Denver Gazette beat writer Vinny Benedetto takes you around the NBA and inside the Nuggets locker room:

NBA Insider

The trade deadline has past, and that means most meaningful moves that will impact playoff rotations have already been made. Here are our the top-four teams in each conference the rest of the way:

Eastern Conference

1. Boston Celtics

The defending champions entered Monday’s slate of games 5.5 behind Cleveland for the top seed in the Eastern Conference, but the Celtics have proof of concept when it comes to playoff success. There have been some concerning signs, like Denver’s title defense last season. But the Celtics have more players who can be trusted in the playoffs than any other team in the Eastern Conference. The addition of former Nuggets forward Torrey Craig potentially gives Boston one more rotation piece.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers

The best offensive rating has helped Cleveland break away from the rest of the Eastern Conference. That’s a massive credit to first-year coach Kenny Atkinson, who’s going to run away with the Coach of the Year award. Cleveland added a much-needed piece on the wing via De’Andre Hunter in a deadline-day deal. But the game changes in the postseason, and Cleveland still has some questions to answer in terms of how it handles a slower, more physical game.

3. New York Knicks

This season is following a typical formula for a Tom Thibodeau-coached team. The Knicks have four of the top six players in total minutes played this season. Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart are the top two, while Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby rank fourth and sixth, respectively. That has helped New York keep up with the top two, but it also hinders the Knicks come playoff time. The offseason trade for Karl-Anthony Towns has worked out quite well, but the Knicks lack depth to make them a top-two team.

4. Milwaukee Bucks

There’s a clear and obvious top three in the East. Then there’s a massive drop off. The Bucks are currently fifth in the standings, but the additions of Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. make Milwaukee the most interesting team outside the top three. Giannis Antetokounmpo knows what it takes to win 16 postseason games, and the Bucks overcame some early-season adversity, which counts for something down the stretch.

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The scary part is Oklahoma City has hardly been at full strength this season. Chet Holmgren has played in just 11 games, while Isaiah Hartenstein and Alex Caruso have each missed 20 of Oklahoma City’s first 51 games. The Thunder are still pulling away from the rest of the Western Conference with a league-best 42-9 record heading into Monday’s game against New Orleans. Last season was about getting valuable playoff experience for Oklahoma City’s young and impressive core. This season should be about winning it all.

2. Denver Nuggets

The Nuggets have looked like legitimate contenders and imposters over the first 53 games of the season. Denver has looked like the former for much of the six-game win streak heading into Monday’s game against Portland. Aaron Gordon’s right calf strains have complicated things. But the All-Star break is coming at an almost perfect time for a squad that has been without Russell Westbrook and Peyton Watson for the last week. When totally healthy, the Nuggets have seven, maybe eight guys, who can be trusted on a nightly basis in the playoffs. If that number is seven, it’s going to be hard to win a second title in the last three seasons. If that number is eight, the Nuggets have a better chance than any team other than Oklahoma City to represent the Western Conference in the Finals.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

No team made as big of a jump at the trade deadline, and the rest of the Western Conference is lucky it wasn’t an even bigger leap. Adding Luka Doncic alongside LeBron James is going to be a defensive nightmare for opposing teams. It would’ve been even scarier if the Mark Williams trade went through. Now, the Lakers need to create a roster spot and sign a serviceable big man on the buyout market if they want to be regarded in the same tier as the Thunder and Nuggets.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

There’s more competition for the No. 4 spot in the West than there is in the East. Memphis gets the nod, because the Grizzlies are going to be the No. 2 seed at the All-Star break despite not getting the most out of Ja Morant in the 31 games he’s played. Memphis also looks to have two rookies headed for playoff rotation minutes. That’s not ideal, but Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Desmond Bane provide enough experience to give Memphis the nod over Houston and Minnesota.

What I’m Thinking

The rest of the regular season is more important to Julian Strawther than any other member of the Denver Nuggets.

The second-year wing out of Gonzaga made the first starts of his career in the games leading up to the All-Star break. That’s valuable experience, but it’s not enough to guarantee the 22-year-old plays a significant role in Denver’s postseason run. His offensive efficiency and production have been up and down, while his defense leaves a lot to be desired. That’s something both Nuggets coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth have commented on recently. Offense is going to be what keeps Strawther in the NBA. But his defensive growth is going to dictate his ceiling.

Strawther’s development over the rest of the regular season could very well be the difference in Denver’s status as a true contender.

What They’re Saying

Hubie Brown broadcast his final game over the weekend. Nuggets coach Michael Malone provided a first-hand account of what made Brown so beloved in NBA circles.

“Family, my father worked for him. I’ve known Hubie since I was in high school. He gave my father a job to be his assistant coach with the New York Knicks. I can remember being at Hubie Brown’s house,” Malone said.

“I think of family. I think of arguably one of the greatest teachers of the game in basketball history. He’s in the Hall of Fame for a reason. You look at his career, starting off as a high school teacher and coach, working his way into the college scene (at) William and Mary and Duke into the NBA all the way through. Everybody that’s ever come across Hubie Brown, the details and the tactician and clinician that he was have always jumped off the page. I’m really, really thankful and touched that they gave him the sendoff that they did, calling his last game at 91 years old, which is just simply incredible. I have a lot of love for Hubie Brown and respect everything he’s done in a very, very incredible coaching and teaching career.”

What I’m Following

– Nikola Jokic was, once again, named Western Conference Player of the Week for his performance last week. Jokic led the Nuggets to a 4-0 week by averaging 29.8 points, 10.8 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game. Atlanta’s Trae Young won the Eastern Conference award by posting 31.3 points and 10.5 assists, as the Hawks went 3-1 last week.

– Speaking of Young, he’s headed to the All-Star weekend after all. He will serve as Giannis Antetokounmpo’s replacement. Antetokounmpo will miss the All-Star game with a calf injury. Kyrie Irving will also replace his new teammate Anthony Davis, who’s expected to miss multiple weeks.

– The Timberwolves’ ownership situation got closer to a resolution Monday. An arbitration panel ruled in favor of Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez over current owner Glen Taylor. Now, the rest of the NBA owners will decide the eventual fate of the franchise.