Russell Westbrook had an incredibly tough year with the Los Angeles Lakers last season. We could be in a situation where Westbrook may be one of the least desired players in the league, evidenced by the difficulty the Lakers are having with a possible trade to send him away.
It appears as though the New Orleans Pelicans are playing harder and more aggressively, and with a greater sense of urgency and more passion, than the Phoenix Suns are at this point of their playoff series.
With Ben Simmons out this year, Joel Embiid has had to take on a huge offensive load for the Philadelphia 76ers. He has been playing on an extremely high level, and Embiid is currently averaging 29.1 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 4.4 APG while shooting 36.6% from beyond the arc.
The Los Angeles Lakers have been inconsistent all season, currently sporting a record of 13-12 and sitting at 6th in the Western Conference. Many have already sounded the alarm about their performances, and they certainly don't look like a championship-caliber squad.