4 NBA Teams That Will Fall off a Cliff Post All-Star Break

The second half of the NBA season is set to tip off after a terrific All-Star Game, and the playoff picture is set to finally iron out over the last quarter of the year. These four teams might have had terrific regular seasons to this point on the back of young studs and established superstars alike, but they should be worried about a major regression in the second half.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson are going to be forces in the West for the next decade. That's almost inarguable. What can be questioned is the viability of Memphis, currently an eight seed in the West, as a playoff team. Can a young team with a rookie point guard and head coach withstand the likes of the Blazers, Spurs, and Zion-infused Pelicans making a run late in the season? History suggests teams like the Grizzlies don't have the best record of success in this scenario.

3. Oklahoma City Thunder

Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and Dennis Schröder are all averaging between 17 and 19 points per game, and that balanced attack has the Thunder at the No. 6 seed out West. The Thunder might be a deeper team than we thought, but do they have that one superstar that can win them close games against the best in the West? If Paul is their answer to that question, Billy Donovan and the Thunder could expect a major slide down in the standings once the second half kicks off.

2. Houston Rockets

James Harden and Russell Westbrook continue to amaze, and Mike D'Antoni can design an offense that cracks 115 points per game in his sleep, but the Rockets aren't even trying to play with any size, as the Clint Capela trade has left them with 6-5 PJ Tucker as a center. Every championship team over the last few years has two or three guys they can rely on to bang down low to get rebounds and make high-percentage shots. When the refs start to swallow their whistles in the playoffs, Houston's "dunks and 3s" style of play could once again falter.

1. Philadelphia 76ers

The Joel Embiid/Ben Simmons marriage appears to be heading towards an inevitable divorce, thought Sixers management is trying to force them to stay together for the kids. Simmons still isn't trying to shoot, and Embiid might as well be 6-3 instead of 7-1 if he's going to be out by the 3-point line all game. This has caused an identity crisis on offense, and the losses keep mounting as they try to correct it. If Philly doesn't figure this out soon, which they probably won't, expect another early playoff exit.