NBA: 5 teams to watch as the post-All-Star break playoff push begins

NBA Boston Celtics Gordon Hayward (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
NBA Boston Celtics Gordon Hayward (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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NBA Utah Jazz Donovan Mitchell (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings

Shocking nearly every expert and fan of the NBA this year, the Sacramento Kings are in the playoff race entering the NBA All-Star break. They are only one game back of the final playoff spot in the West, and don’t have a relatively difficult schedule to close the year.

The Kings are one of the best young, interesting and fun follows this season and it would be a breath of fresh air to see them make a return to the playoffs – for the first time since the 2005-06 season.

It won’t be easy for the Kings to clinch the playoffs this season, though, as they’ll have to beat out the Lakers to earn the 8th and final spot. Even though the Lakers have been unimpressive this season, I don’t think anyone would disqualify them at this point in the season just yet.