James Harden

Upon joining the Clippers, James Harden declared, "I'm not a system player. I am a system."

The Harden System continues to work.

With 39 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, two steals and two blocks against the Warriors yesterday, Harden led the Clippers into the playoffs – extending his career-long streak of making the playoffs to 16 years.

That's fourth-longest streak to begin a career in NBA history. The only players with longer streaks did it primarily with only one team:

• John Stockton 19 years with the Jazz
• Karl Malone 19 years with the Jazz and Lakers (including 18 in Utah)
• Tony Parker 17 years with the Spurs

Harden has done it with five teams.

Obviously, he was fortunate to get drafted by a rare team drafting so high (No. 3) that's ready to win. But it's not complete coincidence a well-run organization like the Thunder valued him.

Harden drove winning in Houston then fit with other stars in Brooklyn and Philadelphia. In L.A., Harden has alternated roles, depending on Kawhi Leonard's health.

But one way or another, Harden just keeps making the playoffs.

Longest playoff streaks to begin a career:

If you're wondering about Tim Duncan, he missed the 2000 playoffs due to injury.

Chris Paul

Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta reportedly called Chris Paul's contract the worst he'd ever seen in business or sports. Paul appeared to be a major injury risk who was aging rapidly.

That was six years ago.

Yesterday, Paul became the first player in his 20th+ season to play all 82 games in a season. By age, he's the fourth-oldest player to do it:

• John Stockton (2002-03): age 40
• Michael Jordan (2002-03): age 39
• John Stockton (2001-02): age 39
• Chris Paul (2024-25): age 39
• John Stockton (2000-01): age 38
• Johnny Green (1971-72): age 38

The next-oldest player to play all 82 this season is Paul's San Antonio teammate, Harrison Barnes, 32. The last player older than even his age-33 season to do it was Lou Williams in 2016-17.

Obviously, Paul needed a little luck to stay healthy. But what a tribute to his resolve that he put himself in position to accomplish this feat.

76ers, Pelicans

The Mavericks had one of the most-disastrous seasons of all-time. The Suns spent the year absolutely wallowed in misery.

Neither fell furthest from expectations based on preseason over/under.

Or even second-furthest.

The 76ers (preseason over/under: 50.5) finished 24-58 – 26.5 wins short.

The Pelicans (preseason over/under: 46.5) finished 21-61 – 25.5 wins short.

That's No. 3 and No. 4 ever on record,* behind only the 2008 Heat and 1997 Spurs.

Teams that fell furthest short of preseason over/unders:

*Via Sports Odds History: Every team since 1999-00 plus 1997-98, 1996-97 and 1993-94 and some teams in 1995-96

Orlando Magic

The Magic would've finished third, fourth or even fifth in any other division.

In the Southeast, they're champions.

Orlando (41-41) is the first division winner without a winning record since the NBA-ABA merger. The only teams to do it at all:

• 1976 Midwest Division: Milwaukee Bucks (38-44)
• 1972 Central Division: Baltimore Bullets (38-44)
• 1957 Western Division: St. Louis Hawks (34-38)

The Magic put up a strong fight to avoid this distinction, winning five straight and 9 of 11. But a season-ending loss in Atlanta yesterday meant a .500 finish – thoroughly mediocre, but still ahead of the Hawks, Heat, Hornets and Wizards.

Western Conference

The Lakers are celebrating earning the No. 3 seed. The Grizzlies open the postseason on the road and could miss the playoffs entirely.

Just two games separated Los Angeles and Memphis.

The difference between the Lakers (50-32) and the Grizzlies (48-34) is the smallest ever between the No. 3 and No. 8 teams in a conference.

Last year, 3-8 in the East was separated by just three games, and that felt wide open relative to this year's tightly packed Western Conference middle class.

Oklahoma City Thunder

For all the drama down the stretch in the Western Conference, the Thunder felt none. They clinched the No. 1 seed weeks ago.

Oklahoma City finished a whopping 16 games ahead of everyone else in the West.

That's the largest advantage since the NBA-ABA merger and tied for the largest ever.

