Now that another record-setting weekend of high-scoring affairs, three-point assassins, and 20 year-old slammers under the New York City lights has concluded, players return to their respective teams to prepare for the final half of the NBA season. The All-Star festivities are over and the discussion now shifts to the ability of teams to move beyond the weekend of horseplay and get down to business.

It is most pressing for teams such as the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors who not only are the top teams in their respective conferences, but were also well-represented at Madison Square Garden this past weekend by players as well as the two coaches. Steve Kerr "coached" the Western Conference All-Stars, which included his top two players in Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, both of whom competed in the Three Point Competition, which was won by Curry. Mike Budenholzer guided the Eastern Conference squad, which included four of his five starters in Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and Al Horford. While Teague competed in the NBA Skills Challenge, Korver was outdone by Steph Curry in the Three Point Competition. Now that the dust has settled, will the Hawks and Warriors remain as the top two teams in the second half? Will Russell Westbrook's MVP performance carry over to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to the postseason?

The Warriors will fight off a late run by the Memphis Grizzlies to maintain the top seed. After winning seven of their last ten games prior to the All-Star break, including three straight, Steve Kerr may have some hiccups initially to start the second half. Tough to beat at home, the Warriors will not relinquish the throne atop the Western Conference, but will certainly make things interesting.

The Grizzlies will be right there at the top of the standings, but the task will not come as easily for the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets. The Dallas Mavericks will leap frog over one of those teams with a healthy Rajon Rondo and the addition of Amar'e Stoudemire. After the New York Knicks bought out and waived the wine-bathing veteran, he chose to sign with the Dallas Mavericks. This will give the Mavs a boost with a strengthened bench, but will not get them too close to the Grizzlies or Warriors. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers will slip further in the standings without Blake Griffin. The San Antonio Spurs will flip the Gregg Popovich switch and make things very difficult in the West. The Phoenix Suns will not be able to keep up with the rest of the pack and will lose out on a playoff spot for the second straight season.

As for the top-seeded Hawks, things are likely to go more their way. Not only will no team catch them, but they will pull away from the pack. Like the Warriors, the Hawks leave the All-Star break having won seven of their previous ten games, but Mike Budenholzer's squad never really separated in NYC. Four of the Hawks' five starters came in off the bench simultaneously for the East and, upon donning their ATL jerseys for the second half of the season, they will take off, heading into the postseason as the team to beat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will move up in the standings and may ultimately have the best chance at biting the Hawks' rear ends. The Chicago Bulls will hang tough, while the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors will slip in the standings. The final two playoff spots are up for grabs and the Charlotte Hornets will make a deal at the deadline to secure the seventh seed. The Miami Heat will fend off the Nets and Boston Celtics for the eighth and final seed, effectively setting up a first round sweep for the Hawks.

After a 41-point outing, captivating fans with multiple slams and long-range three-pointers, Russell Westbrook silenced any remaining critics who did not think he is a top ten player in the league. For the remainder of this season, the Thunder will be Westbrook's team and the combination of an incredible second half and a healthy Kevin Durant will vault them into the playoffs. But the Thunder could also make another move before the trade deadline. The acquisition of Brook Lopez from the Brooklyn Nets has been highly sought after and, while talks have reportedly died down, they will likely be revived and Lopez will be wearing a Thunder uniform by the end of the season.

The NBA trade deadline will be filled with headline moves by the Charlotte Hornets and Brooklyn Nets, who could possibly coax the Phoenix Suns into dealing Goran Dragic. Carmelo Anthony will shut down and the Knicks will officially have the worst team in the league, possibly in the history of the franchise. Paul George will return, allowing the Indiana Pacers to rejoin the discussion, while Ray Allen holds off on his decision.

Teams wheeling and dealing will make for a nail-biting second half of the NBA season. So buckle up because it will be one heck of a ride.