跌至第5位。虽然这么说很残酷，但这确实是该队为了长远发展而采取的最审慎的步骤。 _—— 乔希·罗宾斯 (Josh Robbins)_

_由生成式 AI 翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。_

> **点击查看原文：With NBA season entering final month, what is each team's priority down the stretch?**
>
> # With NBA season entering final month, what is each team’s priority down the stretch?
> 
> ![Image](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/Ue0y/260314-cf2a931207d0ca14a6757e418.jpg)
> 
> We’re about four weeks away from the end of the NBA regular season. Some teams are in a race toward the top. Others are dashing in the opposite direction.
> 
> The reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder have the best record in the league, but [the teams right behind them may surprise you](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nba/standings/). And the middle of the postseason picture in each conference is muddled and won’t be settled anytime soon.
> 
> What should each team _really_ focus on over the final month of the season? Our NBA staff weighs in. (Stats and standings are entering Friday’s games.)
> 
> ## Atlanta Hawks
> 
> **Make the playoffs:** The Hawks enter the weekend as the league’s hottest team, winners of eight straight, but may still celebrate a _fifth straight_ Play-In Tournament appearance. But the Play-In need not be a bad thing if they survive it. Reaching the first round and winning a game or two while they’re there would be good proof of concept for this post-Trae Young core heading into next season. Atlanta still has a handful of games against lottery teams. Finishing seventh or eighth in the Eastern Conference would guarantee the Hawks two shots at making the playoffs, including at least one at home. _— John Hollinger_
> 
> ## Boston Celtics
> 
> **Get Jayson Tatum in rhythm:** Tatum has surpassed my expectations in his three games since returning from a torn Achilles. His production and mobility have been promising. However, he’s still shooting just 39 percent from the field over limited action so far. The Celtics will likely need more from him during the playoffs. _— Jay King_
> 
> ## Brooklyn Nets
> 
> **Lose more games:** The Nets are high lottery pick or bust this season, and they need to use the rest of the regular season to make sure the odds are in their favor. They currently own the fourth-worst record in the league right now, but it’s a very competitive top of the Tankathon standings. It’s not impossible to finish with the worst record in the league, which would guarantee a choice no lower than No. 5, which is still a very good place to be in what is expected to be a deep and talented lottery group. _— Mike Vorkunov_
> 
> ## Charlotte Hornets
> 
> **Make the playoffs:** This might have been a wild thing to say before the season, but the Hornets are one of the more interesting teams this season and could be punchy if they get to the playoffs. They’re currently 10th in the East, with a chance to make the actual playoffs, and that would be something to shoot for. The Hornets haven’t made the playoffs since 2016, and this would be a capstone to a fun and surprising season. _— Mike Vorkunov_
> 
> ## Chicago Bulls
> 
> **Evaluate remaining young talent:** These Bulls found fewer things to look forward to when they purged the roster at the trade deadline. Their focus shifts to June’s NBA Draft, regarded as loaded and franchise-altering if you’re well-positioned and perhaps making lemonade out of refurbished lottery picks. If they’re going to see who’s worth keeping during this next iteration, young guys like Leonard Miller and Jaden Ivey will need to play. Not only will the Bulls get decent data on which positive assets they might’ve accrued, but with the lack of cohesion and glaring talent, it should set them up to lose valiantly, which should be the priority for the team with the ninth-worst record in the league, joining the rebuilding party late. But the same reason these guys won’t play endless minutes is the same reason Chicago likely won’t bottom out: Head coach Billy Donovan is wired to chase wins. _— Joel Lorenzi_
> 
> ## Cleveland Cavaliers
> 
> **Stay interested:** This is a “tough” stretch for Cleveland because there isn’t much danger that the Cavs would fall below the No. 4 seed. There is the old adage about playing your best heading into the playoffs, and Cleveland has never really done that since the franchise became good again. The schedule down the stretch is mostly easy. So the challenge is to play well enough and win enough to remain in fourth/possibly sneak into the No. 3 seed, while avoiding injury and otherwise not losing too much focus ahead of a monumentally important postseason in which the team’s general direction is at stake. _— Joe Vardon_
> 
> ## Dallas Mavericks
> 
> **Tank into the bottom six:** The Mavericks owe their first-round draft pick to the Charlotte Hornets in 2027, and their 2028 first-rounder is tied up in a pick swap with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Because the Mavericks lack future draft control, they must find a difference-maker in this year’s draft to put next to Cooper Flagg. Ideally, in this epic tank race, the Mavericks can “pass” the New Orleans Pelicans and finish with the sixth-worst record in the NBA. That would mean Dallas enters the draft lottery with a 37.2 percent chance of leaping into the top four. _— Christian Clark_
