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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (left) and guard Darius Garland (right). David Richard-Imagn Images

Five burning questions for NBA season's second half: Cavs remain a juggernaut? Who wins two-man MVP race?

By Eric Smithling | Last updated Jan 16, 2025 11:55 AM ET

With teams hitting the halfway point in their 2024-25 schedules, it’s the perfect time to survey the NBA landscape.

Here are five burning questions we have for the season’s second half.

Will Cavaliers remain a juggernaut?

Cleveland is the the fifth team in NBA history to begin a season 34-5, joining the 76ers (1982-83), Bulls (1991-92, 1996-97) and Pistons (2005-06). Four others started 36-3. (h/t Stathead)

Six of the previous eight teams to begin a season 34-5 or better won the league title. However, the last two (2015-16 Warriors, 2005-06 Pistons) are the only ones who didn't win the championship.

If cracks appear in the Cavs' facade, they'll likely be during their upcoming brutal 12-game stretch, which includes three back-to-backs.

The gauntlet begins Thursday against the Thunder (33-6, first in Western Conference), whom they beat 129-122 on Jan. 8. Cleveland also plays the Timberwolves (21-19, eighth in Western Conference), Rockets (27-12, second in Western Conference) twice, Mavericks (22-19, seventh in Western Conference ), who potentially could have Luka Doncic back, and Celtics (28-12, second in Eastern Conference).

Who pulls away in a tight MVP race?

Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (-180) is the current favorite, per ESPN BET, followed closely by Denver center Nikola Jokic (+150).

Gilgeous-Alexander ranks first in win shares, which measures how many wins a player is responsible for. Jokic is first in player efficiency rating, which measures a player’s overall on-court production. This year’s race is already tight, and it wouldn’t shock us if it became more competitive down the stretch.

Detroit Pistons? In the playoffs??

From the 2019-20 through 2023-24 seasons, the Pistons were the NBA’s worst team, going 115-309 during that span. (h/t Stathead)

That’s changed this year. According to ESPN research producer Matt Williams, the Pistons (21-19, seventh in Eastern Conference) are two games above the .500 mark for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

The Pistons are 21-19 on the season.

This is the first time they are multiple games over .500 since they were 39-37 during the 2018-19 season. https://t.co/0aXvOD6a2d
— Matt Williams (@StatsWilliams) January 14, 2025

Point guard Cade Cunningham, the 2021 NBA Draft's No. 1 overall pick, is poised to make his first All-Star team, averaging a career-high 24.5 points per game. It’s been far too long, but the Pistons might be back.

Do Warriors and Suns miss the playoffs?

Golden State and Phoenix are treading water. The Warriors (20-20, 10th in Western Conference) are 8-17 in their last 25 games after beginning the season 12-3.

The Suns (19-20, 11th in Western Conference) have lost 12 of their last 19 games, including 122-117 to the Hawks on Tuesday, despite forward Kevin Durant and guard Devin Booker combining for 66 points.

Both teams are attempting to wring one more playoff run out of their cores. With half a season left, each is running out of time.

What do Pelicans do at the trade deadline?

New Orleans is one of the more fascinating teams to watch as the trade deadline (Feb. 6) approaches.

Following last year’s 49-33 season, the Pelicans (10-32, 15th in Western Conference) have plummeted to the bottom of the conference. Injuries have played a substantial role, with guards Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum and forwards Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson missing multiple games.

With several players who could alter the playoff picture, New Orleans might field several trade offers in the coming month. However, the league’s draconian first and second apron rules could make finding suitors difficult.

The Pelicans are the healthiest they’ve been all season and have as many wins in January (five) as they did through the season’s first three months (five). They might not want to break up the band.

Eric Smithling

Eric Smithling is a writer based in New Orleans, LA, whose byline also appears on Athlon Sports. He has been with Yardbarker since September 2022, primarily covering the NFL and college football, but also the NBA, WNBA, men’s and women’s college basketball, NHL, tennis and golf. He holds a film studies degree from the University of New Orleans

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