With three quarters of the NSL season in the rear view mirror and the final slate of regular season games firmly in our sights, there are clear defined trends and outlooks for teams beginning to emerge. In this article we plan to explore and predict how the last quarter will shake out. (Note we will be only touching on the teams in each conference that are likely to be the major movers and shakers while also being teams competing for playoff /play in spots)

Western Conference  

Trending Up                   

Portland Trailblazers

3rd best record in the league, 2nd in his own conference and comfortably a championship contender. You�d be thinking that they would�ve been on cruise control to end the season and focus on the playoffs but you�d be mistaken. Joel has made a flurry of moves recently to go all in on the title this season including bringing in one of the best players n 2k history in Kevin Durant. To add to that the Blazers will be coming in fully healthy for the first time this season, truly terrifying for the rest of the league and the top of the West seems to be their destiny.

Trend: Going up, sky high!

Minnesota Timberwolves

At the time of writing the Wolves are sporting a league best 16 game win streak classifies them as nit just hot but white hot! he hottest team in the league have been surging up the standings in recent weeks and from what Ive heard GM Ethan was still looking for ways to improve the current and future of his squad into the final minutes of the deadline. With savvy drafting and shrewd trading Ethan has proven he knows that it takes to build a winning team and winning they are. With only Rajon Rondo on the injury list and the team clicking the way it is who knows when the streak will end.

Trend: Blasting up to outer space!

New Orleans Pelicans 

The Pelicans are such a young squad yet already Leeroy has got this squad streaking at the moment with eyes to climbing up the standings even more. Ja has taken his game to another level this season which has also taken New Orleans theoretical ceiling in my opinion and this makes the scary West even scarier. A 7 game win streak as well as winning 8 of the last 10 games as this size heading in the right direction.

Trend: On the up

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Los Angeles Clippers

The West is so loaded that the play off/play in teams are all very good but not everyone can go up and here is a team that while not free falling, isn�t going in the direction they would want to be going. Currently on a 3 game losing streak and having lost 6 out of the last 10 it seems the clippers are a bit at a loss at the moment. Their thin lead guard stocks have been drastically reduced due to injury has the Clippers a but like a rudderless ship. Giannis is one of the best players in the and doing everything he can for the team and franchise but he needs more help but they will now have to wait until next season.

Trend: Sliding in the wrong direction

Eastern Conference

Trending Up

Charlotte Hornets

Can you get much higher than the top? i think so. The Hornets are not only the top team in the East but the top team in the league with 51 wins to their name. They have the best young player in the league who would be the best value for dollar contract in the league at the moment too or right up there at least. The only team thats already locked itself into a play off spot in the east they can wait on the the return of Chris Paul from injury without much of a worry. Expect this team to finish with the best record in the league as long as Luka stays healthy.

Trend: Keeping it up

Washington Wizards

I was hoping to avoid talking about my own team but with a equal second best winning streak in the league we�ve become unavoidable. In a season of injuries we have been pretty lucking that our stars have healthy for a majority of the season which has never been more important. We lose Booker to cover protocols next week but with the return of him and new recruit Victor Oladipo we expect to become even stronger to close the season bringing momentum into what is hopefully a deep playoff run.

Trend: Steadily climbing

Orlando Magic

The Magic have been performing quite well since being taken over by Mailo, health has also played a factor in this as well. On a  3 game win streak while also winning 7 out of their past 10 they are surging up the standings trying to make the top 8. i could see the magic potentially push into the 6th spot and out of the play in all together if they can stay healthy. Dejounte Murray ascension  to genuine star next to Trae has made this very formidable, providing a offensive/defensive combo at the 1 and 2 spots which is very flexible and hard to match up with.

Trending Down

Philadelphia 76ers

On a 10 game losing streak and the only team to not have won a game in the last 10 in the league is from what Ben envisioned for his squad when the season started. Only sporting one injury at the moment albeit an important one defensively in Draymond Green, its surprising to see what their recent record is. Injuries and trades have led them down this path and it�s hard to see them reversing the tend in the very near future, although i don�t expect to be this bad for the whole season. Ben has half the leagues second round picks for the next 5 years so he will be hoping to find the next Jokic with one of those but thats harder than finding a needle in a haystack so who knows when the true turning of this team will be.

Trend: Going down like a stone in a lake