> 
> ## Denver Nuggets
> 
> **Getting fully healthy:** We all know what Nikola Jokić and his Nuggets are capable of when at full strength. And if you don’t, then watch the second-round series against OKC last season when Denver nearly derailed the Thunder’s title journey. But Denver has spent the vast majority of this season trying to keep up with the West pack while being severely short-handed. The recent return of Aaron Gordon is the most important piece of them all, but the Nuggets need Peyton Watson back, too, if they’re going to improve that woeful defense. _— Sam Amick_
> 
> ## Detroit Pistons
> 
> **Shore up defensive slippage:** While the Pistons’ 108.8 defensive rating this season still ranks second, their defense has slipped considerably since the All-Star break. And Ausar Thompson, their most versatile defender, has been sidelined with a right ankle sprain. But even without Thompson, Detroit will need to find ways to shore up straight-line drives, limit open 3s and tighten its transition defense. The Pistons have less than 20 games to sharpen their defensive effort and schemes if they hope to make a deep playoff run. _— Hunter Patterson_
> 
> ![](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/8iQo/260314-3771cb9695b0f6e517ea2dd37.jpg)  
> It’s been a roller-coaster season for Steve Kerr and the Warriors. (Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)
> 
> ## Golden State Warriors
> 
> **Get to the playoffs:** The Warriors’ season has been filled with all kinds of injuries and drama. They lost Jimmy Butler for the year due to an ACL injury and Stephen Curry for months because of a knee issue. There was also uncertainty around Jonathan Kuminga before he was traded and replaced by Kristaps Porziņģis, which brought a whole new injury concern. If the Warriors can overcome all of that and still find a way through to the first round, then head coach Steve Kerr and his players deserve a lot of credit for navigating their way through a season that could have unraveled multiple times. _— Nick Friedell_
> 
> ## Houston Rockets
> 
> **Get Alperen Şengün back on track:** The Rockets have been one of the more frustrating teams in the West over the past few months due to their lackluster production on offense and inconsistency. A major part of their shortcomings has been Şengün, their All-Star center, failing to consistently perform at an All-Star level. There have been a few times when he’s exploded for big numbers, but most nights, he’s been an afterthought as Houston has turned to 37-year-old Kevin Durant over and over again to bail it out. If the Rockets have any chance at making a deep run, they need both Durant and Şengün to perform at an All-NBA level. Anything less will probably result in an early exit. _— William Guillory_
> 
> ## Indiana Pacers
> 
> **Keep Pascal Siakam healthy:** Indiana’s dealt with injuries throughout the season — one many chalked up to being lost without star Tyrese Haliburton — but Siakam has been a constant. Averaging 24 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, Siakam was an All-Star this season. Now, in the home stretch, the Pacers just need Siakam to end the season on a healthy note so they can prepare to be whole again for 2026-2027. _— Shakeia Taylor_
> 
> ## LA Clippers
> 
> **Sustain the blueprint:** I am writing this on the night that a 6-21 team found a way to get over the .500 mark. You’ve never seen a team that deep in the hole see the other side of .500. The Clippers are playing fast, decisive, unselfish basketball that utilizes pressure-applying talent in multiple lineups. There is a lot more comfort to gain as the Clippers hope to get healthy and stay healthy. But they have already shown that they can be a threat while being led by Kawhi Leonard and new point guard Darius Garland. _— Law Murray_
> 
> ## Los Angeles Lakers
> 
> **Figure out the big three:** The best Lakers basketball this season hasn’t been played with their best players all on the court. Ironing out the awkwardness that still exists on both sides of the ball when Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves and LeBron James are all healthy needs to be at the top of the Lakers’ priority list down the stretch. The good news is that things have been trending in the right direction for the group. The bad news is that the improvements might not be big enough or come fast enough for the Lakers to improve their chances. _— Dan Woike_
> 
> ## Memphis Grizzlies
> 
> **Open tryouts for 2026-27 rotation:** The Grizzlies are likely to have the league’s sixth-, seventh- or eighth-worst record, with between 6 percent and 9 percent odds of the top pick and 26 percent to 37 percent odds of landing in the top four. Mission accomplished. As long as they don’t win too much and catch the Bulls, they can experiment for next year. Is Walter Clayton anything? Can Taylor Hendricks be salvaged? Is O-Max Prosper a rotation big in his funky small-ball role? Can Cedric Coward do more on the ball? Has GG Jackson figured things out? Can Jaylen Wells shake his sophomore slump? Those are the operative questions while they wait for lottery day. _— John Hollinger_