Teams that won a conference – or, before conferences existed, division – by 16 games:

• 2024-25 Western Conference: Oklahoma City Thunder (68-14) over Houston Rockets (52-30)
• 1975-76 Western Conference: Golden State Warriors (59-23) over Seattle SuperSonics (43-39)
• 1959-60 Western Division: St. Louis Hawks (46-29) over Detroit Pistons (30-45)
• 1958-59 Western Division: St. Louis Hawks (49-23) over Minneapolis Lakers (33-39)

None of those teams won the championship. Only the 1960 Hawks even made the NBA Finals.

So, as impressive as the Thunder have been, their 16-game advantage doesn't assure them of success, not even within their own conference.

Celtics-Cavaliers

The Knicks going 0-8 against the Cavaliers and Celtics has been presented as a Knicks story, mostly because, well, the Knicks play in New York. But it's more so a Cleveland and Boston story.

The Cavs and Celtics finished 10 games ahead of the Eastern Conference field. That's the first time since NBA-ABA merger the top two teams in a conference cleared everyone else by double-digit wins.

Every time it has happened in league history (including, before conferences existed, divisions):

• 2025 Eastern Conference: Cleveland Cavaliers (64-18) & Boston Celtics (61-21) over New York Knicks (51-31)
• 1975 Eastern Conference: Boston Celtics (60-22) & Washington Bullets (60-22) over Buffalo Braves (49-33)
• 1972 Eastern Conference: Boston Celtics (56-26) & New York Knicks (48-34) over Baltimore Bullets (38-44)
• 1968 Eastern Division: Philadelphia 76ers (62-20) & Boston Celtics (54-28) over New York Knicks (43-39)
• 1967 Eastern Division: Philadelphia 76ers (68-13) & Boston Celtics (60-21) over Cincinnati Royals (39-42)
• 1964 Eastern Division: Boston Celtics (59-21) & Cincinnati Royals (55-25) over Philadelphia 76ers (34-46)
• 1963 Western Division: Los Angeles Lakers (53-27) & St. Louis Hawks (48-32) over Detroit Pistons (34-46)
• 1955 Western Division: Fort Wayne Pistons (43-29) & Minneapolis Lakers (40-32) over Rochester Royals (29-43)
• 1950 Central Division: Minneapolis Lakers (51-17) & Rochester Royals (51-17) over Fort Wayne Pistons (40-28)

Those top two teams met the in the conference/division finals in the previous seven instances. The exception was all the way back in 1950, when the Pistons upset the Royals in the prior round.

David Adelman

There are actually two David Adelmans in the NBA. One is a 76ers minority owner who posts business advice like, "No one bats 1,000."

The other is batting 1,000.

The Nuggets interim coach finished the season 3-0 – best season record ever by a coach.

The previous best was 2-0 by Joe Prunty, who coached the Hawks between Nate McMillan and Quin Snyder in 2023.

The best by a coach who finished a season was 73-9 by Steve Kerr with the 2015-16 Warriors (just ahead of Avery Johnson's 16-2 with the 2004-05 Mavericks).

Best season records by coaches:

Yes, this is more trivia than meaningful. But that the Nuggets felt the need to fire their coach and general manager while still talented enough to finish 3-0 speaks to the odd situation in Denver.

Miami Heat

Danny Ainge has built some excellent teams in his two decades as an executive. Before that, he coached some good teams.

The last time a team had 10 double-digit scorers in a game, Ainge was involved – as a player.

Until 10 Heat players scored 10+ against the Pelicans on Friday:

The record was last hit in 1994, in a game Ainge played for the Suns.

Points vs. New Orleans on Friday:

• Bam Adebayo 23
• Tyler Herro 22
• Duncan Robinson 21
• Alec Burks 12
• Davion Mitchell 11
• Jaime Jaquez Jr. 11
• Kel'el Ware 10
• Andrew Wiggins 10
• Haywood Highsmith 10
• Keshad Johnson 10
• Kyle Anderson 9

That's right: With an 11th player at nine points, the Heat nearly broke the record. As is, Miami is the first team ever to have 11 players score 9+ in a game. But nine isn't a nice round number like 10.

3-pointers

Friday, the NBA set a single-day record for 3-point attempts (1,166) and misses (741).

Sunday, the league broke both records (1,178 and 775).

What a weekend!

-Dan Feldman