It’s time to take a trip across the pond!

NBA

If slam dunks and 3-pointers are your kind of thing, then 2023 is shaping up to be a bumper year as this year’s NBA action is set to have us all glued to our screens as the race to reach the finals starts to heat up.

Speaking of the finals, last year’s runners-up Boston Celtics are absolutely ruling the roost in the Eastern Conference right now and have used the disappointment of missing out on basketball’s grandest prize to spur them on as they’re on an absolute roll right now. The Celtics head into their next match sitting pretty at the top of their conference on the back of a 7-game winning streak and will no doubt fancy their chances of making it 8 wins on the bounce.

Who will they lock horns with this time around? None other than their opponents in last season’s NBA finals, Golden State Warriors. Whilst Golden State bested their rivals to be crowned champions last season, they’ve failed to hit the same dizzy heights this season and are currently sitting in 7th place in the Western Conference. 

In fact, there’s arguably never been a better time for Celtics to face Steve Kerr’s men as although they got back to winning ways in their last outing against Washington Wizards, Golden State haven’t exactly been on top form recently with just 2 wins in their last 6 matches. However, given the stature of their opponents, this could be the perfect opportunity for them to rise to the occasion and give their campaign the shot in the arm which it needs to really get going.

Elsewhere in the Eastern Conference, Brooklyn Nets will be looking to get back to winning ways in order to stop the Boston Celtics moving out of sight at the top of the table. Although the Nets were in a rich vein of form heading into 2023, their recent losses to Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder have put them in a bit of a tailspin and they could really do with picking up a win here if they are to boost their chances of finishing top dog.

Meanwhile, it’s incredibly tight at the top of the Western Conference with barely anything separating Denver Nuggets and Memphis Grizzlies at the top of the table. As it stands, the Grizzlies are very much in the ascendancy at the moment with 10 wins in their last 10 outings. However, the Nuggets are in no mood to lift their foot of the gas as they’re reaping the benefits of a 6-game winning streak right now. 

With both teams well and truly pulling out all the stops at the moment, you can bet your bottom dollar that the race for top spot is going to be incredibly thrilling over the coming weeks and months. No matter who eventually emerges the victor, one thing’s for sure, we’re in for a thrilling ride!

NHL

Whilst the piercing winter chill is causing many of us to wrap up warm when we venture outside, things are well and truly hotting up on the ice in the NHL right now as the Stanley Cup draws ever closer!

When it comes to the Atlantic Division, Boston Bruins are the talk of the town right now. Jim Montogomery’s men have been an absolute tour de force this season, powering their way to the top of the league to establish a 15-point lead over their nearest challengers, Toronto Maple Leafs. What’s more, with 7 wins in their last 10 outings, they’re showing no signs of letting up and their fans will be quietly confident that their team has got what it takes to go the distance this season.

It’s a slightly different picture in the other 3 leagues with almost nothing between the teams right at the top of the table. In the Metropolitan Division, Carolina Hurricanes are, at the time of writing, just a single point ahead of New Jersey Devils. However, the Devils are very much a team on the up at the moment, after chalking up 5 wins on the bounce, and could very well fancy their chances of overhauling the Hurricanes in the coming weeks.

It’s even tighter in the Central Division with Winnipeg Jets and Dallas Stars level on points at the top. That being said, the Jets are in the driving seat here due to their superior recent form (they’ve picked up 2 more wins than their nearest challengers over the last 10 games) and the fact they’ve also got a game in hand. The question is: can they keep up their winning momentum and take advantage of the opportunity to establish a gap at the top of the league?

Last, but not least, we turn our attention to the Pacific Division where Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken are neck and neck at the top. Kraken’s recent run of good form came to a resounding halt against Tampa Bay Lightning in their last outing and they’ll be hoping to get back to winning ways as they seek to leapfrog the boys from Vegas. However, luckily for them, Golden Knights also slipped to defeat in their last match as well, which means the race for top spot is still very much on here.