> 
> ## Miami Heat
> 
> **Stay out of the Play-In:** The Heat have played in every Play-In since 2023, so it’s time for them to reach the postseason on a more solid footing. They’ve won seven in a row and enter the weekend in the East’s top six, and Miami is resembling its early-season form and could reasonably climb to the fifth seed. The Heat have been one of the league’s better defensive teams the past two and a half months and are among the leaders in overall scoring this season. They have their formula for clinching an outright playoff berth. They just have to keep executing. _— James Jackson_
> 
> ## Milwaukee Bucks
> 
> **Developmental opportunities:** Head coach Doc Rivers has not been able to find a successful formula for this team, so it seems foolish to believe the Bucks could make the Play-In. Instead, they should be thinking about how they develop chemistry between Giannis Antetokounmpo and the players they expect to be on the team next season. The three players who have played at least 650 minutes with him this season are AJ Green, Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner. All three have guaranteed contracts for next season and could realistically be part of an Antetokounmpo-built team moving forward or useful with a rebuilt roster following an Antetokounmpo trade in the offseason. The Bucks should prioritize maximizing all three. _— Eric Nehm_
> 
> ## Minnesota Timberwolves
> 
> **Getting Julius Randle locked into playoff mode:** Randle got off to a monster start to the season, hitting 3s and bully-balling his way through the league, much like he did in the first two rounds of the playoffs last year. Around the trade deadline, he went into a bit of a funk, with his name circulating in trade rumors and the wear and tear of a long season getting to him. Randle has shown signs of returning to his usual form after the All-Star break. He says the time away allowed him to reset mentally, and he has been more active on defense than he was earlier in the season. But his 3-point shot has been rough. If he can find the range again, it will make the Timberwolves offense much more dangerous. _— Jon Krawczynski_
> 
> ![](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/3fOl/260314-035991b44015a003ef714ecaf.jpg)  
> Dejounte Murray’s return has given the Pelicans a late-season spark. (Stephen Lew / Imagn Images)
> 
> ## New Orleans Pelicans
> 
> **Keep building with Dejounte Murray:** Murray, who returned last month from a ruptured Achilles, struggled mightily on and off the court during his first season with the Pelicans. But he looks like a different player in his second season in New Orleans, and his presence has provided a big boost for a team still looking to play winning basketball down the stretch. Having an experienced point guard on the floor has helped put the pieces in place for the Pelicans and given them renewed hope for what this group can be once everyone is healthy. Murray, Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III have shone when they share the floor. That’s certainly something the Pels can build upon. _— William Guillory_
> 
> ## New York Knicks
> 
> **Remain physical defensively:** The Knicks have unlocked a new level by simply being more physical defensively. Yes, they’ve made minor tweaks — like sending ballhandlers to the sideline instead of the middle of the floor — to a defense that was really struggling. However, the biggest difference has been the team’s willingness to get into opposing players and defend without fouling. Defense wins championships, and if New York can continue to build on what it’s done on that end, its chances of inconsistent play diminish greatly come the postseason. _— James L. Edwards III_
> 
> ## Oklahoma City Thunder
> 
> **Find the best lineups:** The Thunder are overloaded with so many good players that various players who might be guaranteed rotation spots on 29 other teams won’t receive everyday minutes once everyone is healthy. Now, they’re injured. Ajay Mitchell is still recovering. Most importantly, Jalen Williams is on the sideline. Once they return, guys like Isaiah Joe or Jared McCain could lose playing time. Head coach Mark Daigneault believes in resurfacing contributors throughout a playoff run. He won’t just pick eight or nine guys, then fight through four rounds with only them. But McCain has been good in Oklahoma City. Cason Wallace has taken a leap handling the ball more. Joe shoots the lights out. Aaron Wiggins provides instant offense and defense. Mitchell has to play. The Thunder are dealing with the world’s greatest problem: They have too many guys. _— Fred Katz_
> 
> ## Orlando Magic
> 
> **Try to secure a top-four seed:** It’s unlikely, but the Magic would do themselves a gargantuan favor if they could somehow close the gap and finish the regular season with at least the East’s fourth-best record. The Magic’s current core of Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs have gone 4-1 at home during the last two playoffs but have gone 0-7 on the road. Having home-court advantage in a first-round series would be huge. The second priority is to get Wagner fully recovered and back in rhythm after his lengthy absences due to the high-ankle sprain he suffered in early December. For the Magic to be at their best, particularly on defense, they need a healthy Wagner. _— Josh Robbins_
