The NBA is beginning to separate contenders from pretenders as the league pushes deeper into the second half of the season and Episode 53 of The New Twenty Four breaks down the biggest storylines shaping the playoff picture.

Gavriel Wilkins and Torrence Stagger open things up touching on the surging San Antonio Spurs, who have won nine straight games behind the assistance of their All-Star center Victor Wembanyama and now sit within striking distance of the top seed in the Western Conference. With the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder battling key injuries, is the door officially open for the franchise residing in The Alamo to make a serious push for the No. 1 spot?

The conversation then shifts to the tightening race for the sixth seed in the East, where the Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic, and Miami Heat are separat ...