The sugar rush from the first week in Orlando appears to be fading to a significant degree as we approach the postseason. Some teams have already been eliminated from playoff contention, while a rash of rest-induced absences has begun to sweep the league. We’ve even seen some tanking in the Western Conference, making this week truly resemble the dregs of late March. But don’t fret. The playoffs will come soon enough, and the game’s top talents will be ready for one of the more fascinating postseasons in recent memory.
So where do things stand as we approach the play-in game(s)?