> 
> ## Philadelphia 76ers
> 
> **Do we really need to ask? (OK, it’s health):** This is like the search for Bigfoot or video of Wilt’s 100-point game. This is the elusive thing that may never come to Philadelphia. The Sixers have been fully healthy for about two weeks this season. They were never fully healthy last season. And now, they are down four starters for differing reasons. This is one of the most unhealthy teams in the league, and the time to get healthy is running out. The sand in the hourglass is almost gone. _— Tony Jones_
> 
> ## Phoenix Suns
> 
> **Get out of the Play-In:** The Suns entered Friday’s contest at Toronto a season-high 12 games over .500. They have survived a 4-7 February and several injuries. (They’re still not completely healthy — Dillon Brooks remains out with a fractured wrist, and big man Mark Williams is out with a foot injury.) But they’re playing better basketball. Devin Booker is performing like the star that he is. Jalen Green finally looks comfortable. And rookie Rasheer Fleming is providing a boost on both ends. Nothing will be easy — 10 of Phoenix’s final 16 games are on the road **—** but the West’s top six is well within range. _— Doug Haller_
> 
> ## Portland Trail Blazers
> 
> **Finish at least .500:** The Blazers are all but guaranteed to make the Play-In Tournament, which is a step forward in their rebuild, but the fizz around the season has flattened with a winter of soft defense and poor shooting. With a strong finish, a non-losing season (41 or more wins) should be attainable. Eight games remain against teams currently outside of the Play-In. Sweep those and pick off a couple more, and Portland would have reason to celebrate its first non-losing season since 2021. _— Jason Quick_
> 
> ## Sacramento Kings
> 
> **Introduce the young guys to being competitive:** The Kings don’t have a bevy of young talent and desperately need to find that superstar in the draft. But some guys can be good role players down the road. They can’t just get their teeth kicked in every night. These young guys need to participate in as much competitive play as possible, even when you want to lose. _— Zach Harper_
> 
> ![](https://files.seeusercontent.com/2026/03/14/P1tb/260314-e7d610b728293a3ba14ee43fe.jpg)Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs are one of the league’s biggest surprises. (Nic Antaya / Getty Images)
> 
> ## San Antonio Spurs
> 
> **Maintain their rhythm for the playoffs:** The Spurs don’t have to worry about being playoff-ready. They’ve been the best team in the league since the start of February and have taken a step forward in their calibration around Victor Wembanyama. Their main task is to stay healthy and pace their energy properly ahead of the playoffs. This will be the first playoff run for most of the team, and they don’t want to be the team that burns itself out on a huge winning streak in March and gets outmuscled in the second round. _— Jared Weiss_
> 
> ## Toronto Raptors
> 
> **Avoid the Play-In:** The Raptors have spent most of the season in the 4-5 matchup in playoff seeding, but the field is closing in on them. The Raptors have been awful against top-10 teams this season, keeping them right around .500 since they went on a nine-game win streak in November. If the Raptors continue their pattern of beating bad teams and losing to good ones, games against teams with similar records — two against Miami and one against Phoenix and Orlando — will go a long way toward determining their postseason fate. _— Eric Koreen_
> 
> ## Utah Jazz
> 
> **Protect the pick:** Yes, tanking is the bad word in the NBA right now. Yes, it’s the scourge of the NBA product at the moment. And yes, the Jazz have been one of the most egregious tankers. At the same time, they have a first-round pick to protect and make sure it doesn’t go to OKC. If they get a top-three pick in May’s lottery, nobody will care that they tanked. Protect the pick until the rules are changed. _— Zach Harper_
> 
> ## Washington Wizards
> 
> **Lottery positioning:** In an ideal world, the Wizards’ goal would be something along the lines of getting a head start on next season by having Trae Young and Anthony Davis play extensively with the existing young nucleus and giving the promising youngsters more minutes. But given the depth of this draft and given that the Wizards will lose their first-round pick if it falls to No. 9 or later, the team’s primary goal is to position itself for the lottery. Losing games now is paramount in part because it potentially could raise the Wizards’ floor on where they would draft. The team with the league’s worst record can fall to no worse than No. 5 in the draft order. It’s rotten to say, but that’s the franchise’s most prudent step right now for its long-term chances. _— Josh Robbins_

By The Athletic NBA Staff, via [The Athletic](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7104883/2026/03/14/nba-season-playoff-picture-lakers-knicks-celtics-goals/)